Will the “Record” do a follow up to: “mayor points to need for reforms”?

This past summer, the Record newspaper gave Marc Schrieks many favorable headlines while discussing Chief Caruso’s $342,000 payout.  Among them were: “mayor points to need for reforms” and “nothing is off the table, the mayor said.”

During Marc’s last month in office, he signed off on many employee contracts.  One was the new PBA contract.  It looks just like the last one.

It still includes the “Past Practice” clause (Luna and Caruso used this to pay out “terminal leave/severance pay” even though it was not spelled out anywhere in any contract).  It still includes “longevity pay” even though this Administration told the State three years ago that they eliminated it.

There are 70 towns in Bergen County.  In 2014, Lodi had the 3^rd highest effective tax rate only behind Bergenfield and Bogota. 

Maybe the Record should do a follow up to their articles from last summer.  Let’s hear about all those reforms that Schrieks called for at the time and what he delivered as he left office.

2015 contract:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/254244536/PBA-Contract-2015

2013 contract:

http://www.perc.state.nj.us/publicsectorcontracts.nsf/Contracts%20By%20Employer/08A51D61A1C90B9585257BFA005D0776/$File/Lodi%20Boro%20and%20PBA%20Loc%2026%202013.pdf?OpenElement

Patty Licata casts another UNETHICAL vote..."YES" on son's new contract.

Patty Licata voted YES on her own son’s contract in which her son signed his name as the “Shop Steward”.  Very unethical. 

Where have you seen this before?  Joe Licata voted YES on his own mother’s contract.  And then the BOE had to change his vote the following month.

http://lodioverhaul.blogspot.com/2014/02/unethical-behavior-on-full-display-both.html

Link to the entire contract:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/254142668/Building-and-Grounds-Contract-2015

Nardino’s Memo in Defense of Licata's "Consulting Fees":

State Statute:  “MACs must operate in full compliance with the State’s open public meetings laws. There must be public notice of MAC meetings. Minutes must be kept of all Committee meetings, and a quorum of Committee members is required for action to be taken by the Committee (e.g., approval of plan or modifications). A quorum is 50 percent of the official Committee membership plus one.”

And January 5th was not the first time these issues were raised.  Mr. Nardino was present at the October meeting where the following questions were asked word for word:

http://lodioverhaul.blogspot.com/2014/10/nothing-could-prepare-them-for-joe.html

On December 30, 2014, Nardino and Licata PRODUCED NO QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORTS after they were requested through the Open Public Records Act.  If they existed, they had to be provided by law.

Six days after producing no reports, they doubled down with a memo claiming Licata was paid to complete six quarterly reports.   They can’t have it both ways. 

I could care less if they have a friend (Judy Forman) in the County protecting them.  Licata is taking money away from youth programs.  And laws are being violated.

Licata and Nardino have violated:

1)  The Open Public Meetings Act (no minutes, public notices, etc.).

2)  The Open Public Records Act (provided no quarterly reports).

Instead of being defiant, they should return the "consulting fees" and follow the law.

And the public should be reminded that those signing the documents below cannot even name who is on the Lodi Municipal Alliance.

Here is the complete memo I received today.  Licata and Nardino sound good.  The information is not accurate.

https://www.scribd.com/doc/253819566/Nardino-Memos-On-Licata-s-Consulting-Fess