Sewerage Authority Has Nepotism Policy, But Was It Violated?

Nearly a month after several members were arrested on theft and corruption charges, the question of whether the entity violated a nepotism policy looms.

Paul Philips, the former CSA superintendent who was arrested and charged, tried to hire his son in 2005, according to the entity’s solicitor.

CSA commissioners rejected the proposal, said solicitor Brad Smith.

The next year, CSA commissioners reviewed and adopted an updated personnel policy and procedures manual—complete with a section banning nepotism.

In light of the recent CSA scandal, the group, and even , has discussed whether the policies in place are good enough.

Nepotism means to show favoritism based on familial relations. It does not mean family members cannot be hired for groups like the sewerage authority, public works or even the .

However it does mean a supervisor cannot oversee a family member, which is why Phillips’ son was not hired in 2005, Smith said.

Eight men—many related somehow—were .

The suspects include Carmelo Colon, Phillip’s son-in-law. However, Smith said Carmelo Colon was not part of the Phillips' family when he was originally hired.

Carmelo Colon’s brother, Mike Colon, was also arrested.

And, three Lehmans—CSA employee Jeffrey, CSA subcontractor Joseph B. and non-employee Joseph J.—were arrested.

Seasonal employee Scott D. Mayes Jr. was . It was revealed Mayes is Phillips’ nephew. According to sources, the commissioners were unaware of Mayes’ relationship to Phillips, so the hiring didn't trigger a nepotism review.

None of the CSA employees are related in any way to the commissioners, who do the actual hiring of employees.

At the township level, there is no nepotism policy set.

“We didn’t want to preclude people that may be the best candidates for a job simply because they were related to someone,” said Deputy Mayor Anthony Minniti.

Minniti was on committee in 2006 when ethics legislation passed, but a nepotism policy was not part of that.

“It would have had drastic impacts,” Minniti said. “So many in our police department are relatives.”

For example, former Chief John Obuchowski was on the force with his sons, Sgt. and K9 Officer . Furthermore, Capt. Michael Burns Sr. was employed at the same time as his son, Mike Burns Jr.

There are several other instances.

However, the main difference is police department members must be highly qualified and take a civil service test to gain their positions.

“All officers are/were excellent assets to our community and all were hired under civil service guidelines, which means they had to take and pass a civil service test,” Mayor Don Brauckmann said.

The topic came up at Monday’s township committee meeting. Committeeman Ben Young called the hiring of various fathers and sons in the police department a “legacy.”

Director Michael P. King agreed, backing up all hiring.

“To simply say family members can’t work in the same department could be counterproductive,” Minniti said.

If ethics legislation at the township committee level included a nepotism policy, it would apply to the police department, as well as to public works.

The Cinnaminson Sewerage Authority is a semi-autonomous organization, separate from the township. CSA employees do not need to take a test as a condition of employment.

In the days after the CSA scandal broke, . The next meeting of the CSA is at 7 p.m., Monday March 12.