Holmdel Administrator Quits As 'Employee In Good Standing'

HOLMDEL, NJ — Embattled Holmdel administrator Donna Vieiro has decided to resign from the job.

Vieiro resigned as Holmdel Township administrator as an employee "in good standing;" the news was publicly announced at Tuesday night's Township Committee meeting, which you can watch below.

As such, the Township Committee approved a separation agreement between the Township and Vieiro, but it was not a unanimous vote: Tom Critelli and Eric Hinds, who has always been a staunch Vieiro supporter, both agreed on it, and Mike Nikolis was the deciding vote in their favor.

However, Greg Buontempo and Rocco Pascucci voted against it. They did not say why.

"It is with great sadness that we accept the resignation of Vieiro," said Hinds. "She has been a tremendous asset for the past six years ... Donna has been subject to accusations that I believe are baseless and have been investigated for weeks ... The experience has poisoned the atmosphere to the point that Donna has decided to move on."

Holmdel Twp. attorney Michael Collins refused to divulge the details of Vieiro's separation agreement, saying he could not comment on personnel matters.

As Patch initially reported, Vieiro was placed on a paid leave from her $165,000-year job after she and Holmdel Human Resources Director Denise Callery were accused of nepotism. Callery was also placed on paid leave; she makes $80,000 a year working for Holmdel.

The allegation was made by Holmdel's former chief financial officer, Jeanette Larrison, who quit in April. Before she left, Larrison filed a whistleblower complaint saying that Callery's relative interviewed for a position working as payroll supervisor for Holmdel Twp.

Larrison alleged that both Callery and Vieiro pushed to have Callery's relative hired, even over another candidate who Larrison thought was more qualified.

Holmdel hired the outside law firm of Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri & Jacobs to investigate the claim.

Both women were suspended with pay, and then Callery was allowed to return to work with a five-day unpaid punishment. Vieiro, however, decided to quit.

Hinds has always defended Vieiro as having done nothing wrong.

"I am personally unhappy with this process and how she was treated. She was a very important resource for our town," Hinds said Tuesday night. He particularly praised Vieiro for her work on the Bell Works complex. "She turned a municipal eyesore into a lively business zone."

Both Vieiro and Callery took the highly unusual step of waiving their RICE notices, meaning they allowed the allegations made against them to be discussed in public.

Related: Claims Of Nepotism At Holmdel Town Hall: 2 Employees Suspended

New Allegations Emerge Against Holmdel Administrator