Mayor Defends Participation, Rejects Recusal
Virtua was one of two respondents to the borough’s request for proposals. At the December meeting, Solano-Ward defended involving her husband, saying Collingswood lacks a medical officer and she wanted all clinical questions addressed.
She acknowledged the potential appearance of a conflict but refused to step aside, despite the solicitor’s advice.
“We reached out to our attorney and he agreed that there could be a conflict of interest,” Solano-Ward said during the meeting. “To which I respectfully disagree and I will be voting on the matter.”
Allegations of Exclusion and Unequal Access
Maley’s lawsuit contends that Solano-Ward involved her husband while sidelining both Maley and Henderson Riley, who serves as the borough’s public safety chief and holds a doctorate in public health.
Henderson Riley declined to comment on the legal challenge. She voted in favor of the contract, describing it as a one-year trial backed by her review of the data.
“To be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, I believe in my role as director of public safety, it’s what I was elected to do,” she told residents.
