Keyport rejects grievances against administrator

The Keyport Borough Council has denied three grievances filed by borough police officers against Borough Administrator Lorene Wright following a December clash in the municipal parking lot.

The denial, however, may not be the only action taken by borough officials.

Following more than an hour of closedsession deliberations on Oct. 15, Council President Joseph Sheridan and council members Sophia Lamberson and Clemente Toglia voted to approve a resolution denying the grievances, which contended Wright has created a hostile work environment for the officers.

Councilman Kenneth Howe was the sole member to vote against the resolution. Council members Joy-Michele Tomczak and Kenneth McPeek recused themselves from hearing the grievances, citing a potential conflict of interest involving one of the officers.

Mayor Harry Aumack II, father of one of the officers who filed a grievance, recused himself from the hearings, as well.

Borough Attorney Gordon Litwin said the details of the grievances and the action taken by the council last week cannot be released to the public.

“As a matter of law, the action on grievances is a personnel matter, and the resolution that is going to be presented by the council is not specific because of the legal requirements regarding the grievances,” he said.

According to the resolution, which was approved 3-1, all three grievances were denied and a letter opinion will be sent to local Policeman’s Benevolent Association President Robert McCartin and attorney Loryn Lawson, who represented the three officers during the grievance process.

McCartin, Lawson, Wright and borough Police Chief George Casaletto did not return calls seeking comment for this story.

Prior to the vote, Sheridan read the resolution, which suggested that the denial of the grievances may not be the only action taken by borough officials.

“Based upon additional pertinent considerations, and for good cause, the actions specified in the letter opinion shall be effectuated by the appropriate borough officials,” Sheridan said.

On Oct. 18, Litwin declined to comment on what those actions could involve or if they would ultimately be a matter of public record.

Following the vote, a handful of residents and police personnel who waited around to hear the decision stormed out of the council chambers.

The grievances were filed by Detective Shannon Torres, Detective Joseph Rendina and Officer Robert Aumack after Wright was arrested by borough police in the municipal lot last year.

On Dec. 10, Wright was exiting her car when her car mirror struck the mirror of Torres’ car. Borough police requested her license and vehicle documents, but Wright refused. According to the police report, the administrator then allegedly became disorderly and assaulted Torres. She was then arrested and charged with multiple crimes.

Wright denied the charges and pursued a civil rights claim against the Police Department and responding officers for use of excessive force, which she said caused an injury to her shoulder.

The three officers first filed the grievances in the wake of the incident, and later testified that the administrator had created a hostile work environment through threats and intimidation, according to sources close to the situation.

On July 24, as part of a plea deal, Wright agreed to drop her suit and pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer, a borough ordinance violation.

The administrator was disciplined by the Borough Council in September, serving a one-day suspension. She was also ordered to participate in a sensitivity training course.

The council first heard the three grievances during a five-hour special meeting on Sept. 25, but took no action at the time. They continued their deliberations following the Borough Council’s Oct. 15 agenda meeting.