Montclair Township is defending an employee-organized holiday party set to honor its outgoing interim town manager, Michael Lapolla. The event has sparked some criticism, with a local government expert describing it as "tone deaf."
The party will take place in West Orange and invites employees to "dress to impress and celebrate!" according to the announcement. The cost for attendance is $55 per person, with a cash bar available at Llewellyn Parq Bar and Grill.
Township spokesperson Matthew Amaral clarified that Lapolla was unaware of the event before it was publicized. Amaral emphasized that municipal employees are organizing the party independently of town leadership. "The township is not funding anything to do with the party, and employees are paying for it on their own," he stated. Attendance is voluntary for employees.
Marc Pfeiffer, a senior policy fellow at Rutgers' Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, noted that such events are common among local government entities. "On this surface, this appears to strike a balance. It’s something they’ve done before," Pfeiffer commented. He acknowledged that management changes over the past year might have impacted employees but advised against letting perfection hinder progress.
Regarding the cost of attending the party, Pfeiffer remarked, “It can be. Everybody’s circumstances are different,” adding that public employees often earn less than those in other community jobs but expressing hope that organizers would consider these factors.
