DCA Upholds Decision to Reinstate Long-Time West Wildwood Clerk

WEST WILDWOOD — The state Department of Community Affairs (DCA)) upheld the de-cision that would reinstate longtime Borough Clerk, Dorothy Tomlin.
However, that decision isn’t enough for Tomlin to resume her position as clerk yet.
On Oct. 14 the borough went before the DCA’s local finance board for an appeal of Susan Jacobucci, director of the Local Government Service Division of the DCA, original order to reinstate Tomlin. The board upheld the decision by Jacobucci.
Mayor Herbert Frederick said he was waiting for an official letter from the board and the borough solicitor to review the decision before he took action.
“Nothing will probably be decided before the next borough meeting,” Frederick said.
The mayor also noted that Tomlin’s case has to go before a judge at the state Office of Administrative Law in December before a final decision could be made.
Tomlin, who has worked for the borough for 40 years, was suspended with full pay and is still being retained as an employee, according to Frederick. He said that her duties as clerk were suspended until certain concerns about her job were addressed.
Tomlin’s suspension this summer has prompted about 40 residents to raise their voices and a few signs in a protest outside the West Wildwood municipal building before an Aug. 7 meeting. Many who picketed on Tomlin’s behalf believe that the suspension is an attempt by Frederick to derail a recall petition against him, and Commissioner Gerald McNamara. Those residents also claim that Tomlin is the latest borough employee that has been fired because of they had allied with former mayor, Christopher Fox.
Frederick denied that Tomlin’s suspension had anything to do with the recall and the de-cision was long and thought out.