Ethics Complaints Filed Against Hillsborough Officials

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Local residents filed ethics complaints against Hillsborough Committeewoman Gloria McCauley, Township Administrator Anthony Ferrara and Committeeman Gregory Burchette alleging that they used their official positions in the Township for personal gain and violated state ethics codes.

More than 40 signatures of township residents accompanied the complaints filed on Oct. 18 with the six members of the Hillsborough Ethics Standards Board.

One of the complaints claims that McCauley listed Ferrara's home and accepted a real estate commission on the sale despite being his employer. It also claims that McCauley recently gave Ferrera a 5.45 percent increase on his salary to $152,625 when most township employees received 2 percent.

"The actions of McCauley, a current candidate running for re-election to the Township Committee, and Administrator Ferrara obviously violated these State laws but the Township Committee apparently turned a blind eye toward these violations of law by their fellow Township Committee member and the Township Administrator whose duties they oversee," according to the letter sent to the ethics board.

William Willard, Hillsborough Township Attorney stated that both McCauley and Ferrera "categorically deny" the insinuations and allegations.

Willard also said the complaints against McCauley and Ferrera are "nothing more than an unsubstantiated partisan attack launched just prior to the upcoming election for the sole purpose of influencing voters."

An ethics complaint was also filed against Burchette claiming his "illegal" conflict of interest with his involvement in the township's decision to change the Emergency Medical Service provider from Hillsborough EMS to Robert Wood Johnson EMS.

It is alleged that Burchette's Bridgewater Motor Works business maintained the EMS vehicles for Somerset Medical Center, which later became part of RWJ. He also allegedly played a role in hiring Fitch and Associates to conduct a study of the town's EMS. Fitch and Associates was also allegedly employed and being paid by RWJ EMS.

"There was no violation of the Local Government Ethics Law and the Ethics Complaint is without merit," Willard said.

Willard noted that Burchette did not participate in the study of the town's EMS or awarding of RWJ with a contract. He also added that Burchette's business stopped servicing the Somerset Medical Center fleet of ambulances when Robert Wood Johnson Health Network took over.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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