Town Challenges Lysaght’s Unemployment Claim

By Andrew Gorosko

The town is challenging former police chief James E. Lysaght, Jr’s claim for unemployment checks.

Mr Lysaght said Thursday morning, “I put in for unemployment benefits and the town has contested it… The process is not complete yet… The town was vigorously defending their position.”

First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal said, “We routinely challenge unemployment [check] requests if we think they’re not justified,” adding the town received legal counsel advising it to challenge Mr Lysaght’s unemployment claim.

 Mr Rosenthal said Mr Lysaght’s allegation to the state Department of Labor that he was fired for “political reasons” is not true. The firing was based on “willful misconduct,” as defined by the labor department, Mr Rosenthal said.

The labor department held a hearing on Mr Lysaght’s benefit application Monday, at which the town challenged his unemployment claim.

Carole Ross, the town’s human resources administrator, said the town’s challenge of the claim is a typical town response in a case where an employee has been terminated.

In 1998, the Police Commission fired police officer Thomas Candia, Jr. Mr Candia filed an unemployment claim which the town challenged, but Mr Candia eventually collected unemployment checks.

Mr Lysaght is expected to file an administrative appeal in Danbury Superior Court, challenging his March 3 firing by the Police Commission. The town had not received that appeal Thursday morning.

Police Commission members maintain Mr Lysaght did not demonstrate the leadership, planning, and management skills necessary for the effective and efficient operation of a police department, and thus fired him.