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Health director’s hiring of sister-in-law led to the firing of a long-time city employee | Paterson Times

Health director’s hiring of sister-in-law led to the firing of a long-time city employee

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After she hired her sister-in-law as a program analyst in the city’s health department, health director Donna Nelson-Ivy terminated a long-time city employee who was holding the same position from a year prior.

Nelson-Ivy hired Denise Coba, the sister-in-law, in 2011 as a program analyst in the Ryan White division, which falls under the department head’s direct supervision. Since 2010, Anthony Fazzinga has been working in the department as a program analyst.

“We were doing different work, but we were both holding the same title, and she came into Ryan White after,” said Fazzinga. “I was with the city with five years seniority over her and in the program I had six months seniority over her.”

Despite being employed at the city since 2006, when funding was cut to the program in 2013, Nelson-Ivy had to make the tough decision whether to keep Fazzinga at the position or Coba. “As a result of our 9% Ryan White program funding cut we needed to eliminate two full time positions in order to balance the budget,” wrote Nelson-Ivy to business administrator Charles Thomas on June 18th, 2013.

Nelson-Ivy kept Coba as the program analyst moving Fazzinga to a public health inspector position. By hiring her sister-in-law and then getting rid of the individual who held the same position prior to Coba’s arrival, the director essentially completed a switcheroo: Nelson-Ivy kept her relative in the safe position while dislodging Fazzinga.

A year later, Fazzinga found himself in tough spot, when he received a termination a notice from the city. Without any detailed explanation, on June 26th, 2014, Nelson-Ivy wrote, “It is with regret that I must inform you that on Thursday, July 3, 2014 will be your last day of employment with the City.”

Fazzinga was terminated after the city opened up his post to Civil Service competition: a veteran applied for the position and managed to snatch it through veteran’s preference which gives hiring priority to veterans over others.

When asked if the director held a discussion with him prior to the issuance of the termination notice, Fazzinga said he met with Nelson-Ivy twice, both times she demonstrated an intention to transfer him to another position. “She did one on one and said when they knew they had to hire this guy [the veteran] she was going to transfer me to vermin control specialist position,” said Fazzinga.

The day he received the termination letter, Fazzinga asked Nelson-Ivy what happened to the open position where he was set to be transferred. Nelson-Ivy said with the new administration coming in everything was frozen.

Fazzinga, who ardently supported Andre Sayegh during the mayoral election, said he never got a real reason as to why he is being terminated other than a letter stating the city had hired a replacement and his services were no longer needed.

A series of events following the hiring of Coba led to the termination of Fazzinga two weeks ago. Nelson-Ivy did not respond to requests for comments for this story.

William McKoy, 3rd Ward councilman, said last he spoke to the director she had said her husband had been deceased for two decades. “The last time I spoke to her,” said McKoy, “her husband had died over 20 years now.”

McKoy added, “I think she’s implying there isn’t a sister-in-law relationship that exists to the extent you’d think after 20 years.”

Domenick Stampone, the city’s law director, said he could not comment on the matter for he has yet to review the situation. “Nothing was brought to my attention, so I would need to review it first,” said Stampone.

Transgression of the city’s personnel code or not, mayor Jose “Joey” Torres has tapped Nelson-Ivy to remain at the helm of the department.

Torres could not be reached for comments on his cellphone. A message left at the mayor’s office was not responded to on Monday.

For Torres’ appointment to go through, the city council must confirm Nelson-Ivy to the position following state approval. Tammori Petty, spokesperson for the Department of Community Affairs, said the agency does not publicly discuss personnel matters.

Councilwoman at-large Maritza Davila, chairwoman of the health and human services committee, said she did not know the details to comment on the situation.

“She’s not allowed to violate the city’s ethics,” said Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman, 2nd Ward councilman. “I’m going to speak to her and find out if it really violated the code of ethics.”

Councilman at-large Kenneth Morris, said the council has a responsibility to question department heads if they are straying from the city’s policies.

“During her confirmation hearing,” said Morris, “that can be a question asked because it goes towards policy and whether or not she is adhering to the personnel policies of the City of Paterson.”

“That’s one of the reasons we need a personnel director to make sure the policy of the city is consistently applied,” said McKoy.

Corrections: The initial article stated that Fazzinga had a termination discussion week prior to the notice was issued, when in fact, the discussion took place the day the director handed the termination notice.

  • http://www.facebook.com/animalabusewar Animal Abuse War

    torres starting up again.keeping the corrupt employees.i certainly hope they fire this woman.again this is common practice here in paterson.city council should check the relationships & friendships of every employee & determine how they were hired into their position.the council should be consulted before any hiring occurs & be sure to ask if they are related or friends in any way whatsoever.

    • eric

      i love how they say she earned her position

  • JIM BRASKY .

    HOW IS THIS TORRES DOING WHEN THIS 2 EMPLOYEES WHERE BEFORE THIS ADMINISTRATION ? CHEK UR FACTS BEFORE THALKING PLIZZ… IVY NELSON IS IN THAT POSITION BECAUSE SHE EARN IT.. OUT OF ALL THE OTHERS DIRECTORS SHE KEPT HER JOB BECAUSE WELL…SHE DID HER JOB.. SHE CAME ALONG WITH THE JONES ADMINISTRATION… AND AS FAR MR FAZZINGA… HE IS ALSO A AWSOME GUY AND A GREAT HUMAN BEEN… BUT STUFF HAPPENDS… THEY COULD BUMP YOU BECAUSE A CIVIL SERVICE TEST.. OR BECAUSE HIRING A VETERAN , BECAUSE THEY HAVE PRIORITY….ITS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR EVER……. AND AS FAR FOR HIRING A SISTER IN LAW ???? PLEASE….. 20 YEARS AGO ?????? THERE IS A POLICY THERE THAT NEDDS TO BE FALLOW AND SECOND BY THE CITY COUNCIL….. JUST SAYING..

    • eric

      how did she earn an appointed position. plz explain last i remember jeff jones gave her that job…..

    • eric

      torres have not picked his admin yet she is just there waiting to see if he keeps his end of the deal to turn on the person that handed her a sweet position to jump ship..loyalty cost i see

  • JIM BRASKY

    MAYBE JEFF JONES GAVE HER THE POSITION 4 YEARS AGO…. BUT JOEY GOT HER BECASUSE SHE EARN IT…FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS… JONES , MACKLE , COKE…ALL GONE…EXEPT HER…I WONDER WHY ??? SHE DID HER JOB… AND DID IT WELL..

    • eric

      So did she earn it before or after jeff? why would joey get rid of her se did her job split the vote and help torrres beat out the person that HANDED her that position…. what was so special about paterson health and human services.. plz explain how she helped paterson in her position directly

  • Andres Rodriguez

    Mr mayor that is as happening as it is possible that a person that appointed by Mr jones and she did that the same as Jones WINS was keep it in that position shame for you a part of that she is a racist wake up Mr Mayor. WAKE UP MY PEOPLE OF PATERSON!!!!!!!!!!!

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