LTMUA Executive Director Matt Ecker Arrested, Employees Relieved

VILLAS- Jesse Matsinger feels relieved. On Oct. 25 the office of Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor announced the arrest of Lower Township’s MUA Executive Director Matthew Ecker.
Ecker was Matsinger’s boss. Last summer, according to Matsinger, a conversation with his boss ended with Matsinger being verbally threatened and physically assaulted. Matsinger went to the police and filed a report. It was more than “his word against his word,” because Matsinger had a recording of the incident.
Other MUA employees alleged they also felt intimidated by Ecker, after they received subpoenas from the County Prosecutor. “All this stuff he was doing to us was in retaliation for the prosecutor’s investigation,” Matsinger said.
The investigation was initiated as the result of a complaint by a former MUA employee, Jack Porter. As months passed, Matsinger became discouraged and wondered if the Prosecutor would ever act. “It just dragged on and on,” he said. So on Oct. 20 Matsinger went back to the Lower Township Police Department to make it formal. “I pressed charges against Ecker for assault and harassment.”
It was five days after that the Prosecutor arrested Ecker for the third degree crime of tampering with a witness and fourth degree crime of obstructing administration of law or other governmental functions.
“It was nice to see that justice was done in some small way,” Matsinger added. He hopes now that the MUA can get back on track “serving the taxpayers.” He also hopes MUA employees who have been hurt will get some relief. “Good families are getting hurt here,” Matsinger said. “The Board needs to address that.” Matsinger himself has had to seek medical treatment for the effects he suffered from the work situation and the altercation with Ecker.
Tom Will, a community activist and Independent candidate for a seat on Lower Township Council from the third Ward has followed the MUA situation closely. He attended meetings and asked questions. He had this to say about the Ecker arrest. “There’s always two or three sides to every story and we have to remember that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.” But he did not let the MUA Board off the hook. “When elected I will appoint people who get along with each other and people who have an open ear and will listen as well as speak,” he promised. He also said he would avoid cronyism and “appoint the best people and not make promises to anyone.”
Pat Burke, who describes herself as a supporter of Bill Dunn, said she does not know Ecker but does know “Dunn is a good man from a good family and they’re all suffering due to this.”
Bill Dunn, an MUA worker, was suspended without pay by the MUA. At the time he was the Bargaining Unit Representative. When he left, the other workers had no one to speak for them. When Matsinger filed a formal complaint with his employer he says he was told by Emily Oberkofler, the board secretary, that he was not entitled to be represented by an attorney but only by the Bargaining Unit Representative. In response, Matsinger and his co-workers voted to have Michelle Douglass, a civil rights, labor lawyer to be their Bargaining Unit Representative. Douglass is also representing some of the aggrieved employees in a civil action against their employer. According to Matsinger, Douglass is expected to file suit in the next coming week barring unforeseen circumstances. “I know it’s not over but it’s a step in the right direction,” Matsinger concluded.
To contact Helen McCaffrey, email hmccaffrey@cmcherald.com.