McNally Versus Montville Heads to Arbitration

A few weeks ago the town and Tom McNally were close to a deal.

Not anymore.

Following an all-day mediation late last fall, the two parties were close to an agreement but according to McNally’s attorney Jacques J. Parenteau, the case has moved backward, from mediation and an almost-deal back to arbitration.

“Unfortunately, we could not reach final agreement on the terms of the settlement and so the Town has asked that the matter proceed to arbitration,” Parenteau said.

McNally, the now former Water Pollution Control Authority assistant superintendent claims he was fired from his post in retaliation for political associations. 

McNally deferred comment to his attorney.

Parenteau said the November mediation, presided over by former Judge James Stapleton also included attorneys for the town, town officials and Water Pollution Control Authority administrators in an attempt come to some agreement in the lawsuit McNally brought against the town for his firing last June.

Parenteau alleges his clients’ Constitutional rights “to political association” were violated by the defendants who he alleges “falsely claim(ed) that Thomas McNally engaged in acts that constituted just cause to terminate his employment…”

The lawsuit names the town, Mayor Ronald K. McDaniel Jr., WPCA chair Timothy May, WPCA administrator Brian Lynch, plant superintendent Michael Didato and employee John Lilly as defendants alleging they “…manufactured claims, gave false statements, conducted and condoned a biased and flawed investigation, defamed, and retaliated against (McNally) because of his status as Chair of the Town of Montville’s Republican Party in order to deprive him of his employment with the Town.”

McNally claims he has suffered damages in the form of lost wages and benefits, harm to his reputation, loss of enjoyment of life and emotional distress as will be determined by the jury.”

Read more about his firing and reaction here.