PLUMSTED – Township Committeeman Dominick Cuozzo is facing calls for censure and a petition for recall.
A censure is nothing more than an official condemnation but has no lasting effect; a recall would remove him from office.
Those seeking to unseat Cuozzo have accused him of harassment and extending his personal and religious beliefs into his actions in public office. He told The Jackson Times that he has not abused his power of office in any way and said the accusations made against him were knowingly false.
Cuozzo, who serves as the pastor of the Bible Baptist Church in the township, took office in January of 2022.
He was also one of three Republicans who ran in a special GOP election convention last August for the seat of 12th District Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, who died on July 23, 2022. Dancer had served as mayor of Plumsted for two decades.
Cuozzo was supported in that contest by Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore but was defeated by Jackson Councilman Alex Sauickie, who was endorsed by Dancer’s widow and received a 69% to 29% margin in that vote.
The recall petition committee includes Ryan Kertis, the former vice president of the Plumsted Republican Club, Stacy Reed, a Republican and Linda Salcfas, a Democrat. Canvassing within the community has started. One signing event was held at Oakford Lake Park on March 26. The movement has a Facebook page, Recall Committeeman Dominick Cuozzo.
Calls For Censure
Included on the agenda of the Township Committee’s March meeting was an item that stated “approximately 40 correspondences were received requesting censure of Committeeman Cuozzo for a variety of reasons.”
Mayor Robert Bowen made a statement during that meeting that the emails calling for Cuozzo’s censure had been forwarded to the attorney and the governing body is awaiting a legal opinion.
The mayor added that any complaints that are received at the township are forwarded to outside counsel for recommendations and/or direct response directly by counsel.
Township Attorney Jean Cipriani told The Jackson Times, “The power of a governing body to discipline one of its members is extremely limited. A governing body has no authority or ability to remove one of its members. There is support from Supreme Court cases for the ability of a governing body for a censuring resolution.”
“That is the maximum extent of the ability of a governing body to take action regarding one of its members.” She added any violations of the local government ethics law “is enforced through a complaint to the local finance board.”
“The governing body had asked for a review of those requests for censure and that review is under way. I certainly expect to be able to provide a response to the governing body prior to (the April Township Committee) meeting if no additional information is received between now and then. That recommendation would go directly to the governing body,” Cipriani added.
How To Recall
“The first step in the recall is a notice of intention to file a petition to recall,” said Cipriani, the township attorney.
Deputy Municipal Clerk Nadene Cicero who is the recall election official for the township said, “the petition was returned for a procedural issue.”
“The submitters were advised to what the problem was and it took them a couple of weeks to fix it and send it back in and under that statutory procedure set forward a couple of things happened,” Cipriani said.
“The target (Cuozzo) has the opportunity to respond and that will be included in a notice that will be provided on the petition. That is where it is,” Cipriani explained on March 21.
She further explained that the township’s role in the procedure and her role as township attorney is “to make sure the procedural requirements are complied with. The township does not take any position and does not advocate. The role is only to make sure that the procedures are followed correctly.”
An Election Recall Procedure memo by Cipriani noted that under the Uniform Recall Election Law, an elected official shall be recalled from office by a majority vote.
A recall election can only be filed after the office holder has served one year of their term.
Once initiated, those hoping to unseat him, have approximately 160 days to gather roughly 1,650 signatures of registered voters which represents 25% of the total electorate – to force a recall election.
Cipriani said the starting date for the petition begins with the publication of a legal notice in the township’s designated newspaper – which has been published.
The recall petition must include a statement certified by each member of the recall committee that the member is registered to vote in the jurisdiction of the official sought to be recalled and that the member supports the recall of the named official and accepts the responsibilities associated with serving on the recall committee.
Cipriani clarified that no cost estimate for a special election was required. “That only has to happen if there is a request by the people filing the notice of intention for a special election. In this case, no special election is requested.” Should the recall election occur, it would happen during the general election on November 7.
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