By WILLIAM CLARK
Former Neptune Department of Public Works Director David Milmoe has filed suit against the municipality and Mayor Tassie York alleging harassment and discrimination following the termination of his employment earlier this month.
Milmoe was fired from his post Aug. 12 after a turbulent voting process that saw York’s abstention break a two-two tie. The abstention, according to township attorney Gene Anthony, counted as an affirmative vote, passing the resolution. Milmoe was suspended from the position last month after it was learned he made a comment about gay people on social media in 2011.
The lawsuit filed by Milmoe in Superior Court alleges that York had engaged in a pattern of harassment, ethics violations and discrimination in addition to the terms of his termination from the township itself.
In the suit, Milmoe said a candidate for a position with the DPW said he was the nephew of York. During the interview process, Milmoe said the candidate said that he would not be burdened by hiring timelines and starting salaries because of his connection with the then Deputy Mayor York.
The candidate is also alleged to have falsely contacted the Human Resources department to claim a job offer was extended to him. Milmoe said in the suit that he made no such commitment and believed that the candidate would not be a fit in the department. Milmoe then alleges that York sought out why the candidate was not on the coming Committee agenda.
The candidate was then offered a second interview with Milmoe and then Committeeman Dr. Michael Brantley, in which “he behaved in a hostile and entitled manner” the suit alleges. Once again, he was not offered employment.
Several months later, Milmoe’s deputy director resigned his position. It is alleged that York asked this person if the resignation was due to racism by Milmoe. The deputy director stated that he was leaving for reasons that did not have to do with racism.
Milmoe alleges that York contacted him multiple times while he was in the process of addressing flooding concerns with Fletcher Lake during a torrential rainstorm in September 2023. Milmoe then filed an Employee Complaint regarding York’s treatment of him and said he was nervous about York’s becoming mayor in the New Year as she would then have more power to terminate him.
He filed another complaint after York is alleged to have held a meeting with Milmoe’s department “surreptitiously” and encouraged him through the Department of Human Resources to train employees for advanced positions.
During both meetings, Milmoe said he was alone with the investigator and when York was interviewed after the second complaint, Township Attorney Gene Anthony was present with her.
The conflict came to a head when the township was alerted of the social media post in question The suit alleges that York, who was provided the social media interaction by her daughter, brought the complaint forward to the Human Resources department.
After being notified that he was being put on administrative leave, Milmoe sought legal representation and informed the township that he had legal standing based on his previous complaints against York.
Prior to his ultimate termination, Milmoe said the township offered to maintain his employment though with a demotion and pay decrease in exchange for signing legal waivers. During the Township Committee meeting Aug. 12, the suit claims that York maintained her presence in executive session to discuss the resolution determining Milmoe’s fate even though she had a conflict of interest based on Milmoe’s complaints.
Milmoe is seeking compensatory and consequential damages, attorneys’ fees, resumption of his employment with compensation and benefits, a clearing of his employment file of references to discipline, and the recusal of York from any votes having to do with Milmoe.
York was the subject of an ethics complaint in 2022 when she allegedly interfered with police proceedings regarding a traffic stop of one of her family members. She became the township’s first Black female mayor when she was sworn in on New Year’s Day 2024. York will be up for reelection in November 2025.
