Camden to borrow money to settle Fire Dept. suit

Camden City Council is planning to borrow $1.175 million to cover a pending Fire Department litigation settlement.

In late September, Gregg L. Zeff, the attorney for two black deputy fire chiefs in a discrimination lawsuit against Camden and its fire chief, said a tentative settlement had been reached between the two sides at a total of $1.15 million.

The federal suit, filed in 2001 against the city, Fire Chief Joseph Marini, and former officials, was based on the contention of Terrence Crowder and Kevin Hailey that for years they had worked in a hostile environment while being passed over for promotions and denied overtime because of race.

The city has refused to comment on the case.

The ordinance tentatively approved by the council last night was submitted "in connection" with a $1.15 million lawsuit, with $25,000 allotted for related expenses. The subject line of a letter to city officials about the ordinance reads "Fire Department Litigation Settlement."

City Attorney Lewis Wilson maintained that a settlement in the discrimination case had not been reached, and that the money was being used to cover potential costs related to an unspecified case.

Sources said in September that under a tentative settlement Marini would retire and the deputy chief still in the department would leave next year. The other deputy already has retired.