the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Palisades Park NJ, without public discussion, a long-serving borough employee, Cindy Gardenier, was terminated during a council meeting on November 25. The decision came after Gardenier, who had been out of work since April 2023 due to health issues stemming from mold exposure in Borough Hall, raised workplace safety and harassment concerns.
Nine Years of Service Ends Abruptly
Gardenier, a bilingual secretary earning $55,900 annually, had worked for the borough for nine years. Her medical issues began after mold was discovered in Borough Hall, where she worked. Diagnosed with workplace asthma, Gardenier had sought accommodations, including proof that the building was safe for her return. Her requests reportedly went unanswered.
The termination resolution, passed with only Councilman Michael Vietri dissenting, listed her last effective workday as November 22. Gardenier, who did not attend the meeting due to fears of entering Borough Hall, said she was not informed of her termination by borough officials.
“I feel like this is retaliation,” Gardenier said. “They just want to make me go away instead of addressing the real issues.”
Mold and Building Safety Concerns
Mold was first reported in Palisades Park Borough Hall and the Palisades Park Police Department in 2022. Since then, over 50 claims of illness linked to the building have been filed, including Gardenier’s workers’ compensation complaint. While the borough spent $1 million on temporary trailers to relocate employees, these remain unused.
Officials stated that inspections by the New Jersey Office of Public Employee Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) found no visible mold in Gardenier’s workstation. They added that independent air quality tests deemed the space safe, though ongoing renovations continue.
Councilman Vietri disputed these claims, saying mold and structural issues persist. “The building still has exposed ceilings and walls,” he said.
Harassment Allegations and Lack of Resolution
Gardenier also filed sexual harassment complaints against Mayor Chong “Paul” Kim, alleging inappropriate behavior dating back to his time as a council member. She stated that her complaints have been ignored.
In response, the borough’s public relations firm, Vision Media Marketing, stated that the allegations were “thoroughly investigated by outside counsel” and deemed baseless. No further details were provided due to the personnel nature of the matter.
Borough’s Defense
Borough officials said they followed all legal requirements in addressing Gardenier’s concerns, offering her accommodations to return to work, which they claim she declined. According to the borough, her role required in-office interaction with residents and could not be performed remotely.
“By refusing to return, Ms. Gardenier essentially demanded a no-show job,” a borough statement read. “That would be illegal, unethical, and unfair to other employees.”
Community Reaction
The decision to terminate Gardenier has drawn mixed reactions. During the meeting, one resident commended the move for saving taxpayer money, while Gardenier criticized the process as “unprofessional.”
“This is just their nature,” she said. “I’m not the first, and I won’t be the last.”
Lingering Questions
As mold remediation continues, the trailers intended for relocation remain unused, raising questions about resource allocation and employee safety. Gardenier’s termination and her unresolved harassment allegations highlight broader issues of workplace conditions and accountability in the borough.
Whether these concerns will spur further action remains uncertain, but for Gardenier, the chapter has closed: “I’m glad to move on, but it shouldn’t have ended this way.”