Worker at heart of TTF ‘debacle’ has been in the news before
A City of Trenton engineer who once threatened to “whack” a coworker finds himself embroiled in another scandal regarding his involvement in a failure to deliver an application for state funds that could have improved the city’s infrastructure.
Hoggarth Stephen is the unnamed person connected to the Transportation Trust Fund that may have caused the city hundreds of thousands of dollars available for improvement of roadways.
Stephen, fired by former Mayor Douglas H. Palmer for living a lie about residency, rehired by former Mayor Tony Mack during his corrupt administration and kept by Mayor Eric Jackson, despite Stephen’s vow to kill a coworker and have no trouble doing 25 years to life in prison, Hoggarth the engineer now receives blame for not filing for TTF dollars.
Stephen contends Jackson has made him a scapegoat, responsible for every city street pothole, front-end suspension car damage and a crumbling infrastructure that worsens as Mother Nature delivers her perfect storm of warm days, cool nights and rain.
Before being identified, Stephen told The Trentonian that the Jackson administration had made him the odd man out.
“They’re just picking on me. Somebody has to take the fall. I will fight til the end.”
Stephen’s comments followed a public lashing by Mayor Jackson who did not identify the employee. Jackson expressed disappointment and promised disciplinary charges and action “to the fullest extent that New Jersey civil service rules allow.”
Jackson told television station News12, “As a leader of the city, I’m extremely disappointed. My public works director (Merkle Cherry) shared with me that it was a staffing oversight. I didn’t take that lightly nor did he...The director told me the employee would face immediate disciplinary consequences for that oversight and what I call a ‘debacle.’”
These final hours of what’s becoming a disappointing four-year term for Mayor Eric Jackson, deliver more calamity and disbelief as city residents move toward the election of his replacement.
Voters respect leaders who deliver a message that the buck stops on his desk and does not get handed off like some football. Jackson could have stated that this matter remains an in-house issue although allegations of political chicanery abound regarding what’s going on in city hall.
City of Trenton politics resemble reality television shows such as “Survivor” as candidates sell their souls while building alliances that can earn them a city council hot seat or the real butt burner job of rebuilding a capital awash in garbage, malfeasance and crime.
Cherry, also fired by Palmer, then rehired by Jackson, must take part of the responsibility for Stephen’s alleged part in this tremendous opportunity to receive the city’s share of TTF monies.
Mayor Jackson had his shot at Stephen in October 2014 when a Trentonian report noted that a city coworker had accused the engineer of workplace intimidation. Stephen had been privately recorded telling then Public Works Director Luis Mollinedo about his beef with Eric Agins, at the time, an 18-year veteran traffic maintenance worker. Stephen suspected Agins of ratting out the engineer to Palmer about his non-residency.
“I will (expletive) him up. I will (same expletive) him up and I will go to jail,” Hoggarth told his boss in the recorded conversation taped by Matthew McNeil, an Agins friend.
“I will make a 25 and I will be content (in prison),” Stephen ranted. The engineer had also come under fire for padding his salary with $40,000 overtime for city snow removal in just several months during 2013-2014.
Mayor Jackson did listen to the tape but did not terminate Stephen.
“Obviously, Mayor Jackson is troubled by what he heard,” said Michael Walker, Trenton’s public information officer, when the story first broke in 2014.
Yes, obviously not bothered enough to pursue giving Stephen his walking papers. Nearly four years later, Hoggarth Stephen may offer a similar inquiry offered to Mollinedo in that taped disturbing desire to kill a coworker.
“Maybe I should take a few days off. Do you think I’m going to get fired,” Stephen asked.
Yes. And perhaps, although time and process will allow Stephen to hold onto his job long after Mayor Jackson leaves office on July 1.
Still, residents care almost nothing about Stephen as Jackson rightfully attracts blame. This is his administration filled with his administration members who people expect to deliver professional service, especially when our tax dollars stand as part of the conversation.
Each time a city motorist cringes when their car slams a pothole, especially at night, people voice anger about Mayor Jackson.
Just fix the darn potholes, Mayor Jackson and petition Gov. Phil Murphy to give Trenton the tax money that we paid to bolster the Transportation Trust Fund.
Ineffective leadership should not impact access to those dollars collected from city motorists at the pump. It’s our money.