“Once all members have had the opportunity to review those materials, we will entertain a motion to refer the case to the Burlington County Prosecutor for formal action.”
A seven-month internal investigation was discussed in public at the Cinnaminson Township Committee meeting on Sept. 25. Committee now has a decision to make whether to refer one of its own members to either the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office or the state Division of Consumer Affairs for possible misconduct.
Committeeman Donald Brauckmann was the subject of an internal investigation done by the township’s labor council led by lawyer Joseph Betley of Capehart Scatchard that began in March, relating to conversations and interactions with an employee in the Department of Public Works and an officer in the Cinnaminson Police Department. Lawyer Lou Garty prepared a summary of Betley’s findings and was present at Monday’s meeting to announce them.
The 47-year-old previously worked with the police department for 10 years, the Cinnaminson school board for four years, and has served on Cinnaminson Committee since 2010.
Brauckmann was also accused of promising to vote to approve Deputy Mayor William “Ben” Young to the position of director of public works in exchange for getting his wife a job at Rowan College at Burlington County. A summary of the findings was introduced at Monday’s meeting, which saw more than 60 community members in attendance.
Brauckmann is the liaison to the Department of Parks and Recreation, so his talks outside of that department are a violation, according to the investigation.
“Once all members have had the opportunity to review those materials, we will entertain a motion to refer the case to the Burlington County prosecutor for formal action,” Mayor Anthony Minniti said. “This decision will occur on Oct. 2.”
Committee did vote to contact the town’s Joint Insurance Fund and inform it of the potential exposure to the town from Brauckmann’s conduct so it could prepare a defense or consider offering a settlement to the aggrieved employees.
Garty read the communications and text messages Brauckmann had regarding exchanging his vote for his wife to receive a job at the county college, with one reportedly stating, “I guess there is no hope to cash in a coin if there is no coin coming. Pretty disappointing.”
“We are committed to protecting the integrity of the governing body, but more importantly, to protecting the employees who have been the subject of Mr. Brauckmann’s conduct,” Minniti said. “Further, it is imperative that we mitigate the financial exposure of our town and, of course, the taxpayers, brought about by Brauckmann’s actions.”
Brauckmann is also accused in the report of “inserting himself into a law enforcement action concerning ticketing and issuing tickets” and calling former Committeewoman Kathleen Fitzpatrick following a closed session meeting to discuss an employee. Many attendees called the allegations and investigation of Brauckmann “a joke” and “unbelievable”.
“I didn’t know the powers in this town were run by a small group of people that get what they want at all costs,” Brauckmann said, adding when he spoke out against them, he became ‘a target’. Special counsel admitted in the report there was no proof that Brauckmann violated the confidentiality of the executive session, but it was “foolish” to ask for any questions.
Former Cinnaminson Mayor Bill O’Connor contacted the DCA, which said it will investigate Minniti, according to a document he handed out at the meeting.
“In the end, the reality is that we are, in fact, five co-equal members of the governing body,” Minniti said. “Mr.Brauckmann’s conduct is slowly being revealed.”
In other news:
• Minniti swore in Adam Somers as a new police officer to the Cinnaminson Police Department. Somers will complete his graduation from Mercer County Community College on Sept. 28 and begin working with the department.
• Committee introduced an ordinance to amend land use ordinances to require attachment permits and attachment applications for installation of microcell antenna equipment.
