As residents lambasted them, Mayor Sal Bonaccorso and Clark's seven council members offered no explanation to a scandal that has rocked the community.
The mayor initially denied using racial slurs and claimed he knew nothing about the recordings. But after they were published, he apologized for his racist language, though he insisted he is a changed man.
“The comments made were hurtful and wrong, and I think it’s important for me to acknowledge that sentiment was also shared by the mayor when we spoke repeatedly,” Sampson said. Clark taxpayers are continuing to foot bills from the controversy’s fallout. Matos and Teston remain on Clark’s payroll, having been on paid administrative leave since July 2020, when the Union County Prosecutor’s Office took over the police department citing “credible allegations of misconduct.” A police captain whom Manata accused of retaliation, Vincent Concina, also remains on paid leave.
Dugan said township officials were cooperating fully with the investigation, but declined to say whether any Clark officials had been interviewed by prosecutors.