TRENTON – A city clerk who sexually harassed three female employees is getting a six-figure payday and a “free pass” to settle a $3 million whistleblower lawsuit against the the city.
Legislators approved a $140,000 settlement with Matthew Conlon at Tuesday’s meeting.
Council members George Muschal and Joe Harrison voted against the settlement, which was presented by Mayor Reed Gusciora’s law department as the most cost-effective option.
Gusciora called the decision “economical,” expecting that the legal fees to represent the various officials that Conlon sued would soar past $500,000 as the litigation proceeded.
The decision to pay off Conlon, which followed discussion in executive session, left some council members fuming.
“That’s what pissed me the f**k off,” Muschal said, “to give him a free pass with a 100 and f***ing 40 thousands dollars.”
The settlement is expected to resolve any anticipated or current disciplinary action being pursued against the controversial clerk, who isn’t expected to return to his post once his medical leave ends.
He was found by two law firms to have violated city policies on bullying and sexual harassment that could’ve led to his firing more than a year ago.
Gusciora had asked state officials to revoke Conlon’s certification to remain a registered municipal clerk in the state of New Jersey, citing constant chaos and disorder at the clerk’s office that ground operations to a halt.
The case was in the hands of an administrative law judge.
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