By Brian McCready
New Haven Register
June 29, 2008
http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19813390&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=635049&rfi=6
[with links to the video]
MILFORD - The Rev. L. Kenneth Fellenbaum seemed to be living the American dream.
He has a loving family, and was one of the most respected people in the community. He left an indelible mark on thousands of residents in his 21 years behind the pulpit as the pastor at Grace Baptist Church.
Fellenbaum Video (FLASH Version)
Fellenbaum Video (Quick Time Version)
Fellenbaum, 58, served on the board of directors for the Milford chapter of the American Red Cross, the United Way of Milford and the Beth el Shelter for the homeless.
He was a 16-year member of the Board of Police Commissioners and spent the last four as its chairman.
Fellenbaum secured more than $4 million in state and federal funds to help with the construction of two new buildings at the site of Boys' & Girls' Village Inc., of which he is executive director. Boys' & Girls' Village is a nonprofit organization that deals with emotionally and physically abused children. Fellenbaum also raised more than $1 million annually for the agency.
There's been chatter that Fellenbaum could one day be in the running for the state Department of Children and Family Services Commissioner position.
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| A surveillance camera captured the Rev. L. Kenneth Fellenbaum with an unidentified woman last month |
Then, in one booze-soaked, lurid night on the town, he jeopardized it all.
One night in May, at the Stonebridge Restaurant in downtown Milford, video cameras caught Fellenbaum kissing and hugging a young woman, who was not his wife, in public view. A police officer reported Fellenbaum was so intoxicated that he vomited on him. The officer said he stopped Fellenbaum from getting into a car and drove him home. Fellenbaum was not arrested and Police Chief Keith Mello said his actions were not criminal.
The incident left many bewildered.
Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. demanded his resignation from the police board. Fellenbaum resisted at first, but on Monday he quit the post after additional details and video of the incident were released.
Fellenbaum is now fighting for his job at Boys & Girls Village, as the board of directors is reviewing his conduct.
"I regret my actions that night and apologize for my inappropriate and uncharacteristic behavior. I ask everyone who I offended to please forgive me," Fellenbaum said Friday. "At this point, my main focus is to return to my life's passion of serving children, youth and families of Connecticut."
When former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer was snared earlier this year in a sex scandal, critics lined up to point out Spitzer's arrogance and bristly personality.
But in Fellenbaum's case, people in the community are sticking up for him, citing his good deeds and forgiving him.
"This doesn't change one iota of my professional respect for the man," said Rev. Maurice Maroney, pastor of St. Gabriel's Church. "It's just a (blip) in someone's life."
Despite the Stonebridge incident, Maroney said Fellenbaum is an "extraordinary Christian man."
"Ken did good things for Milford," Maroney said. "That was what Ken was all about."
Maroney said his relationship with Fellenbaum dates back to the 1980s when the two teamed up for an interfaith marriage.
"I took to him right away. We had a nice conversation about ministry. He knew the demands on being a priest. I looked to him for advice," Maroney said. "There was a quality of compassion and caring that was what his whole ministry was about."
Board of Police Commissioners Vice Chairman, the Rev. Carlton Giles, a retired pastor from the First Baptist Church, said despite the reports of Fellenbaum's behavior, his opinion is unchanged of the man.
"Ken is a fine man. No one will get me to say anything bad about him," Giles said.
He added that he was "surprised, shocked and in disbelief" over the accounts and never witnessed Fellenbaum acting inappropriately. He called the behavior an "aberration."
"It's totally out of sync with who he is and what he's done," Giles said.
Giles said he has no difficulty in forgiving Fellenbaum.
"I'm in the redemption business," Giles said. "Second chances are what I do. The guy I work for is in the business of giving multiple chances."
Giles recalled how he and Fellenbaum brought both of their churches together in a show of racial unity.
"That's what Ken stands for. He brings people together," Giles said.
But not everyone liked Fellenbaum. Former Boys' & Girls' Village Fundraising Director John J. Daley, who worked with Fellenbaum briefly in 2000, claims Fellenbaum basically ran him off the job. He also labeled Fellenbaum a "smooth talker."
"Ken was very political," Daley said.
Boys' & Girls' Village Board of Directors President Anthony Avallone said board members are reviewing the "entire matter," but Fellenbaum continues to serve in his current position. Avallone said the results of the inquiry will be made public because the agency is a nonprofit agency whose reputation hangs in the balance.
Avallone said in Fellenbaum's nine years on the job, there has never been another accusation or allegation made against his character.
"We've had nothing but positive things about Ken and the way he's run the organization," Avallone said.
Former Milford Republican Town Chairman Jack Fowler said Fellenbaum's seemingly sudden fall could happen to anyone.
"No one doesn't have comparable problems or crosses to bear," Fowler said. "No one should take any satisfaction or any glee in this.
"All of us have sinned. If you think you didn't, then stop the presses because the second coming is at hand," Fowler added.
Richetelli said he was surprised when he learned of Fellenbaum's conduct because he had always been a friend and "respected member of the community."
"It did come as a surprise to me. It's never crossed my mind or anyone else's," Richetelli said. "Ken did the right thing in resigning. The police commission and the city need to get back to normal."
Fellenbaum's legacy should be that he helped countless members of the community, the mayor said, and that Fellenbaum has "done a tremendous amount of good in the community," he added.
Former Police Union President Jeffrey Matchett, who is a police sergeant, said officers view Fellenbaum as a "huge supporter of law enforcement and huge supporter of the Milford Police Department, from the chief all the way down to the rank and file."
"Ken always had the best interests of the department at hand," Matchett said.
Fowler said Fellenbaum can easily rehabilitate his image, and there is much good he can still do for the community.
"Ken's a relatively young man. There is much good in him. It's wrong to say this is his defining legacy," Fowler said. "I hope he goes on to do good things."
Brian McCready can be reached at bmccready@nhregister.comor 401-3501.
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