Mayor To Ask State To Evaluate All Aspects of Galloway Township Operations

Mayor Don Purdy wants to move forward, and he feels the proper way to do that is to have the State of New Jersey come in and evaluate all aspects of Galloway Township's operations, he said on Thursday, Dec. 29.

"I think the clerk's office is doing a good job, but the state put the (Open Public Records Act) legislation in place," Purdy said. "So the best thing is for them to come in and tell us what we're doing right and what we're doing wrong."

Purdy wants the state to evaluate all aspects of the township's operations, and says Galloway will then take steps to fix anything that needs to be fixed.

"I have nothing to hide," said Purdy, who stated he has spoken to other members of council and the majority is in agreement with him.

Purdy's comments came a day after The Press of Atlantic City reported that the state Department of Community Affairs is investigating a complaint filed against Township Clerk Kimberly Hodsdon by gallowaytwpnews.com publisher Harry Scheeler.

Scheeler claims Hodsdon didn't fill one of his information requests in a timely manner. According to emails provided by Scheeler, Hodsdon stated she didn't check her emails on Nov. 14, the date Scheeler sent his request for information, and therefore was unable to respond until Nov. 15. The request was for immediate access. Scheeler is in possession of copies of emails Hodsdon sent on Nov. 14, and has accused Hodsdon of lying about not receiving his request on Nov. 14.

Scheeler has requested the DCA take action against Hodsdon's Registered Municipal Clerk (RMC) certification.

The DCA sent an initial inquiry to Hodsdon, to which Hodsdon has three weeks to respond. Purdy stated he will file an official request to have the state evaluate the township next week.

Township officials called a with members of the local media last week for what they called an informational session about OPRA requests.

Scheeler has filed a number of requests lately, including one that revealed Hodsdon hadn't taken her Oath of Office, which she has since done.

Another led the township to change its policy on township employees using social media while at work and to Township Manager Steve Bonanni purchasing a personal cell phone to use in place of his township phone for personal calls.