Mayor Gusciora slammed the City Council’s firing of Law Director John Morelli, saying the council ‘should be ashamed’ by ‘this hateful, unwarranted, and excessive use of power’:

“We intend to keep John Morelli in place as Law Director until the N.J. Department of Community Affairs makes a decision about his status pursuant to Trenton’s Memorandum of Understanding with the State of New Jersey. John has been an exemplary civil servant and true champion for the City of Trenton. To have his storied career and tireless efforts blemished by this hateful, unwarranted, and excessive use of power is a total disgrace. This is not how people who fight for Trenton should be treated. This Council should be ashamed.

From the Trentonian: ‘Council voted 5-2 to fire John Morelli for cause Thursday night over several alleged failures as city law director, including allegedly “disseminating” executive session information from the Sept. 3 closed-door session.’

The council also overrode Gusciora’s veto of the election date change ordinance, which have moved the nonpartisan elections from May to November, according to the Trentonian.