Monroe mayor in hot water over smoking allegations

Current and former Monroe employees along with resident business owners allege Mayor Michael Gabbianelli smokes in his third-floor town hall office.

“He always smokes in his office and still does,” said Alma Alexander, a longtime tax office employee who retired in June.

Resident business owner Dave Montizer said the mayor lit up in a private meeting last year with zoning board members and his attorney Richard Kaser, who couldn’t be reached for comment.

“He was smoking a cigarette in the open,” Montizer said. “My lawyer said, ‘You’re smoking in a township building …’ ”

Montizer said Gabbianelli replied, “You don’t (expletive) like it, there’s the (expletive) door.”

Former township Mayor Jack Luby has heard similar tales. His two children work for the township.

“I’ve heard people say they’re (ticked) by it and told him ‘You can’t smoke in here. Go outside,’ ” Luby said. “Evidently the rules are made for everybody else.”

Monroe’s smoke-free workplace policy was adopted by Luby’s administration in 1997. Each violation carries a fine between $100 and $1,000, along with up to 30 days community service. People who smoke in public or government spaces are subject to $200 fines, according to state law.

A Monroe police officer said, on the condition of anonymity, secondhand smoke from the mayor’s office sometimes travels via air ducts into the police station.

When asked in their town hall offices if the mayor’s smoking was a nuisance, about a dozen township employees paused before replying for the record, “No comment.” Two other employees answered they weren’t aware the mayor smokes.

In an emailed response from township solicitor Chuck Fiore, Gabbianelli wouldn’t address smoking allegations. Monroe Police Chief Joseph Smart and other police administrators didn’t comment Monday. TRICO Municipal Joint Insurance Fund insures Monroe’s town hall. TRICO executive director Paul Miola didn’t comment Monday.

It’s the latest in a growing number of problems for the part-time Democratic mayor, who faces growing scrutiny for allegedly violating state or local regulations.