Former administrator fires back at Jackson
Andrew Salerno claims public officials have damaged his career
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

JACKSON - A tort claim seeking millions of dollars in damages has been filed by former business administrator Andrew J. Salerno against Mayor Mark Seda, Township Administrator William Santos and the municipality itself.

The notice filed by attorney Steven S. Glickman, of the firm Ruderman and Glickman, Springfield, on behalf of Salerno, claims damages for slander, libel, civil conspiracy by the parties named to tortuous interference with business and/or economic advantage, including Salerno's livelihood and career, as well as intentional infliction of emotional harm and negligent infliction of emotional harm.

"The notice has been filed" with Jackson, Glickman said last week. "We have to wait six months before we can file [with the court]."

Salerno was named Jackson's business administrator by the Township Committee in September 2004 at a salary of $115,000. He had been the business administrator and director of finance in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, before coming to Jackson.

Salerno was not retained by the township when Jackson's new government - Seda and a Township Council - took power on July 1.

In recent weeks public officials have criticized Salerno for his handling of municipal finances. Their comments followed the council's adoption of a 2006 budget that raised the municipal tax rate by 19 cents. That hike in the tax rate amounts to an increase of almost $400 in municipal taxes to be paid by the owner of a home assessed at $200,000 and an increase of almost $800 to be paid by the owner of a home assessed at $400,000 this year.

Last week, when news of the tort claim filed against the township came to light, Glickman charged that municipal officials acted improperly in laying the blame for Jackson's financial difficulties at Salerno's feet.

"Their reasons for making those statements are only known to them at this point," the attorney said. "They are going to have to be able to show in court that their statements are true."

The tort claim notice filed by Glick-man states that on or about Aug. 3 and on or about Aug. 24, Seda made verbal statements against Salerno, causing those statements to be published. The tort claim alleges that those statements constituted tortuous interference with business advantage, slander, libel and intentional infliction of emotional harm.

The tort claim states that this course of conduct on the part of Jackson officials ... has resulted in defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent interference with economic advantage, severe emotional upset, loss of reputation, loss of income and negligence against Salerno.

The tort claim also names all agents and employees of the township, including, but not limited to Seda and Santos, and all other defendants revealed in the course of future discovery. The notice states that the extent of injury to Salerno will continue to be revealed and ascertained through continuing discovery.