JUDGE ISSUES ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE ON PBA COMPLAINT

Hearing Scheduled for October 19 

(VINELAND, NJ) – PBA Local 231 Attorney Stuart Alterman announced today that a Superior Court Judge issued an order to show cause yesterday, requesting that Cumberland County and the PBA attend an October 19 hearing.

Superior Court Judge Benjamin C. Telsey issued the order yesterday on the matter of PBA Local 231 v. Cumberland County & Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders.  The county has until October 7 to file documents in response to the order to show cause.

“Judge Telsey’s ruling is extremely encouraging for our hardworking members and the taxpayers of Cumberland County,” said Stuart Alterman, counsel to PBA Local #231 for nearly 30 years.

Alterman filed his complaint to contest the county’s layoff plan on September 23 with the Superior Court. One of the key provisions cited in the complaint is the Cumberland County Board of Freeholders failure to vote on the layoff plan prior to it being sent to the Civil Service Commission.

“The board has completely shirked their responsibility as the appointing authority to hold a public hearing and vote on the layoff plan,” said Alterman.

On August 19, the county filed a layoff plan with the state’s Civil Service Commission. In the plan, the county proposes to layoff 121 county employees, including 105 correctional police officers, members of PBA Local #231. To date, neither PBA Local #231 nor its attorney have received official notice on the layoff plan from the county.