Mayor Mike Pavia yesterday announced five candidates to serve on the City’s Fire Commission. “I’m proud to announce these candidates for the City’s Fire Commission. They play a critical role in assuring all Stamford residents receive excellent fire service and that administration, management and operations of our fire prevention and protection are at an optimum,” Mayor Pavia said. The nominees are: Atty. Vincent Freccia, III; Atty. Frank Melzer; Rev. Dr. Robert W. Perry; Lee Rizzuto, Jr.; and Prasad Tungaturthy. The Mayor is called upon by the Charter to appoint five members to the Fire Commission subject to confirmation by the Board of Representatives.
The City Charter Section C6-90-1 describes the powers and duties of the Fire Commission as follows:
The Fire Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) Except for the appointment or removal of the Fire and Rescue Chief, the Commission shall have the sole power of appointment and promotion of sworn members after consideration of any recommendations made by the Fire and Rescue Chief and in accordance with the provisions of this Charter. (Referendum 11-7-1995)
(2) To hear and determine appeals based upon the record under Section C6-90-3 within sixty days from the bringing of such appeal.
(3) To order a hearing by the Chief under Section C5-40-3(8) if the Chief fails to decide an appealed matter within a reasonable time.
(4) To modify the decision of the Chief by ordering a reduction or increase of any disciplinary action on an appeal there from which the Chief could have imposed.
(5) To compensate officers and members of the Department for loss of personal property arising from injuries incurred in the performance of duty.
(6) To approve the rules and regulations concerning the operation of the Department and the conduct of all officers and employees thereof made by the Chief pursuant to the provisions of Sec. C5-40-3 within a period of thirty days after transmission by the Fire and Rescue Chief and upon failure to take action on said rules and regulations within said period, they shall be deemed approved. (Referendum 11-7-1995)
(7) To conduct hearings and investigations relating to the general welfare of the Department.
(8) To conduct preliminary hearings relating to complaints against the Chief, and if it determines such complaints are meritorious, such complaints shall be forwarded to the Personnel Commission for determination thereon.
A brief background on each commission member follows:
Vincent J. Freccia III: Attorney At Law, Law Office of Vincent J. Freccia has been practicing law in Stamford for 30 years. He belongs to the Connecticut Bar Association, Local Panel Chair Arbitration of Fee Disputes Committee, Stamford Regional Bar Associations, and a past lecturer and past chair, Bankruptcy Committee. He’s a member of the 13th District Republican Town Committee, Vice Chairman 16th Charter Revision Commission for City of Stamford; Counsel to Stamford Republican Town Committee; Stamford Exchange Club; Knights of Columbus; and was active in Little League and Babe Ruth League baseball. Mr. Freccia was also a former Fire Commissioner member from 1993 – 1995.
Frank Melzer was Valedictorian, graduated first in class and managing editor of the New York Law Forum at New York Law School. He was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. He has practiced law for over 40 years. Mr. Melzer lectures at City College of New York and has serves as an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University, the University of Bridgeport. He served on the Stamford Board of Reps.; Charter Revision Committee; Volunteers at the Pacific House Men’s and Volunteers for Israel. Shelter and serves on the Board of Directors at the Jewish Center and the former Stamford YMCA. He has written seven books and is a lecturer at the Jewish Historical Society.
Rev. Dr. Robert Perry earned a Master of Divinity from the School of Theology. He attended law school at American University and matriculate to the Mast of Science program at the University of Bridgeport. He was awarded honorary degrees from Virginia Seminary and College and Virginia Union University. Dr. Perry received two Bronze Stars in the Korean War earning the rank of Sergeant. He was instructor at Norfolk State University Evening College. He is past president of the Stamford Council of Churches and Synagogues and Connecticut State Baptist Convention and currently serves as Convener of the Interdenominational Ministers and Pastors Alliance Coalition. Dr. Perry is the senior Pastor of the Union Baptist Church in Stamford where he has served for 36 years. He served as the first African American on the Board of Ethics of the City of Stamford and as Police Chaplain, the Police Commission the Fire Commission. He was appointed to the Governor’s Task Force on Human Rights under Gov. O’Neill and the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award from the state of Connecticut.
Lee Rizzuto, Jr. is the sr. vice president of the Conair Corp. Under his leadership, the company has launched over 1,000 new products and has increased its revenue by over 500% under his leadership. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Beauty Assoc. and was appointed its Vice Chair. He served on the Professional Beauty Association’s Manufactures Council and the 2006 Honoree at its annual charity gala. Mr. Rizzuto has served as Senior Board Director of the North American Beauty Events and is a member of several civic organizations including: The Columbus Citizens Foundation; Board member of the Stamford Italian Culture and Language Stamford; Board member of Comitato Tricolore and recipient or the Italian Ministry Mirko Tremaglia Award. He was presented as Federazione Siciliana di New Jersey Man of the Year and appointed to the Presidents Advisory Board of the American University of Rome. He was Honoree of the Boy Scouts of America and the Columbus Day Parade Grand Marshall.
Prasad Tungaturthy spent 17 years improving operational and functional efficiency of the financial market and market research industries through automation. He is a consulting member, Financial Management for Fortune 100 companies at Oracle Corp. He olds a Masters Degree in Systems Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Mr. Tungaturthy leads and manages development teams on-site and offshore teams. He provides product support and evaluates development tools and presents technical explanations to the user community. He also developed and implemented conjoint analysis based scientific research systems for food product evaluation and design for eight years.
