By Cassandra Day
Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
(TNS)
NEW CANAAN, CT — A former senior municipal employee recently filed a second Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities complaint against the town of New Canaan, alleging she was fired from her position for conduct for which she had already been disciplined.
New Canaan’s former senior accountant Beth Straubel of Trumbull was terminated from her post last December, documents show. She submitted a grievance about her termination to the CHRO on Sept. 22 and then filed notice of her action with the town clerk’s office Oct. 29.
New Canaan First Selectman Dionna Carlson did not return emails requesting comment on the complaint, nor did town attorney Ira Bloom or Straubel’s attorney Daniel Angelone.
A year ago, Straubel, who claims she falls into a protected class because of her physical disability, filed an initial CHRO complaint charging the town with discrimination, according to the document.
She was fired from her position about a month later on Dec. 2, according to an affidavit of discriminatory practices. “The rationale given to the complainant for her termination was false,” the CHRO complaint says.
The town, the complaint claims, relied in part on her alleged past conduct as justification for her firing, despite her having already been disciplined.
Few details are given for Straubel’s discipline, disability or alleged conduct other than a reference to the “‘middle finger’ gesture,” according to the CHRO complaint.
Straubel charges the decision to terminate her employment was retaliation “based on her lodging her prior complaints of discrimination and retaliation, particularly her filing of the original charges” in late October 2025.
Her firing, the complaint says, was a violation of state and federal law, and caused her and her daughter to suffer damages including economic losses, mental anguish and physical pain. The document does not elaborate on the specific effects the action reportedly caused Straubel or her daughter.
Straubel is seeing compensatory and punitive damages, payment of costs and expenses, including attorneys fees, and other relief.
The town has 30 days to respond.
Photo credit: Town of New Canaan/Facebook
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© 2026 Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn. Visit www.journalinquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC.
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