New Haven Independent

At the request of aldermen, consultants Hildebrandt International analyzed the office on how it runs, handles litigation and manages contracts. At the cost of $20,000, the consultants gave an analysis and issued a report.

Looking back at the recent mishaps, Hildebrandt decided: “Adequate procedures to address issues were not on (sic) place or if they were, were not followed.” Certain OCC attorneys “have been assigned legal matters beyond their expertise or capability.” Consultants saw an office bound in red tape: “In some instances the OCC has become slow and bureacratic in delivering work product, and processes have not improved.”

What’s more, “The office has personnel issues, low morale and does not function as a cohesive unit.” Hildebrandt made a few suggestions on what “leadership qualities” would help Ude keep a tight ship — including instructions on how long to leave new tasks on his desk and to hire new staff. Ude countered the report with his own “Action Plan.”

Ude, who’s been corporation cousel since 2001, said things have been hard the past few years as staffing shrank while the workload stayed the same. But he said he’s already set to work changing the way things are run. He’s starting an array of regularly scheduled staff meetings.

He’s filled vacant attorney positions, established quarterly “internal status reviews,” and vows more communication with other departments.

Aldermen joined to hear his remarks said they needed more time to mull over the report. But Alderman Gerald Antunes had one idea: more preventive training for the police department so officers can avoid civil rights, false arrests and excessive force suits. Antunes, a former city detective, advocated “more of a proactive approach, more of a deterrent.”

“It’s something we should be doing more of,” conceded Ude. Aldermen will meet again in a couple weeks to pose more specific questions to Ude.