Former trustee failed to disclose financial interests
By Nathan Mayberg
NEWTON — Glen Vetrano, who resigned last month from his seat on the Sussex Community College Board of Trustees over an apparent conflict of interest with an engineering firm he was working for, did not fill out any financial interests on a disclosure form that was required by the state in 2013.
Vetrano had been working as a paid consultant to CP Engineers since 2012 while voting and signing off on lucrative contracts for the company as a trustee for the community college.
Most recently, Vetrano signed off on affirming a contract voted on by the board to increase the cost of a building project which would pay the engineering firm $451,200. Though Vetrano didn't vote on the contract itself, his signature is on the contract as board secretary. The lone bid by Newton-based Echelon Services of $2.88 million for the construction work is under review.
Last year, Vetrano voted to give CP Engineers a $143,200 contract to work on the college's master plan.
The state ethics law requires local governmentofficials to fill out financial disclosure statements through the Local Finance Board of the Department of Community Affairs.
Vetrano filed his financial disclosure statement with the state in July, 2013, according to a copy of the document provided by the Department of Community Affairs. The document left blank any financial information. Vetrano couldn't be reached for comment.
Board chairman Glenn Gavan, who works as the attorney for CP Engineers, has abstained from votes on the firm though he has led board meetings at which votes and discussions on contracts with the firm, took place.
On Gavan's financial disclosure form in 2013, he cited work for the firm of McGivney & Kluger on his financial information. He also listed work for Sussex Borough and Sandyston Township as the planning board attorney.
However, Gavan did not list work for CP Engineers on the form. Gavan could not be reached for comment.
According to the state's local government finance law, fines of between $100 and $500 can be assessed against a local government officer who didn't properly fill out the disclosure form, or insufficiently disclosed their financial interests.
New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs Tammori Petty said she couldn't immediately confirm whether Gavan or Vetrano's forms had been examined for compliance. "We really try to make sure people file them," Petty said.
— To contact reporter Nathan Mayberg, email comm.reporter@strausnews.com or call 845-469-9000 ext. 359.