NEW HAVEN — A state representative, who was an alternate member of the Shelton Planning & Zoning Commission that approved a controversial proposal by developer James Botti in 2006, took the stand today in Botti’s federal corruption trial.
State Rep. Jason Perillo testified for about 20 minutes before U.S. Senior District Judge Charles S. Haight, Jr. and a 16-member jury hearing Botti’s trial on conspiracy, bribery and mail fraud charges.
Perillo said that Shelton Mayor Mark A. Lauretti approached him at a Flag Day picnic in 2006 and attempted to convince him why the 828 Bridgeport Avenue project being developed by Botti was a good idea.
“The mayor made his arguments why he thought this was a good project,” Perillo said during his testimony. “There was not anything necessarily wrong with that. I just didn’t agree with him.”
Perillo said Virginia Harger, a fellow commission member at the time, was also part of the conversation. He said she heard the mayor’s concerns.
Harger, who was thought to be in opposition to the project by then-Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Allan Cribbins, later agreed to go along with the plan, during a commission meeting held just four days after the picnic.
Perillo, who opposed the project, voted against it at that June 20, 2006 meeting.
While other commission members received a Christmas gift basket from Botti six months after the vote was taken, Perillo didn’t receive one.
The basket also included a $150 gift certificate to an upscale Shelton restaurant.
Cribbins, earlier in the day, said he would have liked to have had the vote postponed until the July 2006 meeting, but said he felt pressured to have it sooner.
The commission had 65 days to rule on Botti’s plan.
By Michael P. Mayko
