Faison takes office; Milan allies fired

By KIM MAIALETTI
Courier-Post Staff
CAMDEN

Newly appointed Mayor Gwendolyn Faison spent Tuesday, her first day in City Hall, restructuring her administration to remove former Mayor Milton Milan's remaining allies.

Faison fired the director of Planning and Economic Development, Herb Leary, who was picked for the post by Milan in January. Faison replaced him with City Planning Director Ed Williams.

Leary's appointment was controversial from the start because the former city fire chief had no formal training in planning or development.

"Ms. Faison's focus now is on trying to bring the city back together, to become more community focused," said Municipal Clerk Luis Pastoriza, temporary city spokesman. " She felt somebody like Ed Williams would be better equipped to implement her vision."

Williams, whose replacement has not been named, could not be reached for comment.

By early Tuesday afternoon, Leary had already packed away the family photographs that decorated his desk.

"There are rumors out there that I'm going to go," Leary said before the change became official.

"If that's the case, it's not because I haven't done the job ... I did what had to be done, and you can bet if I leave here and decide to grow sweet potatoes, they'll be the biggest and the sweetest."

The state Department of Community Affairs had already been advertising for Leary's position, saying his appointment was not valid under the state supervision act.

Camden has been under state supervision, the highest degree of oversight without special legislation, since May.

Department of Community Affairs spokesman John Patella called Faison's changes "extremely positive."

"It shows Camden has a mayor that is on the job and prepared to make some needed changes," Patella said.

City Council on Friday elected Faison to replace Milan, who was convicted Thursday of 14 corruption charges in federal court. He is in federal prison in Philadelphia awaiting sentencing.

Other changes by Faison included removing Milan loyalist Heriberto "Eddie" Colon as acting director of Health and Human Services. He will return to his former job as assistant business administrator. Arthur Thompson, an administrator within the department, will assume the director's position.

The mayor also transferred Milan aide Popsie Rodriguez to his former position as an administrator in the Department of Utilities and named Barbara Smith as aide to the mayor. Smith had previously been an aide to City Council.

All the changes are subject to council approval. More shifts can be expected, said Pastoriza.