Apparently, what had been described as a personnel matter now ranks as personal as Hamilton Twp. officials seek to remove CFO John Barrett.
Somebody in the Mayor Kelly Yaede administration likely leaked a complaint filed against Barrett after the chief financial officer delivered his own accusations about nefarious behaviors occurring in Hamilton Twp. government.
Why leak? Barrett did not play ball. Plus, Yaede and her men were falling behind in this story after Kenny and Mayoral Chief of Staff Marty Flynn rousted Barrett in his office in a failed attempt to seize his computer.
Factions can draw even or move ahead of a story by forwarding information. They will deny these sieve circumstances but three decades in this business understand the operations of desperate people.
That taped Flynn and Kenny insurgency event looked like a typical Hamilton Twp. shakedown, as Kenny and Flynn exhibited behaviors that occur when good government morphs into bad political juju or poo poo power.
The complaint, filed by Kenny, referenced the Jan. 2 computer incident as an act of insubordination, even accused Barrett with theft of Township property.
The complaint includes charges of misappropriation of funds, employee misconduct and inefficient job performance as the document attempts to jettison the Yaede administration ahead of this story. Amazing how a person performs satisfactorily or even better until they cross people with power.
Likely, no fingerprints or DNA on the Barrett papers although most people in Hamilton Twp. understand that it’s not good to fool or fume with Mother Nature or scorned people.
Per a previous Trentonian article, Barrett last month filed a state ethics complaint that alleged Kenny and township employee Richard J. Mulrine, Yaede’s brother-in-law, had both provided unauthorized approval on two recent purchase orders including $5000 in reimbursements to the mayor for hotel lodging expenses she had incurred.
Not certain where Mayor Yaede stayed – perhaps Boston or someplace off Bean Town Rd. in Camden County. Sounds like Hamilton Twp. needs a forensic audit.
Five grand? That’s Honeymoon Suite money. While Mayor Yaede announced intentions to oversee Valentine’s Day weddings, there’s been no announcement of personal nuptials.
In an email sent mid-December, Barrett contacted state authorities in the Dept. of Community Affairs’ Division of Local Government Services. Barrett accused Mulrine of “theft of time”. Barrett also contacted the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Whether Barrett presents himself as a “good boy whistleblower”, as suggested in a recent Trentonian article, saint or sinner, Hamilton residents still have a right to know about the gratuitous five grand relinquished to Mayor Yaede. Personnel matter or personal pleasure?
Only now does Kenny make an allegation that Barrett improperly spent $34,000 in Township funds between 2011 and 2017, including the unauthorized purchase of a 2016 Jeep Patriot.
If that purchase occurred, Kenny needs to explain when he discovered Barrett made that automobile selection. Sounds like these allegations became relevant only after Barrett contacted state and local authorities.
Only now does Kenny allege that Barrett took sick days to work as a consultant for his side business venture.
Only now does Kenny outline a list of reasons from insubordination to incompetency, in order to dismiss Barrett from his tenured position.
This all sounds like trumped up payback, soiled laundry and dirty pool, another sordid political stomach punch that causes disbelief and mistrust of government.
The Yaede administration likely leaked this information for shock and awe which already has delivered a political parry as leaked material landed mysteriously on this desk.
Politics move toward ugly in Hamilton Twp. as power corrupts absolutely with no absolution for Mayor Yaede, Mulrine, Kenny, Flynn or Barrett.
