Allegations of theft at Westfield Recreation Commission

The Westfield recreation director is out amid allegations that she was involved in a scheme to submit fake invoices she had approved to the local recreation commission and was then pocketing the money, the New Jersey Globe has learned.

Megan Schaffer was removed during a closed-session meeting of the commission last night, and a personnel matter is listed on the township council’s closed-session agenda this evening.

Staff in her office were cryptic about Schaffer’s whereabouts.

“She’ll be out of the office for the time being,” said Lauren Conrad, the deputy director.  “She’s on leave.”

A former Rutgers-Newark women’s softball coach, Schaffer worked at the Paramus Recreation Department before being hired to the $110,000-a-year post in 2022.

This is an election year in Westfield, with the mayor and four council seats up in November.

Last month, former Briek Recreation Director Daniel Santaniello pleaded guilty to taking cash payments to use the township’s recreation facilities and then pocketing the money after issuing fake permits to private organizations to use the softball fields.