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TagsThey concede they have put relatives on the agency's payroll
Gov. Chris Christie Tuesday issued letters to six of the seven Passaic Valley Sewerage commissioners notifying them that he would immediately begin removal proceedings against them for cause.
There are 9 seats on commission. Two are vacant. Receiving letters were Anthony J. Luna, the chairman; Carl S. Czaplicki, the vice chairman; Thomas J. Powell, Angelina M. Paserchia, William E. Flynn, and Frank J. Calandriello. The only commissioner who was not told to get out is Passaic City Councilman Kenneth J. Lucianin, a Democratic appointee.
In addition, the governor also took the steps necessary to suspend the six commissioners without pay pending the resolution of the removal proceedings. The letters come on the heels of Christie's demand outlined in a Jan. 18 letter from Jeff Chiesa, his chief counsel, that requested each of the commissioners produce all relevant information relating to their participation in hiring practices and contracts awarded by the commission.
Six of the commissioners prepared written responses to Chiesa's questions. Flynn refused to respond but instead submitted a letter demanding an apology for the tone of the chief counsel's letter.In their letters, several commissioners indicate that they have lobbied in favor of or recommended for hire relatives to work at the PVSC. Commission documents indicate that several of them also voted to award raises and promotions to these individuals.
While the Christie administration has aggressively pushed the commission to enact reforms in accordance with sound ethical and fiscal practices, the governor's office said the commissioners have resisted the effort.The governor's office also said the commissioners have blocked attempts by the PVSC's Director Wayne Forrest, the former Somerset County prosecutor named by Christie to run the commission, to institute reforms.
The commission, based in Newark, is the largest sewerage treatment agency in the state.
The governor's office said that "in light of persistent abuses of the hiring system, blatant conflicts of interest and unfair compensation and perks, it is clear that serious and fundamental reform will only take place once the existing commissioners have been removed."
"The members of the PVSC Board of Commissioners have had more than enough time to begin reforming the commission, but have chosen instead to perpetuate a pattern of abuse," Christie said. "They have repeatedly engaged in unethical hiring practices, secured unwarranted perks and blatantly ignored conflicts of interest. Using the PVSC as a personal spoils system will no longer be tolerated and this reckless disregard for ethical behavior will come to an end."
In the letters, the governor outlines specific grounds for each commissioner's removal. Some of the grounds include:
- The fact that the commissioners are no longer physically fit or able to serve.
- The fact that the commissioners have committed conduct which is violative of the their oaths.
- The fact that certain commissioners had a direct or indirect interest in commission's contracts; and
- The fact that the commissioners have violated the agency's code of ethics.
- In the case of Flynn, the governor cited an additional reason for his removal: his "non-responsive answer to the Jan. 18 inquiry by Chiesa. Christie maintains, "That response is itself sufficient cause to remove."
Christie's letter also states that if he has not received resignations by Jan. 27, each commissioner is directed to appear before David A. Cohen, director of the Governor's office of Employee Relations, to be advised of the charges.
Christie said, "Now is the time for the Legislature to post and pass the bipartisan legislation which gives the governor the necessary veto authority to bring this taxpayer abuse to an end. It is clear that the PVSC has forfeited the right to police their own behavior. They must be held accountable which is why the legislature must give me the ability to stop this betrayal of the taxpayer's trust. Every additional day of delay by the legislature makes this taxpayer abuse more possible."
In order to maintain the operation of the PVSC plant, Christie signed an executive order that vests all necessary authority to run the commission in Forrest.
— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
