to take action against
Old Bridge councilman
Latino alliance plans
to take action against
Old Bridge councilman
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
A group of Latino workers, including some from Freehold, claim they have been treated unfairly by CTS Unlimited Inc., Old Bridge, which is managed by Old Bridge Councilman Dennis Maher.
CTS Unlimited Inc. is a landscaping company.
The workers, along with members of the Freehold-based Immigrants and Day Laborers Support Committee and representatives of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey, were expected to hold a press conference at the Old Bridge municipal building in Middlesex County on Monday night to details their allegations.
According to Frank Argote-Freyre, speaking on behalf of the Latino Leadership Alliance, a complaint with the Old Bridge Ethical Standards Board was to be filed.
In a letter to Rose-Marie Saracino, the Old Bridge municipal clerk, the employees and several of their representatives said they believe Maher’s actions violate a section of Old Bridge’s ethics ordinance which states, "No officer or employee of the township … or member of his or her immediate family shall have an interest in a business, organization or engage in any business, transaction, or professional activity, which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his or her duties in the public interest …"
Argote-Freyre said landscape workers reported receiving eight checks from Maher in March and April totaling $4,080.96 for wages. Argote-Freyre said the workers told him the checks were not paid because of insufficient funds.
The checks, according to Argote-Freyre, were all signed by Maher.
Argote-Freyre said efforts to collect the wages workers claim are due them have been unsuccessful. He said an additional $1,766 in unpaid wages is also outstanding, according to seven Latino workers.
"This is an outrage," Argote-Freyre said.
Argote-Freyre said the issue came to light when several of the workers who reside in Freehold Borough sought help from the Immigrants and Day Laborers Support Committee.
Mahonrry Hidalgo, who supports the efforts of immigrant workers, and Virginia McGlone, a member of the Monmouth County Residents for Immigrants Rights, along with eight other people, formed the Immigrants and Day Laborers Support Committee in January.
The group works with organizations like the Latino Leadership Alliance and other ethnic groups in order to provide access to help for immigrants with regard to issues such as discrimination, job nonpayment, housing and other concerns.
Messages left at Maher’s home and at the Old Bridge municipal offices seeking comment from the councilman were not immediately returned.