Longport Borough Hall
LONGPORT – The Board of Commissioners Wednesday, Dec. 5 unanimously agreed to settle a dispute with former Acting Municipal Clerk Matthew Conlon, 56, of Atlantic City, who left his post in November.
Following an executive session on Nov. 29 held to discuss Conlon’s employment, Mayor Nicholas Russo failed to get a second on his motion to reappoint Conlon.
Conlon was appointed acting municipal clerk on Oct. 1, 2017 just weeks before long-time Municipal Clerk Emilia “Amy” Strawder retired. He was appointed to a two-year term in the acting role and was required to complete the training necessary to sit for the municipal clerk’s exam.
Solicitor Pacifico “Pat” Agnellini advised commissioners Dec. 5 to consider executing a release agreement he negotiated with Conlon in a series of telephone conversations held from Nov. 29 through Dec. 5.
“The acting municipal clerk’s reappointment was not moved forward at the last meeting; therefore, his employment was terminated,” Agnellini said. “I had several discussions with him regarding claims he felt he had.”
Agnellini said it would be in the best interest of the municipality to “settle its differences and eliminate any potential claims” between Conlon and the borough.
Conlon was not available for comment.
The commissioners agreed to provide Conlon with a lump sum payment of $22,000 and authorized Agnellini to prepare a release agreement.
In other business, the commission authorized a municipal services fee for the Longport Public Library totaling $45,000 in exchange for services performed by the borough, including payroll, facility maintenance, janitorial services, utilities, storage, and for use of the borough’s copy machine and postage meter.
The board also introduced an ordinance that would add a paragraph to the borough’s existing Public Utilities ordinance to allow Verizon Wireless to install small cellular network nodes on utility poles containing existing utility infrastructure. The ordinance prohibits the installation of the nodes on existing utility poles paid for by the borough for the purpose of providing street lighting.
According to engineer Richard Carter, the ordinance change allows the borough to continue its efforts to convert cobra head street lights into the more aesthetically pleasing Victorian globe design.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19.
