Ex-Conn. fire boss charged with illegal tax breaks

MANCHESTER, Conn. (AP) — A former Manchester fire chief has been arrested on charges that he inflated the number of firefighters eligible for personal property tax breaks.

Paul Litrico surrendered Monday on a warrant charging him with second-degree larceny and false entry by a public official.

The president of the Eighth Utilities District's board alerted police in July to missing documents certifying that certain department members were eligible for a $400 motor vehicle tax abatement based on their volunteer hours.

Police say Litrico certified that 17 members of the department qualified for tax abatement but only three appeared to be eligible.

Litrico's lawyer told The Hartford Courant that Litrico believed he acted lawfully and was working with complicated information related to tax eligibility issues.

Litrico is due in Superior Court on Jan. 8.