WEST NEW YORK — The Town of West New York announced on Friday that a New Jersey Administrative Law Court has upheld the town’s decision to fire former Chief Financial Officer Darren Maloney for “just cause.” Maloney served as the CFO from 2001 until he was suspended by the Board of Commissioners on August 20, 2008.
West New York charged that Maloney allegedly made unauthorized payments totaling $172,000 to a private contractor, failed to keep adequate records and failed to properly record the payment of millions of dollars in tax levies in the general ledger.
“This decision by the court vindicates our administration’s decision to remove Mr. Maloney, “ said Mayor Silverio “Sal” Vega in a released statement. “Since his departure, we have completely overhauled all financial management practices and hired a new management team. Today West New York finances are conducted in a professional, competent and completely transparent manner.”
In an initial sixty-three page decision, which was handed down by the Hon. J. Howard Soloman on May 28, 2010 after exhaustive hearings, Judge Solomon found that West New York had proven many of its charges by “overwhelming evidence” and that Maloney’s defense and explanations for his conduct “lacked credibility.”
The decision was reviewed by the Division of Local Government Services which affirmed it on September 9, 2010 and made it effective immediately.