Coaster Photos
Kaan Williams, who was promoted to police lieutenant in Neptune, is pictured with his family. Jesse Dallago ( below right), who was promoted to sergeant, is pictured with his family.
By WILLIAM CLARK
Neptune officials this week approved two promotions for members of the police department.
Sergeant Kaan Williams was promoted to lieutenant and Patrol Officer Jesse Dallago was promoted to sergeant.
Williams, 38, is a Neptune native has been a member of the department since 2008. Dallago, 34, started his career in Point Pleasant Beach in 2006 where he served five years before joining the NTPD.
Business Administrator Gina LaPlaca also provided an update on the continuing issue of homelessness in the township.
LaPlaca said that she recently met with the New Jersey Department of Community Affair’s Homelessness Prevention Director Michael Callahan to continue discussion on how to address the issue. LaPlaca said the township is encountering “roadblocks” in terms of how quickly the township would like to respond.
“As a result, the DCA has agreed to facilitate a case conference to be hosted by the township in conjunction with Monmouth County and the associated nonprofit agencies to partner with us on this matter where we will literally go line by line through each identified resident of the camp and see what steps can be taken now to rehome them to appropriate housing,” LaPlaca said.
One obstacle is the limited affordable housing in Monmouth County. Those in the camp that may be eligible for subsidized housing but fall just short on entry fees like security deposits may see some relief from the state.
“The state has some funding available that some may still be eligible for to get them over that hump,” Laplaca said.
New Jersey may also be able to provide relocation assistance to other counties.
“I’m cautiously optimistic about what DCA is going to be able to help us do there,” she said.
The Township Committee also approved a resolution agreeing to a settlement in a lawsuit with former Senior Center Director Brian Butch who filed the suit after the committee replaced him.
The $650,000 settlement will be paid for by the township’s insurance carrier according to Township Labor Attorney Greg Pasquale.
The lawsuit was originally filed in February 2019. Pasquale said that the insurance carrier determined that it was appropriate to settle based on the risk and reward of going to trial. After five years, Pasquale said that an appeals process could draw out the litigation for several more years.
