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July 7, 2018 – July 13, 2018
OEM Coordinator of 20 Years 'Done' after Being Accused of Insubordination
By Douglas D. Melegari and Dominick Cella Staff Writers
Officials began boarding up the Green Bank Inn in Washington Township a few weeks ago.
Photo By Allen Rowles
Historic Building Hazard Green Bank Inn Declared Public Health and Safety Risk By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
WASHINGTON—The historic Green Bank Inn, which closed in 2012 shortly after its owner passed away, has been deemed a public health and safety hazard. The status change of the former bar, which sits in the Green Bank section of Washington Township, was approved by the Washington Township Committee last month due to the building falling into disrepair. At the time of the decision, some of the landmark’s windows and doors had been broken and kicked in. “The committee is of the opinion that we are going to ask one of our public works employees to go and buy plywood and board up the doors and windows,” said Township Clerk Kathleen D.
Hoffman. “Then we will submit a bill and place a lien on the property for the materials, cost and time it takes Public Works to move forward to do that,” she said. However, there is uncertainty if the bill will be paid by CoreLogic, identified by Hoffman as the bank now in possession of the property. “CoreLogic has several different addresses,” Hoffman said. “We did send a notice to the property owner, as well as to CoreLogic, but one of the addressed envelopes we had came back as undeliverable.” Hoffman described how the township sent the deceased owner, Lorraine Estelow, the notice. She said sending her a violation notice is all part of a required procedure. “It is still in the name of the deceased,” she said. “…I believe the code
enforcement officer has sent a violation notice. We have to give them (the owner and bank) time to try and correct the situation.” The township clerk said that if the property is ever sold or goes into foreclosure, and a lien is placed on it prior to a possible exchange, the municipality will be reimbursed for its maintenance to the lot. “Whoever buys the property—those fees will come along with the purchase of the property,” Hoffman said. Deputy Mayor Daniel James and C o m m it t e e m a n B a r r y C av i le e r expressed concern that the municipality would become liable for the hazard if it does work to the former bar. Hoffman said the opposite is true, repeating that the township has notified the deceased See HAZARD/ Page 15
WASHINGTON—Barbara Somes, 20year emergency management coordinator for Washington Township and 15-year municipal Board of Health representative, has resigned amid accusations of insubordination and harassment. Her decision to resign came after she received another employment hearing (Rice) notice, the second in less than two months, and after Township Clerk Kathleen D. Hoffman revealed to this newspaper last week that the township has sought the assistance of the New Jersey State Police in the matter. “I am done!” said Somes as her employment hea r i ng com menced du r i ng a special Washington Township Committee meeting on June 28. “I am tired of it—I am tired of everything. I am tired of no action when I make complaints and I am tired of the threats.” Somes, who threw her keys on to the committee’s dais and pleaded with Mayor Dudley Lewis to stay to hear what she had to say despite his recusal from the hearing, stunned the committee members who actually did stay for the hearing—Deputy Mayor Daniel James and Committeeman Barry Cavileer. She also appeared to take Hoffman and Township Solicitor Thomas Coleman by surprise. For more than two-minutes, while officials tried to soak-in what Somes wrote in a resignation note she provided to the committee, nobody in the committee’s meeting room said a word. A wailing child in the audience was the only person to interrupt the silence in the room. James, the first to speak after reading Somes’ resignation note, was nearly at a loss for words, stuttering while he spoke. “I guess we…I appreciate the time and effort you put into it…uh…,” James said. Cavileer, also appearing to struggle as he came to grips with what had just happened, pointed out the obvious to the audience. “This is for the benefit of the audience, if you haven’t figured it out already, Barbara (Somes) resigned from her positions of emergency management, board of health, and municipal building facilitator (a role she also held for at least 10 years),” Cavileer said. Coleman told the township committee that he was very concerned about the emergency management coordinator vacancy. “The municipal positions for janitorial responsibilities and Board of Health I am not as much concerned about as OEM coordinator,” See RESIGNS/ Page 10
INDEX Automotive................ 23 Business Directory.... 20 Community.................. 9 Gardening Column.... 19
Health........................ 13 Hobbyist.................... 18 Local News.................. 2 Marketplace............... 22
Opinion........................ 8 Worship Directory........ 9
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