Council suspends City Manager over vulgar text messages
Clifton suspends City Manager over text message conduct. City Council voted 4-1 to suspend City Manager Gary De Marzo for five days without pay and required workplace-conduct training within 90 days following resident complaints that he exchanged vulgar text messages with constituent Gina Scaduto.
City Council · Meeting of March 3, 2026
NJ CLIFTON — Clifton suspends City Manager over text message conduct. City Council voted 4-1 to suspend City Manager Gary De Marzo for five days without pay and required workplace-conduct training within 90 days following resident complaints that he exchanged vulgar text messages with constituent Gina Scaduto. Residents Michael Scaduto, Dorothy Gilmore, Samantha Bassford, Keith Bassford, Judy Gergats, and Mary Fran Simmons spoke against De Marzo's conduct.
Councilman Sadrakula voted nay on the suspension, while Councilmen D'Amato and Gibson recused themselves citing personal relationships with speakers. De Marzo apologized and accepted the penalties. The council unanimously authorized a nationwide search for a permanent City Manager.
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Source: the City Council meeting of March 3, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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