Englewood DPW Worker Sues City: Was I Punished for Refusing to Enter Potentially Radioactive Park?
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Englewood NJ, a shocking new lawsuit has put the spotlight on the City of Englewood, New Jersey, and the alleged environmental hazards at Denning Park. A former Department of Public Works (DPW) employee claims he was wrongfully suspended and ultimately forced to quit his job after he refused a direct order to clean the park due to fears of radiological contamination.
James Evans, who worked for the Englewood DPW since 2019, has filed a lawsuit in Bergen County Superior Court alleging the city, the DPW, and several supervisors knowingly put him and his co-workers at risk.
The Core Allegation: Refusal to Work in a Closed Park
The controversy centers on Denning Park’s proximity to the former Ledoux Corporation site, which was historically known to store radioactive materials.
According to the lawsuit filed on September 17, 2025:
- Public Alarm: In December 2024, the City Council held a meeting to address intense resident concerns about the site’s contamination and the need for an environmental assessment.
- Closure & Testing: Denning Park was closed from December 18, 2024, to March 5, 2025, to “facilitate immediate soil testing.”
- The Order: On February 26, Evans and his colleagues were told by supervisor Y’Shun Fields to clean the park.
- The Refusal: Evans refused, citing his concern that the park was still officially closed due to contamination fears. He demanded to see an official notice that the potential danger had been mitigated.
Evans stressed that his refusal was made in “good faith of imminent danger,” as the park remained closed with no formal notice given to the DPW laborers or their union that the site was safe to enter.
Allegations of Retaliation and Insubordination
Evans claims his refusal—while continuing all other assigned duties—annoyed supervisor Fields. The suit states Evans and his co-workers simply wanted a copy of a report certifying the park was safe, especially since it was still visibly marked with yellow emergency tape.
The alleged retaliation followed swiftly:
- Denied Transfer: Evans was told by HR that there were no open positions for a requested transfer to Buildings and Grounds, despite being told otherwise by DPW Director Raymond Romney.
- Suspension: Two days after he was asked to clean the park, Evans was suspended for five days and issued a formal corrective action for insubordination. The notice warned that continued behavior could lead to termination.
- Forced Resignation: Evans ultimately resigned, claiming he “could no longer continue remaining employed with the City of Englewood” due to the ongoing retaliation.
Notably, the lawsuit states that none of Evans’ co-workers who also requested the safety memorandum or environmental report were disciplined.
The Lawsuit and the City’s Response
The lawsuit names the City of Englewood, the DPW, Fields, Director Romney, and supervisor Wilmer Dubon as defendants. Evans is accusing them of violating the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), New Jersey’s whistleblower statute, and is demanding damages, attorney’s fees, and the cost of the suit.
Englewood City Manager Robert Hoffmann has stated that the municipality has not yet formally received the complaint and, therefore, cannot comment on the specifics of the suit at this time.
This case raises serious questions about employee safety, transparency, and the integrity of public land management in Englewood.
Tell your story #TheRidgewoodblog , #Indpendentnews, #information, #advertise, #guestpost, #affiliatemarketing,#NorthJersey, #NJ , #News, #localnews, #bergencounty, #sponsoredpost, #SponsoredContent, #contentplacement , #linkplacement, Email: Onlyonesmallvoice@gmail.com
Where are the RIDGEWOOD whistleblowers?