APRIL CHEERS AND JEERS
Written by William E. Cleary Sr.
JEER — To the ongoing dysfunction inside the Gloucester City Fire Department
A recently settled lawsuit revealed allegations of harassment, retaliation, and hostility toward an injured firefighter, ending in a $45,000 payout by the city. The details paint a picture of leadership problems that taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for.
The source for the $45,000 payout by Gloucester City is a March 27, 2026, report by Transparency NJ, written by open‑government advocate John Paff. The article details the settlement of a lawsuit filed by firefighter Kyle Jeffries, (photo) who alleged disability discrimination, harassment, and retaliation within the Gloucester City Fire Department. The city agreed to pay $45,000 to resolve the case — $23,804 to Jeffries for emotional distress and $21,196 for attorney fees.
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Key points from the documented settlement
The lawsuit stemmed from a June 2023 training injury and the firefighter’s subsequent treatment while on light duty. In his lawsuit, Kyle Jeffries, who began working for the department in 2014, alleged that he sustained a ruptured nerve in his spine leading to his left leg during a swift water training exercise in June 2023. He alleged that after reporting the injury and seeking medical treatment, he was placed on light-duty status but faced hostility from both supervisors and coworkers.
Allegations included hostility from supervisors, delayed workers’ comp paperwork, and retaliatory shift changes.
The settlement was finalized in August 2025, but publicly reported in March 2026.
The city did not admit wrongdoing, but paid the settlement to close the case. The mayor and council never said a word to the taxpayers who footed the bill for this case.
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This week’s featured firefighter is Chris Oliver.
CHEER — To first responders handling a heavy run of serious incidents
Gloucester City police, fire, and EMS have been dealing with multiple high‑impact emergencies this year, including fatal crashes on I‑76 and major DUI‑related incidents. Their professionalism under pressure deserves recognition.
JEER-On Monday, March 30, 2026, Sweetie and I were waiting at the traffic light at Market Street and Baynes Avenue to turn green. It was around noontime. We noticed a couple walking toward the intersection on the other side of Market Street. They were both about 15 or 16 years old. The boy was dressed in black and had dark hair with blond streaks on the top of his head. Curious, I asked him as he walked past my van, “Why would you do that?” Both he and his companion kept walking without responding. I couldn’t help but think, this is the next generation. Hopefully, those two are in the minority.
CHEER — To residents in South Jersey, especially those in Gloucester City, who continue demanding transparency, for clarity on city-owned properties, code enforcement, and municipal decision‑making. Their persistence is one of the few forces consistently pushing City Hall toward accountability.
JEER- Why does the UEZ Coordinator need a 2025 pickup truck?
Gloucester City recently authorized the purchase of a pickup truck for the Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ). The approval appears in City Resolution R‑194‑2025, adopted August 25, 2025, which specifies the following details.
What the city purchased
One (1) 2025 Ford F‑150 for the UEZ Authority
One (1) 2026 Ford Maverick for the Housing Department
Both vehicles were purchased through Miller Ford Sales under New Jersey State Contract T0126, with a total cost not to exceed $72,000.
WHY THIS MATTERS—
Lori Ryan is the current UEZ Coordinator and Director of Community Development for the Gloucester City Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ). She manages the district’s incentives and business development programs, including facade and signage grants. Why would that position suddenly require the purchase of a pickup truck? Previous coordinators never had one. How does the mayor and council justify such an expense when there are many other needs, such as street repaving or lowering taxes? It would be much cheaper if the mayor and council continued to pay her to use her own vehicle.
Below is just one of many potholes and streets in Gloucester City in need of repair.
Because of the wrap on the vehicle, the public knows the truck was paid for with their taxes. The same isn’t true for the truck driven by the Public Works Department Supervisor. It has no markings at all. Most of the day, that vehicle sits on Gaunt Street.
A few years ago, we submitted an OPRA request asking for the number of vehicles owned by the City of Gloucester. The total was over 140. Missing from that number were the patrol cars used by the City Police Department. Since 2020, when Police Chief Brian Morrell was appointed TEMPORARY city administrator, the police department’s roster has increased from 28 employees to over 40. We also requested the names of all current police officers. That information was also kept from us. Again, we ask: why would that be secret? What are they hiding?
JEER – The American flag flying at the corner of Old Saint Mary’s Cemetery, located at the intersection of East Brown and Mary Streets, has been in disrepair for over two years. CNBNews has brought the flag’s condition to the attention of the previous pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Gloucester City, as well as to the caretaker of the New St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bellmawr. The responsible party for the care of Old St. Mary’s Cemetery is the latter, but our efforts have been unsuccessful. The flag flies 24 hours a day but is not illuminated at night, which violates our country’s flag code. Leaving it in this condition for so long dishonors those who fought and died for it and shows disrespect to all veterans and soldiers currently fighting and protecting us around the world.
CHEER — To community members supporting local families after tragedies
After recent fatal crashes, neighbors and local groups stepped up with vigils, fundraisers, and support networks. In a small town, that kind of solidarity still matters.
JEER — To the persistent dangers on local highways
The fatal DUI crash involving a driver with a BAC nearly three times the legal limit underscores how vulnerable Gloucester City remains to reckless drivers passing through its major corridors. Enforcement and prevention efforts clearly need strengthening.
CHEERS and KUDOS to those who keep the Johnson Blvd complex looking sharp!
Sweetie (photo)and I visit the Johnson Blvd. Jogging Track (right) almost every day. We can’t help but notice how well the grounds of that complex are kept. Likewise, the appearance of the nearby Little League and Gloucester High School softball fields. Kudos to the employees of the Gloucester Public Works Department, the Gloucester City School District ground staff, and the men and women of the Gloucester City Little League and the Gloucester High School Softball League for their efforts.League for their efforts
JEER — To the lack of clear communication from City Hall
Even routine updates—like canceled council meetings—continue to be posted late or inconsistently, leaving residents guessing. In 2026, basic communication shouldn’t be this hard.
JEER-Gloucester City Post Office Appearance Disgraceful
For a long time, the steps of the Post Office have been in disrepair. Located on Broadway, hundreds of visitors pass by that building every day. By not fixing them, Uncle Sam is telling the residents of Gloucester City they could care less about their community. Several other steps are also broken and in need of repair. It’s not only an eyesore; it also creates a safety hazard.
JEER- Why doesn’t the Gloucester City Police enforce this law?
In the 1965, Gloucester City Mayor and Council passed an ordinance requiring the police to ticket abandoned or broken-down vehicles. If the vehicle isn’t moved within a certain period, the police are instructed to have it towed away. Yet, we continue to see unregistered, abandoned, and junk cars in every section of the City. Why isn’t that law enforced? The dilapidated vehicle above, without a current registration sticker or license plate, is located on Railroad Avenue, near the Gloucester City Housing Office, approximately 200 feet from Monmouth Street. The ordinance was adopted in 1965. Why isn’t the present Mayor, Dayl Baile, and his council members ordering the police to enforce this law? Those individuals have no problem voting YES to raise our taxes. If this ordinance isn’t going to be enforce than remove it from the City’s Code book. Furthermore, if police officers are ignoring this ordinance, are they breaking the oath they took when they were hired?
The present-day Mayor and Council must also accept responsibility for allowing the DIVISION STREET JUNKYARD TO EXIST FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
88-1Declaration.
It is hereby determined and declared that the placing, abandonment, leaving, keeping or storage out-of-doors of any motor vehicle not currently in use for transportation and not licensed for the current license year, or any other unused machinery or equipment on public or private lands in Gloucester City, is contrary and inimical to the public welfare in that such articles so placed, abandoned, left, kept or stored attract or may attract persons of tender years who, being so attracted, may play in and about them and be injured in so doing, and in that such articles so placed, abandoned, left, kept or stored out-of-doors, exposed to the elements, deteriorate and in themselves are detrimental to and depreciate the value of properties in the neighborhood where they are located and in Gloucester City as a whole.
§ 88-2Keeping or storing on certain lands.
No person shall place, abandon or leave, keep or store, or suffer or permit the placing, abandoning, leaving, keeping or storage of, any article described in § 88-1 of this ordinance out-of-doors upon any public or private land in Gloucester City or between the right-of-way side lines of any public thorough-fare therein. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prohibit the placing, keeping or storage of any such article in an enclosed garage, barn or other building.
§ 88-3Interpretation.
If any article described in § 88-1 of this ordinance shall be left, placed, kept or stored on private lands for 15 days or more, it shall be presumed that the owner or tenant in possession of said land left, placed, kept or stored it there or permitted or suffered it to be left, placed, kept or stored there.
§ 88-4 Procedure for violations on privately owned land.
Whenever it shall appear to any member of the Police Department of Gloucester City that § 88-2 of this ordinance is being violated and that the land on which the violation exists is privately owned, he shall, in writing, notify the owner or tenant in possession of the land on which the violation exists to abate the violation by removing the article or articles constituting the violation from the Gloucester City or into an enclosed garage, barn or other building within 10 days of the service of the notice, which notice shall be served upon such owner or tenant, if he resides in Gloucester City, personally or by leaving it at his usual place of abode with some member of his household over the age of 14 years; but if any such owner or tenant shall reside outside Gloucester City, the notice shall be served upon him by registered or certified mail addressed to him at his usual residence if ascertainable, otherwise by notice published in the newspaper in which the legal notices of Gloucester City may be published, and the said owner or tenant shall so abate the violation within the time fixed by the notice.
§ 88-5Procedure for violations on public lands or between right-of-way side lines.
Whenever it shall appear to any member of the Police Department of Gloucester City that § 88-2 of the ordinance is being violated and that the violation exists on the public lands or between the right-of-way side lines of any public thoroughfare, he:
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