Motion to Appoint Former Brick Councilwoman as Clerk Fails

A motion to appoint former Brick Township Councilwoman Kathy Russell as acting township clerk starting July 1 failed to gain enough votes to pass Tuesday night.

Before any other council members – including Council President Bob Moore – spoke after the ceremonial Pledge of Allegiance at Tuesday night’s council meeting, Councilman Jim Fozman made the motion, which did not appear on a meeting agenda that was handed out at the door to council chambers.

Councilwoman Susan Lydecker provided a second.

A short, but contentious discussion ensued, with three of the council’s four Democratic members defending the measure against calls by Republicans that the appointment was politically motivated.

If it had passed, the motion would have resulted in Russell, a former Democratic council member, replacing Lynnette Iannarone as clerk. Iannarone was appointed to the position in 2010 and has worked in the clerk’s office for 17 years.

“Call it what it is,” said Councilman Domenick Brando. “It’s a political appointment.”

“I'll repeat the words of the mayor,” said Fozman, referring to Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis. “This is not personal, this is politics.”

As for Russell, Fozman said she had “30 years” of experience in business, education and government.

“She has everything, we're just waiting for results,” said Fozman. “That's why she's going in as acting clerk at this time.”

State law, regardless, would have forced the council to appoint Russell in an acting capacity since she is not certified as a municipal clerk.

Councilman John Ducey accused Acropolis – who was not at the meeting due to a conflict with services being held for his father, who died last weekend – of “bullying the council” on the issue by speaking with members of the press about the matter before Tuesday’s meeting.

“Mayor Acropolis called newspapers, did a press release, called radio stations, bringing up people's names on this issue,” said Ducey, explaining the matter was supposed to have been brought up next month, but Tuesday’s motion was related to media coverage to avoid “people’s names being dragged through the mud.”

Lydecker explained her reasoning for supporting appointing Russell.

“The argument is not about, 'is our sitting clerk doing a good job or not,’” said Lydecker. “I think what the true point is, is that, all of us except for myself on this council own their own business. Would you ever hire an employee for their entire life?”

Lydecker was referring to a state law that provides for tenure to municipal clerks after three years in office.

Jessica Larney, the township’s deputy clerk, would later say in a public comment period that such a law exists to prevent clerks from becoming “political pawns” whose jobs would otherwise be at risk every time a group of new council members get elected.

“There is no substitute for experience,” said Larney, who has worked in the clerk’s office for 14 years.

“Political season hasn't even opened up yet and we're talking about this,” said Councilman Joseph Sangiovanni, requesting the vote be put off until a future meeting, since neither Councilman Dan Toth nor the mayor were present.

But the vote would happen anyway.

Before instructing Iannarone to call a roll on a vote that would ultimately determine the status of her own job, Moore shared his perspective on the matter.

“I feel, if you do a great job at what you do, you keep your job. If you do a poor job, there's the door,” he said. “For this matter, I’m voting no.”

The vote ended in a tie, effectively defeating the motion.

Moore, Sangiovanni and Brando voted against the appointment. Fozman, Ducey and Lydecker voted in favor of it.

Iannarrone’s term is set to end June 30. The council still must appoint a clerk – Iannarone or another person – before then.