By John Nickerson
Staff Writer
February 7, 2007
NORWALK - Fire commissioners last night voted unanimously to accept a confidential agreement with a firefighter at the center of a racism controversy and not to fire him.
Scot Wilson, who faced termination for coming to work after drinking alcohol, will not be fired, according to Corporation Counsel Peter Nolin and Mayor Richard Moccia, one of three commissioners at last night's termination hearing.
Asked whether that meant Wilson would return to work at the fire department, Moccia and Wilson declined to comment.
Specifics of the agreement "will remain confidential until some details have been worked out," Moccia said.
The Board of Fire Commissioners went into executive session for about 10 minutes while discussing the terms of the agreement. When members returned, they voted to accept the agreement.
The termination hearing was called for Wilson, a 27-year department veteran, after he was suspended for reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol in September, fire officials said.
Wilson, 47, who is black, also has a racial discrimination complaint against the city pending before the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
In that complaint, Wilson cites as evidence a videotape recorded in 2005 that appears to show a firefighter at the Broad River firehouse using two racial slurs to describe blacks and Hispanics.
"I am happy with what happened today," Wilson said last night when he was reached at his Newtown home. "I'm not terminated, and that is a good thing."
Moccia said of the agreement: "It is a painful and difficult process for everyone in the fire department, including Scot. The agreement will put an end to this painful period for all of us. It is fair."
Commissioner Carol Andreoli said: "This allows the department to move forward. It has been a very difficult time for all the firefighters. I wish Scot Wilson the very best."
Fire Chief Denis McCarthy said he believed the agreement was fair.
"We are glad this has come to an end, and we can get back to the business of putting fires out," said Richard Foley, fire union president.
Although Moccia in an earlier interview had said he hoped the agreement would include Wilson dropping his CHRO complaint, the mayor declined to comment when asked whether that was part of the agreement.
"That will be disclosed when the agreement is finalized, and then we can release it," Moccia said.
The incident in September was not the first time Wilson had arrived at work under the influence of alcohol.
On July 11, 2005, he was sent home after he admitted to superiors that he had been drinking before work that day. And according to the department discipline log, Wilson tested positive for alcohol during a test by a doctor on April 5, 2005, and was sent home.
On Jan. 21, 2005, he was issued a verbal warning about not drinking beer before work, the log shows.
Wilson said Monday that his drinking on duty was a direct response to the racial atmosphere at work.
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