In a significant turn of events for Clark Township, Mayor Salvatore Bonaccorso has stepped down after pleading guilty to charges of official misconduct and forgery. This agreement necessitates his immediate resignation and permanently prohibits him from holding any future public office.
Bonaccorso, who had been at the township’s helm since 2001, confessed to misusing municipal resources and staff for his private venture, Bonaccorso & Son LLC, which specializes in landscaping and underground oil storage tank removal. Investigations revealed that he managed business operations from his municipal office, utilized township equipment, and directed municipal employees to undertake tasks related to his private enterprise during their official work hours.
Further investigations revealed that Bonaccorso submitted fraudulent permit applications to various municipalities, falsely claiming that a licensed engineer supervised the tank removal projects. In reality, neither he nor his company held the required certifications for such work. The total value of these projects, carried out between 2017 and 2023, reached hundreds of thousands of dollars.
As part of the plea deal, the state will recommend a sentence of three years’ probation and a $15,000 fine, the maximum permitted for a third-degree offense. Additionally, Bonaccorso and his company are barred from bidding on or engaging in any public contracts with the state or its subdivisions for five years. They are also prohibited for three years from performing any storage tank removals for private entities.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin highlighted the severity of the case, stating, “Today’s guilty plea secured by OPIA ends a long and sad betrayal of the community by someone who had been in a position of power and trust for a long time.”
In the meantime, Council President Angel Albanese will serve as acting mayor until a permanent successor is appointed.
This case underscores the critical importance of ethical conduct in public office and serves as a reminder of the legal and moral obligations entrusted to public officials.
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