Franklin, DPW remain in stalement

FRANKLIN — Representatives of the Borough of Franklin submitted a settlement proposal to the Department of Public Works in an attempt to end ongoing civil litigation on Tuesday, April 14.

The lawsuit, which is asking for compensatory and punitive damages, was filed in the Sussex County Superior Court in October 2014 when attempts at mediation had broken down.

“What we (the borough) would like to do is settle the (lawsuit) and move forward with a clean slate,” Councilman Nick Giordano said.

Prior to filing the suit and mediation attempts, DPW employees had gone four years without a contract with the borough.

“In the midst of settling this we have spent a lot of money on legal bills,” Councilman Joe Limon said.

To that point, Giordano said, “What’s good for the town is not to be fighting with our employees and incurring legal bills.”

Recently, the Borough Council voted in favor of extending the dates of a temporary contract through 2015 that would keep employees of the DPW working under the same agreement while negotiations were taking place. Negotiations for 2016 are expected to begin at the end of 2015 in either late October or early November.

“What is best for the town is to go with a contract with the DPW and negotiate a contract through the end of the year,” Councilman Gilbert Snyder said.

To date a settlement proposal was submitted to the DPW that would put and end to the litigation and thus far there has been no response.

“I’d like to see this put to rest,” Councilman Joseph Martinez said.