Here are some questions I asked tonight and the
responses I received:
1) Last month, you appointed a new member to
the Planning Board. Three days later,
his name appeared in a Record article.
Can you explain the selection process you used?
Mr. Masopust said they received Mr. Apicella’s resume
and people aren’t knocking down the door to be on the Planning Board.
I questioned how they received his resume being Lodi never posted the vacancy or sought resumes anywhere. I also pointed out that Mr. Apicella recently just moved to Lodi. If Lodi sought resumes, maybe they could have found a better candidate with some expertise to offer the Board.
Mr. Masopust said a member of the Planning Board recommended Mr. Apicella. Mr. Masopust would not provide the name of that member.
Mr. Masopust said Mr. Apicella appeared in the Record article as a Tax Collector and not a Zoning member.
I pointed out that he appeared in the article as a Zoning Board member of Palisades Park. All the members of the Palisades Park Zoning Board were subpoenaed to go before a federal grand jury and also hand over records.
2) Last month, Mrs. Licata voted “Yes” on her
son’s new contract in which her son signed his name as the “shop steward”. Why is she voting yes?
Mr. Spiniello said the collective bargaining agreement included
other people and not just her son so what she did is alright.
I responded: with all due respect, it’s an ethics violation to vote YES on your own son’s contract when your son is listed as the shop steward.
3) Did Mr. Luna’s petty cash fund ever receive
State approval?
Frank DiMaria said it didn’t need State approval as long as the Resolution is on file in the borough hall.
I pointed out that all the other towns that created petty cash funds in recent years are listed on the State website for receiving approval.
4) Can you please explain the municipal alliance
resolution on tonight’s agenda? Are Lodi
tax dollars used for the match because this administration has stated for years
that no Lodi tax dollars are used?
DiMaria said tax dollars are used for the match but
all the money doesn’t have to be used each year.
How can you go
another year spending drug alliance money when you won’t produce any financial
reports, you don’t keep minutes, and you don’t even know who is on the
committee?
DiMaria said Judy Forman from the County spoke more favorably of Joe Licata than some other coordinators.
I stated that I have spoken to people in other towns and Judy Forman is not an authority on this matter. Regulations and money come from the State.
I asked Mr. DiMaria to comment on the State requiring public notices, minutes, etc.
Mr. DiMaria could not.
I asked the council to comment on this matter.
Mr. Masopust said after becoming “Mayor”, he assigned Mr. Spiniello
to investigate the Drug Alliance and have a report for the next work session.
I have been questioning this for years. Shouldn’t he have a report by now?
Mr. Masopust said he will have a report at the next work session.
I thanked him for looking into the matter because it is more than I got in the past.
