Court
Date: May 24th at 10 a.m, Bergen County
Court House
The Lodi Board of Ed has been abusing “Doctrine of
Necessity”. Now the Lodi Mayor and
Council want in. They are going to Court
to ask a judge to allow them to negotiate and approve Donald Scorzetti's contract for Police Chief. They want to use “Doctrine of Necessity”,
something that nobody can ever recall the Lodi Mayor and Council using before.
This is disgraceful!
Donald Scorzetti is unfit to be Police Chief. The only reason he is becoming Chief is because
of politics, quid pro quos, and the conflicts of interest of the Mayor and Council.
Once again, an outside agency should select Lodi’s
next Chief.
Alan Spiniello
didn’t disclose all the money the Lodi Mayor and Council gave to Scorzetti’s
political campaign. Spiniello didn’t disclose the fact that Donald Scorzetti just
negotiated the LEA's contract without disclosing his conflicts of interest on the
BOE’s Doctrine of Necessity Resolution.
A better option: The Mayor and Council should pick a different Chief; one that is honest, nonpolitical, and respected by the community. The Lodi Police Department has candidates that meet this criteria.
From today’s public notice:
In
order to enter into the contract, said contract needs to be approved by the
Mayor and Council as evidenced by a Mayor and Council Resolution. The Mayor and
Council of the Borough of Lodi consists of one
Mayor and four council persons for a total of five votes and in order to have a
quorum, there must be at least three of said five persons voting. However, the
Mayor and three (3) council persons have conflicts of interest or potential
conflicts of interest on voting to approve the contract with Scorzetti or
voting upon a resolution approving said contract, which would then leave merely
one council person left to vote but one council person would not constitute a
quorum. Therefore, the Doctrine of Necessity must be invoked to permit the
Mayor and all council persons to vote upon the Contract and Resolution.
9.Besides being Deputy Chief of the Borough of Lodi
Police Department, Scorzetti was just recently in November 2017 elected as a
trustee of the Lodi Board of Education which term
commenced January 1, 2018. Therefore, the specific conflicts of interest or
potential conflicts of interest are described as follows:
a.Mayor
Emil Carafa, Jr. is a former principal of the Washington Elementary School in Lodi, New Jersey and his daughter is employed by the Lodi Board of Education as a teacher;
b.Councilwoman Patricia Licata is employed by the
Lodi Board of Education as a teacher. In
addition, Patricia Licata's daughter-in-law Dina Licata has been employed by
the Lodi Police Department since April 2011 as a
records clerk and married Patricia Licata's son Frank Licata in 2017;
c.Councilman
Albert DiChiara's wife is employed by the Board of Education as a teacher;
d.Councilman
Vincent Martin's wife works for the Lodi Board of
Education as a teacher's aide for the Pre-K class, and Vincent Martin was a
former member of the Lodi Police Department before
his retirement and Scorzetti was his supervisor; and
e.Councilwoman
Laura Cima has no known conflicts or potential conflicts.
10.The foregoing conflicts or potential
conflicts could be construed as a possible violation of N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.5
Code of Ethics for Local Government Officers or Employees under jurisdiction of
Local Finance Board and therefore court intervention is sought in the case at
hand for Declaratory Relief, Judgment and Court Order permitting the Mayor and
Council to invoke the Doctrine of Necessity and vote accordingly. 11.Despite
the conflicts or potential conflicts, the Mayor and council persons have
indicated that notwithstanding the conflict or potential conflict they each
believe that they can act fairly and impartially in this matter.
This really long, $1,232.55 public notice appeared in today's paper:
Notice Content
Alan
P. Spiniello FILED Attorney at Law MARCH 28, 2018 NJ Attorney ID #014151985
MENELAOS W. TOSKOS, J.S.C. 45 Essex Street Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 (201)
489-3377 Attorney for Plaintiff Borough of Lodi --------------------------------------------------
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY IN THE MATTER OF THE :CHANCERY DIVISION: :BERGEN
COUNTY BOROUGH OF LODI : GENERAL EQUITY :
PLAINTIFF : CIVIL ACTION C-89-18 : : ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
--------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ACTION THIS MATTER
being brought before the court by Alan P. Spiniello, Esq. attorney for
Plaintiff, the Borough of Lodi, seeking relief by
way of summary action pursuant to R.4:67-1(a), based upon the facts set forth
in the Verified Complaint filed herewith; and the Court having determined that
this matter may be commenced by Order to Show Cause as a summary proceeding
pursuant to R.4:67-1(a) and for good cause shown. IT IS on this 28th day of
March, 2018, ORDERED that any interested party opposing the within application
or the relief requested in the Verified Complaint in this matter shall appear
and show cause on the 24th day of May, 2018 before the Superior Court, Chancery
Division, General Equity, Civil Part, before the Honorable Menelaos W. Toskos ,
at the Bergen County Courthouse, 10 Main Street, Courtroom No. 424, Hackensack,
New Jersey 07601, at ten 10:00 o'clock in the fore noon, or as soon thereafter
as counsel can be heard, why an Order and Judgment should not be entered as
follows: A. Declaring that the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Lodi may discuss and approve a contract between the
Borough of Lodi as employer and Donald Scorzetti
as employee as Chief of Police of the Borough of Lodi
negotiated by the Municipal Manager Vincent J. Caruso despite any conflict or
potential conflict pursuant to the Doctrine of Necessity and same shall not be
deemed to be a violation of N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.5 Code of Ethics et seq. or any
other statute, code, ordinance or regulation of like import; B. Declaring that
the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Lodi may
discuss and adopt a Mayor and Council Resolution approving a contract between
the Borough of Lodi as employer and Donald
Scorzetti as employee as Chief of Police of the Borough of Lodi negotiated by the Municipal Manager Vincent J.
Caruso despite any conflict or potential conflict pursuant to the Doctrine of
Necessity and same shall not be deemed to be a violation of N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.5
Code of Ethics et seq. or any other statute, code, ordinance or regulation of
like import; C.For such other relief as the Court deems equitable and just. And
it is further ORDERED that: 1. Any interested party who wishes to be heard with
respect to any of the relief requested in the Verified Complaint or this Order
to Show Cause shall file with the Clerk Civil Part Bergen County and serve upon
the attorney for the Plaintiff at the address set forth above, a written
answer, an answering affidavit, a motion returnable on the date this matter is
scheduled to be heard, or other response to this Order to Show Cause and to the
relief requested in the Verified Complaint by May 10, 2018. Filing shall be
made with the Clerk Civil Part Bergen County at 10 Main Street, Hackensack, New
Jersey 07601. Such responding party shall also file with such Clerk Civil Part
Bergen County by the foregoing date a proof of service upon the Plaintiff. 2.
Any interested party who fails to timely file and serve a response in the
manner provided in paragraph 1 of this Order to Show Cause shall be deemed in
default, the matter may proceed to judgment without any further notice to or
participation by such defaulting party in interest, and the judgment shall be
binding upon such defaulting party in interest. 3.All interested parties are
hereby advised that a telephone call to the Plaintiff, to the Plaintiff's
attorney, to the Clerk Civil Part Bergen County, or to the court will not
protect your rights; you must file and serve your answer, answering affidavit,
motion or other response with the filing fee required by statute. The check or
money order for the filing fee shall be made payable to the Treasurer State of
New Jersey of the County where this matter is being heard. If you cannot afford
an attorney, you may call the Legal Services office in the county in which you
live. A list of these offices is provided. If you do not have an attorney or
are not eligible for free legal assistance through the Legal Services office,
you may obtain a referral to an attorney by calling one of the Lawyer Referral
Services. A list of these office numbers is also provided. 4.If no interested
party timely files and serves a response to this Order to Show Cause as
provided for above, the application may be decided by the court on or after the
date this matter is scheduled to be heard, and may be decided on the papers
without a hearing, provided that the Plaintiff has filed a proof of service and
a proposed form of judgment as required by paragraphs 7 and 9 of this Order to
Show Cause. 5.If an interested party timely files a response as provided for
above, the court may entertain argument, on the date this matter is scheduled
to be heard. 6.The Plaintiff must file and serve any written reply to the
response of a party in interest by May 17, 2018. The reply papers together with
a proof of service must be filed with the Clerk Civil Part Bergen County.
7.Plaintiff shall submit to the Clerk Civil Part Bergen County an original and
two copies of a proposed form of judgment addressing the relief sought on the date
this matter is scheduled to be heard (along with a postage-paid return
envelope) no later than five (5) days before the date this matter is scheduled
to be heard. 8.A copy of this Order to Show Cause, the Verified Complaint and
all Affidavits and/or Certifications and Brief submitted in support of this
application, shall be published in the Bergen Record and posted on the Borough
of Lodi Municipal Website within 10 days of the
date hereof which shall be deemed to be original service of process in accordance
with the Rules of Court and R. 4:67-3, R. 4:4-3 and R. 4:4-4, this Order to
Show Cause being original process. 9.The Plaintiff shall file with the Clerk
Civil Part Bergen County a proof of publication of the documents required by
paragraph 8 above no later than five (5) days before the date this matter is
scheduled to be heard. 10.The court will entertain argument, but not testimony,
on the return date of the Order to Show Cause, unless the court and parties are
advised to the contrary no later than 7 days before the return date. /S/
Menelaos W. Toskos, J.S.C. Directory of Superior Court Deputy Clerk's Offices
County Lawyer Referral and Legal Services Offices ATLANTIC COUNTY: Deputy Clerk
of the Superior Court Civil Division, Direct Filing 1201 Bacharach Blvd., First
Fl. Atlantic City, NJ 08401 LAWYER REFERRAL (609) 345-3444 LEGAL SERVICES (609)
348-4200 BERGEN COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court Civil Division, Room
115 Justice Center, 10 Main St. Hackensack, NJ 07601 LAWYER REFERRAL (201)
488-0044 LEGAL SERVICES (201) 487-2166 BURLINGTON COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the
Superior Court Central Processing Office Attn: Judicial Intake First Fl.,
Courts Facility 49 Rancocas Rd. Mt. Holly, NJ 08060 LAWYER REFERRAL (609)
261-4862 LEGAL SERVICES (609) 261-1088 CAMDEN COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the
Superior Court Civil Processing Office Hall of Justice 1st Fl., Suite 150 101
South 5th Street Camden, NJ 08103 LAWYER REFERRAL (856) 482-0618 LEGAL SERVICES
(856) 964-2010 CAPE MAY COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court 9 N. Main
Street Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 LAWYER REFERRAL (609) 463-0313 LEGAL
SERVICES (609) 465-3001 CUMBERLAND COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court
Civil Case Management Office 60 West Broad Street P.O. Box 10 Bridgeton, NJ
08302 LAWYER REFERRAL (856) 696-5550 LEGAL SERVICES (856) 691-0494 ESSEX
COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court Civil Customer Service Hall of
Records, Room 201 465 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Newark, NJ 07102 LAWYER
REFERRAL (973) 622-6204 LEGAL SERVICES (973) 624-4500 GLOUCESTER COUNTY: Deputy
Clerk of the Superior Court Civil Case Management Office Attn: Intake First
Fl., Court House 1 North Broad Street Woodbury, NJ 08096 LAWYER REFERRAL (856)
848-4589 LEGAL SERVICES (856) 848-5360 HUDSON COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the
Superior Court Superior Court, Civil Records Dept. Brennan Court House--1st
Floor 583 Newark Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07306 LAWYER REFERRAL (201) 798-2727
LEGAL SERVICES (201) 792-6363 HUNTERDON COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the Superior
Court Civil Division 65 Park Avenue Flemington, NJ 08822 LAWYER REFERRAL (908)
236-6109 LEGAL SERVICES (908) 782-7979 MERCER COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the
Superior Court Local Filing Office, Courthouse 175 S. Broad Street, P.O. Box
8068 Trenton, NJ 08650 LAWYER REFERRAL (609) 585-6200 LEGAL SERVICES (609)
695-6249 MIDDLESEX COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court, Middlesex
Vicinage 2nd Floor - Tower 56 Paterson Street, P.O. Box 2633 New Brunswick, NJ
08903-2633 LAWYER REFERRAL (732) 828-0053 LEGAL SERVICES (732) 249-7600 MONMOUTH
COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court Court House P.O. Box 1269 Freehold,
NJ 07728-1269 LAWYER REFERRAL (732) 431-5544 LEGAL SERVICES (732) 866-0020
MORRIS COUNTY: Morris County Courthouse Civil Division Washington and Court
Streets P. O. Box 910 Morristown, NJ 07963-0910 LAWYER REFERRAL (973) 267-5882
LEGAL SERVICES (973) 285-6911 OCEAN COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court
118 Washington Street, Room 121 P.O. Box 2191 Toms River, NJ 08754-2191 LAWYER
REFERRAL (732) 240-3666 LEGAL SERVICES (732) 341-2727 PASSAIC COUNTY: Deputy
Clerk of the Superior Court Civil Division Court House 77 Hamilton Street
Paterson, NJ 07505 LAWYER REFERRAL (973) 278-9223 LEGAL SERVICES (973) 523-2900
SALEM COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court Attn: Civil Case Management
Office 92 Market Street Salem, NJ 08079 LAWYER REFERRAL (856) 935-5629 LEGAL
SERVICES (856) 691-0494 SOMERSET COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court
Civil Division P.O. Box 3000 40 North Bridge Street Somerville, N.J. 08876
LAWYER REFERRAL (908) 685-2323 LEGAL SERVICES (908) 231-0840 SUSSEX COUNTY:
Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court Sussex County Judicial Center 43-47 High
Street Newton, NJ 07860 LAWYER REFERRAL (973) 267-5882 LEGAL SERVICES (973)
383-7400 UNION COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court 1st Fl., Court House
2 Broad Street Elizabeth, NJ 07207-6073 LAWYER REFERRAL (908) 353-4715 LEGAL
SERVICES (908) 354-4340 WARREN COUNTY: Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court Civil
Division Office Court House 413 Second Street Belvidere, NJ 07823-1500 LAWYER
REFERRAL (908) 859-4300 LEGAL SERVICES (908) 475-2010 Alan P. Spiniello
SUPERIOR COURT BERGEN COUNTY Attorney at Law FILED NJ Attorney ID #014151985
MARCH 28, 2018 45 Essex Street LAURA A. SIMOLDONI Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
Deputy Clerk (201) 489-3377 Attorney for Plaintiff Borough of Lodi --------------------------------------------------
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY IN THE MATTER OF THE : CHANCERY DIVISION: : BERGEN
COUNTY BOROUGH OF LODI : GENERAL EQUITY :
PLAINTIFF : CIVIL ACTION C-89-18 : : VERIFIED COMPLAINT :
--------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ACTION The
Plaintiff, Borough of Lodi, a municipal
corporation of the State of New Jersey, with offices located at One Memorial
Drive, Borough of Lodi, County of Bergen, State
of New Jersey 07644, says: FIRST COUNT 1.The Borough of Lodi
is a municipal corporation of the State of New Jersey ("Borough").
The Borough operates under the Municipal Manager Form of Government Law
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:79-1 et seq. 2.Vincent J. Caruso ("Caruso")
is the Municipal Manager of the Borough of Lodi
and has been serving in that capacity from January 1, 2017 to the present date.
Prior to that time Caruso served as Chief of Police of the Lodi Police Department until his retirement from the
Police Department on July 1, 2014. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:82-4 the Municipal
Manager shall (d) "Appoint and remove all department heads and all other
officers, subordinates and assistants for whose selection or removal no other
method is provided in this subtitle, supervise and control his appointees, and
report all appointments or removals at the next meeting thereafter of the
municipal council"; and (e) "Negotiate contracts for the municipality
subject to the approval of the municipal council...". 3.Similarly, Borough
of Lodi Ordinance 192-1 entitled "An
Ordinance creating and establishing the Administrative Code of the Borough of Lodi, County of Bergen, State of New Jersey, in
accordance with the form of government known as the Municipal Manager Form of
Government pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:79-1 et seq. Section 3-4 (d) provides that
the Manager shall (d) "Appoint and remove all department heads and all
other officers, subordinates and assistants for whose selection or removal no
other method is provided by law, supervise and control his appointees, and
report all appointments or removals at the next meeting thereafter of the
council"; and (h) "Negotiate contracts for the Borough subject to the
approval of the council...". In the case at hand, the Chief of Police is
the department head of the Lodi Police Department
and therefore the appointment and contract negotiation must be made by the
Municipal Manager. 4.In or about February 2018, the Borough received notice
that Vincent Quatrone ("Quatrone") Police Chief of the Borough of Lodi would be retiring effective March 1, 2018.
Quatrone has been serving as Police Chief of the Borough since Caruso's
retirement as Police Chief of the Borough on July 1, 2014. Since Caruso was the
former Chief of Police of the Borough and is currently the Manager of the
Borough, he is intimately familiar with the workings and personnel of the Lodi Police Department. 5.Deputy Chief of Police Donald
Scorzetti ("Scorzetti") has been serving as Deputy Chief of Police of
the Borough of Lodi since January 1, 2017. Since
Quatrone's retirement on March 1, 2018, Scorzetti as Deputy Chief of Police has
been serving as Acting Chief of Police. Caruso is desirous of appointing
Scorzetti as the Chief of Police of the Borough of Lodi
since Quatrone has now retired. Caruso as Municipal Manager has the power and
authority to make such appointment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:82-4(d) and Borough
of Lodi Ordinance 192-1 Section 3-4 (d) and to
negotiate his contract which negotiation is subject to the approval of the
Municipal Council pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:82-4(e) and Ordinance No. 192-1
Section 3-4 (h). 6.Caruso has negotiated the terms of a proposed contract with
Scorzetti which terms and conditions are substantially similar to the contract
with Quatrone and the term of the contract will be for a period of three (3)
years effective March 1, 2018 with a salary of $181,124.00 for the first year;
$184,746.48 for the second year; and $188,441.40 for the third year. 7.In order
to enter into the contract, said contract needs to be approved by the Mayor and
Council as evidenced by a Mayor and Council Resolution. 8.The Doctrine of
Necessity must be invoked by the Mayor and Council of the Borough in order for
the contract with Scorzetti and resolution approving said contract to be
considered for approval by the Mayor and Council. The Mayor and Council of the
Borough of Lodi consists of one Mayor and four
council persons for a total of five votes and in order to have a quorum, there
must be at least three of said five persons voting. However, the Mayor and
three (3) council persons have conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of
interest on voting to approve the contract with Scorzetti or voting upon a
resolution approving said contract, which would then leave merely one council
person left to vote but one council person would not constitute a quorum.
Therefore, the Doctrine of Necessity must be invoked to permit the Mayor and
all council persons to vote upon the Contract and Resolution. 9.Besides being
Deputy Chief of the Borough of Lodi Police
Department, Scorzetti was just recently in November 2017 elected as a trustee
of the Lodi Board of Education which term
commenced January 1, 2018. Therefore, the specific conflicts of interest or
potential conflicts of interest are described as follows: a.Mayor Emil Carafa,
Jr. is a former principal of the Washington Elementary School in Lodi, New Jersey and his daughter is employed by the Lodi Board of Education as a teacher; b.Councilwoman
Patricia Licata is employed by the Lodi Board of
Education as a teacher. In addition, Patricia Licata's daughter-in-law Dina
Licata has been employed by the Lodi Police
Department since April 2011 as a records clerk and married Patricia Licata's
son Frank Licata in 2017; c.Councilman Albert DiChiara's wife is employed by
the Board of Education as a teacher; d.Councilman Vincent Martin's wife works
for the Lodi Board of Education as a teacher's
aide for the Pre-K class, and Vincent Martin was a former member of the Lodi Police Department before his retirement and
Scorzetti was his supervisor; and e.Councilwoman Laura Cima has no known
conflicts or potential conflicts. 10.The foregoing conflicts or potential
conflicts could be construed as a possible violation of N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.5
Code of Ethics for Local Government Officers or Employees under jurisdiction of
Local Finance Board and therefore court intervention is sought in the case at
hand for Declaratory Relief, Judgment and Court Order permitting the Mayor and
Council to invoke the Doctrine of Necessity and vote accordingly. 11.Despite
the conflicts or potential conflicts, the Mayor and council persons have
indicated that notwithstanding the conflict or potential conflict they each
believe that they can act fairly and impartially in this matter. 12.There is a
pressing need for the Borough to appoint a new Chief of Police since the March
1, 2018 retirement of the former Chief Quatrone leaves the Borough without a
Chief of Police which Chief is required by pursuant to the Borough Table of Organization
and is needed to protect the health and safety of its residents. There is no
alternate forum which can grant the relief sought and the Mayor and council are
unable to act since they would not have a quorum without the members in
conflict taking part. 13.As a result of the foregoing, the Doctrine of
Necessity must be invoked pursuant to Allen v. Toms River Regional Board of
Education, 233 N.J. Super 642 (1989) and cases that followed. WHEREFORE,
Plaintiff, Borough of Lodi demands judgment or
order as follows: A.The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Lodi may discuss and approve a contract between the
Borough of Lodi as employer and Donald Scorzetti
as employee as Chief of Police of the Borough of Lodi
negotiated by the Municipal Manager Vincent J. Caruso despite any conflict or
potential conflict pursuant to the Doctrine of Necessity and same shall not be
deemed to be a violation of N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.5 Code of Ethics et seq. or any
other statute, code, ordinance or regulation of like import; B.The Mayor and
Council of the Borough of Lodi may discuss and
adopt a Mayor and Council Resolution approving a contract between the Borough
of Lodi as employer and Donald Scorzetti as
employee as Chief of Police of the Borough of Lodi
negotiated by the Municipal Manager Vincent J. Caruso despite any conflict or
potential conflict pursuant to the Doctrine of Necessity and same shall not be
deemed to be a violation of N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.5 Code of Ethics et seq. or any
other statute, code, ordinance or regulation of like import; C.For such other
relief as the Court deems equitable and just. Dated: March 20, 2018 /S/ ALAN P.
SPINIELLO ALAN P. SPINIELLO Attorney At Law Attorney for Plaintiff Borough of Lodi CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 4:5-1 I certify
that the within matter is not the subject of any other proceeding or
arbitration proceeding and that no such proceeding is contemplated and there
are no non-parties who should be joined in the action. Dated: March 20, 2018
/S/ ALAN P. SPINIELLO ALAN P. SPINIELLO Attorney At Law Attorney for Plaintiff
Borough of Lodi RULE 1:38-7 CERTIFICATION OF
REDACTION Alan P. Spiniello of full age being duly sworn upon his oath deposes
and says: 1.I am the attorney for the Plaintiff in the above captioned matter.
2.I make this Certification pursuant to New Jersey Court Rule 1:38-7. 3.I
certify that confidential personal identifiers have been redacted from
documents now submitted to the Court and will also be redacted from all
documents submitted in the future pursuant to Rule 1:38-7(b). I certify that
the foregoing statements made by me are true. I am aware that if any of the
foregoing statements made by me are willfully false, I am subject to
punishment. /S/ ALAN P. SPINIELLO Alan P. Spiniello Dated: March 20, 2018
VERIFICATION STATE OF NEW JERSEY ) SS. COUNTY OF BERGEN ) Vincent J. Caruso, of
full age, being duly sworn upon his oath, according to law, deposes and says:
1.I am the Borough Manager of the Borough of Lodi.
2.I have read the annexed Verified Complaint and know the contents thereof and
the same are true to my knowledge, except as to those matters therein alleged
to be stated on information and belief, and as to those matters I believe them
to be true. /S/ VINCENT J. CARUSO VINCENT J. CARUSO Sworn and Subscribed to
before me this 20th day of March, 2018 /S/ Alan P. Spiniello Alan P. Spiniello,
An Attorney at Law, of the State of New Jersey Attorney at Law FILED NJ
Attorney ID #014151985 MARCH 28, 2018 45 Essex Street LAURA A. SIMOLDONI
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 Deputy Clerk (201) 489-3377 Attorney for Plaintiff
Borough of Lodi
--------------------------------------------------- SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW
JERSEY IN THE MATTER OF THE : CHANCERY DIVISION: :BERGEN COUNTY BOROUGH OF LODI : GENERAL EQUITY : PLAINTIFF : CIVIL ACTION C-89-18
: : --------------------------------------------------- MEMORANDUM OF LAW OF
PLAINTIFF BOROUGH OF LODI IN SUPPORT OF ORDER TO
SHOW CAUSE Alan P. Spiniello, Esq. 45 Essex Street, Suite 103 Hackensack, New
Jersey 07601 (201) 489-3377 Attorney for Defendant Borough of Lodi Of Counsel and on the Brief Alan P. Spiniello,
Esq. TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF FACTS 1 LEGAL ARGUMENT 2 CONCLUSION 7
STATEMENT OF FACTS Plaintiff incorporates herein by reference as if fully set
forth at length herein the Verified Complaint as Plaintiff's Statement of
Facts. LEGAL ARGUMENT POINT I THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE BOROUGH OF LODI SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO INVOKE THE DOCTRINE OF
NECESSITY IN DISCUSSING AND APPROVING THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE BOROUGH OF LODI AND POTENTIAL CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE BOROUGH OF LODI DONALD SCORZETTI AND ADOPTING A MAYOR AND COUNCIL
RESOLUTION APPROVING SAID CONTRACT The Borough of Lodi
is a municipal corporation of the State of New Jersey ("Borough").
The Borough operates under the Municipal Manager Form of Government Law
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:79-1 et seq. Vincent J. Caruso ("Caruso") is
the Municipal Manager of the Borough of Lodi and
has been serving in that capacity from January 1, 2017 to the present date.
Prior to that time Caruso served as Chief of Police of the Lodi Police Department until his retirement from the
Police Department on July 1, 2014. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:82-4 the Municipal
Manager shall (d) "Appoint and remove all department heads and all other
officers, subordinates and assistants for whose selection or removal no other
method is provided in this subtitle, supervise and control his appointees, and
report all appointments or removals at the next meeting thereafter of the
municipal council"; and (e) "Negotiate contracts for the municipality
subject to the approval of the municipal council...". Similarly, Borough
of Lodi Ordinance 192-1 entitled "An
Ordinance creating and establishing the Administrative Code of the Borough of Lodi, County of Bergen, State of New Jersey, in
accordance with the form of government known as the Municipal Manager Form of
Government pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:79-1 et seq. Section 3-4 (d) provides that
the Manager shall (d) "Appoint and remove all department heads and all
other officers, subordinates and assistants for whose selection or removal no
other method is provided by law, supervise and control his appointees, and
report all appointments or removals at the next meeting thereafter of the
council"; and (h) "Negotiate contracts for the Borough subject to the
approval of the council...". In the case at hand, the Chief of Police is
the department head of the Lodi Police Department
and therefore the appointment and contract negotiation must be made by the
Municipal Manager. In or about February 2018, the Borough received notice that
Vincent Quatrone ("Quatrone") Police Chief of the Borough of Lodi would be retiring effective March 1, 2018.
Quatrone has been serving as Police Chief of the Borough since Caruso's
retirement as Police Chief of the Borough on July 1, 2014. Since Caruso was the
former Chief of Police of the Borough and is currently the Manager of the
Borough, he is intimately familiar with the workings and personnel of the Lodi Police Department. Deputy Chief of Police Donald
Scorzetti ("Scorzetti") has been serving as Deputy Chief of Police of
the Borough of Lodi since January 1, 2017. Since
Quatrone's retirement on March 1, 2018, Scorzetti as Deputy Chief of Police has
been serving as Acting Chief of Police. Caruso is desirous of appointing
Scorzetti as the Chief of Police of the Borough of Lodi
since Quatrone has now retired. Caruso as Municipal Manager has the power and
authority to make such appointment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:82-4(d) and Borough
of Lodi Ordinance 192-1 Section 3-4 (d) and to
negotiate his contract which negotiation is subject to the approval of the
Municipal Council pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:82-4(e) and Ordinance No. 192-1
Section 3-4 (h). Caruso has negotiated the terms of a proposed contract with
Scorzetti which terms and conditions are substantially similar to the contract
with Quatrone and the contract will be for a period of three (3) years
effective March 1, 2018 with a salary of $181,124.00 for the first year;
$184,746.48 for the second year; and $188,441.40 for the third year. In order
to enter into the contract, said contract needs to be approved by the Mayor and
Council as evidenced by a Mayor and Council Resolution. The Doctrine of
Necessity must be invoked by the Mayor and Council of the Borough in order for
the contract with Scorzetti and resolution approving said contract to be
considered for approval by the Mayor and Council. The Mayor and Council of the
Borough of Lodi consists of one Mayor and four
council persons for a total of five votes and in order to have a quorum, there
must be at least three of said five persons voting. However, the Mayor and
three (3) council persons have conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of
interest on voting to approve the contract with Scorzetti or voting upon a resolution
approving said contract, which would then leave merely one council person left
to vote but one council person would not constitute a quorum. Therefore, the
Doctrine of Necessity must be invoked to permit the Mayor and all council
persons to vote upon the Contract and Resolution. Besides being Deputy Chief of
the Borough of Lodi Police Department, Scorzetti
was just recently in November 2017 elected as a trustee of the Lodi Board of Education which term commenced January 1,
2018. Therefore, the specific conflicts of interest or potential conflicts of
interest are described as follows: a.Mayor Emil Carafa, Jr. is a former
principal of the Washington Elementary School in Lodi,
New Jersey and his daughter is employed by the Lodi
Board of Education as a teacher; b.Councilwoman Patricia Licata is employed by
the Lodi Board of Education as a teacher. In
addition, Patricia Licata's daughter-in-law Dina Licata has been employed by
the Lodi Police Department since April 2011 as a
records clerk and married Patricia Licata's son Frank Licata in 2017;
c.Councilman Albert DiChiara's wife is employed by the Board of Education as a
teacher; d.Councilman Vincent Martin's wife works for the Lodi Board of Education as a teacher's aide for the
Pre-K class, and Vincent Martin was a former member of the Lodi Police Department before his retirement and
Scorzetti was his supervisor; and e.Councilwoman Laura Cima has no known
conflicts or potential conflicts. The foregoing conflicts or potential
conflicts could be construed as a possible violation of N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.5
Code of Ethics for Local Government Officers or Employees under jurisdiction of
Local Finance Board and therefore court intervention is sought in the case at
hand for Declaratory Relief, Judgment and Order permitting the Mayor and
Council to invoke the Doctrine of Necessity and vote accordingly. Despite the
conflicts or potential conflicts, the Mayor and council persons have indicated
that notwithstanding the conflict or potential conflict they each believe that
they can act fairly and impartially in this matter. There is a pressing need
for the Borough to appoint a new Chief of Police since the March 1, 2018
retirement of the former Chief Quatrone leaves the Borough without a Chief of
Police which Chief is required by purusant to the Borough Table of Organization
and is needed to protect the health and safety of its residents. There is no
alternate forum which can grant the relief sought and the Mayor and council are
unable to act since they would not have a quorum without the members in
conflict taking part. As a result of the foregoing, the Doctrine of Necessity
must be invoked pursuant to Allen v. Toms River Regional Board of Education,
233 N.J. Super 642 (1989) and cases that followed. It is respectfully requested
that the following declaratory relief should be granted: 1.The Mayor and
Council of the Borough of Lodi may discuss and
approve a contract between the Borough of Lodi as
employer and Donald Scorzetti as employee as Chief of Police of the Borough of Lodi negotiated by the Municipal Manager Vincent J.
Caruso despite any conflict or potential conflict pursuant to the Doctrine of
Necessity and same shall not be deemed to be a violation of N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.5
Code of Ethics et seq. or any other statute, code, ordinance or regulation of
like import; and 2.The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Lodi may discuss and adopt a Mayor and Council
Resolution approving a contract between the Borough of Lodi
as employer and Donald Scorzetti as employee as Chief of Police of the Borough
of Lodi negotiated by the Municipal Manager
Vincent J. Caruso despite any conflict or potential conflict pursuant to the
Doctrine of Necessity and same shall not be deemed to be a violation of
N.J.S.A. 40A:9-22.5 Code of Ethics et seq. or any other statute, code,
ordinance or regulation of like import; CONCLUSION For all of the foregoing
reasons, it is respectfully requested that the relief requested in the Verified
Complaint and Order to Show Cause be granted. ALAN P. SPINIELLO, ATTORNEY AT
LAWAttorney for Plaintiff, Borough of Lodi Dated:
March 20, 2018 /S/ ALAN P. SPINIELLO Alan P. Spiniello Alan P. Spiniello
SUPERIOR COURT BERGEN COUNTY Attorney at Law FILED NJ Attorney ID #014151985
MARCH 28, 2018 45 Essex Street LAURA A. SIMOLDONI Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
Deputy Clerk (201) 489-3377 Attorney for Plaintiff Borough of Lodi ----------------------------------------------
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY IN THE MATTER OF THE :CHANCERY DIVISION: :BERGEN
COUNTY BOROUGH OF LODI : GENERAL EQUITY :
PLAINTIFF :CIVIL ACTION C-89-18 : : CERTIFICATION OF :EMIL CARAFA, JR.
------------------------------------------ SUMMARY ACTION I, EMIL CARAFA, JR.,
of full age, hereby certify as follows: 1.I have read the Verified Complaint
signed by Vincent J. Caruso Borough Manager of the Borough of Lodi in this matter and incorporate same herein by
reference, as if fully set forth at length herein and hereby confirm the facts
and statements contained therein as being true, except those that are based
upon information and belief and as to those facts I believe same to be true. I
hereby certify that the foregoing statements made by me are true. I am aware
that if any of the foregoing statements made by me are willfully false, I am
subject to punishment. Dated: March 20, 2018 /S/ EMIL CARAFA, JR. Emil Carafa,
Jr. Alan P. Spiniello SUPERIOR COURT BERGEN COUNTY Attorney at Law FILED NJ
Attorney ID #014151985 MARCH 28, 2018 45 Essex Street LAURA A. SIMOLDONI
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 Deputy Clerk (201) 489-3377 Attorney for Plaintiff
Borough of Lodi
------------------------------------------------ SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
IN THE MATTER OF THE : CHANCERY DIVISION: :BERGEN COUNTY BOROUGH OF LODI : GENERAL EQUITY : PLAINTIFF : CIVIL ACTION : :
CERTIFICATION OF LAURA CIMA ----------------------------------------------
SUMMARY ACTION I, LAURA CIMA, of full age, hereby certify as follows: 1.I have
read the Verified Complaint signed by Vincent J. Caruso Borough Manager of the
Borough of Lodi in this matter and incorporate
same herein by reference, as if fully set forth at length herein and hereby
confirm the facts and statements contained therein as being true, except those
that are based upon information and belief and as to those facts I believe same
to be true. I hereby certify that the foregoing statements made by me are true.
I am aware that if any of the foregoing statements made by me are willfully
false, I am subject to punishment. Dated: March 20, 2018 /S/ LAURA CIMA Laura
Cima Alan P. Spiniello SUPERIOR COURT BERGEN COUNTY Attorney at Law FILED NJ
Attorney ID #014151985 MARCH 28, 2018 45 Essex Street LAURA A. SIMOLDONI
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 Deputy Clerk (201) 489-3377 Attorney for Plaintiff
Borough of Lodi
-------------------------------------------------- SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
IN THE MATTER OF THE : CHANCERY DIVISION: :BERGEN COUNTY BOROUGH OF LODI : GENERAL EQUITY : PLAINTIFF : CIVIL ACTION : :
CERTIFICATION OF PATRICIA LICATA
-------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ACTION I, PATRICIA
LICATA, of full age, hereby certify as follows: 1.I have read the Verified
Complaint signed by Vincent J. Caruso Borough Manager of the Borough of Lodi in this matter and incorporate same herein by
reference, as if fully set forth at length herein and hereby confirm the facts
and statements contained therein as being true, except those that are based
upon information and belief and as to those facts I believe same to be true. I
hereby certify that the foregoing statements made by me are true. I am aware
that if any of the foregoing statements made by me are willfully false, I am
subject to punishment. Dated: March 20, 2018 /S/ PATRICIA LICATA Patricia
Licata Alan P. Spiniello SUPERIOR COURT BERGEN COUNTY Attorney at Law FILED NJ
Attorney ID #014151985 MARCH 28, 2018 45 Essex Street LAURA A. SIMOLDONI
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 Deputy Clerk (201) 489-3377 Attorney for Plaintiff
Borough of Lodi
------------------------------------------------ SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
IN THE MATTER OF THE : CHANCERY DIVISION: :BERGEN COUNTY BOROUGH OF LODI : GENERAL EQUITY : PLAINTIFF : CIVIL ACTION : :
CERTIFICATION OF :ALBERT DICHIARA
------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ACTION I, ALBERT
DICHIARA, of full age, hereby certify as follows: 1.I have read the Verified
Complaint signed by Vincent J. Caruso Borough Manager of the Borough of Lodi in this matter and incorporate same herein by
reference, as if fully set forth at length herein and hereby confirm the facts
and statements contained therein as being true, except those that are based
upon information and belief and as to those facts I believe same to be true. I
hereby certify that the foregoing statements made by me are true. I am aware
that if any of the foregoing statements made by me are willfully false, I am
subject to punishment. Dated: March 20, 2018 /S/ ALBERT DICHIARA Albert
DiChiara Alan P. Spiniello SUPERIOR COURT BERGEN COUNTY Attorney at Law FILED
NJ Attorney ID #014151985 MARCH 28, 2018 45 Essex Street LAURA A. SIMOLDONI
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601 Deputy Clerk (201) 489-3377 Attorney for Plaintiff
Borough of Lodi
------------------------------------------------ SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
IN THE MATTER OF THE : CHANCERY DIVISION: :BERGEN COUNTY BOROUGH OF LODI : GENERAL EQUITY : PLAINTIFF : CIVIL ACTION : :
CERTIFICATION OF VINCENT MARTIN
------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ACTION I, VINCENT
MARTIN, of full age, hereby certify as follows: 1.I have read the Verified
Complaint signed by Vincent J. Caruso Borough Manager of the Borough of Lodi in this matter and incorporate same herein by
reference, as if fully set forth at length herein and hereby confirm the facts
and statements contained therein as being true, except those that are based
upon information and belief and as to those facts I believe same to be true. I
hereby certify that the foregoing statements made by me are true. I am aware
that if any of the foregoing statements made by me are willfully false, I am
subject to punishment. Dated: March 20, 2018 /S/ VINCENT MARTIN Vincent Martin
April 5, 2018, Fee: $1,232.55 (1,494) 4253177