Morris County Freeholders Condemn County Sheriff's Conferral Of Promotions

The Morris County Board of Freeholders met on Wednesday evening and among other duties, passed a resolution condemning the recent actions of Morris County Sheriff Edward Rochford in restructuring his department by way of promotions.

According to the Freeholders, Rochford's granting of a series of promotions are not specifically funded in the county's 2016 budget, which will likely lead to personnel and budget issues for his successor on January 1, 2017. The Freeholders passed a resolution on Wednesday evening not to allow unfunded promotions that leaves county taxpayers liable and unhinges recent negotiations with a Sheriff's union.

“The Sheriff is creating an unsettled and divisive situation by making improper promotions that we cannot afford, and which will impact the next Sheriff’s administration,’’ said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo. “We are sending him a message that his actions are totally unacceptable.’’

According to the Freeholders, the Sheriff participated in a state public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) arbitration hearing last week, but on that day offered no input while a tentative labor settlement was created that specified, among other matters, that there would be no additional promotions in 2016. The Freeholders state that the Sheriff produced a new organizational chart with a series of promotions a day later, a chart without adequate funding and in contradiction to the arbitrated settlement, putting negotiations with other officers in jeopardy.

"The freeholders, via their resolution, put the sheriff on notice that he will be held personally responsible for salary, costs, and expenses related to his actions, and that Morris County would not provide him with legal counsel at taxpayers’ expense should court action arise due to his actions," announced the Freeholders' resolution.

Sheriff Rochford did not seek re-election and his term will be expiring at the end of the year. An election to choose his replacement will be held in November.

Image via Morris County government, used under Creative Commons.