Perth Amboy School Secretary Fined $664 for selling Alcoholic Beverage on School Property

OLD BRIDGE – Old Bridge Municipal Court Judge James Weber found Hector Muniz, a Perth Amboy school secretary, guilty of the following charges: possessing and selling alcoholic beverages on school property. Muniz was fined over $600.

The case was heard in Old Bridge municipal court.

The judge determined that Muniz sold the alcoholic beverage, coquito (a traditional Latino eggnog beverage with rum). Muniz was accused of doing this while he was employed as a school secretary in Perth Amboy at the Herbert Richardson 21st Century Elementary School at 318 Stockton St.

The Perth Amboy Board of Education had no knowledge of these sales according to some members. Another secretary at the Richardson School, Susan Nieves, brought to the attention of her supervisors what Muniz was doing. Nieves filed a lawsuit under the New Jersey whistle-blower law. When she told her supervisors about Muniz’ sale of coquito, they retaliated against her, court documents say.

Under the whistle-blower law, she asserted that the administrators violated her rights. According to Nieves, even though she brought to her supervisor’s attention what Muniz was doing, the administrators turned a blind eye to what was going on. According to Nieves, some of Muniz’ customers included parents, faculty, staff and administrators.

Nieves also accused Muniz of posting signs during school hours when classes were in session, letting it be known that Holiday Coquito can be purchased from him.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Vivian Rodriguez became the acting Superintendent when Superintendent Caffrey was placed on one of her many administrative leaves by the Board of Education (in Spring of 2012). Rodriguez is the one who filed the police report against Muniz based on the allegations.

Other school employees who were reportedly involved were also put on paid administrative leave under Rodriguez.

When Caffrey came back a month later she rescinded Rodriguez’ authority and proceeded to reinstate Muniz and the other four employees. Caffrey’s explanation for reinstating Muniz and the other employees is that she said that there was an investigation done and no evidence was found supporting the allegations of alcohol being sold on school premises.

Due to the summons issued to Muniz in late June 2012, Caffrey placed him on paid administrative leave for a second time.

There is a question of what Caffrey did or did not know about Muniz’ activities prior to his summons and if an investigation was ever conducted.

The Amboy Guardian is trying to obtain a record of a recording of the court proceedings on this case to report in a future issue.