Hearing for Clerk Takes Place Tonight

The concerning disciplinary action taken by Galloway Township against Township Clerk Lisa Tilton takes place tonight at 5 p.m. at the municipal complex. It had been scheduled for last Wednesday.

"We have to give Miss Tilton and her attorney time to adequately prepare for her hearing," Galloway Township Solicitor Michael Blee said at last Tuesday night's council meeting. "But there will be no further adjournments. Barring extreme circumstances, there will be no adjournment."

Tilton received written notification from the township of her suspension on June 10, which was a Friday, and a council meeting was scheduled for the ensuing Tuesday.

"We weren't ready for a hearing on June 14 for a multitude of reasons," Blee said. "Then the township manager said council members had numerous vacations to fulfill, and we wanted to have as many of them together as we could to conduct the hearing."

Tilton sought employment elsewhere during this time, but at the , she appeared before the council and requested a hearing. At the meeting, she also requested an investigation into the actions of Township Manager Steve Bonanni that resulted in her suspension.

"Under instruction of her counsel, she appeared before council with a complaint that she did not receive her hearing in a prompt manner," Blee said.

The meeting was then scheduled for last Wednesday night, but last Monday, Blee said he received a call from Tilton's attorney, David Castellani, requesting an postponement for the hearing.

"I told him I needed a formal letter of representation from him, stating he was representing Miss Tilton," Blee said. "(Tuesday) at 4:16 p.m., I received a formal letter from him and a request to postpone the hearing.

"It's been 32 days since Miss Tilton was advised of her right to a hearing, and today was the first day I received any formal letter of representation."