HOBOKEN — Who do you call to get information on a City Hall termination, if the person terminated was serving as the public information officer?
Paul Drexel, a spokesman at City Hall, was terminated in the last few days, two city officials confirmed Wednesday morning.
While officials at City Hall would not comment on the reasons, one official confirmed that the move was not part of other layoffs.
There has been some confusion for some time over who, exactly, the spokespersons for Hoboken City Hall were. For a long period of time, Bill Campbell was the spokesman for Mayor David Roberts’ administration. Drexel was brought in at some point during that administration, but Campbell also stayed on.
When phoned at City Hall Wednesday if Drexel had been let go, Campbell confirmed that it was true but could not comment on the reasons, as it is a personnel decision.
When asked what Campbell’s position is, he said, “I’m the public information officer for the city.” When asked what Drexel’s position had been he said, “I don’t know, technically. I’m still trying to figure out the maze of civil service titles. He was functioning as the same thing as me.”
A different official in Zimmer’s administration also confired Drexel’s termination. He said of Drexel, “I think his civil service title was community relations specialist.” The official also said that the administration has a new spokesman in mind whom they are in the process of bringing in.
The official said that Campbell’s position is “assistant public information officer” although that may not be his official civil service title.
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