Another ‘independent’ on Council

On the campaign trail she promised to be an independent voice in Town Hall — and on her first day on the job, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Shelley-Ann Bates did just that.

Bates, along with three other ward councilmen who won re-election in May, were sworn in this afternoon in an annual reorganization meeting which tended to spare the niceties between rival factions.

“I can see that my colleague is already making her presence felt,” said 4th Ward Councilman Gerald “Pateesh” Freedman, agreeing with Bates to abstain on the votes to appoint Councilman-at-Large Leonard Gilbert as council president and 3rd Ward Councilman John Kulish as vice president.

SHELLEY-ANN BATES: Newest council member.

Both Bates and Freedman — no longer the lone independent on the Democratic majority council — said many items on the re-organization agenda were placed there without prior discussion.

“I didn’t get the necessary communication to make an educated vote,” said Bates, who often abstained on votes to appoint top fire department officials, township attorneys and members to local boards and committees.

With Bates on the council, the political makeup of the seven-member body changes slightly. Bates defeated Democratic machine-backed incumbent Deborah Stroud in a June runoff, bringing the total of independents on the council to two. Party Chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo still maintains a veto-proof five-member majority.

Also sworn in were 3rd Ward Councilman John Kulish and 1st Ward Councilman Edward Brewer.

In May’s nonpartisan race, Kulish eked out a four-vote margin over Joseph Puglise, who ran on a slate with Joseph Menza running in the 2nd Ward and school board member John O’Shea in the 1st Ward.

Freedman creamed former school board members Sip Whitaker, who also ran as an independent, and Beverly Lynn, who ran with unofficial support from the Democratic organization.

In the runoff, Bates received support from the other challengers seeking Stroud’s seat: former mayoral candidate Joseph Menza, Myrna Wiessman and Toy-Ling Washington. Mayor Karen McCoy-Oliver, a Democrat who is now on the outs with the machine, also backed Bates in the runoff.

COUNCIL BRIEFS

• Dominick Naples as Fire Chief effective Aug. 1 at $127,096.
• William Pellettiere as Deputy Fire Chief effective Aug. 1 at $117,682.
• Thomas S. Corso and Jude M. DeLane as Deputy Fire Chiefs at $117,682.
• Thomas Mateer and Jeffrey Albrecht as Fire Captains at $94,460.
• John Pienciak as Fire Captain effective Aug. 1 at $94,460.
• Richard Vonden Steinen as Training Officer at 94,460.

• Robert Renaud of Palumbo and Renaud as special tax appeal attorney for a total of $95,000 per year.
• Steve Rogut of Rogut and McCarthy as bond attorney for a total of $20,000 per year.
• Bruce Bergen of Krevsky, Silber, Brown & Bergen as special township attorney for a total of $15,000 oer year.
• Francis McIntryre (sic) of McIntrye & Kirshenbaum as special township attorney for the Board of Health for a total of $8,500 per year.
• Kraig Dowd as legislative research officer in the Township Clerk’s Office at $45,000 per year.
• Harbor Conultants, Inc, of Cranford, as township engineers, at $100,000 per year.
• Robert Varady of LaCorte Bundy Varady & Kinsella as ABC attorney for a total of $15,000 per year.
• Suplee Clooney & Co. as auditors (rate not listed on agenda)
• PMK Group for special engineering services for a total of $40,000.
• Richard Bauch of Schenk, Price, Smith & King as contract negotiations attorney for a total of $65,000 per year.

• Two-year terms on the Board of Health: Georgette Corvelli, Dr. Irving Carno and Arthur Kobitz and Deborah Stroud for the unexpired term ending une 30, 2008.
• Four-year terms on the Board of Adjustment: Dennis Kobitz, Frank Volturo, Radomir Vlaisavljevic and Richard Semiac as alternate.
• Vivian Monroe as member of Senior Citizens Advisory Council for five-year term.
• Martin Hollander and Joseph Menza as four-year member of Planning Board and
  Candace Harris and Andre Daniels as alternates.
• Five-year terms on Recreation Advisory Council: Nicola Drezaj, Gerald Russel and Leonard Dupree.
• A resolution to appoint members to the Board of Swimming Pool Commissioners did not receive a second, and therefore was not voted on. The names submitted by the mayor were: Jeffrey Dykes, Sip Whitaker, Angela Menza, John O’Shea and Amy Ketchem.

• Resident Rudy Brown said if the township can afford to hire “one attorney to look after another” then surely the Council can abolish the municipal pool fees for children.
• Jeffrey Dykes said the Council spends tax dollars “like Monopoly money” and that “taxes are higher than the services that our children receive.” He also agreed with Brown on the pool, claiming he’s seen children at the pool entrance begging families to give them money to be able to afford the $10 fee.