CREST HAVEN – Lower Township Councilman Walter Craig is rounding out his 33-year county employment at Facilities and Services as a confidential assistant, for about 30 days, according to Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton.
He responded to a query into Craig’s county employment by Lower Township resident Jack Sparks. Sparks had a copy of a resolution that freeholders passed May 8 that listed Craig as being a full-time employee earning just over $36,000 annually.
“Does Walt Craig work for the county?” Sparks asked.
“He will be working temporarily for 30 days. He is not working now, but he will be shortly,” Thornton responded. “Because of his layoff vs. retirement, he has to come back for 30 days. He is entitled to his health benefits after 33 years he is entitled.”
Sparks told Thornton he asked Craig about his county employment at the May 21 municipal meeting, and said the councilman denied working for the county.
Thornton said the employment resolution passed earlier in the month was a snafu, and that the county had followed conflicting regulations and information when Craig was laid off from county employment when he should not have been.
Instead, at the May 22 meeting, the board passed a salary amendment that listed Craig as a “rehire status correction-seasonal.” Effective May 7, Craig is to be paid $20 per hour.
Thornton told Sparks the title Craig holds is allowed under labor agreements but not under Civil Service. Craig will be “assigned to whatever project is authorized.”
Sparks said Thornton’s explanation was suitable. A similar reply by Craig would have “been advisable rather than say he didn’t work for the county,” said Sparks.
“I asked him does he work for the county. He said no,” said Sparks.
Thornton acknowledged, “The whole thing was screwed up from the very beginning.” He added that the facts from the Division of Pensions interpreted the law differently.
“If that would have been explained, it would not have set the town on its ear last night. I thought there might be an explanation,” replied Sparks, a former Lower Township mayor.
“There was a lot of confusion and misunderstanding trying to interpret what was going on,” Thornton concluded.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
