Markeshia Ricks Photo
Brooks: Carter should go.
Carter: “I truly apologize.”
(Updated with police report.) Leaders of city government’s management union called Thursday night for the firing of Chief Administrative Officer Mike Carter after a confrontation that grew heated earlier in the day.
The confrontation took place between Carter and Harold Brooks, vice-chair of the union, AFSCME Local 3144, during an afternoon disciplinary hearing held at the fire training academy on Ella Grasso Boulevard.
The two told different versions of the confrontation, although Carter did apologize directly to Brooks and later in an interview for his actions.
Brooks and union President Cherlyn Poindexter, who also attended the meeting, said that Carter jumped to his feet and began raising his voice at Brooks and banging on the table of the Fire Academy room where the hearing was being held. The hearing concerned potential discipline for Deputy Public Works Director Alan Bush, who also serves as Local 3144’s chief steward.
Brooks said he angered Carter by arguing that Bush can still do his job despite having a disability.
Brooks claimed that Carter insisted that Bush could not perform the job, and grew belligerent. He said Carter suggested that he and Carter “take this outside.” He also said that Carter lunged at him and had to be escorted from the room by the city’s labor relations attorney, Hugh Murray.
“He came back in and apologized and said that he meant that we could take it outside to talk,” Brooks said. “But he clearly didn’t mean that. It was uncomfortable and intimidating.”
Carter said the AFSCME officials were the ones who acted “disrespectfully” at the meeting.
“The union feels they can talk to management any way they want,” Carter said. “They yelled at my labor attorney, called my corporation counsel incompetent and a liar. When I tried to shut it down, Harold Brooks persisted. I told him not to lie on me, and he persisted to go forth.”
Brooks said he had police called to the scene of the dispute, and he filled out a complaint. He also spoke Thursday afternoon with city Human Resources Director Stephen Librandi and is preparing a complaint to file with the city. A police report, written by Officer Alexander Carr, stated that five witnesses corroborated Brooks’ version of events. Carr also noted that “Mr. Brooks stated Mr. Carter never directly threatened to cause him bodily injury or harm.” (The text of the police report appears at the bottom of this story.)
The subject of the hearing, Bush, had to be transported to the hospital for an attack that he suffered, Poindexter said. She called for Mayor Toni Harp to fire Carter.
“I will look into the allegations,” Harp told the Independent Thursday night. Her office released a statement Friday that she will not comment until evaluating a “complete review of what transpired.”
“They have their version, and I have mine,” Carter said.
Poindexter called the police.
Poindexter said people understand the expression “we can take this outside” to refer to fighting, not talking. She said Carter should be terminated for violating the city’s “zero tolerance” policy on violence. “If it were me, do you think they wouldn’t terminate?” she said.
“I wanted a man-on-man discussion with Harold Brooks as opposed to his showmanship,” Carter said Thursday night. “I wanted out of there to regroup, and they used my words and actions to their advantage.” But he said he should have shut down the meeting earlier and handled it differently and “taken the high road.”
“I truly apologize for my behavior,” Carter added. “The taxpayers deserve better.”
Brooks’ voice shook as he related the story Thursday night at a public hearing of the Board of Alders Finance Committee about the proposed new city budget, held at Hillhouse High School auditorium.
“I have a heart condition,” he said. “My blood pressure is extremely high.”
The Police Report
Following is the text of the police report written by Officer Carr:
On March 30th, at approximately 1504 hours, Officer Rodriguez and I were dispatched to the New Haven Fire Academy located at 230 Ella Grasso Boulevard for a report of a threatening complaint.
Upon arrival on scene, I met and spoke to the complainant, identified as Harold Brooks. Mr. Brooks stated the following: He was in a meeting inside the Fire Academy regarding Alan Bush’s employment. During the meeting, he had a verbal disagreement with Michael Carter. During the verbal altercation, Mr. Carter stood up and placed his hand on the table. He proceeded to lean over the table and yell at Mr. Brooks. Mr. Carter stated to Mr. Brooks, “Let’s take this outside!” to which Mr. Brooks responded, “What does going outside mean?” Mr. Carter once again responded, “We’re going outside.” This back and forth argument repeated itself one more time for a total of three (3) times. Mr. Carter was then escorted out of the room by Hugh Murray, III, and left the building.
It should be noted Mr. Brooks stated Mr. Carter never directly threatened to cause him bodily injury or harm.
Mr. Carter re-entered the meeting room and stated to Mr. Brooks that he apologizes for his actions.
It should be noted Mr. Brooks revealed to me that he firmly believed Mr. Carter intended to do him bodily harm if they went outside as Mr. Carter requested. He also revealed to me that he suffered from a medical condition and believed the argument severely elevated his blood pressure.
It should also be noted, there were five witnesses to the incident that corroborated Mr. Brooks’ account of the incident. The witnesses’ names are Paul Lavalle, Staff Representative for AFSCME, Thomas Fascio, Staff Representative for AFSCME, Hugh Murray, III, Attorney at Law for McCarter & English, and Cherlyn Poindexter, City of New Haven Official.
Thomas Fascio stated he perceived argument as a threat to Mr. Brook’s personal safety and escorted him out of the room.
I then met and spoke to Mr. Carter. Mr. Carter stated the following: He got into a verbal dispute with Mr. Brooks regarding Alan Bush’s employment status. He stated to Mr. Brooks, “Let’s take this outside.” Mr. Carter stated he did not intend for that statement to be interpreted as a direct threat to Mr. Brooks’ personal safety and well-being. He further stated if Mr. Brooks obliged, he wanted to speak to him outside to settle their disagreement verbally or in his own words, “man to man.” Mr. Carter stated he intended to do no bodily harm to Mr. Brooks.
Sergeant Dease was notified and responded on scene to help mediate the altercation. Sergeant Dease and I then discussed how we would like to resolve the situation. These officers decided at this point in time, we would only be documenting the incident.
I provided a case number and time to both Mr. Brooks and Mr. Carter and informed both parties how to pick up a copy of the police report at 1 Union Avenue, New Haven CT.
Officer Rodriguez and I stayed on scene until Mr. Carter left the scene in his personal vehicle without further incident.
No further police action at this time.