Galloway CFO Sworn In Almost Five Months After Being Hired

Galloway Township Chief Financial Officer was sworn into office on Friday, March 2, 2012, despite taking the position on Oct. 3, 2011, according to documents obtained by Galloway Patch via an Open Public Records Request on Friday morning.

According to township officials, the swearing in is not necessary, and was only done as a precaution after her oath of office was questioned.

Dolcy was unanimously approved by council to take the position at the council's meeting on Aug. 23 of last year when previous CFO Jill Gougher left the township in which she was employed for over 24 years.

Earlier this week, gallowaytwpnews.com reported Dolcy had not yet taken the oath.

“When it was brought to my attention that it had not yet been done, so we did it,” Interim Acting Township Manager Arch Liston said in an email on Friday afternoon. “ … I’ve been advised it’s not an issue, but it’s been done.”

Liston added he was awaiting a written opinion on the situation. He doesn’t expect any complications to arise concerning Dolcy as a result of this situation.

Dolcy, Mayor Don Purdy and township Solicitor Michael Blee didn’t return phone messages seeking comment Friday afternoon. 

According to Deputy Mayor Tony Coppola, the ordinance states that all “elected or appointed officials” must be sworn in.

“Marilyn Dolcy is not an elected or appointed official. She’s an employee,” Coppola said. “The wording’s ambiguous, but we did it because it was questioned. She was happy to be sworn in.”

Earlier this year, Dolcy was the center of attention when she and previous Township Clerk Kimberley Hodsdon pursued from Galloway Township, despit being department heads. Dolcy, who has a salary of $150,000 a year, later withdrew her request. Township Solicitor Michael Blee determined there was nothing illegal about that request.