For Agency Use Only
Docket Number: ___________
Patricia DelGiudice, Board
President, Hamilton Township
Board of Education Mercer
County, New Jersey
Complainant
vs.
Jeffrey Hewitson, Hamilton
Township Board of Education
Mercer County, New Jersey
Respondent
BEFORE THE SCHOOL ETHICS
COMMISSION OF NEW JERSEY
SCHOOL ETHICS ACT
COMPLAINT FORM
I, Patricia DelGuidice, residing at 4 Connor Court,
Hamilton, New Jersey 08691, request the School Ethics Commission
to consider a Complaint against the above-named Respondent whose
home address is 33 Sedona Boulevard, Hamilton, New Jersey 08690,
in accordance with the authority of the School Ethics Commission
to entertain such complaints under N.J.S.A. 18A:12-21 et seq.
The facts upon which this Complaint is based are as
follows:
1. Statement of Facts: Board member Jeffrey Hewitson as a
member of the Superintendent Search Committee breached the
confidentiality of not only himself but of other Board members
by disseminating the names of the two finalists.
New Jersey.com and the Trenton Times printed articles prior to
the June 9, 2011 School Board meeting naming the District’s two
finalists for the Superintendent’s position. Mr. Hewitson is
quoted in both articles indicating that Barbara Frascella and
Lou Goldstein were the two finalists and that Lou Goldstein was
poised to become the successor to retiring Hamilton
Superintendent Neil Bencivengo. This violation breached the
confidentiality of the Superintendent Search Committee at which
time all members were told and advised in numerous emails from
Superintendent Search Committee Chair Person, Patricia
DelGuidice that this procedure is confidential and privacy must
be maintained to the utmost.
Date of occurrence: June 2011
I assert this to be a violation of N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1(g)
For Agency Use Only
Docket Number: ___________
2. Board member Jeffrey Hewitson removed confidential material
from the Board Solicitor’s office without proper authority. On
March 18, 2011 Jeffrey Hewitson as a member of the Hamilton
Township Board of Education and Anthony Celentano, a Hamilton
Township School District employee, presented themselves at
Destribates & Campbell. Mr. Hewitson requested information
pertaining to two candidates for Superintendent. Mr. Hewitson
retrieved the information and reviewed the information and at
that point requested from the Board Solicitor a copy of
documents as he was on his way out of town. The Solicitor
advised Mr. Hewitson that he was not going to disclose any of
the information or resumes with anyone and he was further
advised he was not to copy the documents. Mr. Hewitson indicated
to the solicitor that he had the authority to receive the copies
and at that time the Solicitor complied with Mr. Hewitson’s
request and presented him with copies of the candidates’
resumes.
On Saturday, March 19, 2011 the Board Solicitor spoke with Vice
President Patricia DelGuidice who was the Chair of
Superintendent’s Search Committee who informed the Solicitor
that Mr. Hewitson was only approved to review the documents in
private and was not to remove any of the documents. Shortly
thereafter Mr. Hewitson appeared at the Solicitor’s office and
told him he did not release any of the information to anyone and
then returned the documents.
This is in violation of Breech of confidentiality again by Mr.
Hewitson with regard to the Superintendent search.
Date of Occurrence: March 2011
I assert this to be a violation of N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1(g)
3. Statement of facts: Jeffery Hewitson and Anthony Celentano
advised me that in June 2011 that if I did not vote for the
internal candidate for superintendent he would be filing an
Ethics Complaint against me with regard to my role as
Chairperson of the Superintendent Search Committee. This threat
was proven correct by the June 8, 2011 article in NJ.com where
Mr. Hewitson indicates that he was filing an Ethics Complaint
against Patricia DelGuidice, Chairperson of the Superintendent
Search Committee. This article appeared on June 8, 2011 one day
prior to the June 9, 2011 Board meeting in which the Board of
Education had placed on the Agenda the appointment of Lou
For Agency Use Only
Docket Number: ___________
Goldstein as Superintendent for the Hamilton Township School
District. This article in the newspaper one day prior to the
appointment of Lou Goldstein was done in a malicious and
inappropriate manner to impugn my integrity and tarnish the
process of the District naming Lou Goldstein as Superintendent.
Date of occurrence: June 2011
I assert this to be a violation of N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1(f)(g)
4. Statement of Facts: On or about March 2011 Jeffrey Hewitson
scheduled a meeting with Vince McKelvy, the president of the
Hibernian’s, as well as Tony Celentano to discuss the upcoming
election. I was confronted by Mr. McKelvy with the names of the
candidates for the Hamilton Township Board of Education
Superintendent’s position. This is a complete violation of the
Breach of Confidentiality in that Mr. Hewitson was disseminating
the names of the individuals who applied for the position to
become Hamilton Township Board of Education Superintendent.
Date of occurrence: March/April 2011
I assert this to be a violation of N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1(g)
5. Statement of Facts: On or about August 11, 2010 Hamilton
Township School Board member Jeffrey Hewitson voted for a
contract for the Mercer County Arc. Mr. Hewitson is a Trustee at
Mercer County Arc and therefore violated N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24(c)
wherein he has acted in his official capacity in a matter where
he has a personal involvement that creates some benefit to
himself as a Board of Trustee member for Arc.
Date of occurrence: August 2010
I assert this to be a violation of N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1
WHEREFORE, I, as Complainant, request that the School Ethics
Commission find and determine that the above-named Respondent
has violated the School Ethics Act and that he be subject to
such penalty as provided by the Act.
Date: __________________ _____________________________
Signature of Complainant
Or her Attorney
For Agency Use Only
Docket Number: ___________
CERTIFICATION UNDER OATH
Patricia DelGuidice, of full age, being duly sworn upon her
Oath according to law deposes and says:
1. I am the Complainant in this matter.
2. I have read the Complaint and aver that the facts contained
therein are true to the best of my knowledge and belief and I am
aware that the statute that created the School Ethics Commission
authorizes the School Ethics Commission to impose penalties for
filing a frivolous Complaint. N.J.S.A. 18A:12-29(e). I am aware
that if the Respondent alleges that the Complaint is frivolous,
I shall have 20 days from receipt of the Answer to respond to
the allegations.
3. The subject matter of this Complaint is not pending in any
Court of Law or Administrative Agency of this State. I will
advise the School Ethics Commission if I subsequently become
aware that it is pending elsewhere.
____________________________
Signature of Complainant
Date: ______________
Sworn and subscribed to before me this _____ day of ____________
Notice: All final decisions issued in connection with
complaints that come before the School Ethics Commission for
review and determination are public records uniformly posted on
the Department of Education’s website at
http://www.nj.gov/education/legal. As a general rule, selective
requests to remove a particular decision for reasons of personal
preference are not entertained.
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