Former Collingswood Mayor Takes Legal Action Over Disputed EMS Decision by New
After a contentious vote to outsource emergency medical services, former Collingswood Mayor and current borough commissioner James Maley sued the borough, raising questions about ethics and transparency in local government. The legal action relies on newly elected Mayor Daniella Solano Ward’s vote last month to transfer EMS operations to Virtua Health EMS.
Before becoming a commissioner, Maley was Collingswood’s mayor for 27 years. He believes Mayor Ward should not have participated in the final vote owing to a conflict of interest. Ward’s husband is a physician with Virtua Health, which won the EMS contract, according to the Camden County Superior Court case. Maley says this connection alone should have prompted the mayor to stand aside from decision-making to avoid suspicion.
The situation escalated at the Dec. 1 Collingswood Board of Commissioners meeting when the borough’s solicitor recommended Mayor Ward to recuse herself. Although advised, Ward openly objected and voted for the contract, which passed 2–1. Maley voted against the idea and called the mayor’s behavior unethical, saying elected officials must follow legal advice to maintain public trust.
After the case, Judge Francisco Dominguez ordered an interim injunction barring the borough from contracting with Virtua Health EMS until the court investigates. A follow-up hearing next week could decide whether the contract continues or is halted.
Maley’s lawsuit complaint also mentions an August meeting with Mayor Ward, her husband, the fire chief, and firefighters. That conference paved the way for EMS privatization without public involvement, he claims. He also alleges the public safety deputy mayor was excluded from the conversation. In signed documents, ward and borough officials deny contract discussions and say the meeting focused on emergency call numbers and staffing concerns.
Mayor Ward, a former EMT and doctor, defended the decision by citing fire department operational issues. Collingswood handles more than 4,000 emergency calls annually, more than adjacent communities with comparable manpower. Borough officials say sending firefighters to ambulance duties reduces firefighter availability, causing safety and scheduling issues.
Financial issues also drive the debate. Maley estimates that outsourcing EMS will cost the borough $450,000 in billing income, which formerly funded fireman positions. Ward claims that letting firefighters focus on fire calls will save the borough over $100,000 in overtime and improve emergency response times.
A competitor offered the town $454,000 per year, while Virtua Health EMS offered nothing. Virtua has not commented on the case, and borough attorneys say the bidding process was legal and transparent. Maley has been accused of making inaccurate assumptions and disclosing internal legal opinions without attorney-client privilege.
Residents are discussing ethics, governance, and how to handle key public services as the case progresses. Now that the court is engaged, Collingswood’s emergency medical services are uncertain, and the eventual ruling might influence how local governments handle conflicts of interest and public accountability.
Sources:
Camden County Superior Court
Collingswood Borough Official Records
New Jersey State Judicial System
