Republican Board of Finance Candidates Urge Immediate Fiscal Reforms
- BOF Republicans
- Oct 16
- 2 min read
Meyers, Lynch, and Pelsue Pledge a Return to Strong Financial Oversight
Fairfield, CT — October 16, 2020, Republican Board of Finance (BOF) candidates Jim Meyers, Brendan Lynch, and David Pelsue are calling for stronger fiscal controls, the reinstatement of a second Internal Auditor, and immediate audits of all capital projects following the discovery of fund misappropriation under the Gerber/Vitale administration.
An independent audit found that, over the past 18 months, hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars were intentionally diverted from accounts designated for employee benefits and insurance costs and spent without required approval, including the former Chief Operating Officer David Becker’s unauthorized purchase of a $170,000 emergency management SUV, far exceeding the scope of any other town vehicle. These expenditures bypassed Board of Finance oversight and violated long-standing safeguards meant to protect residents’ money.
The report further warned that ongoing financial mismanagement could damage Fairfield’s credit rating, leading to higher borrowing costs for schools, roads, and public safety projects, and ultimately higher taxes for residents.
“These lapses threaten Fairfield’s financial stability and taxpayer trust,” said finance executive Brendan Lynch. “Immediate action is needed to strengthen oversight and restore accountability.”
Meyers, Lynch, and Pelsue are calling for:
Reinstating two Internal Auditors to enforce financial policies and detect irregularities before they become scandals.
Auditing all capital projects to ensure funds are used exactly as approved.
Tightening fiscal controls and restoring transparency across all departments.
They also raised concerns about the mass exodus of key Finance Department staff, including the Budget Director, Grants Manager, Financial Analyst, and Controller. “When one party controls every branch of government, accountability diminishes and checks and balances disappear,” said incumbent BOF member and corporate CFO Jim Meyers. “We are losing valuable institutional knowledge due to high turnover. There has obviously been a serious breakdown in proper oversight by an administration driving out employees.”
“It’s time for change. We are not career politicians,” added attorney David Pelsue. “We’re residents with professional experience and a vested interest in restoring fiscal integrity and rebuilding public confidence.”
Voters are encouraged to learn more about Meyers, Lynch, and Pelsue at FairfieldBOF.com.
The election will be held at all polling locations on Tuesday, November 4, with early voting beginning on October 20th at the Fairfield University Bookstore Downtown, 1499 Post Road, Fairfield.