Ambulance issues likely not over yet

After almost two years of investigations into alleged improper financial dealings, prosecutors declined to charge former Seymour Ambulance Association head Frank Marcucio III with a crime. It’s a relief for the town and the former official, but far from the end of his legal troubles, with a civil case and a lawsuit yet to be worked out. Despite the good news, it looks like Marcucio still has a long road ahead of him.
The probe began when state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal filed a civil suit in 2005 alleging misuse of funds from charities that gave money to the association. The criminal probe focused on questionable transfers from a fund for Chris Willis, an ill firefighter and ambulance volunteer; the state prosecutor said the case did not pan out. The civil suit still pending focuses on alleged misuse of association funds on personal expenses, including family vacations. These are questions that the state’s attorney’s actions do not answer, and still deserve an explanation.
At the association itself, matters have improved. Membership is up and debt is down, officials there say, and the group’s reputation is on the mend as well. After Marcucio, his wife and his brother, all with paid jobs at the volunteer association, left their positions, the group has shown resilience in returning to its previous level of stability. A future without criminal proceedings involving its former leader will benefit Seymour Ambulance.
But the matter of those unexplained expenditures has not gone away. Blumenthal’s investigation found that about $27,000 of the questionable charges on the association’s credit cards were for travel, lodging and cruise expenses for Marcucio, his family and other association members. The probe also uncovered a number of unusual bills for an ambulance association, including a charge for a dating service. While they did not figure into the criminal case, it is hoped the civil suit will provide some answers there.
Seymour could be entering a period of dynamic growth, particularly downtown, and the last thing the town needs is a lingering scandal with its name attached. For the future of the town and its residents, it is for the best that no criminal charges have been filed in this matter, regardless of the reasons behind the decision. But it is also for the best that all questions are answered and that any past malfeasance comes to light. The only way to move on is to get everything out in the open, and it is hoped the continuing civil suit will allow that to happen.