Residents press council for clarity after mayor’s exit; officials respond on vacancy process and pending police litigation

Several residents used the public-comment period at the Jan. 21 Clark Township Council meeting to press for fuller acknowledgement of the circumstances that led to a change in the mayor’s office and to request updates on municipal staffing and litigation involving local police officers.

John Greaves told the council he was disappointed by a lack of explicit discussion at the meeting about why the council had sworn in a new mayor, and he asked for a public acknowledgment and a pledge that the township would “do better.” He said the change was not a private matter because it concerned public officials and the integrity of municipal government; those remarks were delivered as public comment and attributed to Greaves.

Other residents asked operational questions. Mary Semler asked whether the Board of Public Utilities or another agency had approved Optimum’s application to locate in town; she also asked whether there were any open municipal positions, including the DPW director role. Daniel Fuchs asked for a status update on two officers who remain on leave and whether the police department has returned from county control.

Town officials responded in public comments. A council member explained the vacancy process: because the mayor’s seat was vacated, the Republican municipal committee submitted three nominees from which the council selected a replacement to serve until the November election, when voters will choose who completes the unexpired term. The council member also summarized timelines: 30 days for the party committee to submit nominees and 15 days for the council to select a replacement for a vacant council seat.

Town officials and counsel also addressed the officers on leave. Officials said litigation is pending: three officers sued the township, and that action is being defended. A municipal official explained that civil-service rules and pending litigation limit the township’s ability to change employment status while the legal cases proceed. One town official said the hold-up in resolving the officer situations stems from information and proceedings that are pending with the attorney general’s office and the assigned judge.

Mayor Albanese and…