Three years
ago, Tony Luna came up with a plan for the Borough to award a $97,500 NO BID
contract to a new business (“Treasury Services”) created by Charles Cuccia. Tony Luna’s daughter would be paid through Cuccia’s
business.
Luna believed that he could name himself the "Acting Treasurer", Charles
Cuccia the CFO, and at the same time have other people (including Cuccia’s
wife) fulfilling the duties of both.
At some point,
Lodi’s auditor stated at a council meeting that Lodi was informed by the State that they had to appoint “individuals” to the positions of CFO and Treasurer because those
positions cannot be “outsourced”.
In response, Lodi added the names Charles Cuccia and
Sheryl Biondi to its payroll for $10,000 and $25,000 respectively. “Treasury Services” continued to receive its
annual $97,500 NO BID contract. Payments to "Charles Cuccia Treasury Services" are found on the monthly bills resolutions which are separate from payroll.
In Lodi’s form
of government, the mayor and council have to vote on the CFO and Treasurer appointments. For three years, there was no record that a
vote ever took place officially appointing Cuccia or Biondi. At the July 1st re-organization
meeting, resolutions for these two appeared for the first time.
Link to resolutions:
The resolution
specifically lists the responsibilities of the two individuals. How can those responsibilities continue to be
outsourced to others?
Who is doing
what? Who is qualified for what?
