Ex-NJ gov quits over pal’s job

Former New Jersey Republican Gov. Donald DiFrancesco will soon step down as chairman of the board at a major hospital amid revelations he recommended that the hospital hire a friend who was given a “noshow or low-show” job.

DiFrancesco (right) announced Sunday that he will leave University Hospital’s board on Dec. 31, although he didn’t mention the controversy in his resignation letter, according to NJ.com.

It was previously reported that he recommended attorney Jill Cooperman for a position at the Newark hospital in 2013. She was hired at an annual salary of $94,000, but that soon rose after her title changed weeks later to DiFrancesco’s assistant.

A whistleblower complaint prompted the hospital board to hire an outside law firm to investigate. The firm found the complaint credible, saying the hospital had a highlevel administrator without a clear job title or responsibilities.

Cooperman left the position in April 2016.

The already-struggling hospital ended up paying more than $500,000 for salary, severance pay and funding the investigation. Republican Gov. Christie was asked to remove DiFrancesco Friday by the president of a consumer watchdog group.

The board’s vice chair will serve as chairman until it finds a successor.