GREENWICH, CT — An employee who works at the entry gate to Greenwich Point has been removed from operations as the town begins a review into gate access practices following several complaints from local residents.
The town made the announcement Wednesday morning on social media.
“The Department of Parks and Recreation has received a number of comments via email concerning the gate operations at Greenwich Point,” the social media posting said. “We are taking positive steps by first, removing the employee from operations while we conduct a full review of the gate access practices.”
Earlier this week, a North Stamford resident posted about what he called a “scam at Greenwich Point” on the Nextdoor social media app.
“I gave my niece a Town of Greenwich parking pass I had bought from the Greenwich Parks & Recreation website online, cost $40. For the record, it had never been used. Yet when she arrived at the entry booth, the man told her that the car entry ticket had been previously used and was no good,” the post said. “He ‘happened to have an extra ticket,’ and if she had $40 cash, he’d sell it to her. She only had $25 with her and offered to go to an ATM, but he said no, $25 would work, and he let her pass. I wonder whether anyone else has experienced this there?”
The post generated over 100 comments as of Thursday morning, with several residents encouraging the man to take up the issue with the town.
Other residents recounted their own experiences while trying to get into Greenwich Point.
“I also bought a car pass along with individual entry passes (you need one for each person in the car). The man at the gate scanned the car pass and said it had been used, but the individual entry passes hadn’t,” said a New Canaan resident. “He definitely didn’t offer an alternative pass and turned us away. Not sure you’re dealing with a scam but there is no possible way my car entry pass was used prior. I called the Town and left a message – no response. I’d love my $40 back.”
First Selectman Fred Camillo said he had been unaware of the social media post until he was alerted to it Wednesday morning. He then contacted the Parks and Recreation Department.
Camillo expressed confidence that the situation is being handled properly.
“Our employees really take pride in what they do there, and when you have something like this, an allegation, you want to make sure it’s addressed immediately,” he said.
On Wednesday, Director of Parks and Recreation Joe Siciliano said the department will review all information.
“In the meantime, it’s only fair to the operation and the employee that we take them out of circulation temporarily, and we’re doing the review,” Siciliano added.
