MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Morris) introduced legislation to prevent elected officials from holding paid jobs in their own municipalities.
Several towns currently have Mayors who also hold paid positions. Mine Hill Mayor Sam Morris is also the business administrator, sewer administrator, the water administrator, and the special district administrator. He draws four salaries from the township totaling $137,957.42.
Woodland Park Mayor Keith Kazmark recently left his post as a Parsippany business administrator in order to take on the same role in the town where he is the Mayor. Years ago dual office holding was eliminated, but this loophole for municipal officials was left unresolved.
“The people of New Jersey deserve better. This legislation shouldn’t be necessary, but it is because people are using their public position to take advantage of the system for personal gain. It’s disappointing,” said Bergen.
The legislation would preclude any elected official from holding office in a municipality in which they are also an employee. It will go into effect immediately if passed.
“If a mayor or other member of the governing body thinks they are the best fit for a paid position in the town, then they should take that position and resign as the elected official. It’s that simple. Sometimes they make the argument that they are ‘saving the town money’, but the fact is they are depriving them of multiple opinions and points of view. That makes the town worse off, not better,” concluded Bergen
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Elections continues to update voters on what to expect as Election Day, November 3, 2020, nears under Governor Phil Murphy’s order for a primarily vote-by-mail election.
Some quick facts:
All registered voters will receive a Mail-In Ballot via the U.S. Postal Service on or before October 5.
If you are an active, registered voter you will automatically receive a Mail-In Ballot.
No application for that ballot is required for registered voters.
Registered voters have alternative means by which to cast their Mail-In Ballots:
Deposit the marked and sealed Mail-In Ballot into one of the 15 Drop Boxes being established throughout Morris County. There are currently five drop boxes in place. Another ten locations will be installed and will be available by Monday, September 28.
Mark, seal, and return the Mail-In Ballots via the U.S. Postal Service. The ballots must be postmarked on or before November 3 and received by November 10.
Drop off the marked and sealed Mail-In Ballot on November 3, Election Day, between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the polling site established in your town.
Each municipality has at least one in-person polling site where voters may drop off their Mail-In Ballots or vote in-person using paper provisional ballots provided at the polling location. A postcard providing your consolidated polling location will be mailed to you on or before October 23. (Click here to find a polling site.)
Voter Registration Deadline for the General Election is Tuesday, October 13. (Click here to register)
Sample Ballots will not be mailed out this election but may be viewed on the Morris County Clerk website by clicking here.
Joe Bock presenting Cyril “Cy” Wekilsky with a plaque
BOONTON — At its annual Fundraiser on September 13, 2020, the Tri-Town Republican Club of Boonton, Boonton Township, and Mountain Lakes honored former Mayor and current First Ward Alderman Cyril “Cy” Wekilsky. Numerous current and former elected officials attended the event.
Cy Wekilsky was first elected to the Board of Alderman in 1988 and was been re-elected to office several times. He was elected Mayor in 2005 and diligently served in that office for ten years — 2006 through 2015. Prior to joining the Board of Aldermen, Wekilsky served for eight years as an elected member of the Boonton Board of Education and is very familiar with local education issues.
Wekilsky was honored with a plaque that read “Tri-Town Republican Club Honors Cyril ‘Cy’ Wekilsky. We thank you for your many years of dedicated and outstanding service to the Town of Boonton as a mayor and alderman and to the Republican Party.”
Alderman Ward 4 Mike Wade, Sheriff James Gannon, First Ward Alderman Cyril “Cy” Wekilsky, Candidate for Governor Jack Ciattarelli, and Alderman Ward 3 Joe Bock.
The Town of Boonton Board of Aldermen consists of a Mayor elected at large to serve for four years, and eight aldermen from four wards that serve alternating two-year terms. This November, Wekilsky is running for re-election to his position as First Ward Alderman and faces Democrat Waqar Khokar. In 2018, Wekilsky defeated Khokar 57.82% to 41.89%.
MOUNTAIN LAKES — The Lakes Management Advisory Committee advises and assists the Borough government in matters pertaining to the maintenance and restoration of the quality of the watersheds, lake beds, and waters of the Lakes of Mountain Lakes, including tributaries and estuaries.
The Committee consists of nine members that are appointed annually. If you are interested in being considered for membership on the Lakes Management Advisory Committee, please submit your name and qualifications to the Borough Clerk.
The Committee meets the first Tuesday of each month from March through December at 7:30 p.m.
For more information about the Lakes Management Advisory Committee is available by clicking here.
MOUNTAIN LAKES — Mountain Lakes Planning Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 24, at 7:30 p.m. This meeting will be held remotely via Zoom.
The agenda for the Planning Board meeting includes Consistency of Ordinance 3-20 – Amending Chapters 40 and 245 of the Revised General Ordinances of the Borough of Mt. Lakes with the Borough’s Master Plan.
The Planning Board Agenda is available by clicking here.
MOUNTAIN LAKES — Mountain Lakes Borough Hall will reopen to the public starting Monday, September 21. Visitors must wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines. Since each department may have special circumstances, it is encouraged to call the respective department at 973) 334-3131 before taking the trip to Borough Hall to ensure the service you are looking for is readily available.
Some services may be available by appointment only (e.g. Tax Collector services & vital record requests).
Residents are encouraged to skip the trip to Borough Hall by obtaining and submitting many of our forms and permits online. You may drop off paperwork in the green drop box outside of Borough Hall or mail them to 400 Boulevard, Mountain Lakes.
Please note, with the opening of Borough Hall, trash bags will no longer be delivered.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we take the necessary steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents and employees.
EAST HANOVER — People of all ages came out “To Save the Animals at Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter” protest on Saturday, September 19.
Stop The Abuse at Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter
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The message is very clear. "Stop Abuse of Animals"
The message is very clear. "Save the Animals"
The message is very clear. "Animal Denied Medicine and Vaccines"
The message is very clear. "No Kill? Check the freezer"
The message is very clear. "Animal Denied Medicine and Vaccines"
The message is very clear. "Animals Denied Vet Care"
Save the Animals of Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter
The message is very clear. "Honk to End Abuse"
The message is very clear. "Fire Maureen"
The message is very clear. "Stop the Abuse"
The message is very clear. "Your donations are for Executive Director Salary"
The message is very clear. "Why do defensive Maureen? Are you hiding something?
The message was very clear: “Save the Animals – Stop Animal Abuse, “Stop the Abuse,” “Honk to end Abuse,” “Animals denied Medicines and Vaccines,” “Animal Welfare Over Profit,” “Save the Animals at Mt. Pleasant Shelter,” “Animals Denied Vet Care,” “No Kill, Check the Freezer,” and “Fire Maureen.” The Maureen they are referring to is Maureen Ryan-Van Artsdalen. Van Artsdalen was hired as Executive Director on January 2, 2019.
“As a former significant financial contributor to the shelter, I find the current leadership sadly lacking in compassion, direction and managerial skills. The current Executive Director has used her position to make working conditions miserable for the staff and medically unsafe and unhealthily for the animals warehoused in the shelter. Installed in her position by a long gone, self-aggrandizing director, she is almost uniquely unqualified for the job. The animals and workers deserve far better than this petty tyrant,” said Gary R. v.Rotenbeeg.
Sign their petition by clicking here. The petition states “The animals at Mt. Pleasant are being denied the medication and care they need for survival. The Executive Director has no Animal Welfare experience and has created an environment of hostility and secrecy. What was once a well run and compassionate shelter is now an environment that is not in the best interest of the animals. The fosters and employees must sign gag orders that they will not share anything negative that they see within shelter walls with the public. Animals are leaving the shelter without being neutered and spayed. The shelter was operating without a licensed vet supervising for an excess of months well before COVID. There is the improper record keeping of animals that come in and out of the shelter. There were animals in foster they had no record of existing, leaving the animal’s care completely in the hands of the foster with no proper guidance from the staff. Turnover of employees is just about 100% since the new ED took over either due to her firing them for fear they’d speak out or them quitting. The fosters that had worked there for years were fired for challenging the ED’s methods or lack thereof. The ED who has been there for 20 months has never learned or attempted to learn any of the shelter’s operations regarding how they function on a day to day basis. We have reason to believe she is earning over $100k, which is 40k more than any prior ED’s salary, and is money that could be used to treat sick animals that often have to wait weeks to months for much needed medical care/surgeries. They haven’t yet filed the necessary 990 paperwork that will help us confirm her salary. She was hired by the Board of Directors that had a friendship with her, regardless of her lack of animal welfare experience. The Board has been notified of everything listed and to date has done nothing about her behavior. We are demanding the shelter’s ED be replaced with a person with the proper animal welfare experience needed to return Mt. Pleasant to the well functioning organization it was before she joined. We are also demanding that the board add new members that have the animal’s best interest at heart and not just the dollars raised for the shelter.
Poster the protester prepared to get their word out
According to their FaceBook page “Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter is a non-profit 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization that is 100% funded through donations. Our animals are our family until they become yours.”
In an email sent to their volunteers Sharise Spence, Volunteer Coordinator, “they were advised that Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter has canceled all weekend volunteer activities for this weekend only. Volunteer activities will resume on Monday, September 21, 2020. Thank you for all being an important part of what we o at Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter. Your support is greatly appreciated.”
In addition, the shelter had a planned fundraiser set for Saturday, which was abruptly canceled on Friday. On their FaceBook page they announced “Unfortunately, we are postponing our shredding event. We will update everyone when we have a new date.”
Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter also hired the East Hanover Police Department to monitor the premises during the protest.
Based on complaints from fosters, adoptees, and ex-employees the protest group compiled a list of demands for change at the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter.
“After reviewing all the evidence presented to us, we believe the following is critical for the health and safety of the animals in the care of Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter.”
Replace Executive Director with a competent individual who has experience running an animal shelter.
Make sure the Veterinarian and Vet Techs expedite medical care for sick and injured animals in their care.
Train ALL staff in proper record keeping.
Promote foster and volunteer relationships that benefit the welfare of the animals.
Maintain basic equipment, supplies, medicines, and vaccines necessary for the health of the animals in their care.
Stop bullying tactics to staff and volunteers by rewriting agreements and remove non-disclosure language
Have financial records audited by an outside accounting firm and present a final report to the public via the website.
Add/replace all members to the Board of Directors with members that can be trusted to oversee the shelter with compassion for animal welfare.
Show transparency on the website by including the last 3 years of 990s, financial records, meeting minutes, and by-laws.
Board meetings will be announced via the website and be held publicly.
Return the shelter to an open environment where fosters, employees, board members, and volunteers have open communication throughout that benefits the welfare of the animals.
Make Mt. Pleasant the amazing and compassionate shelter it was before the Executive Director took over.
Rewrite the job description of the Executive Director.
Create a separate position for a Fundraising Manager.
All problem areas will be corrected in a timely manner in order to facilitate change at the shelter to benefit the animals, as well as the employees, volunteers, fosters, adopters, and the public at large.
Focus called Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter for comment and was told Maureen was not in but was transferred to Cindy who could speak to me. The call went to voice mail and Focus left a message, and hasn’t received a return call. Focus also reached out to Maureen on FaceBook, but messages went unanswered.
Focus will update this article when we receive comments from Mt. Plesant Animal Shelter and/or Ms. Maureen Ryan-Van Artsdalen.
On Monday, September 21 at 9:10 a.m., Ms. Maureen Ryan-Van Artsdalen submitted the following comment: “Mt Pleasant Animal Shelter provides excellent medical care for the dogs and cats waiting for their forever homes. We are very proud of this and will not be discouraged by unverified and inaccurate accusations.”
PARSIPPANY — A peaceful protest is scheduled for Sunday, September 20 at 11:00 a.m. in support of the President of the United States; Law Enforcement, and Small Business Owners.
The event will take place in the parking lot outside 51 Gibraltar Drive in Powder Mill Plaza in Parsippany.
There will be music, hot dogs, live broadcasts, voter registration and volunteer opportunities, and excellent guest speakers. Among the speakers scheduled to address the crowd are Rosemary Becchi, candidate for Congress in Parsippany’s district, Senator Joe Pennacchio, State Assemblyman Brian Bergen, County Clerk Ann Grossi, Surrogate Heather Darling, Freeholder Tayfun Selen, and many others.
The event is said to be ‘fun, energetic, pro-America and peaceful”, said the event coordinator Mayor of Mendham Borough Christine Glassner.
MOUNTAIN LAKES — It has come to my attention that a posting on a political candidate’s social media page includes a quote by a member of the Mountain Lakes Police Department stating that the Mountain Lakes Police Department is supporting a specific candidate for office.
While the Mountain Lakes Police Department wishes all candidates at every level the best of luck in their endeavors, we do not, nor have we ever, endorsed any particular political candidate or party.
Only the Chief of Police or their designee is authorized to make any official statements on behalf of the Mountain Lakes Police Department.
Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce and Rosemary Becchi
MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (District 26) endorsed Rosemary Becchi for the 11th District Congressional seat, issuing a statement that said there is “no one better suited for the job in these troubled times.
“Our economy and job market are being destroyed by the pandemic, but instead of working on meaningful solutions to get our nation on its feet again, the hyper-partisan politicians in Congress are focusing only on appeasing the radicals destroying our cities and saving their own political skins. It’s time to get serious people in Washington. It’s time to elect Rosemary Becchi.
“I’ve been working with Rosemary since she launched Jersey First to take on the mounting taxes and government regulations making New Jersey unaffordable for hardworking families. This is the woman responsible for creating tax-free college funds that help American families afford the crushing cost of higher education. Rosemary has the intellect, savvy, and no-nonsense approach to problem-solving that is completely lacking in government these days.
“We cannot afford to keep sending people to Congress who only pay lip-service to the needs of New Jersey families, but just follow the partisan marching orders of their rabid political leaders, like Nancy Pelosi, when it comes to taking action in Washington.
“While we lose out on education funding in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, we are being targeted for increased annual taxes. While our tax dollars are funneled to urban corners of the state, our suburban neighborhoods are ignored when it comes to aiding and even punished for being fiscally responsible.
“We need a Congressional representative who knows what she is doing, who knows how to work across partisan lines to get things done and who fully understands the daily challenges faced by working families in New Jersey.
“We need to send Rosemary Becchi to Congress. There is no one better suited for the job in these troubled times.”
In an email sent to their volunteers Sharise Spence, Volunteer Coordinator, “they were advised that Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter has canceled all weekend volunteer activities for this weekend only. Volunteer activities will resume on Monday, September 21, 2020. Thank you for all being an important part of what we o at Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter. Your support is greatly appreciated.”
