The public works employee lost his job as a result.
STRATFORD -- A former public works employee alleges that the borough's current clerk, who is also the mayor's son, carried out "open and obvious" sexual harassment of him and other town workers "for years."
The lawsuit filed on April 22 in Camden County Superior Court argues borough clerk John Keenan made numerous unwanted sexual advances against Andrew Marano, who no longer works for Stratford.
"On countless occasions," the suit claims, "Keenan would make comments to Marano about how good Marano looked and how tan he was," and he would "walk by and rub Marano's shoulders and back, and at other times, Keenan would grab or rub
Marano's rear end."
Mount Laurel-based attorney Leo B. Dubler, who is representing Marano, did not return a request for comment left Wednesday.
Stratford's solicitor, Albert J. Olizi, said the borough has received the lawsuit and is being defended by outside council. Olizi confirmed that Keenan's father is Stratford Mayor Josh Keenan.
The borough's website lists Keenan -- who did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment -- as still holding the position of clerk. The lawsuit adds that he started working for the borough around 1989.
According to the court documents, Keenan is openly gay and would "would frequently talk about-wanting to have sex with men, and having sex with men." The lawsuit does not state Marano's sexual orientation.
The lawsuit, provided to NJ Advance Media by concerned borough residents, claims that on days with warm weather, Keenan would call Marano and "ask if he was wearing a thong and would then frequently say, 'Hubba, hubba, hubba.'"
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Other alleged acts of sexual harassment included racy text messages, more unwanted touching and other advances. Further, the lawsuit claims Stratford had "no meaningful policy against sexual harassment" and that Keenan would "frequently hire people to whom he was sexually attracted, even if they were not qualified or otherwise prohibited from working for Stratford."
One such employee with a criminal record went to Keenan when he only wanted to wear a vest while working and not a shirt underneath, as directed to by a supervisor. Further, the same employee who claimed that he'd get a motorcycle from Keenan if he performed a sex act went on to own a motorcycle shop.
According to the suit, Marano did ask Keenan to stop and complained about the repeated unwanted contact. The incidents compelled Marano to go on a leave of
absence and later lose his job as a result.
The lawsuit seeks damages for emotional harm, embarrassment, psychological injuries, attorney's fees, cost of the suit as well as and "any and all relief provided for by New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination."
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.