The former town clerk for the Town of Haddam, Robert Siegrist, has filed a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) against the town and former First Selectman Robert McGarry alleging he was unfairly “terminated” when he lost the Republican primary for town clerk following disclosure of anonymous notes, complaints, and emails regarding his alleged alcohol use on the job and DUI arrests.
Siegrist was arrested for driving under the influence twice in February 2024 before entering a rehabilitation program. There was also a protective order taken out against him in December 2023 after he allegedly began dropping empty liquor bottles into the yard of an ex-girlfriend while driving past her residence.
During the 2025 Republican primary campaign, former Haddam First Selectman Robert McGarry released a lengthy document of unofficial complaints and notes regarding Siegrist’s behavior while on the job dating back to 2023 in response to a Freedom of Information request. The document included allegations of drinking on the job, fudging numbers, or making other errors in his accounting.
A former state representative, Siegrist claims the Town of Haddam and McGarry discriminated and retaliated against him based on his alcoholism disability by essentially ensuring he would be “terminated” from his job in the primary election. Despite being an elected official, state statutes governing the CHRO include elected officials as employees of the town.
“The Respondents never informed me that I was under constant surveillance, nor did they tell me a running document was being kept in my personnel file,” Siegrist wrote in his complaint. “My personnel file was filled with materials that were defamatory and designed to ruin my reputation. McGarry then went on to the Town of Haddam’s Facebook page and made slanderous remarks about me all designed to cause me to lose the election.”
Siegrist lost both the caucus nomination and the Republican primary for town clerk to Sarah Pytlik after he petitioned onto the ballot. McGarry declined to run for another term during the 2025 municipal elections and was replaced by Sean Donlan.
Siegrist further alleges that he was never informed about the FOI request – an allegation in direct contradiction to McGarry, who claims he had a sit-down with Siegrist prior to releasing the document – and claims McGarry “black mailed” him to drop out of the primary race by threatening to “expose” him.
“I refused to be black mailed by the Respondent and did not withdraw,” Siegrist wrote. “The Respondent engaged in every possible tactic to retaliate against me for refusing to withdraw.”
Release of the document sparked a back and forth on social media between Siegrist, who claimed the release of this document violated privacy laws protecting health information, and McGarry, who said he was on the verge of contacting the attorney general’s office to have Siegrist removed, but instead encouraged him to drop out of the race.
According to social media posts, McGarry said he asked other employees to keep notes on any issues they perceived with Siegrist when it became apparent he had an alcohol problem, and that he was trying to gather enough information to ask the Attorney General to step in and possibly remove Siegrist. McGarry also claims he twice offered to allow Siegrist to view the file.
The file is largely comprised of unsigned and unsubstantiated notes regarding Siegrist’s behavior, including alleged hostile comments toward others, alleged alcohol use during work, and being late or leaving early. There are also emails documenting errors in his accounting and recording of town issues. The notes were reportedly taken by JoAnne Ricciardelli, McGarry’s assistant.
However, it also contains reference to his entering an employee assistance program to treat his alcoholism, including that he signed a release “so the EAP can keep us informed on his status,” and documenting the first time they heard from the EAP regarding Siegrist’s initial contact and his being “guided toward a counselor.”
Siegrist previously claimed that releasing this information violated HIPAA. A complaint to the CHRO is generally a first step toward a lawsuit, as the complainant must exhaust all administrative remedies before going to court.
“I have always struggled with alcoholism which runs in my family,” Siegrist wrote in the affidavit. “Shortly after my arrest, First Selectman McGarry pulled me into his office. We discussed my disability, and I informed him that I planned on entering a treatment program.”
“I did in fact lose the primary,” Siegrist wrote. “I believe I have been discriminated against because of my disability and request the Commission to fully investigate my allegations.”
The CHRO has not yet decided whether to investigate Siegrist’s claims.
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