What did Mayor Gregory Wolfe know about Joe Kurz's employment history before appointing him Deputy Mayor of Monroe Township?

An official response to an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request confirms that Joseph "Joe" Kurz, currently serving as Deputy Mayor of Monroe Township, Gloucester County, was terminated from his previous municipal employment with the Borough of Glassboro on June 23, 2020. The confirmation comes directly from the Borough of Glassboro Municipal Clerk's Office in a written response dated October 8, 2026. Unlike rumors or unsubstantiated accusations, Kurz's employment termination is documented in an official municipal response.

An OPRA request submitted to Glassboro on September 29, 2026, sought information concerning Kurz's prior employment. On October 8, 2026, Borough Clerk Karen Cosgrove issued a written response confirming the following:

• Date of separation: June 23, 2020
• Position at separation: Civilian Evidence Clerk
• Reason for separation: Terminated

The Borough denied access to additional personnel records, citing confidentiality protections under New Jersey's Open Public Records Act and common law. The response confirms an involuntary employment termination but does not identify the specific conduct or circumstances that led to the decision. 

Separately, a screenshot depicts a Facebook comment attributed to Joe Kurz comparing Black Lives Matter to the Ku Klux Klan. The comment reads: "Black Lives Matter is a known 'hate' group, just like the KKK! This is disgraceful..." The screenshot identifies the commenter as Joe Kurz. The statement raises questions about Kurz's public communications and judgment, particularly given his subsequent appointment to a senior municipal position.

Today, Joe Kurz serves as Deputy Mayor in Mayor Gregory Wolfe's administration, as confirmed by Monroe Township's official government directory.  That raises questions about the process used to select individuals for senior positions in municipal government.

What background review was performed before Kurz's appointment? Was his previous termination disclosed or discussed? Did the administration seek an explanation of the circumstances of his departure from Glassboro? Residents have a legitimate interest in understanding what qualifications, experience, and standards were considered when appointing senior municipal officials since taxpayer dollars pay for municipal government salaries.

Deputy Mayor is a position of public responsibility. This position was appointed by Greg Wolfe. 

Residents expect officials serving in the administration to exercise sound judgment, demonstrate professionalism, and treat members of the community fairly and respectfully. 

At issue are the standards governing appointments, the consistency of those standards, and the transparency surrounding decisions made on behalf of Monroe Township residents.

Public trust is strengthened when officials acknowledge documented facts, explain their decisions, and answer legitimate questions. 

[1] Borough of Glassboro - Official OPRA Response, October 8, 2026.
Written correspondence from Municipal Clerk Karen Cosgrove confirming the date of separation, former job title, and termination. 

[2] Social Media Screenshot - Comment Attributed to Joe Kurz.
Screenshot showing a Facebook comment comparing Black Lives Matter with the Ku Klux Klan. 

[3] Monroe Township Government - Official Telephone Directory.
Identifies Gregory A. Wolfe as Mayor and Joseph Kurz as Deputy Mayor.
https://monroetownshipnj.org/phone-directory/

[4] Borough of Glassboro - Official Municipal Website.
https://www.glassboro.org/