It's Only Second Down. Why is City Council Punting?

After last night’s closed door session to discuss the matter of ex-Police Trainee Angel Perez, Trenton’s City Council will consider a resolution at tomorrow’s session to refer the matter to the City’s Ethics Board.

While declining to speak about the substance of what was discussed in executive session, several Council members did talk about their rationale in punting this case to the Board. According to At-Large Member Phyllis Holly-Ward as reported in today’s Trenton Times article by Jenna Pizzi, “Holly-Ward said because the ethics board is made of representatives from different political parties, it removes the cloud of politics to determine if there was any wrongdoing or nepotism when Perez was placed in a police job despite the cheating.” That sentiment was seconded by North Ward’s rep Marge Caldwell- Wilson, who is quoted in today’s Trentonian’s piece by David Foster and Penny Ray, “I think the ethics commission is the best route to take the politics out of it.”

This strikes me as an odd stance to take. This sort of matter is precisely why we have an elected City Council. To investigate the actions of city employees, especially those of senior officials such as Acting Director Ernest Parrey, for their propriety and adherence to city and state policies and laws. Their role is inherently political. That’s not a curse word, by the way! Politics is their job. Punting the matter to the Ethics Board is, to a certain extent, an abdication of responsibility.

Don’t get me wrong. I think the Ethics Board has some jurisdiction here. Section 2 c. of the City’s Code of Ethics states that “No local government officer shall use or attempt to use his official position to secure unwarranted privileges or advantages for himself or others.” That is certainly at issue here, with the suggestion that Acting Director Parrey, in his placement of Mr. Perez in a civilian job with the Police Department until he can “recycle” through the Mercer County Police Academy, has given Mr. Perez an “unwarranted privilege or advantage.” The Board can look at that issue and examine whether Mr. Parrey and Chief of Staff Frances Blanco, whose son-in-law Mr. Perez is, have acted within the Code’s constraints.

But there are other matters, political matters, that the Board of Ethics cannot investigate and which Council should pursue. For instance, Mr. Perez’s current, civilian position. Was this an approved, vacant budgeted position that Perez was hired to fill? Was that position opening properly publicized? Were there other applicants for the position? Was any former laid-off City employee on the approved Recall List given any opportunity to apply? Was the hiring of Mr. Perez approved by the NJ Department of Community Affairs? Perez’s salary was going to be paid through the Federal COPS grant; his removal from the Academy pretty much voided that. How is this position to be paid now? On the regular City Budget? Is it covered?

Mr. Parrey’s decision to hire Mr. Perez now has to be viewed along with some other questionable actions the Director has recently taken. The Trentonian’s LA Parker reported on Sunday that Parrey has plans to reorganize his department, which include the promotion of several current lieutenants to the rank of Captain. Plans that several members of Council expressed no knowledge of to Mr. Parker. Plans that might actually be inappropriate for a manager to implement who is still an “Acting” Director, given the inherent uncertainty of Mr. Parrey’s future tenure.

Seems to be quite a list of questions and topics for Mr. Parrey that he should address. In public session. Before City Council.

I hope that, if Council votes tomorrow to refer some of this issue to the Ethics Board, they resolve to pick up the rest of the matter for themselves to resolve. I’m a little disappointed that Council seems to be ducking their responsibility to provide oversight for the City’s business.  It’s too early in their term for Council to punt their responsibility to others.