In
conclusion: Luna and Masopust backtracked what they said
to the Record newspaper. They owned up
to nothing and won’t pay back the taxpayers.
A complaint will have to be filed in order for the controversy to be
resolved.
The following question was asked tonight:
You sent out a
campaign mailer disguised as a Borough newsletter. Two days later, the Record did a story about
the controversy. I am quoting the
article:
“Borough
Manager Anthony Luna said that since a bill for the publication has not yet
been received, no money has yet been spent on the newsletter by anyone. He also
added that the borough attorney is reviewing the situation.”
In order for
the US Postal Service to have delivered the “Lodi Update”, a payment must have
been made. How much was it for and why
did Mr. Luna lie to the newspaper?
Luna said that the company that printed the
publication paid the USPS to mail it (using the Borough's return address and postal identification) and Lodi didn’t receive any bills yet. Luna couldn’t name the company and said he
had no idea what any of the costs were.
How can you direct
a company to mail something out with public tax dollars and have no idea of the
costs involved?
Luna said the company is the one that does the borough
website but he didn’t know the name of it.
He said the postal cost is probably around $2000 but he had no idea of
the costs for the publication.
Mr. Masopust said that every administration sent out a
newsletter like this but he couldn’t name the last time one was sent out or by
whom.
Alan Spiniello said the newsletter didn’t name or
promote any candidate.
Alan Spiniello said some people don’t have computers
or read the Record newspaper so this newsletter let them know years later about
the water refunds.
I read Mr. Spiniello the first line of the
publication: “Mayor Bruce Masopust and
the Borough Council are proud to announce…”
I pointed out that they used a Passaic Valley ruling
from years ago when members of this council weren’t even on the council yet. They talked about Shoprite which was built in
2007 and used three exclamation points with the story.
Alan Spiniello said that for the 90 day rule to be violated,
the mailing would have to be sent to a sufficient number of voters. He didn’t believe this took place because the
mailing was sent to businesses also.
I pointed out that every voter in Lodi received a copy. That is more than a sufficient number of voters.
Bruce Masopust and Tony Luna refused to remedy this
situation on their own. Every other politician that got caught violating the 90
day reimbursed the public with campaign funds.
Not them. Not in Lodi.
