MARGATE – It was another explosive meeting at the Margate Board of Commissioners meeting Thursday, Oct. 16, when several residents commented about the potential ouster of the city’s longstanding chief financial officer.
Comparing 11-month Administrator Pat Moran to an “guard dog,” former Mayor Vaughan Reale called for the commissioners to fire him before he attacks them.
Reale’s comments came following a special commission meeting Oct. 9 where Moran said he would file a complaint with the NJ Dept. of Community Affairs to remove 22-year Chief Financial Officer Lisa McLaughlin from her position and request the DCA revoke her license. During that meeting, Moran also accused Commissioner of Revenue and Finance Maury Blumberg of improprieties, including harassment and attempting to skirt municipal bidding laws, and former Administrator Richard Deaney for being appointed without going out to bid.
Reale compared Moran to a guard dog hired to attack intruders.
“Get rid of the guard dog before he turns on you,” he advised the commissioners.
Reale said he hired McLaughlin in 2003 when he was mayor and called her “irritatingly principled” and that she possesses “the highest level of integrity” with perfect audits every year.
In the complaint, Moran cited McLaughlin for failure to perform her duties, insubordination, conduct unbecoming a public employee, neglect of duty, misuse of public property, violating city rules and regulations and unauthorized use of computers, internet and email, and failure to perform the duties of a municipal CFO.
Moran said she tried to access a co-worker’s computer without permission but was unable to do so because of two-factor authentication. Then without the knowledge of the commissioner of finance, hired a private investigator to investigate the incident at a cost of $5,000.
“She unsuccessfully attempted to enter a city owned computer of a subordinate who had been out for three days so she could obtain any outstanding purchase orders to avoid any late fees to make sure things were operating as efficiently as she has been doing for 22 years,” Reale said. “And she admitted to this because it was a sanctioned behavior under the prior administrator, yet she is under threat of removal.”
Reale noted that Mayor Michael Collins and Commissioner of Public Safety Cathy Horn failed to advise the public if they were aware of the $5,000 charge in advance of Moran incurring the expense.
“Commissioner Blumberg and I seldom see eye-to-eye on issues, but I’m in lockstep with you on this one,” Reale told Blumberg. “These allegations are retaliatory and incorrect. This is awful.”
Reale said the city ordinance that created the business administrator position indicates department employees are under the control of each of the commissioners, who are considered CEOs of their respective departments.
“I don’t see any of that happening here because Mr. Blumberg didn’t know anything about this,” he said.
He recommended the board fire Moran to prevent other employees from becoming involved in similar situations and the city from expensive countersuits.
Margate City Clerk Johanna Casey and CFO Lisa McLaughlin are collecting non-perishable food items for the FoodBank.During the meeting, the board also approved a resolution that was not included on the published agenda to promote accounting clerk David Elliot to the position of provisional comptroller to fill in for McLaughlin, who is currently on medical leave. Elliot is a Certified Municipal Financial Officer who has the qualifications to perform the duties of comptroller and can sign all documents and verifications required during the CFO’s absence.
Resolution 275-2025 creates the position of comptroller and will allow the city to establish a yet-to-be-stated salary range for the position. The resolution was included as part of the consent agenda, which includes resolutions “which are not controversial and do not require individual discussion.” All three commissioners voted to approve the consent agenda.
The city’s labor attorney, Kyle Weinberg of Blaney, Donohue & Weinberg PC, who filled in for Solicitor John Scott Abbott who was not in attendance, advised the commissioners to refrain from commenting on the personnel issue and lawsuits.
Several other members of the public spoke in support of McLaughlin, including resident Margie Reale who said Moran allegedly has a “history of harassment and retaliation” when he was chief of police in Galloway Township.
“Allegedly, there was a suit in Galloway against him that goes to a pattern that we see in the business administrator,” she said. “I recommend you investigate and terminate the business administrator.”
Reale said McLaughlin is “loyal and honest” who would never do anything to jeopardize her reputation, integrity and license.
Dennis Gorniowski, who maintains a presence at commission meetings, often stating that the commissioners are not forthcoming about the cost of projects, said McLaughlin is the only person who gives him answers to his questions.
“The last two years since I’ve gotten to know her about the budget and tax increases, she is the only one that puts an effort into explaining to the public why we have tax rate increases, not the BS I get from up top there,” he said.
Hiring someone to fill in for her, “doesn’t make sense,” he said.
The truth will come out during the lawsuit, he said, and if it is found that the commissioners allowed the administrator to expend funds without the Finance Commissioner’s approval, “then the two of you should remove yourself from the panel,” he said.
Another longtime resident, Jan Weber, asked how many lawsuits the city is involved with at this time. Weinberg instructed her to visit the e-Court system website to obtain information about the status of any legal proceedings involving the City of Margate.
Copyright Fideri News Network 2025
