Holmdel Township Committee members will publicly question Donna Vieiro, Holmdel’s former township administrator, during a special meeting on Sept. 23.
During a meeting on Sept. 12, members of the governing body publicly investigated and questioned Township Engineer Frances Mullan of T&M Associates, and Victor Stevens, Holmdel’s director of infrastructure, after Committeeman Rocco Pascucci said unexpected bills came up at a prior meeting.
Previously, Pascucci asked T&M Associates to submit bills related to the proposed installation of a synthetic turf field at the Holmdel Swim Club.
Pascucci said the bills amounted to tens of thousands of dollars that “some entity” directed T&M Associates to pursue the project without approval of the governing body.
Township Committee members said Mullan, Stevens and Vieiro are the individuals in question who knew about the project, which included the installation of a turf field in town.
T&M Associates completed preliminary work before the project to construct a synthetic turf field at the Holmdel Swim Club was put on hold earlier this year.
The project was suspended after Vieiro was suspended from her position as administrator.
Vieiro resigned from her position in July following an investigation into additional claims that she allegedly committed violations in her administrative position. Updates from that investigation have not been provided by municipal officials.
On Sept. 12, committee members questioned Mullan about the project they explained that they did not approve.
Mullan said Vieiro authorized T&M Associates to conduct the preliminary work on the synthetic turf project.
“I’m the one who, with the help of other committee members, pulled the $31,000 bill from T&M Associates in question,” Pascucci said. “(A total of) $2.1 million was placed on a consent agenda under bills payable. Then, (the committee) found out prep work was done by T&M Associates and township workers before (a synthetic turf field) was placed on an agenda.
“… My working hypothesis was that T&M Associates was ordered to do this. They didn’t do it on their own … I would like to question each of the people here today, especially (about) the swim club project,” Pascucci said.
Mullan, who has been the township engineer since January 2018, said Vieiro asked T&M Associates to “expedite” the process so a synthetic turf field would be ready for athletes to play fall sports on.
“I did everything I could to make it happen,” Mullan said. “I got my direction directly from the administrator (Vieiro). (Conversations) were initially on phone calls to alert me what I was to do and what was being requested of me. (Phone calls) were followed by a series of meetings and ultimately email and written correspondence.”
He said no member of the Township Committee asked him to pursue to the project.
Stevens, who also was questioned by members of the governing body, said he took direction from Vieiro. He said Vieiro wanted the project completed quickly, which made his other daily work “a challenge.”
Pascucci asked Stevens if a committee member knew about the site plans.
“Donna asked me to do the work,” Stevens answered.
Pascucci said the was not the question he asked and reminded Stevens he was under oath.
“Once Donna directed me to start working on the project, I had a conversation with (Mayor) Eric (Hinds) about turf fields. (Hinds) asked how we were doing with the turf fields,” Stevens said.
Stevens said Hinds was aware of the project.
Hinds did not respond to the comments Stevens made.
The public investigation will continue at 8 p.m. on Sept. 23 at the municipal building when Vieiro is expected to answer questions from committee members.
