Most people know little about the Community Services Commission. Here is what the North Haven Town Ordinances say about it.

§ 19-2. Membership; terms.
The Community Services Commission shall consist of nine (9) members, each of whom shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen for a three-year term...

§19-3. Duties.
The Community Services Commission shall be an advisory authority which shall hold regular meetings, oversee the activities of the Community Services Department, report to the Selectmen on the activities and performance of the Community Services Department and its Director, study the needs in the community for programs which might be administered by the Community Services Department, suggest the addition or removal of programs conducted by the Department, review the budget prior to its submission by the Director to the Selectmen and monitor the expenditures, receipts and operations of the Department.

§19-5. Filling of Director's vacancy.
In the event of a vacancy in the position of the Director of the Community Services Department, the Commission shall screen and interview the applicants and make recommendations to the First Selectman with respect to candidates for the position. (the underlining is mine)

So, the Community Services Commission is extremely important with respect to the allegations made against Joseph and Patricia Ierardi, who were the Director and Assistant Director of Community Services. And yet the meeting it held on May 1 was the first meeting it had held since last September.
        According to the unapproved minutes of the May 1 meeting, the Commission has never reviewed the Community Services department budget, nor does it appear that the Commission monitored the department's expenditures and receipts. Members do not appear to have even read the arrest warrant affidavits concerning the Ierardis, and were not prepared to discuss the situation.
        In the midst of the biggest scandal to hit North Haven, the commission that had the duty to monitor two of those arrested, to protect the town's interests by providing oversight, has been doing nothing. And yet it will be the Commission's duty to select a replacement for Mr. Ierardi.
        Two typical North Haven problems can be seen here: (1) the lack of effective oversight, a problem shared especially by the Board of Finance, which had the duty to oversee the other arrested town official, and (2) disrespect for the Freedom of Information Act's requirements, in this case, noticing the meeting for 7:00 pm and holding it at 5:30. Apparently, acting Community Services director Eileen Pettit, who noticed the meeting, said that the Citizen's announcement of the meeting was a typo, but you can see from this photo of the town clerk's calendar that the meeting was noticed for 7:00 pm. People who came at 7:00 pm came too late to attend the meeting. This may not have been an intentional way to keep down citizen participation, but that was the effect.