Officials: Tranquillo Declined Retirement Prior to 'Employment Ending'

Various elected officials and town staff have confirmed that town engineer Anthony Tranquillo was asked to retire and declined before being notified earlier this week that his “employment would end” but the exact reasoning behind the decision is not being released to the public.

Tranquillo, a 39-year town employee, served his final day on Friday and no decisions have been made on how the position will be filled. The decision comes as the town is looking to compile a comprehensive long-term capital improvement project list. Garry Brumback said he could not comment on any personnel matters.

Town Councilman John Barry, a five-term Democrat, said he was unaware of the decision prior to receiving an email notification from Brumback on Wednesday, further saying none of the Democrats on the council were not notified before it happened.

“It’s not appropriate when a major department head with 39-years of experience is dismissed without input from those on the council,” Barry said. “This was a matter that should have been discussed more formally at the council level first.”

Republican officials said no one was given notice, however, noting that the email was sent to everyone at the same time.

Town Council Chairman Edward Pocock III declined comment on the matter Thursday and did not return a message Friday. Town Councilman Al Natelli Jr. also declined comment.

Officials said the email, which has not been made available, indicated reasons for the decision to end Tranquillo’s employment with the town and that “it did not involve any improprieties.” There were no active investigations, police said.

While details behind the decision remain scarce, former five-term Town Councilman Art Secondo said he believes the timing wasn’t right and said it was not a decision that would have been made by Brumback alone.

“Under charter, the town council runs this community. This was not entirely Brumback’s call,” said Secondo, Chamber of Commerce director and a former town reporter himself.

Several elected officials said it has become apparent that this was part of "a changing of the guard" that began in early 2011 when former town manager John Weichsel retired. Soon after, former Recreation Director William Masci announced he would be retiring and at the end of 2011, now former Health Director Charles Motes joined the ranks of those leaving.

There has been a lot of talk among town leaders that this is all part of a "changing of the guard" that has been occurring and even more moves could be coming, Secondo said.

James A. Grappone, the town's assistant engineer, will take over te position on an interim basis starting Monday, but long-term plans for the position have not been determined.

Tranquillo returned a call on Friday, but declined comment. He will be seeking legal advice next week.