Once again, council argues over hiring
By Michael W. Curley Jr., Staff Writer
An extended verbal confrontation broke out at the Bloomfield Township Council conference meeting Monday while the council was discussing the search for a full-time township administrator.
Councilwoman Patricia Barker, who’s head of the search committee, gave the council an update on the search, saying that after the candidates had been interviewed, the committee had narrowed the field down to two finalists. She then made a motion to have the council interview those two candidates following the regular meeting on Nov. 2.
Councilman Robert Ruane then objected to the process, saying that he had 46 resumes of applicants, but he had not narrowed the field down. He added he felt there had been a systematic process to exclude him from the process, adding, “The fix is in.”
Barker then said Ruane had “scared away” some of the candidates with a letter he sent to them. Ruane confirmed he wrote the letter, which was then read aloud by Councilwoman Patricia Spychala.
The letter thanks the applicants for participating, but adds, “Unfortunately, you have wasted your time because the ‘Fix’ was in long before you were contacted.” It continues to say a “Shadow Government Group” is keeping Bloomfield under siege, and “uses the democratic process as a shield for their deception and dishonesty.”
Ruane in the letter then apologizes for “this sham,” and says that he, Councilman Bernard Hamilton, and Mayor Raymond McCarthy “disapprove of this kind of governance.”
Spychala then asked current township administrator Louise Palagano to tell the council what she did on McCarthy’s behalf. Palagano said McCarthy had asked her to have Dan Mason, the council’s contact with Jersey Professional Management, cancel the interviews.
McCarthy said later in the meeting that he did this because the interviews were being conducted without Hamilton’s presence while Hamilton is on the committee, and that Mason was unaware.
An extended verbal confrontation broke out at the Bloomfield Township Council conference meeting Monday while the council was discussing the search for a full-time township administrator.
Councilwoman Patricia Barker, who’s head of the search committee, gave the council an update on the search, saying that after the candidates had been interviewed, the committee had narrowed the field down to two finalists. She then made a motion to have the council interview those two candidates following the regular meeting on Nov. 2.
Councilman Robert Ruane then objected to the process, saying that he had 46 resumes of applicants, but he had not narrowed the field down. He added he felt there had been a systematic process to exclude him from the process, adding, “The fix is in.”
Barker then said Ruane had “scared away” some of the candidates with a letter he sent to them. Ruane confirmed he wrote the letter, which was then read aloud by Councilwoman Patricia Spychala.
The letter thanks the applicants for participating, but adds, “Unfortunately, you have wasted your time because the ‘Fix’ was in long before you were contacted.” It continues to say a “Shadow Government Group” is keeping Bloomfield under siege, and “uses the democratic process as a shield for their deception and dishonesty.”
Ruane in the letter then apologizes for “this sham,” and says that he, Councilman Bernard Hamilton, and Mayor Raymond McCarthy “disapprove of this kind of governance.”
Spychala then asked current township administrator Louise Palagano to tell the council what she did on McCarthy’s behalf. Palagano said McCarthy had asked her to have Dan Mason, the council’s contact with Jersey Professional Management, cancel the interviews.
McCarthy said later in the meeting that he did this because the interviews were being conducted without Hamilton’s presence while Hamilton is on the committee, and that Mason was unaware.
Read more in this week's Independent Press, Click Here to SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Views: 13
Comment
© 2012 Created by My Town Navigator.
You need to be a member of Bloomfield, NJ Navigator to add comments!
Join Bloomfield, NJ Navigator