JEFFERSON — The Jefferson Township Police Department welcomes its newest members after graduating from the Morris County Police Academy. After 21 weeks of rigorous training, three dedicated recruits have officially joined the ranks as sworn police officers.

Each officer brings unique strengths and accomplishments to the department:

• Police Officer Dean Gonnella earned top honors in marksmanship, achieving a perfect score during firearms training week with a 100% average across three courses of fire.
• Police Officer Shane Cadigan demonstrated exceptional physical ability, finishing third in physical fitness among his academy class.
• Police Officer Kristin Merker transitions into her new role after many years of service as a dispatcher, bringing valuable experience and perspective to her position as an officer.

All three officers will now begin several months of field training before patrolling independently. Residents are encouraged to say hello and welcome them when they see them around town.

The Jefferson Township Police Department looks forward to the positive contributions these officers will make as they begin serving the community with dedication and pride.

JEFFERSON—The Jefferson Township Council will convene for its regular meeting on Wednesday, June 4, at 7:00 p.m. at the Jefferson Township Municipal Building. The agenda includes major capital spending, shared service agreements, and grant applications.

Click here to download the agenda.

A key item on the agenda is Ordinance #25-13, which proposes appropriating $1,918,431 from various township funds and grants for a range of capital improvements. If adopted, the ordinance would fund upgrades such as police equipment, recreation enhancements, HVAC improvements to municipal buildings, and resurfacing of Schoolhouse Road using a $305,340 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

The Council will also consider Ordinance #25-14, which would amend Chapter 7-37 of the Township Code to require all current and future police officers to hold a valid license issued by the Police Training Commission, under state law.

The discussion items include a draft salary ordinance and a memorandum of understanding related to the “Arrive Together” program, a partnership between Jefferson Police and the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris to provide coordinated mental health responses.

Several resolutions are on the agenda, including:

• A repayment agreement with KND Realty Holdings, LLC (Betsy Ross Diner) for $11,371 in past sewer fees.
• Authorization of a $18,090 contract with Painters Plus Corp. for painting services at the municipal building and police department.
• Shared services agreements with Mount Arlington and Wharton for the use of Jefferson’s animal shelter.
• A resolution supporting a $350,000 NJDEP Water Quality Restoration Grant application to address harmful algal blooms in Cozy Lake.

Ordinance #25-15, which would authorize a special emergency appropriation of $1.5 million for a township-wide revaluation of all real property, as ordered by the Morris County Board of Taxation, is also scheduled for introduction.

The Council will further consider resolutions to renew 25 liquor licenses, waive certain recreation fees, and approve Change Order #1 to purchase a fire truck, reducing the final cost to $2.1 million.

The meeting is open to the public. Residents are invited to attend or submit comments under public participation guidelines.

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.