Borough Council rejects mayor's engineer choice

SUSSEX — The Sussex Borough Council shot down Mayor Jonathan Rose's choice for the borough's water/sewer engineer at the Jan. 7 Mayor & Council meeting.

Rose recommended Gerald G. Gardner, P.E., of the firm Houser Engineering, LLC, for the positions.

Councilman Salvatore Lagattuta said that the Personnel Committee had recommended CP Engineering as the water/sewer Engineer, instead of Gardner. CP Engineering already is involved in the Route 23 realignment project for water and sewer.

Rose said CP Engineering oversees the Route 23 realignment project for the state where it involves water and sewer.

The committee believed CP would result in consistency of communication.

Council President Marina Krynicky said both candidates proposed by the Personnel Committee had not been used. The committee work had been a “waste of time.”

Rose said he had used their feedback in making his decisions.

Lagattuta said that the work of CP Engineering on Route 23 was exemplary in safe guarding the Borough.

"They have been good for the borough," Lagattuta said.

Councilwoman Linda Masson said she discussed Gardner with the mayor, and the new engineering firm had “more on the ball.”

Gardner was defeated 4-2, with Masson and Councilwoman Annette Stendor voting for him.