Morrisville hires new temporary manager for $1 a year. For now. What his contract says

Morrisville’s new temporary borough manager will be paid at least $1 for overseeing administrative operations of the roughly 9,700-resident riverfront borough.

How much more James Dillon could be paid, though, won’t be decided until he leaves, according to a copy of his two-page employment agreement obtained through a Right to Know request.

Dillon’s salary isn’t the only vague detail in the document either.

The contract specifies that Dillon will act as chief administrative officer, but it doesn’t say what days or hours he is expected to work or if he will hold office hours.

Rather the agreement states that Dillon “may devote time outside normal office hours” to conduct borough business, and he can work from home if there is “inclement weather or other situations which may be deemed necessary.”

The agreement appears to accommodate Dillon’s other job — as full-time manager of Bristol Borough — where he has overseen daily operations since 2004. The Bristol Borough Council agreed to “lend” Dillon to Morrisville until it hires a new full-time manager.

Under his contract, Morrisville will pay Dillon $1 a year in salary. For now.

“At the completion of the employee’s employment to the borough, the borough may provide additional compensation to employee as borough deems appropriate,” according to the contract, which doesn't provide a potential or capped amount.

The council voted unanimously last month to hire Dillon as interim manager after the resignation of Judith Danko, who worked nearly three years for the borough. Danko left to take a manager position with Tinicum Township in Upper Bucks County.

What about the new Police Chief Richard Ciampa? What his contract says

Morrisville will have a police chief for at least the next two years, according to a copy of the employment contract for Richard Ciampa, who was hired last month.

The borough will pay Ciampa, a former lieutenant with the Freehold Borough Police Department in New Jersey, $140,000 this year and $145,656 in the final year of his contract which expires in June 2027.

The borough will provide Ciampa with a vehicle that he can use to travel to and from home and for official business. He cannot use the vehicle for vacations or personal travel, according to the contract.

Ciampa also will not be eligible for severance pay if he leaves his job, unless council terminates him without cause, according to the contract.

Ciampa, who lives in Middlesex County, New Jersey, started at the Freehold Police Department in 1999 and reached the rank of lieutenant in 2019.

He has a bachelor’s of Arts in public administration and completed a certified public management program at Rutgers State University, according to a copy of his resume provided through a Right to Know request.

Ciampa replaced George McClay, who was terminated in November after serving as chief since 2014.

Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com