New Haven Independent

Dominick DiGangi (pictured) resigned, mid-contract, as executive director of the Water Pollution Control Authority, board Chairman Stephen Mongillo confirmed Tuesday,

The resignation actually took place on Aug. 12, according to Mongillo. Chief Financial Officer Gabe Varca is serving as acting director pending a search for a permanent replacement.

Varca won’t be receiving DiGangi’s $179,400 salary, Mongillo said. That’s because Varca’s job “has not changed. He was just given the ability to sign documents so we can conduct the business of the WPCA.”

DiGangi couldn’t be reached for comment to explain why he left. Mongillo, who could be reached for comment, said he couldn’t offer a full explanation because he’s legally constrained.

“He left to do other things,” Mongillo said

What other things?

“I have no idea.”

Mongillo called the departure “an amicable separation… We have a mutual separation agreement. It was amicable. That’s all I can say about it.”

He also said he couldn’t comment on severance pay or other financial terms of DiGangi’s departure. He claimed that the terms of agreements with departing executives are regularly kept private at “companies,” so he didn’t have to reveal details.

An official at the State Freedom of Information Commission disagreed. Regional government-created authorities, unlike private for-profit corporations, are covered by FOI law, said FOIC Public Education Officer Tom Hennick.

“They are obligated to share the records,” Hennick said. “You cannot stamp something like that confidential. You’re bargaining away the public’s right to know.”

The WPCA used to be a city government agency responsible for treating not just New Haven’s sludge but waste sent from neighboring towns to the East Shore plant. The DeStefano administration in 2005 agreed to hand over control of the facility to a new regional version of the body, controlled by suburbs with whom the city has had prior billing and environmental disputes, in order to plug a one-time hole in the city budget. Since then the agency has gone on a foreclosure tear on New Haven homeowners with back sewer bills.

New Haven does have an alderman appointed to the WPCA’s board, Al Paolillo. He refused to comment Tuesday on DiGangi’s departure.