Letter to the Editor: Cranford Can Do Better Than Part-Time Town Officials

To the Editor: 

At the November town council meeting we were informed that Chief Eric Mason is resigning from being the acting township administrator and will return being a full time police chief in 2013. This comes after our township committee went through the process of selecting a new police chief for a position that is not vacant. The explanation we were offered was that nobody is happy with the situation and that they cannot discuss because it involves privacy laws governing "personnel issues". There is only one part the decision that is nobody's business, that is Chief Mason's reason behind his decision to remain as police chief. There is a lot more that is involved in how we got where we are today, that is not covered by "personnel issues." 

The fact is, Eric Mason has been acting administrator for over a year. The fact is, that even though Commissioner Adubato is his strongest defender, the whole town council has agreed to have him serve as acting administrator for this long. This town council has felt so strongly that Eric Mason should be the administrator, that this position has been a part time position for over a year. They felt so strongly that he is the best man for the job, that the police chief's position has been a part time position for over a year. They are hiding behind privacy, so that they do not have to answer any questions on their own decisions. Nothing surrounding the decision to not fill the administrators position, is covered by privacy.

The 2012 Town Council is down on record, as the town council who felt so strongly that one man would be the best township administrator, that they held the position open for one year for him. The 2012 Town Council spent their time and the taxpayers money, to interview for a new police chief, which is a job they have repeatedly stated is not open. They made no effort to interview for the open position of township administrator. Lucky be the man who has a job held open for him for over one year. Now, a year later, we have to begin our search for a new township administrator. 

This 2012 Town Council has run this town like it is a part time job. We have a part time Township Administrator, part time Police Chief, and a part time Chief Financial Officer.

The 2012 Town Council has left Cranford with an administrative department with no leadership. There is no Administrator, and there is no Chief Financial Officer. The 2012 Town Council has left the Cranford Police Department with both a Police Chief and a Lieutenant who was told he will be Police Chief.

Leaving us with a divided Police Department with an uncertain future. I can not see how, any of these departments are being run effectively by the 2012 Town Council. I hope the 2013 Town Council learns from the mistakes of 2012 and treats this town like a full-time town. 

—Rosario Fico