Camden County and Gloucester County The Truth

Compliant Filed Against Lawnside Board of Education

Last week, John Schmidt filed a complaint against the Lawnside Board of Education.  Schmidt, is being represented by Walter Luers, Esq.  The complaint stems from an OPRA which was submmitted on March 1, 2012 for executive session minutes and resolutions.  Theresa Tutt, Custodian of Records http://www.lawnside.k12.nj.us/staff_directory.cfm sent an e-mail on March 6, 2012 saying she recieved the request.  The complaint seeks to have the records disclosed.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lawnside Borough Did Not Enroll Police Officers in PFRS? Who In Lawnside Did Not Follow The Law?

Gloucester City & Camden County The Truth has learned that Lawnside has never enrolled Police Officer Carmen Colon in PFRS, according to documents from the Department of the Treasury.  How is this possible?

Additioanlly, the Borough of Lawnside for two years failed to transfer Officer Bardley Redrow from PERS into PFRS.  Who broke the law?  Who is going to be held accountable.  This issue is part of the officers federal lawsuit which was filed last year.  Each officer has a seperate lawsuit but was filed by the same attorney.

In addition this information was requested from Lawnside but Lawnside said it was not a public record.  Why did Lawnside and Solicitor Morris Smith want to cover this up?  

 

 

 

 

 

Lawnside Compiles With State Law After Complaint Was Filed With Camden County Prosecutor’s Office/Why Didn't Lt. Lloyd Lewis Know the Law?

Gloucester City & Camden County The Truth previously reported about the Lawnside Police Department not having an Internal Affairs policy as required by the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General.  After a complaint was filed with the Camden County Porsecutor’s Office it appears the Lawnside Police Department is not complying with the law. 

However why was Lawnside not complying with State Law?

Does Lt. Lloyd Lewis, Ranking Officer know how to run a Department?

The Prosecutors Office, in a December 13, letter to Borough Administrator Jay Todd stated that: “On November 28, 200, Lt. Lewis was interviewed by our office and was explained to us that he was the sole member of the Internal Affairs Unit.  However, he was not familiar with the details of the aforementioned polices.  He was then invited to attend a two day seminar on Internal Affairs at out Police Academy and stated he would attend.  Unfortunately he never showed up. ………………………….In addition, we are referring back to you for an administrative investigation and action you may deem appropriate both the fact that Lt. Lewis did not know the polices on internal affairs and that Lt. Lewis did not follow the polices…….”

Was an investigation done by Lawnside into the actions of Lt . Lewis?

Why would Lt. Lewis say he would attend a training class but never show up?

If Lt. Lewis is not aware of the rules and laws why is he still employed as Ranking Officer with the Lawnside Police Department? 

 

 

 

 

OPRA'S Continue to Produce Questions of Lawnside Borough Regime

Gloucester City & Camden County The Truth, recieved the below email from a resident of Lawnside.  What is going on in this small town?  Corruption at its finest...Only in Camden County.  

WHERE IS THE JUSTICE!!!  The Borough of Lawnside has money to pave Company Street where Mayor Maryanne Warlow has two large lots and she is only paying approximately $350 in property tax for each lot.  However, the residents of Sadler Street have been crying out to get it paved but hasn’t seen a paving truck yet. These residents are dishing out at least $9,000 or more a year for property taxes and can't even get a paved street out of it! 

 The Borough of Lawnside is and has been carrying at least $600,000 or more in delinquent taxes on its books.  How and why are they continuing with such debt year after year?  Do they ever have a tax sale and if so where is it posted? 

 

Did Lawnside Lawyers Lie in Court Documents to the Federal District Court?

Gloucester City & Camden County The Truth previously reported on the case involving Officer Bradley Redrow.  According to documents from Lawnside’s lawyer, who is being represented by Brown & Connery, LLP, who is the JIF lawyer, they state Redrow was only sworn in once, when in fact according to Lawnside he was sworn in twice years apart?  What is Lawnside trying to hide? 

 

 

 

 

 

Camden County Counsel Sends Letter to Lawnside About Borough Solicitor Morris Smith

 

Are OPRA Requests Opening Eyes in Lawnside?

Tonight the below e-mail was received from a resident of Lawnside:

"Here's something you might want to check.  Lucille Wakefield Moore has been praying -- that's right -- giving the prayer at the beginning of all council and caucus meetings for a fee of $100.  She has been rendering prayer for some time now.  Let's just say -- for example -- in 2010 she attended all meetings (twice a month) and rendered prayer.  If my calculations are correct she would have been paid $2400.  Isn't that income or maybe that is the $2000 she listed.  I'm just saying . . ."

(As posted Councilwoman Lucille Wakefield Moore did not list any income over $2,000.)

Did Lawnside Councilwoman Lucille Wakefield-Moore Also Violate State Ethics Laws?

Gloucester City & Camden County The Truth previously reported that Lawnside Mayor Mary Ann Wardlow and former Administrator Jessie Harris failed to disclose certain information on their FDS forms.  A recent OPRA request obtained by Gloucester City & Camden County The Truth revealed that Lawnside Councilwoman Lucille Wakefield-Moore listed she had no income over $2,000 for the year 2010.  Is that really true? 

 How hard is it to fill out a FDS form?   

If they are so difficult for Solicitor Morris Smith who didn’t even fill his form out, Mayor Mary Ann Wardlow, Jesssie “Double Dipper” Harris and now Councilwoman Lucille Wakefield-Moore how can they be trusted to do their jobs? 

If they don’t want to fill out the form properly should they be collecting a paycheck from the taxpayers and in some cases a paycheck and a pension? 

 

 

Did Lawnside Mayor Mary Ann Wardlow and Former Borough Administrator Jessie “Double Dipper” Harris Violate State Ethics Laws?

Below is a PDF showing the 2011 Financial Disclosure Statements of Lawnside Mayor Mary Ann Wardlow and Former Borough Administrator and current Tax/Collector Treasurer Jessie Harris.  Under state ethics laws both Wardlow and Harris must submit completed forms to the State of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Division of Local Government Services each year.   Both Wardlow and Harris signed the form which states: “I hereby certify that this Financial Disclosure Statement contains no willful misstatement of fact or omission of material fact and, together with any and all statements previously submitted in writing to the clerk of my local government or the Local Finance Board, constitutes a full disclosure with respect to all matters required by N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.1 et seq., to the best of my knowledge. I am aware that if any of the foregoing statements made by me are willfully false, I am subject to fines and possible disciplinary action.”

Wardlow listed “NONE” under any source of income over $2,000.00, meaning neither her nor her spuse made any money over $2,000.00 from one job last year.  However, Wardlow served as a member of Borough Council in 2010, which comes with an annual salary of $7,000.00.  Why did she not report this income?

In addition, the only income listed by Harris that either her or her spouse makes is her current job with the Borough of Lawnside.  Doesn’t Ms. Harris also collect a pension, which is a type of income?  Why was that not listed by Ms. Harris?         

 

 

 

 

What is Going on In Lawnside? Who is Not Telling The Truth About Double Dipper Jessie Harris? Solicitor Morris Smith, Mayor Mary Ann Wardlow or Lt. Lloyd Lewis?

Earlier this month, open government watchdog John Schmidt e-mailed the Borough of Lawnside a list of questions.  Below are questions Schmidt, had about the position of Public Safety Director.  At the November council meeting of the Borough of Lawnside, Schmidt asked questions about the position of Public Safety Director, which is currently vacant.  (Questions asked about Former Administrator Jessie Harris, one of New Jersey’s many double dippers have previously been posted on this site.)  Schmidt, recently received documents in response to an OPRA request which shows Jessie Harris is the Acting Public Safety Director, which is contrary to what the Borough of Lawnside has said. 

 What is going on in Lawnside?

 When does Lawnside intend on hiring a director of Public Safety?

At This time, the Borough of Lawnside does not have the positin of Director of Public Safety budgeted in its FY 2012 budget.  All hires, including director level hires, are subject to written approval by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Local Government Service.  At this time, the Borough does not intend to submit a request for hiring a Director of Public Safety to LGS during the FY 2012 fiscal year.