Public Seeks Answers from Dennis Committee On Actions about Rec Director

DENNISVILLE – Dennis Township Committee at its Oct. 23 meeting addressed public comments that continued, as had been the case at its last two meetings, for details regarding proposed disciplinary actions against Recreation Center Director Kim Herron. 
Resident Dennis Crippen queried committee, “Has the hearing officer been appointed? What is the timeline and where do things stand? What are next steps?”
Township Business Administrator Patrick Moran answered, “While we can only speak in generalities and not name the employee, following usual procedure, the attorneys for the labor union and employee and the township are working out details as to dates.
“We are a Civil Service town, and we are bound by those procedures and by law to do certain things in a certain way.
“However, I can state that in most cases generally speaking the township talks with the employee and affords the opportunity to improve performance.”
Another resident asked, “We have questions regarding the process because it has not been made clear by committee that all steps have been followed in the disciplinary process. By not sharing information, committee has damaged the integrity of the body.”
Committee member Scott Turner, standing in for Mayor Zeth Matalucci and Deputy Mayor Julie Fry-DeRose, both absent, reminded the gathering that committee has not revealed details as residents may have wished because it is following the advice of its labor counsel.
“We’re relying on the attorney’s advice and if an individual decides to speak out then there could be individual liability,” Turner said.
Committee member Thomas VanArtsdalen reacted to the gathering’s stirrings, “I can’t sit here any longer and take this anymore. I am a parent; I’ve coached at the Rec Center. This is crazy, and it’s not easy to just continue to sit here. I didn’t sign up for this.”
While committee and Solicitor Marcus Karavan said they had never worked with the appointed hearing officer, nor had interaction with or even knew the name of the individual, Moran mentioned that he believed the person “came from up north of the state.”
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.