By Ron Zeitlinger/The Jersey Journal

A former North Bergen Township employee who filed an ethics complaint against state Sen. Nicholas Sacco in 2011 is meeting with the state Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards today.

Lydia Coleman, who worked in the township's recreation department as a swim instructor from 1995 to 2005, claimed in the complaint that she was sexually and verbally harassed by Sacco, who is also the mayor of North Bergen, over a two-year period starting in 2003.

In a letter to Coleman's attorney, Mario Blanch, the committee said Coleman's complaint is under consideration at this time only "as to jurisdiction and timeliness, and for a determination about how to proceed."

The letter called for Coleman's attendance at the hearing, but said nothing of Sacco having to appear today.

Blanch said the committee will be trying to determine if the complaint is related to Sacco's office of senator.

"Sacco was a state senator at time and he did these things in his capacity as senator,:" Blanch said. "Lydia assisted him as a volunteer in his senatorial office."

Among the most egregious of the claims made by Coleman is that Sacco left four voicemails on her phone, calling her "stupid" and a "retard" after she refused his advances at a gathering of North Bergen workers.

"I think you should call me back ..." Sacco said in the first message, according to the voicemail. "I think it would be very wise thing to do right at this moment. You don’t want to, don’t. It would be wise to do it."

In the second message Coleman says Sacco says: "You better realize what you just did. It’s scary that you would be that stupid. You are STUPID. You better get that call back in before the end of this night for whatever value it is. You better try. If you even take it, you better try. It’s scary what you just did to yourself."

An excerpt of the third message Coleman claims Sacco said: "You don’t seem to understand that everything is in my hands right now. Everything is in my hands. You don’t understand that because you’re a f------ retard."

An excerpt of the fourth message, Coleman claims Sacco said "Lydia, you’ve f----- up all over your life. This is the biggest f----up you have made in your life. You don’t even understand, until tomorrow or till Tuesday. "

In December 2011, Paul Swibinski, a spokesman for the mayor, said that it appears that the tape recording of the messages was "doctored."