JEFFERSON—A newly filed lawsuit by a local advocacy group, Concerned Citizens for a Better Jefferson, raises serious allegations against Jefferson Township officials. The lawsuit accuses them of violating state laws and township ordinances regarding employee salaries, transparency, and public record access.
Recently filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey: Morris County Law Division, the verified complaint alleges that Township officials—including Business Administrator Debra J. Milliken and Municipal Clerk Michele Reilly—knowingly approved and implemented a 2025–2028 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) without proper public disclosure and in direct violation of the Township’s Salary Ordinance #21-25 and state law.
Key Allegations in the Complaint:
- Unlawful Salary Increases: The complaint highlights several instances where employee salaries allegedly exceeded the ranges established in the 2021 salary ordinance, including raises granted to new hires and a union representative promoted twice daily.
- OPRA Violations: The group asserts that their Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests for the approved CBA were unreasonably delayed, with the Township citing ongoing legal review—even after publicly acknowledging the contract’s implementation.
- OPMA Breaches: The complaint also accuses the Township of violating the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) by adopting the CBA and approving inflated salaries through resolutions, without proper public notice or discussion, which are typically required when making ordinance-level changes.
- Budget Concerns: The 2025 municipal budget, adopted on April 16, allegedly includes appropriations based on these improper salaries, raising questions about fiscal accountability and transparency.
According to the lawsuit, Milliken’s and Police Chief Paul Castimore’s salaries exceed the ordinance’s maximums—$163,000 and $226,376, respectively—when the ordinance caps were $157,080 and $185,279. The complaint claims that one employee was paid a biweekly rate, translating into a salary of nearly $98,000, far beyond the maximum of the role.
The plaintiff group, represented by attorney Marco Di Stefano, seeks multiple remedies, including injunctive relief to stop the Township from enforcing the disputed contract and salaries, a court order to comply with salary ordinances, and penalties for violations of OPRA and OPMA.
“The continuous escalation of property taxes in Jefferson is unsustainable and must cease. We implore our local government to exercise greater prudence in public expenditures. The unchecked increase in payroll within Jefferson cannot continue without direct taxpayer input. We expect our government to adhere to the law strictly,” stated a resident who requested Jefferson Focus to remain anonymous.
Jefferson Focus contacted Business Administrator Debra J. Milliken for comment. As of publication, no response has been received. Should Ms. Milliken provide a statement, we will update this article to include her remarks.
The case underscores rising tensions in Jefferson over how taxpayer dollars are allocated and the degree to which residents are informed about municipal decisions that affect public finances.
A complete copy of the lawsuit can be viewed by clicking here.
