Township Clerk Awaits Hearing, Seeks Investigation Into Township Manager

Galloway Township Clerk Lisa Tilton was suspended without pay on June 10, and two days later, sent a request to have her hearing held at the June 14 council meeting.

The request was neither accepted nor denied, but no hearing was held, and as of Wednesday morning, none had been scheduled, to Tilton’s knowledge.

Tilton appeared before the council Tuesday night to request a hearing publicly, but Township Solicitor Michael Blee instructed council not to respond.

Blee didn’t immediately return a phone call seeking comment Wednesday.

Blee and members of council have not commented on Tilton’s situation since she missed her first township meeting since taking the position in 2008, calling it a “personnel issue.”

Tilton said she has requested a hearing twice since she was suspended. Tilton is afforded a hearing on the matter, and it may be public if she so chooses.

Tilton also requested an investigation into Township Manager Steve Bonanni’s actions leading up to the suspension at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Bonanni is on vacation this week, and didn’t immediately return a phone message seeking comment on Wednesday.

“After (working in the township for) nine and a half years with an exemplary record, everything happened in 28 days,” Tilton said of events leading up to and including the suspension. “At 4:20 p.m. on Friday, June 10, I was told I was being suspended and I had 10 minutes to clear out my desk.”

Over that 28-day span, Tilton was given several reprimands and a separate five-day suspension, she confirmed Wednesday morning. However, Tilton didn't elaborate on the specifics.

Tilton's salary is $64,429 a year.