Hiring Of New Town COO In Fairfield Questioned By Selectwoman
FAIRFIELD, CT — The naming of David Becker, currently Fairfield’s interim Chief Fiscal Officer, as the town’s new Chief Operating Officer is being questioned by Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick.
In a letter to First Selectman Bill Gerber on Friday, Kupchick said the Board of Finance “asked several times if this position was going to be posted and you [Gerber] publicly said it would be. You were asked if you had anyone in mind, and you replied you didn’t.”
Earlier on Friday, Gerber alerted staff about Becker’s new role; additionally, Becker will also continue as interim CFO while the town searches for a permanent replacement.
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“Reporting to the First Selectman, David will be responsible for overseeing general operations of the Town, implementing processes and increasing efficiencies,” Gerber wrote in an email obtained by Patch. “His professional expertise, including six months in senior positions in our Administration, extensive knowledge of Town operations and past experience on the RTM and Board of Finance will be invaluable in this role.”
Kupchick asked for Becker’s hiring as COO to be an agenda item at the next Board of Selectmen’s meeting, which is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
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In a statement to Patch, Lisa Clair, Fairfield’s Communications Director, said the appointment will not be on the agenda, but Gerber will make an announcement about it in his opening remarks.
Kupchick said she requested a copy of Becker’s resume, but was told that there was not one on file.
“The citizens and elected officials of Fairfield have a right to know who is in charge of the towns financials and oversight of their tax dollars,” Kupchick wrote. “I would also like the board to be supplied with the amount of the biweekly salary being paid for these two positions, now being filled by Mr. Becker.”
Gerber said that Becker has the skills for the job.
“I am pleased to announce that David Becker has been named Chief Operating Officer, effective June 21,” Gerber said in a statement to Patch. “David’s acceptance of this position moves the management of the Town forward with improved processes and efficiencies, skills he has demonstrated in his years of service and dedication to the Town of Fairfield, particularly in the past six months. He will continue as Interim Chief Financial Officer for the time being as our search for a permanent CFO continues.”
Becker became Interim CFO earlier this year, following the resignation of Jared Schmitt, who left the Fairfield post after four years to take the same position with the City of Norwalk.
In 2011, at the age of 28 and as a member of the RTM, Becker reportedly ran for First Selectman of Fairfield, according to the Connecticut Post.
His family’s business, The Becker Companies, LLC, a property management and landscaping firm, has done work for the town; Kupchick said the company has been paid close to $900,000 by the town in the past year. The matter was the subject of a Patch Letter to the Editor in February.
“After the public corruption scandal our town went through under the Tetreau administration, I’m very concerned about nepotism and history repeating itself,” Kupchick said, adding that she would like to know the search firm Fairfield is using to find its next CFO.
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