Ex-Medford police chief drops charges against former councilwoman

Medford's former police chief and town manager dropped simple assault charges this week against a councilwoman he had accused of poking his chest.

Stephen Addezio could not be reached for comment after he dismissed the charges against former Councilwoman Victoria Fay in Burlington Township's municipal court. The case was heard there to avoid a conflict of interest in Medford.

"I'm very, very excited, since I can close that chapter of the book in my life," Fay said Wednesday night. "There are more important things to worry about right now than this. The town has a lot of more important problems."

Fay denied she poked Addezio in the chest during a heated argument Feb. 7 in the town hall after Addezio accused her of violating the town's residency requirement for council members. He told her that she was no longer qualified to be on the council because investigators he had hired discovered she had moved out of town during divorce proceedings.

"It's unfortunate that my family and friends were subjected to such an ugly side of politics, but this experience has strengthened my resolve," Fay said.

The other members on the council removed her, and she sued. A Superior Court judge in Burlington County said she had no right to stay in her seat, months after she had moved to a neighboring town.

Judge Michael J. Hogan said Fay had a "statutory obligation as a Township Council member to remain domiciled in Medford Township."