Seven NJ Utility Commissioners Vow to Fight Dismissals

Seven commissioners of a northern New Jersey utilities authority who lost their posts because they wouldn't give up their stipends and medical benefits plan to challenge their dismissals in court.

The Record newspaper reports the former Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority commissioners announced their intentions in a joint statement issued Tuesday, one day after they were fired by county Executive Kathleen Donovan.

The commissioners' termination notices alleged misconduct for ignoring Donovan's repeated vetoes of the authority's meeting minutes over the stipend issue. But the commissioners say Donovan's actions were politically motivated.

Two other commissioners -- who were recently appointed to their posts -- weren't dismissed because they haven't accepted stipends.

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