Listen to this articleClark Township Mayor Salvatore Bonaccorso pleaded guilty Jan. 10 in connection with charges he used township employees for his private business.
Bonaccorso & Son LLC is a landscaping and underground oil storage tank removal company.
As part of the plea deal reached with prosecutors, Bonaccorso, 64, will step down as Clark mayor. The Republican has held the position since 2001. After winning re-election in November 2024, he was sworn in for the new term at the start of the year.
Appearing before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Lisa Miralles Walsh in Union County Jan. 10, Bonaccorso pleaded guilty to a two-count accusation charging him with conspiring to commit official misconduct (third degree) and forgery (third degree).
The Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) charged Bonaccorso in November 2023 following an investigation that alleged the Clark mayor was operating his business out of his township office as well as utilizing municipal resources — all while acting in his official mayoral capacity.
Prosecutors alleged those actions included:
- Storing and maintaining business records at the mayor’s office;
- Using computers and fax machines;
- Directing or using township employees to perform duties for his business while they were on the clock for the town.
That investigation also uncovered alleged submission of false and fraudulent permit applications to municipalities, which allowed his company to improperly and unlawfully obtain permits to remove hundreds of underground tanks.
The forgery count pertains to the alleged fraudulent permits.
Terms
The terms of the plea agreement and subsequent consent order include:
- Bonaccorso immediately forfeits his office as mayor and agrees to be permanently barred from holding any future public office or employment
- Bonaccorso and his company agree to be ineligible from bidding for any public contracts, entering into any public contracts, or conducing any business with the state or its political subdivisions for five years;
- The business is also barred from conducting, or contracting to conduct, any storage tank removals for any private commercial or residential property owners
- A recommended sentence of three years of probation and a $15,000 fine
New Jersey Globe first reported the plea agreement in November. However, a scheduling issue delayed the court hearing until Jan. 10, after Bonaccorso went on to win re-election.
In a separate situation, he was caught on tape making racist and sexist comments. Bonaccorso later apologized for the remarks, but at that point had resisted calls to resign.
Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 7.
‘A long and sad betrayal’
“Today’s guilty plea secured by the OPIA ends a long and sad betrayal of the community by someone who had been in a position of power and trust for a long time,” said Attorney General Matthew Platkin. “Anyone who betrays the public’s trust by placing their own interests ahead of their duty as a public servant to New Jersey residents will be held accountable.
“Let me be clear: I will never stop rooting out corruption in New Jersey – no matter how powerful the offenders may be.”
OPIA Executive Director Drew Skinner said that Bonaccorso used taxpayer-funded workers for personal gain.
“He abused his power over municipal personnel, finances, and operations, and he submitted false documents to keep the scheme going,” said Skinner. “My office will investigate and prosecute anyone who illegally abuses the public’s trust.”
Robert Stahl and Andrew Olesnycky of Stahl Gasiorowski represent Bonaccorso. In a statement to NJBIZ, the attorneys explained why their client ultimately agreed to the plea deal.
“After a long and difficult period of reflection and discussion with his family and friends, Mayor Bonaccorso decided that the best course forward for his health, his family and the town he so dearly loves and has devoted more than two decades to – was to resolve this matter by way of a plea,” the statement said. “Just recently, Mayor Bonaccorso was diagnosed with an aortic aneurism that will ultimately require surgery.”
‘Minor matters’
Bonaccorso’s attorneys argued the charges he faced involved “two minor matters,” despite a lengthy investigation into the township, its officials and police department.
“One was related to having his staff occasionally fax or email documents related to his personal business. As charged, the time spent by these employees amounted to less than $200 over the years,” the attorneys said. “He also pled to forgery related to his signing an engineer’s name to permits to remove residential oil tanks. The mayor and the engineer had agreed that the engineer’s license would be used to apply for these permits and the engineer was compensated. Each town inspected and approved the removals of these residential oil tanks as they were done safely.
“Given the de minimis nature of these offenses, the State Attorney General’s Office agreed to a probationary sentence and a $15,000 fine.”
The statement closed by noting Bonaccorso’s decades of public service, community advocacy and devotion to bettering Clark.
“Today, to avoid further disruption and stress to his family, to his health and to the town he loves and has dedicated his life to, Mayor Bonaccorso has pled rather than exercising his right to a trial,” his attorneys said. “As part of the plea, the mayor has agreed to forfeit public office but knows that his administration’s policies and practices will continue to benefit the citizens of Clark.”
Clark Council President Angel Albanese will serve as acting mayor until the selection of an interim.
A special election will take place this November to fill the unexpired term.
“Mayor Sal Bonaccorso has entered into a plea agreement with the Attorney General’s office regarding a personal matter in which he has resigned from the Office of Mayor,” Albanese said in a Jan. 13 statement. “This is a private issue. Any concerns or inquiries should be directed to the mayor’s attorney. As per state law, the Council President will serve as the acting mayor until the Township Council selects a replacement. The Township remains committed to ensuring continuity and effective governance during this transition.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 2:04 p.m. ET Jan. 13, 2025, to include a statement from the acting Clark mayor.
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