Galloway Township Says Settlement With Former Clerk Lisa Tilton is in the Interest of Economy
The township released the resolution authorizing the settlement one day after voting to approve it.
Galloway Township described its settlement with former Township Clerk Lisa Tilton as "fair, reasonable and in the interest of economy," in its resolution approved by council following its closed session of Dec. 11, 2012.
One day after approving a resolution that states the township has reached a settlement with Tilton, it released the resolution to Galloway Patch in response to an OPRA request. When approving the resolution Tuesday night, township officials said the resolution would be released following certification.
The township still has not released the amount of money agreed to by both sides, or the terms of the settlement. On Tuesday night, officials stated the details of the agreement would be released after it was signed by all sides involved. Of those involved in the lawsuit, former Township Manager Steve Bonanni, former Councilman Dennis Kleiner and former Solicitor Michael Blee each had their own attorney.
The resolution describes an "extensive mediation" that took place on Nov. 8 before Judge John E. Keefe, and involved all parties involved in the suit, in an "effort to resolve the lawsuit without costly or protracted litigation."
The resolution also describes the council discussion that took place in closed session on Nov. 13. Council voted 6-0, with one abstension, to approve the resolution following that closed session. Councilman Jim McElwee was the abstension. He was the only member of council not named in the suit.
The full resolution is attached to this story as a PDF.
Harry Scheeler
10:09 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
What a crock! It was in the interest of sparing the governing body the embarrassment of Steve Bonanni explaining how he used the Townships cell phone to order online call girls in between writing Tilton up in retaliation of not excepting his advances.. Let's call a spade a spade here.
VTPat
5:18 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Maybe I missed it but was there anything in the Press of AC about this?
Anthony Bellano
11:30 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Thanks, Stan. Both are now corrected.
Keep Galloway Green
2:45 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
I'm wondering whose paying $$$$....Is Galloway paying so Bonanni & Kleiner don't have to?....I have a feeling this settlement reeks of corruption.
rich price
4:04 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
I believe that Galloway Green is right,that they both got off the hook,the three mil ogigional suit went by the way,side,however both Lisa and Smith made out well,.Just remember the insurance fund is 2.4 with a cap,anything over that the city is responsible for,Im afraid the difference is quite substancial.
Harry Scheeler
5:32 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Green bonanni & kliener will not pay a penny. And Bonanni gets his tax payer funded pension down in Sunny Flordia.
Keep Galloway Green
8:25 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
That's the troubling part....taxpayers get stuck for this mess. Galloway should not be paying so Bonani..&.Kleiner get off the hook. Galloway should actually sue Bonanni & Kleiner to recoup legal expenses & whatever Galloway paid out. This whole thing reeks of using Galloway $$$ to pay for the misdeeds of the likes of Bonanni & Kleiner & whoever....When Galloway shouldn't be doing that. Seems like Purdy loves to give away the store. No wonder Galloway is the laughing stock of South Jersey.
Harry Scheeler
10:29 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Kleiner wasn't much if any of that lawsuit. Bonanni was the real culprit and its a shame the taxpayers have been made to pay for what he did.
Keep Galloway Green
12:10 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
I'm wondering how much the mediator said each party should pay...where is his written report?
rich price
9:18 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
One thing I understand,is there is no GAG ORDER,so whatever was said in testimony can come out,I don't think this mess is over yet,there was a lot of people being protected.Where is the criminal indictment from the prosecutor?With a complete release of all the facts,this could open the door.
Anthony Bellano
10:48 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
Clarification: Michael Blee is not part of this settlement. He has his own attorney and they are working on a settlement separate from the township.
Keep Galloway Green
11:02 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
How long is Galloway gonna keep this deal secret?...I got a feeling the whole thing reeks of Galloway's corruption. Who is paying $$$ to Tilton...and who isn't?
Harry Scheeler
12:27 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
Price you are right. In fact it has been confirmed that Mr. Liston was talking about the Tilton lawsuit settlement when he referred to needing to find "another $250,000" in the AC Press. Tilton got $250,000 and there was no gag order according to my source. Tilton refuses to confirm but I'm 100% sure the source who was in the room knows what they are talking about. $250,000 sounds very low to me but with rumors running rampant that Tilton is moving back to Galloway to run for office this year makes perfect sense. P.S. Nothing stays secret in executive session for long lol
Harry Scheeler
2:24 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
Hot off the Press. Jody Smith lawsuit has a $250,000 settlement also. Settlement amounts and legal costs top $750,000 in Tilton, Smith lawsuits.
rich price
2:38 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
For the record,none of my information came from any elected official,all I know is there are a lot of angry residents out there not so much the money settlement,but the Bonnani and Kliner getting a free ride,all they did was move away.Its strange that Steve should come back this week.?
1776
3:46 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
Oh please its all coming from the mayor. Everyone in town knows he can't keep his trap shut.
Jessie Rush
3:55 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
who cares who told who what. That's $500,000 of taxpayer money. The Mayor and his friends need to be voted out of office in November.
Keep Galloway Green
10:50 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012
Hey Harry...can't you get court records of the mediation?....Galloway doesn't want to release info....that doesn't mean the court won't.
Keep Galloway Green
8:34 am on Saturday, December 15, 2012
Are you certain about that?....You were certain Tilton was gonna get millions of $$$$. I even went out on a limb & said Tilton would be lucky to get $200,000. "If" she settled for $250,000...but the time her lawyer takes his cut...She gets less than $170,000. Imagine that....I was right....lol
Keep Galloway Green
8:46 am on Saturday, December 15, 2012
If Galloway has to pay out $500,000 in settlements & spent $200,000 or more in legal fees...that means Purdy & Co....including Bonani cost the taxpayers at least $700,000 because of all this BS....The people of Galloway don't go to work & pay their taxes for all this BS brought on by the Purdy Era. And this council can't even keep a little Post Office open! They are all pathetic & should be removed forthwith!