Simple DPW Question Sets off Luna and Schrieks. Who Would Have Thought?

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.

Luna's History of Deceptive Ordinances: August 2012

This administration has a history of misleading the public on what they are actually voting on at public meetings.  Just take their creation of “Building and Grounds” as an example.  That would be Ordinance 2012-03.

This is what appeared on the agendas and minutes in August 2012 and was read aloud at the meetings:

Link to minutes:

http://www.lodi-nj.org/web_content/acrobat/minutes/2012-08-21-council-lodi-min.pdf

The public had no idea of what this ordinance meant at the time.  Luna deliberately hid it from the public because he had no justification for it.

This is the public notice for that same ordinance:

Link to notice:

http://archive.publicnoticeads.com/NJ/search/view.asp?T=PN&id=272\8272012_19230800.HTM

Do the two even resemble one another?  This is deceitful!

And while on the subject, this is part of Ordinance 2012-03:

Article 2 Ordinance No. 192-1, Section 5-18 entitled Public Works Section is hereby amended to reflect that the activities or functions described in Subsections (j), (k) and (I) shall be transferred to the Department of Buildings, Parks and Grounds, which Subsections are as follows: (j) Care for, trim, plant and cultivate greens, shade trees and ornamental plants in the public ways, parks and other public places of the Borough; (k) Maintain, Improve and conserve the public grounds, parks and outdoor recreation areas of the Borough; (I) Maintain and repair all Borough owned buildings and structures in a good and workmanlike manner, either by force account or under public contract;



Luna’s own ordinance lists the trimming of trees in the “Building and Grounds” department.

If Luna used the outsourcing for “tree trimming” as a reason for layoffs, why would the layoffs come from the “DPW” and not from “Building and Grounds”?  Why would Luna "move" employees from the DPW to "Building and Grounds" at the time of the layoffs when there would be less functions there (due to outsourcing)?  

Luna made things less efficient.  He made his bureaucracy larger and less accountable.  He made things less fair and more unethical.  He hurt morale.

Borough provides response to the Licata promotion question...

Today, I received a response from Mr. Caruso, Lodi Borough Manager.  I am very appreciative that Mr. Caruso responded.  I am not blaming Mr. Caruso for this promotion because he was not part of the administration at the time.

Below are the questions I submitted and the responses I received from the borough (in black).  I listed some problems I have with the borough’s responses (highlited).  Also, the public deserves an explanation as to why Licata skipped so many steps on the pay scale.

1. Can you please explain the promotion process used for the Councilwoman’s son?

A. At the time of the promotion Mr. Licata and Mr. Aufiero were the only two eligible employees within Civil Service and that department to apply and or test for the position of “Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds” (Title 03987@).

Mr. Aufiero, declined the position both verbally and in writing. (Letter dated June 28th, 2016 as previously provided to you through OPRA request) Mr. Licata remains in a Provisional Status for the position until he completes his Working Test Period as per CSC and upon the CSC’s official change to a Regular Appointment.

Response:  Why would Mr. Licata be one of only two eligible employees when he only had four years’ experience?  I can understand Mr. Aufiero being eligible but certainly not Patrick Licata. Mr. Aufiero was enrolled in the public employee retirement system in 1974.  Patrick Licata was enrolled in 2012.   Payroll records show that Patrick Licata must have skipped steps.

Employees within the entire Department of Public Works should have had every right to apply for a promotional position in the Department of Buildings and Grounds.  All employees were once part of the same department with similar job descriptions.  I argue that many employees with more experience and seniority were eligible and shut out.

2. Did you advertise the position?

A.   This was a promotional position and only open to eligible employees in that department. The announcement of any potential exam should it be required and all pre-requisites for the position is done solely by the Civil Service Commission and is physically posted when announced in the department effected when given by the CSC.

Response:  the position was not advertised.  I believe that many employees were eligible and never given an opportunity.  I don’t understand how Patrick Licata was eligible with only four years’ experience if someone with 15 years was not. Once again, those listed in the Building and Grounds Department used to be listed in the DPW department.  All employees from that department should have been given an opportunity.

3. Did you interview people?

A. This was a promotional position and there were two eligible. One declined the position in writing and the other accepted the promotion. 

Response: So nobody was interviewed and a Councilwoman's son with four years' experience was promoted?

4. Did you follow Civil Service Guidelines?

A. Yes.

Response:  How?

5. Did you give DPW employees with more experience and seniority an opportunity to apply?

A.   Yes. As previously stated and documented by the letter received from Mr. Aulfiero. Mr. Aulfiero was the senior most employee in that department and most experienced. He was offered the promotional and declined in writing.

Response:  I purposely wrote “DPW” in my question and not “Building and Grounds”.  At any time, can a new department be created from the DPW just so competition can be eliminated for a councilwoman’s son?  I don’t think so.

6. Why was Councilwoman Licata so dishonest when she laughed and said her son wouldn’t benefit from the building and grounds ordinance? 

A. I cannot speak for Councilwoman Licata’s alleged response dating back to 2012. However, the ordinance was passed in 2012 and this promotion was made in 2016 some four years later. 

Response: Patrick Licata was placed in the Buildings and Grounds Department right after the ordinance was passed.  Tony Luna stated shortly after that “Young Pat” was running the department.

While I was running for council in Spring 2015, I had to pick up some things in the Borough Hall.  On a few occasions, Patrick Licata was sitting in offices upstairs with his feet on a desk.

Councilwoman Licata knew that Tony Luna was creating “Building and Grounds” for her son and that her son was receiving special treatment.  She was very dishonest.