Gabbert Tells Village He Will Not Request Hearing on Termination

A day after an interim replacement for the outgoing village manager was formally appointed, Ken Gabbert informed the village that he would not be requesting a public hearing on his termination from the post.

According to Ridgewood’s municipal code, village managers may request in writing a public hearing in the 30 days between a preliminary resolution suspending them from the post and a final vote on their removal.

“We received a letter yesterday from Ken’s attorney noting his decision not to request a public hearing,” Mayor Paul Aronsohn wrote in an email to Patch Thursday.

Gabbert was suspended from the post in a 3-2 vote by the council Aug. 14, setting the process in motion to remove him permanently from the position. Aronsohn said that he expected the council to adopt the final resolution Sept. 18.

Robert Regan, Gabbert’s attorney, was not immediately available for comment.

Gabbert previously brought legal action against Westwood in 2004, when the borough council there eliminated him from the position of administrator, a post similar to the one he has held in Ridgewood.

The suit was dropped after Gabbert was reinstated the following year.

Aronsohn said that the letter received by the village made no indication of whether Gabbert was contemplating similar action against Ridgewood.

The Village Council began closed session discussions on the search for a new permanent manager Tuesday night after appointing Heather Mailander, Ridgewood’s longtime municipal clerk, to take over the post in the interim.