Why do you think they call it an anti-poverty organization?

Paul Puzzo, poor no more

Paul Puzzo, former head of a Hartford anti-poverty agency is still paid $100,000 a year for a no-show job. $80 million a year of federal and state money to this “non-profit” agency and it’s easy to see how they keep that status: the executives steal all the money.

The administrative inquiry by [State Attorney General] Jepsen’s office came to light in recent weeks, after the Jan. 29 disclosure in The Courant of the resignation under duress of Trish Donovan, CRT’s $100,000-plus chief operating officer.

Donovan claimed in a Jan. 15 letter to CRT’s governing board that current CEO Lena Rodriguez forced her to resign after accusing Donovan of improper behavior. Donovan denied impropriety and said her ouster came because she furnished documents to, and cooperated with, state auditors.

The auditors were looking into an April 2011 complaint by a former CRT employee that money was being diverted improperly inside the agency from one grant program to another. The auditors say that they handed off the case — referred to in state law as a “whistleblower” complaint, because it involves an employee “blowing the whistle” about alleged improprieties where he or she works — to Jepsen’s office in September.

The CRT board’s chairman, Fernando Betancourt, said Donovan’s claims were “nothing more than the views of a disgruntled former employee” and denied the misuse of grant money or any other irregularities.

Shocking as it may seem, it appears that the whole leadership of this agency is corrupt. By the way, while awaiting trial, Mr. Puzzo can be found at Anglers Cove Condominiums on Marcos Island, Florida, where he is Director and CEO. Hope they’re keeping an eye on their books.