Bethany Parks and Recreation Director Janice Howard has resigned amidst controversy surrounding the handling of an employee charged with sexually abusing children. The employee, Anthony Mastrangelo, was accused of assaulting multiple children while working as a counselor and substitute teacher. Despite being removed from those positions after the first allegation, Mastrangelo continued to work with the parks and recreation department where more allegations surfaced.
After weeks of public scrutiny and calls for accountability, Howard was placed on administrative leave and ultimately resigned. The Bethany Board of Selectmen accepted her resignation during a meeting, with Howard set to remain on paid leave until the end of August.
The situation has also brought attention to Mastrangelo’s friendship with Bethany’s first selectwoman, Paula Cofrancesco, who has faced calls to step down. Cofrancesco has maintained that she was unaware of the allegations against Mastrangelo.
The resignation of Janice Howard marks the culmination of a challenging period for the Bethany community, as residents grapple with the fallout of the abuse allegations and the perceived mishandling of the situation by local officials. Moving forward, the town will need to address concerns about accountability and transparency in order to rebuild trust among community members and ensure the safety and well-being of all children in Bethany.
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