In the wake of several controversial moves and tensions between the Township Council and the administration, Edison Mayor Antonia Ricigliano fired township Business Administrator Dennis Gonzalez on April 12.
She called the decision a “very difficult” one.
“I had conversations with Dennis yesterday and this morning,” Ricigliano said on April 12. “It is hard to explain. There has been a lot of rancor in council chambers. Dennis’ demeanor is rather stern and some have become offended by this, and things have not been easy.”
Gonzalez, in office for just over a year, has been involved in controversial decisions including the layoffs of 11 public works employees, the suspension of Police Chief Thomas Bryan, and the executive order that prohibits employees from providing information to Township Council members.
These and other actions by the administration prompted the council to form a Committee of the Whole to investigate the mayor’s initiatives. The committee had subpoenaed Gonzalez and others to appear at a meeting that was rescheduled for this week.
Ricigliano said she personally has never had a problem with Gonzalez.
“He is a dedicated, hard worker,” she said. “I have relied on him completely.”
When asked if her decision had anything to do with the police chief’s March 22 suspension, which resulted in immediate legal action by Bryan, she said it did not.
“No,” she said. “Those were good decisions.”
Asked whether Gonzalez had resigned or been terminated, Ricigliano said, “We had conversations, we had discussions … It’s a decision that was amicable, and Dennis will work through May 17.”
The mayor’s announcement came via a press release distributed by township Management Specialist William Stephens. Her statement said that, “After much thought and careful consideration, I have determined that in the best interest of the township, [Gonzalez] will no longer serve as business administrator as of May 17.”
Ricigliano said May 17 was chosen as the end date based on a state statute regarding the time period given to an employee when a decision of this nature is made.
Ricigliano thanked Gonzalez for his service to her administration and the residents of the township.
Gonzalez was appointed as business administrator on March 24, 2010 with an annual salary of $125,000. The Township Council voted unanimously in favor of the appointment. Then-Council President Charles Tomaro joked with him at the time, saying “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“This is a unique town and it can be rough,” Tomaro said at the time. “… Larry [Pollox, acting business administrator] will probably do back flips when he leaves.” Gonzalez responded by saying the position would be similar to those he held previously in other towns, and that he was ready to tackle anything thrown his way.
“The only thing is that [the towns] face different issues, and some places have a different social economy. … Every place is a different challenge, and I look forward to the challenge,” he said at the time.
Gonzalez had previously served as Trenton’s city attorney, director of housing and economic development, and assistant business administrator.
Edison’s current council president, Robert Diehl, said he “understood” the mayor’s decision this week and was not really surprised.
“He has created a lot of controversy in the township,” Diehl said of Gonzalez. “In my 10 years on council, I have not seen so much controversy. This benefits the town.”
Diehl said he hopes the administration and the council can work together in selecting a successor.
The council president said the Committee of the Whole meeting that was scheduled for April 14 would be postponed.
“A lot of our focus was on Dennis Gonzalez,” he said. “There are still other points that we would like to address, so we will move it in another direction. We are not going to dissolve the committee.”
Gonzalez could not be reached for comment.