The following question was asked and the meeting
only spiraled downward from there:
Mr. Luna, can
you explain your transfer of DPW employees to “Building and Grounds”? What is the reasoning?
Mr. Luna said there were no transfers. He said there is an ordinance so people in “Building
and Grounds” belong in there.
I won’t use
the word transfer. There were employees
in the DPW. Why did you “move” them to Buildings
and Grounds?
Mr. Luna said nobody was transferred and there is an
ordinance.
I asked if
any DPW employees recently went over to “Buildings and Grounds”.
Schrieks interrupted and said this question was already
answered by Mr. Luna. He also said that
I asked the same question at the May meeting last month and got an answer
then(last month was April and I never asked that question before).
What is so
difficult? Yes or no?
Luna and Schrieks wouldn’t answer the question.
The Deputy
Mayor’s son was a DPW employee. Why was
he one of the first to be moved to “Building and Grounds”?
Luna and Schrieks wouldn’t answer the question.
I stated that
they can’t govern because everything is politics to them. Luna wants to put all his “favorites” in “Building
and Grounds” and all he cares about are political last names. What he is doing is malicious, vindictive,
and unfair.
Luna exploded and said that I’m not a Math teacher
anymore (At that point, I realized that he has no defense for his actions with
the DPW. He will lose in court and cost
the Lodi taxpayers a lot of money. But
the Florio firm will cash in.)
I asked if
Mr. Luna has publicly spoke about DPW layoffs with anyone.
He lost his cool again and said all he cares about
is dollars and cents and he will privatize to save money.
I stated that
there is something called seniority despite the fact that he believes he can
circumvent Civil Service. If he cares
about saving money, he should lay off the Deputy Mayor’s son before he lays off
all the employees that put in more years but don’t have the political last
names.
I stated that I’m glad that Mr. Luna had a great awakening and cares about money all of a sudden because this administration created a job in the DPW for Gerry Woods, paid him over a million dollars, and then said the position wasn’t necessary when he retired.
Other questions asked:
Mr. Schrieks,
can you explain your selection process of Gerald Woods to the Housing
Authority?
Marc said Gerry Woods has such knowledge of the
town, the board of education, …..
I asked if he
used any criteria or vetting process. I
asked if he posted the vacancy on the borough website.
He said No but he asked around.
I asked what
circles he asked around in.
He said it is a volunteer position.
I said it is
a very important and powerful position and that he should have taken it more
seriously.
Luna had to lean over and tell Marc to say that
Tommy Desomma wanted Gerry Woods on the Housing Authority.
Mrs. Licata,
can you explain the bill you abstained on tonight?
Mrs. Licata said that we go over this at every
meeting and I should call the Boys Club.
I stated if
the Boys Club were paying her son’s “consulting fees”, she would not be
abstaining on them tonight.
Mrs. Licata had the audacity to say she can vote “YES”
on her son’s consulting fees but she doesn’t.
I said that
would be unethical. The town is paying
her son’s consulting fees and anyone can see for themselves when the bills go
up on-line.
I pointed out that Mrs. Licata’s son wasn’t receiving “consulting fees” before she was on the council.
At this point of the meeting, everyone was screaming
at me and Luna and Schrieks wouldn’t even let me speak.
I said they
should put this meeting on-line so the town can see the way they are behaving. This council videotapes parts of their
meetings where they praise each other and then cut the cameras off. I said Elmwood Park does it, Hackensack does
it.
Before I can continue they interrupted me and
attacked me again.
At that
point, I said they can dismiss me all they like. We’ve all see that I’ve been right and they’ve
been wrong.
They lashed out again so I just walked out. Schrieks yelled things at me as I walked out
the door.
Good thing they don’t put their meetings
on-line.