After nearly 22 years of service, the former Margate CFO has followed thru on her plan to file a lawsuit.
Lisa McLaughlin claims she was subjected to harassment, gender discrimination, and false disciplinary charges by the Business Admin and Mayor after exposing unauthorized city payments to the Mayor’s family business. (Colmar Hardware)
Complaint names City of Margate, Mayor Collins, Commissioner Horn, and Business Admin Pat Moran as defendants.
The legal filing details a civil rights and whistleblower lawsuit brought by McLaughlin. SEE DOCUMENT BELOW.
- Dispute over stipend for extra payroll duties
- Alleged improper payments to business owned by Mayor Collins’ father.
- Hiring of Moran: allegedly to intimidate, undermine, ultimately terminate McLaughlin.
Podcast: CFO vs Margate City
As the city’s longtime Chief Financial Officer, McLaughlin alleges she faced a relentless campaign of harassment, gender discrimination, and professional retaliation after reporting internal financial irregularities and potential fraud.
Lawsuit alleges violations of New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act, New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, New Jersey Civil Rights Act, and common law claims including defamation.
The complaint specifically highlights the conduct of Municipal Administrator Patrick Moran.
McLaughlin contends that she was forced into involuntary retirement, which she characterizes as a wrongful constructive termination.
Plaintiff McLaughlin seeking punitive and compensatory damages for emotional distress and reputational harm caused by defendants’ alleged conspiracy.
Ummmm…..Where are the FEDS?
Right on!
Fed’s need to come in and do some cleanup. Abbott needs to go first, as he is involved in all of the mis-givings. Horn does nothing, so she should go also. The owners in Margate should know what those payments were to Colmar. More litagation, and it sounds like the Baglivo fiasco will start over again due to Abbott backing Goldstein and Baglivo over the facts. Margate City government is pathetic,
Local politics will never change until majority of home owners vote in local elections. Margate has always been a community led by local full time residents. Look where we are! Significantly increased tax rolls as a result of upgraded Real Estate homes.
Just conservatively, I’d say there is a 40% or more increase in ratables in the last few years. Where’s the money?
Our municipal employees are very well compensated, but leadership continuously finds ways to line theirs or family members pockets.
Sound leadership and accountability will only take place when all taxpayers get the right to vote in local elections. The disdain and outward disrespect for us shoobies is disgusting.
Pat Moran, just another self serving member of a pack of hacks.
If it looks like a duck. Waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck……
Time for our leaders to have their feet held to the fire.
If they did wrong they should pay for their wrong doings.
Payments made in secret to Colmar. Not good and not surprised.
Moran harassing and acting inappropriately. Not surprised. Horn involved. Not surprised.
John Amodeo, our former commissioner involved. Not surprised.
This legal matter will hopefully bring out the truth.
Time for the Feds to get involved.
I hope this matter brings positive change and personnel to lead Margate.
Unfortunately our Margate tax dollars will pay for legal fees and $$ awarded through a settlement or a court decision. Another example of bad and unethical conduct by the leadership of Collins and Horn. This group and their predecessors gave us an ugly Lamberti building blocking bay views and giving away valuable parking lot, a Baglivo problem, a parking lot purchased in the wrong neighborhood and now this.
Margate is no longer a village by the sea. It’s becoming something very different. All caused by a failure of ethical leadership! Let’s party to 4am!
If McLaughlin proves her case, next steps should be fraud and possible embezzlement charges against those who filed for, collected and / or attempted to collect payments in question.
Also, criminally charge all those who obstructed the truth of the matter.
Hopefully No NDA here. Let the taxpayers get a clear picture of the paper / $$$ trail.
Excellent reporting on this issue. You’re highlighting a key issue reminding us that it’s probably going on all over the country.
We need to have our eyes open. We need better exposure of this kind of thing
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. The CFO is gonna clean the house on this one. Good for her, she’ll retire a millionaire. Bad for the City and the Mayors hardware store. Wonder who will be shopping there once the dirty laundry is aired.
Another repeat on the theme of workplace retaliation/harassment in Margate:
Is the City leadership seemingly too busy to listen, question, or fully address performance/feedback topics?
The “business as usual” related to hiring/contract renewals appear as little more than a quick formality whether under the overly broad use of “consent agenda”or otherwise. As some observers note some oddly selective/wildly inappropriate comments made to the Public by “Solicitor $ Abbott” over the DECADES he enjoys in his contract position with the Municipality
Link to the 2013/14 “issue” that funded the early retirement of another Margate City worker also trusted during their career to directly manage significant financial duties for Margate City.
https://transparencynj.com/2014/11/13/margate-settles-clerks-whistleblower-suit-clerk-to-retire-and-get-284000-with-lawyer-to-get-50000/
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City of Margate NJ
Commission Meeting
THURSDAY MAY 7
Workshop/Capital Meeting starting at 5:00p.m.
Regular Commission Meeting will immediately follow.
Meeting are held in the Commission Chambers
Historic City Hall
1 South Washington Avenue
Margate, NJ.
Patrick Moran should face charges with a crime after Mrs McLaughlin’s lawsuit is settled. He is an embarrassment to his office and will cost the City of Margate money they don’t gave. He is a self serving, egotistical con artist. Sad such a great town is embedded with a mayor, council woman and BA without any morals or integrity.
You people are so stupid
When the truth comes out, you will all realize just how foolish you are.
I have been asked if I am Ken or Ken M in these comments. Neither comment is mine.