The former city manager of Clifton in Passaic County has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the city and four sitting council members, accusing them of harassing him for years and forcing him into early retirement.
Dominick Villano, 67, was hired as Clifton’s city manager in 2014 and served until he left on May 1.
In a 63-page civil complaint filed May 30 in Passaic County Superior Court, Villano claims he was subjected to a “hostile and toxic” work environment created by several council members, four of whom he is suing personally.
In addition to the city, Villano is suing Mary Sadrakula, Antonio Latona, Christopher D’Amato and William Gibson, all sitting council members.
Sadrakula, Latona, and Gibson did not respond to requests for comment. D’Amato referred questions about the case to his attorney, who did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
The lawsuit accuses some council members of persistently interfering with Villano’s statutory duties under New Jersey law. His job duties ranged from personnel decisions to overseeing city operations.
He also said the council members retaliated against him when he refused to comply with what he describes as unlawful or unethical directives.
Villano said the alleged interference from council included demands to appoint specific department heads, pressure to cancel public events and attempts to influence contract awards.
He also accused the council members of targeting a local mosque with discriminatory parking...
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