Judge Reinstates Seven “Fired” NJ Utility Commissioners

A state judge has reinstated seven commissioners who lost their posts on a northern New Jersey utilities authority because they wouldn't give up their $5,000 stipends and medical benefits.

In a ruling made public Monday, the judge said Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan acted "beyond the scope of her authority" when she issued dismissal notices in April to seven of the nine commissioners of the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority.

Donovan accused the commissioners of misconduct for ignoring her repeated vetoes of the authority's meeting minutes over the stipend issue. But the commissioners claimed Donovan's actions were politically motivated.

Two other commissioners weren't dismissed because they had not accepted the stipends.

Donovan's office says the judge's ruling will be appealed.

The authority oversees a sewerage system that serves 75,000 customers.