The Coaster
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The Coaster
No Result
View All Result
Home Ocean Township

Ocean Township Official’s Lawsuit Settled for $110,000

by The Coaster Editorial Staff
April 26, 2023
in Ocean Township
In Ocean Township Close Race for School Board
312
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare via EmailShare on Twitter

Ocean Township paid $110,000 late last year to its former manager who said he was fired for exposing or threatening to expose what he claimed to be “unlawful, fraudulent and/or criminal behavior” by township officials.

Michael F. Muscillo, who is now borough administrator in Highlands, sued the township itself and two elected officials after he was fired as township manager.

Though the suit and its subsequent settlement are part of the public record, the matter recently came to light when John Paff, chairman of the New Jersey Libertarian Party’s Open Government Advocacy Project, wrote about it on his web site, TransparencyNJ.com.

Details of Paff’s reporting were confirmed by The Coaster by reviewing court documents.

Muscillo, who served previously as manager or administrator in Tinton Falls, Lakewood and Hazlet, was hired in Ocean on June 29, 2017. In his lawsuit, filed on Nov. 19, 2021, Muscillo claimed he was fired because he threatened to expose what he said was wrongful conduct by then-mayor Christopher P. Siciliano and John P. Napolitani Sr., who was then a member of the Township Council and is the current mayor.

Muscillo said in the suit that township officials tried to steer a law enforcement job toward one of Siciliano’s relatives and created a position of deputy manager for a particular code enforcement officer to occupy.

In a statement Napolitani said the township denied all claims and none of the allegations were admitted or proven.

“The township denied and continues to deny all of the claims and further denied the violation of any laws or that they engaged in any wrongful conduct or discriminated against the plaintiff or retaliated against him,” Napolitani said. “This claim proceeded to mediation, where the mediator’s primary function is to get the case settled.”

He also said “oftentimes it is less expensive for the insurance company to settle the matter than proceed to trial.”

The council terminated Muscillo’s employment in a resolution approved on Dec. 2, 2020.

On Nov. 21, 2022, Muscillo agreed to drop the allegations and settle the suit for $110,000, $87,362.50 of which was paid to Muscillo and $22,637.50 went to his lawyers.

“The settlement agreement contains a confidentiality clause, under which Muscillo agreed that the settlement and its terms and amounts be kept confidential,” said Paff, the libertarian party open government advocate. “Fortunately, however, these confidentiality clauses do not trump the public’s right to obtain copies of settlement agreements that arise out of lawsuits in which a government agency or official is a defendant.”

The payment of the $110,000 does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing by Napolitani, Siciliano or any other employee or official mentioned in the lawsuit.

“Muscillo’s allegations are just that – allegations,” Paff said.

Related Posts

In Ocean Township Close Race for School Board

Senior Health and Resource Fair Planned in Ocean Township June 15

May 23, 2023
Ocean Township Educator Named to State Commission

Ocean Selects New School Chief

May 17, 2023
Young Ocean Poets Visit Local Businesses to Read Their Poems

Young Ocean Poets Visit Local Businesses to Read Their Poems

May 11, 2023
In Ocean Township Close Race for School Board

Ocean Township Teen Wins Prestigious Award

May 9, 2023
Ocean Township Teen Collecting for Those in Need

Ocean Township Teen Collecting for Those in Need

May 9, 2023
In Ocean Township Close Race for School Board

League of Women Voters Hosting Ocean Council Candidates Forum

April 5, 2023

Trending This Week

$500,000 Grant For Fitness Path

Ocean Grove Residents Complain About Beach Badges Featuring a Cross

May 24, 2023
Condominium Complex Planned Adjacent to the Wonder Bar

Condominium Complex Planned Adjacent to the Wonder Bar

May 24, 2023
What’s Up – The Wallflowers and more, May 11, 2023

What’s Up for May 25 – June 1 2023

May 25, 2023

Neptune Plans Paying for Emergency Service Staff

May 24, 2023

Advertisement
Coaster Summer Guide Special

Advertise Online with The Coaster

Advertise on The Coaster to reach countless new customers for your local business.

START ADVERTISING TODAY

E-mail Newsletter

Sign up to get a free weekly newsletter to your inbox.

Subscribe

Contact Us

The Coaster
1011 Main St
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Phone: 732-775-3010
FAX: 732-775-8345
editor@thecoaster.net

Email Newsletter »

All Articles

Search Our Site

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved. • Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved. • Privacy Policy