GallowayTwpNews.com has obtained through various Open Public Records Requests, the Exit Interview Forms of Bonanni and Gougher. These forms are compiled and further executed by a Township representative and the employee who is leaving the Township. Gougher, who signed her form on October 3, 2011, is scheduled to receive a total of $67,569.53 in accumulated leave. Gougher who worked for Galloway for just under 25 years, opted to receive her payout over a three year time period.
Former manager Stephen Bonanni retired after 32 years with Township and signed his initial Exit Interview Form on January 24, 2012. According to additional documents the Township released this past week, Bonanni signed a different Exit Interview form on April 5, 2012. The dollar amount listed on the April 2012 form shows Bonanni receiving less money than originally calculated in January 2012.
One of the differences on the April 2012 form shows Bonanni receiving compensation for Comp Time of 12 hours. Bonanni who was listed as a salaried employee, is now being paid Comp Time. The form also reflects a reduction in Vacation time balance from 2011. We will be submitting an email of inquiry to the Township in order to request explanation into the difference in Bonanni's calculated time.
Bonanni's final form in April 2012 shows a Total Payout of $57,189.30. According to Township Clerk Thalia TC Kay, Bonanni received a payment of $5,424.06 in 2012, half of which was paid on March 30, 2012 and the second half paid on April 13, 2012. Bonanni was scheduled to receive the final balance of $51,765.24 in January 2013, however that amount was included on the Resolution to be tabled and forwarded to Labor Counsel for review.
According to Bonanni's Memorandum of Understanding with the Township when he became Acting Township Manager in 2011, he was afforded a provision by Council outside the Township's Policies, Procedures and Ordinances. The provision was to grant Bonanni access to his accumulated sick leave up to $10,000, even if legislation was enacted to cap sick leave before he retired. The provision as stated, "shall be deemed valid irrespective of any legislation that may establish a cap on accumulated sick leave." To our knowledge, Bonanni was the only employee afforded that additional provision in order to secure his sick leave payout.
We have released a copy of the Exit Forms and have also listed the break down for each payout below which includes a combined accumulated amount of $124,758.83.
Vacation - $45,446.56
Sick (Frozen) - $12,122,97
Sick (Capped) - $10,000.00
Vacation - $4,700.85
Comp Time - $723.21
Sick (Frozen) - $41,765.24
Sick (Capped) - $10,000.00
Council is scheduled to consider Gougher's and Bonanni's accumulated leave payout balances at the next regular Council Meeting scheduled on Tuesday, January 22, 2013.
