Lower Township Council Member Glenn Douglass Resigns

VILLAS – The chair once occupied by Lower Township Council Member Glenn Douglass sat empty during council’s meeting on September 5. Douglass, the representative for Ward 3, reluctantly submitted his resignation on August 30 after learning he could not retire from his state position and collect a pension while holding an elected office.
“I was basically forced to resign from council,” said Douglass as he addressed the public. “I did not want to leave council. I think that we have a wonderful group. Everybody’s working for the community and I still want to be a part of council.”
Douglass, who has 29 years in the public employee retirement system, made plans with his wife to retire this year. He was counseled on more than one occasion and told he could retire from his state job while still continuing to serve in his elected position. But a small paragraph in Pension and Health Benefits Reform 2011, under Chapter 78, P.L. 2011 states otherwise.
“Basically there was no grandfather clause in this law, which there should’ve been,” said Douglass. “I’ve been deemed the only case that the pension board has actually had since the law was enacted.”
According to Douglass, every attempt was made to keep his position on the council, including conference calls with pension directors, the Attorney General, and the Governor’s office. Douglass was even offered the choice to continue his term without a salary, to which he was agreeable. But with the Labor Day weekend looming, Douglass did not hear back from the pension board in time and the decision to resign had to be made. “I have to abide by the law,” said Douglass.
“The governor says a statement about, New Jersey is stronger than the storm,” continued Douglass. “Well I’m going to be stronger than this storm and I’m going to be in the general election to regain my seat.”
Earlier in the evening, Jeff Lindsay, of Villas, approached council on behalf of the Republican Committee regarding the vacancy left by Douglass. Lindsay said he delivered the names and resumes of three potential candidates to the deputy clerk earlier in the day. “The committee requests that council move forward this evening with selecting one of those names so that the residents of Ward 3 are represented on council,” said Lindsay.
“Additionally, the committee, which is composed of representatives elected by the citizens of this township, we voted last night to endorse Erik Simonsen as the Ward 3 Republican candidate in the upcoming November election for that seat,” Lindsay continued. Simonsen was unsuccessful in his bid last November to unseat Mayor Michael Beck.
Before Beck could respond to Lindsay’s request, Township Solicitor Charles Sandman said that Lindsay’s letter, referencing state statute 40A:16-11 (Appointment to fill vacancy where incumbent was nominee of a political party; time to fill vacancy), does not apply in this case. Instead, Sandman cited state statute 40A:16-5 (Filling vacancies in municipalities holding general elections) as the correct course of action.
Lindsey argued that what Sandman read was an incorrect statement of the law, to which Sandman disagreed. After a short exchange where neither side budged on their interpretation of the law, Sandman advised council to take some time before making any decisions regarding filling the vacancy.
“I’m not making any appointments tonight,” said Beck. When pressed by Lindsay as to whether council would make a decision at the next meeting on September 16, Beck simply said he did not know.
One thing Beck was certain of was his appreciation for Douglass’ service on council. “He’s a heck of a good guy,” said Beck. “I always thought he was dedicated to the people he served and we will miss him.”