A decision to fast track confirmation of Arch Liston, Jr. as director of Housing and Economic Development received more scrutiny. Michael Ranallo, a community watchdog and co-founder of Trenton Orbit, a Facebook group that maintains interest and generates conversation of city politics, challenged a decision by members of City Council to deny public comment prior to the Liston appointment. Ranallo recalled a 2022 court determination that prevented former City Council President Kathy McBride from attempting a similar path of least resistance. The decision noted, “the injunctive relief will prevent McBride’s limitation rule and restrain Council from invoking any rule that limits public discussion to “docket items only” at any public meeting.” Ranallo offered his ideas on a City Council move to silence public discussion. “My opinion is that this decision was made to prohibit the public from commenting on Mr. Liston’s permanent appointment which would have surely made a difference,” Ranallo wrote in an email. A further aspect of the rushed Liston appointment involved testimony that the administration remained on the clock to offer a permanent position to the interim director. If the time constraints existed for Liston then action should have advanced a confirmation vote on Interim Business Administrator Maria Richardson, Interim Recreation Director Paul Harris, and Health & Human Services Director Dr. Diego Minacapelli. All received interim appointments on July 26 along with Liston. At-Large Councilwoman Crystal Feliciano alluded to circumstances involving other interim directors with this statement posed to Mayor Reed Gusciora. “I just want to know the status of Paul Harris and Diego Minacapelli because they’re still on the 90-day (waiting) list. While it’s nice to see Arch up here what about those two who have been working hard and diligently in their positions,” Feliciano said. Liston and three other interim directors with five months in their new jobs had far exceeded the 90-day deadline. Gusciora noted the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) requires city officials, “to screen (applicants) and have them involved. We can’t do them all at once. It’s our desire to move forward with those nominations expeditiously. We hope that another director will be up (for confirmation) during the next council meeting.”