Woodbridge Fire Marshal's Hearing Scheduled for Tonight

Following revelations about supposed overpayment at a July meeting, the Woodbridge Fire Commission will hold a termination hearing for Fire Marshal Michael Cavanagh. The 6 p.m. hearing is scheduled for Monday, October 1, according to Woodbridge First Selectman Edward Maum Sheehy's office.

Cavanagh allegedly worked around 2,000 fewer hours than required, allegedly being overpaid more than $50,000 in the process, according to a heated July 17 fire commission meeting. According to an August 23 article in the New Haven Register, Cavanagh would "not be required to give any of that money back."

In a Patch letter to the editor titled "Who's Minding the Store?", Chuck Pyne and Cathy Wick directed questions about handling of the discovery toward First Selectman Sheehy and Selectman Beth Heller, saying the Board of Selectmen received no official communication from Sheehy.

Sheehy responded with a letter to the editor of his own, saying he "requested the Fire Commission to conduct a thorough review of the allegations concerning the Fire Marshal’s job performance, number of hours worked, likely overpayment, and maintenance of department information on his home computer."

The termination hearing has been rescheduled at least once since Sheehy's August 31 request to the fire commission. Cavanagh has retained counsel and will have a chance to present evidence on his behalf, Sheehy said.

Patch will follow this story and provide updates as new information is available.