After a closed session last night that ended past 11 p.m. regarding Resolution 70-18, the appointing of Mark Pasquali as the Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent, the governing body stated that after not coming to agreeable terms with Mr. Pasquali on the duration of his contract, his last day of employment with the municipality will be Thursday, February 8, 2018.
The matter was the final resolution of the meeting and it was pulled from the agenda for separate discussion as a closed session item.
In having the matter resolved, it was revealed that the governing body had offered Mr. Pasquali a six-month term extension on his current contract while the DPW superintendent wanted a multi-year agreement. With the governing body holding firm to the half-year period and Mr. Pasquali not accepting it, his current contract will expire next Thursday and not be renewed.
A source familiar with the matter stated that salary was not the issue, simply the term of the employment contract.
When the meeting returned to open public session, Borough Clerk Andrew Casais – speaking on behalf of the governing body – stated that the original resolution would be amended and would be read into the record. A motion was made to amend the resolution and seconded. The original wording of the resolution was removed in its entirety and replaced with the following:
“Whereas the Superintendent of Public works’ term ends on February 8th, 2018 and whereas the borough offered the superintendent a six-month extension with the borough’s option for subsequent renewals and whereas that proposal was not accepted by the superintendent, now, therefore, be it resolved that the Superintendent of Public Works’ term of office ends on February 8th, 2018, at which time his employment with the borough shall also end.”
Council first approved the amendment then approved the new resolution.
Mr. Pasquali – who left council chambers without saying a word to anyone before the resolution was read into the record – was originally appointed in 2015 as DPW Superintendent. This came after the previous DPW Superintendent Vince Cahill was not reappointed in 2012 after serving a three-year term that started in 2010. For two years, Mr. Pasquali was acting superintendent as an employee for Neglia Engineering, the borough’s engineering firm. They had been hired as a contractor temporarily until then-DPW employee Rich Graves, who was appointed Assistant Superintendent in 2012, completed required training and received the certification needed to take over the position. In the end, Mr. Pasquali was appointed DPW superintendent as a full-time employee of the borough [article link].
Although not stated at last night’s meeting, current Assistant Superintendent Robert Krahnert will become the acting superintendent starting February 9th until a permanent superintendent is hired by the governing body.