Two high-level Evesham local government employees this week told the township they will be leaving their jobs, becoming the latest of about three dozen departures over the last two years.
Elizabeth J. Peddicord, the township's chief financial officer, submitted her letter of resignation and Michael Grossman, assistant superintendent in the Department of Public Works, notified the township of his early retirement, Township Manager Robert Corrales confirmed in an email to 70and73.com Thursday morning. Because they are personnel matters, Corrales said he could not comment beyond the confirmation.
Peddicord could not be reached for comment. Grossman, an Evesham native, told 70and73.com on Thursday that he would not comment on why he is retiring on June 30 after 32 years with the township. He said he has no plans at this point.
Their departures follow the resignation last Wednesday of Bob Hennefer, the PGA director of golf at the township-owned Indian Spring Country Club.
The all-Democratic Township Council last week voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance that restructures management of the golf course and public works department. The changes, which include hiring a deputy township manager, are based on recommendations in a management study by Collaborative Executive Management Consultants that has yet to be made public.
70and73.com filed an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request for the management study on February 17. The township on February 25 formally responded that it needs an extension to March 12 to fulfill the request.
Since the beginning of 2019, the township has lost about two dozen employees to resignations and about 10 to retirement, said Robert DiEnna, a Republican who was provided the list by the township under an OPRA request. Until the end of 2020, DiEnna was a Council member for eight years and also served 10 years on the Planning Board.
"It is alarming to see so many people leave so quickly and in important positions," DiEnna told 70and73.com. "Full-time positions, positions of responsibility. Someone in authority should be asking these folks 'Why are you leaving?' "
Those who have resigned or retired from township government in the last two years include Peddicord's predecessor, the township manager, the director of community development, the township planner and the tax assessor.
"These are just terrible losses," Sandy Student, a Republican who chairs the township Zoning Board of Adjustment, said of the latest three departures. "I'm concerned with the brain drain."
Student and DiEnna — and other members of the public — spoke at last week's Council meeting about the continuing departures.Â
"People do not resign from a position because they're happy," DiEnna said at the meeting.
The complaints about the number of resignations and retirements prompted Heather Cooper, who is deputy mayor, to say that "government changes and evolves."
"There are necessary hard decisions," Cooper said. "And again, I've said it before, change is necessary. Conflict is necessary, it brings growth."
Many of the complaints at last week's meeting were about changes being made at the municipal golf course and the resignation of Hennefer, who is reportedly joining a private country club in Burlington County.
Mayor Jaclyn Veasy and Cooper were elected in 2018 and assumed their positions in January 2019.
At last week's meeting, Mayor Veasy shot back at those complaining about the employee departures: "The brain drain — quote, unquote — that is being talked about in regards to the township, I don’t know if you actually realize how insulting it is to myself, this council and all of our current employees when you make such comments."
Deputy Mayor Cooper said those who speak at the meetings must understand the importance of decorum and civility.
"It's not fair to our township manager, our director of community development, myself or any of these council members to say that we're not smart enough or strong enough to be leading this town," Mayor Veasy said at the end of the meeting. "And I don't know if you actually realize that's what you're saying when you come up to this dais and say such things."
