West Orange Town Council Meets to Choose a Chief Operating Officer & a Chief Financial Officer

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange town council members had a scheduled a special meeting on July 17 to interview two potential Chief Operating Officers (COO) and to discuss an interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Council President Bill Rutherford and member Asmeret Ghebremicael were unable to attend the meeting.

Sue Scarpa said she couldn’t vote for anyone because she had just received the CFO’s info. Michelle Casalino agreed that they needed to interview the CFO candidate. Tammy Williams concurred, and all three of them were concerned about voting without their absent colleagues.

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Interim Business Administrator James Abbott explained that CFO John Gross is leaving August 1, and that legally, his position needs to be filled by then. Abbott shared, “Mr. Buono [has been working] for the town in a limited capacity as a private contractor for a few years. Vincent Buono the founder of VB Logic, which is the company that produced Unidex — our software system for all our finances.” He sold the company, but knows that system very well.

Council members asked if any members of the public wanted to comment. Former Council Member Joe Krakoviak said he agreed that the decision shouldn’t be made until council members had more information. He pointed out, “It is a very important position with serious consequences for the township and taxpayers.” He also mentioned that Gross had notified the township in April that he was leaving, so they had time to search for a replacement without saying that one must be hired immediately now.

Williams said she wanted to move the process forward by conducting the closed session because three members are a quorum, but also noted that they didn’t have to vote on the candidates.

Scarpa stated that she felt the situation was caused by poor planning. “I am not comfortable at all with the level of engagement that the council has had again. I misinterpreted an email and didn't feel that we were given ample opportunity to as a group, all five of us, to actually speak with enough of the candidates.” She added, “I had asked for more information about five of the candidates, and was not given that information. And I would have liked to have seen more information about other candidates, other than the two that we are going to be speaking with tonight. I feel this is an important enough decision that all five of our council members should be here together, actually interviewing these people.”

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Casalino noted, “I'm going to jump in and say one thing in fairness to the gentlemen present this evening who have been trying corral us and get us together on the same evening.” She continued, “Mr. Smeraldo and Chief Abbott have been trying to communicate with all of us, and it hasn't been easy on their part.

Scarpa, Casalino and Williams went into an executive session to discuss the candidates but didn’t take action.

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