CFO Files Lawsuit Against NJ Township Alleging Retaliation, Harassment
A lawsuit has been filed in Superior Court against the Township of Montclair and Township Manager Timothy Stafford, according to a complaint filed last week.
According to published reports, Chief Financial Officer Padmaja Rao has filed a complaint alleging that the Township of Montclair and Township Manager Timothy Stafford took retaliatory actions against her for what she cites as whistle-blowing. According to the complaint, it alleges that the retaliation and harassment resulted in a reduction of her work responsibilities, as well as harassing and aggressive behavior that then prevented her from performing her job duties.
The complaint details a number of instances where Rao claims she was subjected to harassment and retaliation for raising concerns about the township’s actions that she believed to be ethically dubious or financially inappropriate. These include providing health insurance to its council members even though they did not log the required 35 hours per week to qualify for the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP). The complaint alleges that a number of Montclair elected officials continue to receive opt-out waiver payments or health benefits from the SHBP despite not seeming to be eligible for those benefits under the law.
