Did MUA Firings Influence Council’s Commissioner Choice?

VILLAS — Lower Township Council ousted a Lower Municipal Utilities Board Commissioner in a move some are interpreting as a payback for the lay off of two long time MUA employees.
MUA Commissioners voted unanimously at a special meeting Oct. 16 to abolish the jobs of MUA employees Kathy Armbruster and Dawn Cottrell, who were given 90 days notice their positions were being “abolished.”
At a Jan. 20 meeting, township council had an opening to fill on the Board of Commissioners of the Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) but Mayor Michael Beck’s choice of current MUA Commissioner Ed Butler raised objections from other members.
Butler has been serving on the MUA board, filling an unexpired term.
Beck called Butler forward to answer any questions council had before they voted their choice. Also in line for the seat was builder Ken Mann who ultimately received a majority vote from council and was appointed.
The mayor asked Butler and Mann if they had any relatives employed by the MUA. Mann said he did, his brother in law. Butler said he did not.
Beck said he had a problem with Mann having a relative working for the MUA. He noted there were two others on the MUA board with relatives on the payroll.
Beck asked Mann if he had attended any MUA meetings. He replied that he had not.
“If I want to sit on the zoning board, I’m going to attend zoning board meetings beforehand,” said Beck.
Mann said he had been active in coaching including Cape Express Soccer and had built 50 houses in the township.
“I’m impressed that this is the third or fourth MUA board appointment we’re making and you decide to institute a new process unbeknownst to the rest of council the night of the meeting,” said Lare.
He said Councilman Wayne Mazurek suggested MUA board candidates be questioned in closed session “so as to not air anyone’s dirty laundry, so to speak.”
“I find it disturbing that you pulled this stunt tonight,” said Lare.
“I don’t know exactly what the stunt is except I’m trying to put the best person on the board,” answered Beck.
He said he felt it was important to have the ability to ask people who wish to sit on the board questions in public and “not in the backroom.”
Mazurek said he had not previously seen an applicant “grilled” in public. He said he would abstain from the vote.
Previous appointments by council have been more or less “Who do you know? Do you know this guy? You got anybody you want to put up?” said Mazurek.
He suggested applicants for board positions submit a resume and application with council reviewing them and ranking the applicants.
Councilmen Thomas Conrad and Glenn Douglass concurred with Mazurek.
Beck said he had no problem with the suggested process for applicants but he wanted to reserve the right to ask any question to determine if something would impede the board member’s work.
Township Solicitor Tony Monzo said he was not sure if applicants could be chosen in closed session and he would research the topic.
Butler, who is vice president of the Lower Township Taxpayers Association, said he submitted his resume and was an experienced, sitting MUA board member. He noted council voted him onto the MUA board seven months ago. He asked why Douglass was now in favor of Mann.
Douglass replied that he thought there was a more qualified candidate. Lare offered the same answer.
“You cannot explain why you’re doing this,” replied Butler.
He said council has been picking appointees by going in the backroom and making a deal.
Conrad said the selection process needed to change. He said people want open government.
Butler said nothing had changed on council and four council members were going to select someone that is a friend, a relative or “someone that has something on you.”
Taxpayers Association President Janet Pitts said she hoped the selection of Mann for the MUA had nothing to do with the dismissal of two MUA office employees.
“If that enters into your decision in any way, I think that is horrendous and I think that it is a terrible statement that you’re making that this would be some sort of retribution or retaliation.”
Lare nominated Mann, who was approved in a 3-1 vote with Beck voting no and Mazurek abstaining.