Suspended Zoning Officer Awaits Hearing

The wheels of the justice system grind slowly.

To that end, Morristown attorney Peter Gilbreth said Wednesday he had no complaints thus far regarding the process concerning his client, John Fugger, who was suspended without pay from his job as the town's zoning officer in October after a female employee filed a complaint stating he had made unwanted calls to her after hours, despite being told to stop.

As a result Fugger, who has been a Morristown employee for about 25 years, has since been suspended without pay from his $83,469 a year job while the town investigates the charge.

"There is a right to a hearing. Usually dates are set very soon after allegations," Gilbreth said. "But, the 'discovery' process can take a while. We're in a bit of a lull until things start clarifying."

Business Administrator Michael Rogers said a hearing had been scheduled as required by law but was adjourned because of the investigation. Another hearing would not be scheduled until that investigation had concluded, he said.

"We requested an investigation take place," he said. "That is ongoing and why we adjourned that scheduled hearing. There’s still a pending investigation going on and it takes time."

If Fugger is exonerated of the charges, he would be paid retroactively for his time suspended, Rogers said.

Gilbreth said the whole matter has been a hardship for his client, not just monetarily but also mentally. "The process grinds slowly," he said. "It's tough for people who want to get things done yesterday."

Still, while it's been about two months since his client has been suspended from his work, "I have no complaints," Gilbreth said. "The point is there is this process. Everyone wants to be certain they are fully aware what's going on."