MOUNT OLIVE (12/07/06) – It’s a consensus. More than a dozen employees contacted agreed there’s been a sea change in morale in the township hall since Mayor David Scapicchio replaced recalled mayor Richard DeLaRoche on November 7.

Now employees can talk without concern for the unwritten rule about not talking to members of the governing body. Members of the governing body knew the rule and pointedly tried not to talk to employees for fear it might get them into trouble.

Councilwoman Colleen Labow said she’s talked to many employees in the past month and all agreed there’s been a drastic improvement in morale among employees. "There’s a feeling of hope…. that there’s a new direction and a feeling that things are getting better," she said

"For me personally I get calls from the mayor now wanting to discuss something or wanting my opinion about something. I never got a call from the previous mayor about anything and I don’t believe he ever called any of the other council members for their opinions about anything. It works the other way too," she said, "I have no problem calling David and asking him about something knowing I’m going to get an answer.

You don’t realize how bad things had really gotten until you see the changes happening.

There’s no question the improved morale will mean improved employee production, she said.

Joann Lepre is the president of the township employees union. "Much improved, absolutely," was her response to the question about employee morale. "During the campaign mayor Scapicchio promised employee morale would improve and, it has…. absolutely from the first day," she said.

Mayor Scapicchio has repeated many times that even though he isn’t a full time mayor he’s in the office regularly most afternoons and his door is always open

One example Lepre cited was the former mayor for some unknown reason, moved the receptionist in the town hall from the entrance to the building to his office toward the back of the building. Scapicchio promised to rectify that and it was accomplished yesterday.

A department head said Mayor Scapicchio’s tenure was a "definite improvement… from day one. Now people are not afraid for their jobs, there’s more open communication among employees and no one’s afraid to offer an opinion. Employees even seem to be getting along a lot better with each other. They’re not afraid to speak their minds. It was very frustrating for everyone, especially women employees. He treated women poorly," she said.

Township Clerk Lisa Lashway agreed that morale was "definitely up." There’s a good feeling in town hall now," she said, "everyone’s mood seems better. People seem to be getting along better, everyone seems more cooperative. In meetings the people seem more agreeable and more willing to work together and help each other. I believe that it’s reflected in the work being done as well. When people feel good about where they work I believe they work better. It’s a win win situation for everyone."