The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday denied a grievance filed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union on behalf of former parking enforcement officer Peter (Parkin' Pete) Cianciolo.

AFSCME filed the grievance in June following First Selectman Leo Paul Jr.'s decision to eliminate the job Cianciolo held for 15 years.

Paul and Selectmen Diane Knox, Christopher Blake and Paul Parsons all voted to deny the grievance. William F. Dranginis was the lone selectmen to support the grievance.

Dranginis charged Paul with waging a personal vendetta in cutting Cianciolo's job.

"I think it's more of a personal thing than anything else," Dranginis said.

Not a chance, according to Paul. The position was eliminated after consultation with the Borough of Litchfield, Paul said. With support from the borough, Paul hired longtime constable Peter Russo, a certified police officer, to enforce traffic laws in the center of town.

Enforcing traffic laws, Paul said, was deemed more important than monitoring parking regulations. Knox, Blake and Parsons all expressed support for Paul's move. Knox said the presence of Russo in the center of town is forcing motorists to think twice about running stop signs, not stopping at crosswalks, and using cell phones.

Cianciolo, a member of the union for six years, was earning $40,000 plus benefits. Revenue from parking tickets he issued in the 2009-10 fiscal year totaled about $28,000.

Russo, a non-union officer, is being paid $30,000, and since he is a retired state employee is not receiving benefits. Although traffic enforcement is his first priority, Russo can issue tickets if he finds parking rules are being abused. Since Russo started on the job two weeks ago, there have been no parking problems, according to Paul.

AFSCME lawyer Tim Oppenheimer claimed that Russo is doing work that belongs to a union member, in violation of the labor contract between the union and the town. Oppenheimer asked selectmen to sustain the grievance and allow Cianciolo to return to work.

But Nick Zaino, a lawyer representing the town, said the labor contract was not violated through the elimination of Cianciolo's jon. According to Zaino, the contract contains no wording that says the town must maintain a parking enforcement officer.

AFSCME can appeal the selectmen's decision in arbitration, Oppenheimer said.

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