Peter Giunchini, who resigned his $130,000 a year township position after officials confirmed he was under investigation to see if he allegedly used his office computer for inappropriate emails, will be awarded $12,000 of unused sick time and $25,312 of unused vacation time.
Two months ago, township officials confirmed that Giunchini, the director of automotive services and public transportation, was being probed. In January, Giunchini resigned.
An on-line publication, Cliffview Pilot,talked to Giunchini’s secretary, who said the e-mails were between her and Giunchini. She said that she refused to resign and “throw away 24 years” of working for the township.”
Resigned official will receive retirement funds
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Also at the meeting, Guinchini, through an ordinance, was awarded his benefits payout. Pianese said because the township did not press charges, the funds from the state retirement system were owed to Guinchini.
Pianese said that the secretary has agreed to resign in the near future.
“[She hasn’t resigned yet] because she has medical documentation claiming she is sick and can’t come to work,” said Pianese. “The amount she was due, I’ll simply give her over that period of time as opposed to a lump sum.”
Pianese said he could not comment further on the nature of the contracts with the pair because they were confidential.
The township also approved an ordinance that will update their “acceptable use of computer and related resources” and make the guidelines stricter.
Few trailer park residents show up
An attempt by Pianese to meet with residents of the Manhattan Trailer Court on Tonnelle Avenue, who face eviction to make way for a development, fizzled when few residents showed up.
Pianese had tried to set up the meeting with the residents, himself, and Township Attorney Brian Chewcaskie to give them more time than just the public portion of the commissioner’s meeting to discuss their options. He invited them to Town Hall to meet after the commissioner’s meeting.
He said that the handful of residents who showed up this past Wednesday said they knew “what they were facing” and would like to try and get the best deal possible from the developer.
Pianese said that he is trying to help the residents, but because of the many split factions at the trailer park, it is difficult to understand what the residents want.
“The land has been sold there,” said Pianese. “There is a contract on the property. To the extent that you had a right of first refusal, privately by your own attorney, if you missed the date or didn’t file on time or didn’t have the wherewithall to be a part of that opportunity, you can’t really fault the township.”
Pianese said that he was interested in trying to get relocation fees for residents, or stretch out the eviction as long as possible, but that he won’t know what he can do until he gets a group of residents in front of him.
He said that the township will reschedule an evening meeting and reach out to their attorney to see if they can get more residents involved.
Parking pilot for Liberty Ave
After a resident complained at several commissioner meetings that cars parked on Liberty Avenue were blocking the sidewalks, the North Bergen Police Department began to enforce their existing parking ordinance and issue tickets.
However, residents then came to a meeting claiming that parking is difficult on Liberty Avenue and asking the board if something could be done to alleviate their parking problem.
The solution was to implement a pilot parking program on Liberty Avenue between Secaucus Road and 10th Street.
Mayor Nicholas Sacco said that now cars parked in driveways have to allow four feet of clear sidewalk space from the curb. Previously, the pedestrian right-of-way was measured from where the driveways ended.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.