Bloomingdale Fireworks Cancelled; Attorney Fees Questioned
Public questions borough attorney fees after council decides to end fireworks event.
The Borough of Bloomingdale will not have a fireworks presentation this July because of budgetary restrictions, according to the council.
The fireworks were discussed during a council meeting Tuesday in which the municipal budget was introduced by title. While budget figures were not read aloud at the meeting, Borough Administrator Ted Ehrenburg told the council that the budget that was being introduced was $45,000 over the state-mandated 2 percent cap. As a result, the budget will have to be further reduced before the budget is adopted in June.
Resident Meredith Mascitello got up during the public comment portion of the meeting and asked about the status of other borough events, such as the Nightmare on Bailey Avenue Halloween event and the Christmas event the borough has sponsored over the past several years.
Council President Linda Huntley said the Nightmare on Bailey Avenue event will most likely no longer be a public event, but could continue as a private event if the Bailey Avenue residents wish, and that the Christmas event will continue, but "not to the extent of this year."
Pete Ensley, another resident, said he was disappointed that the fireworks display was being canceled because of money.
"A lot of people put their heart and soul into it for many years," he said. "I'm looking for some positives in this town. All I see is negative."
Ensley brought up the legal fees line item in the budget that was introduced Tuesday-a topic that was discussed during the introduction of the budget. According to Ehrenburg, the line item in the 2011 budget for legal fees is $125,000 more than it was in 2010.
In February, the borough hired Mark Semeraro,of McManimon & Scotland, LLC, to replace Joe McMahon as borough attorney. McMahon was asked to stay on with the borough as special counsel for a salary of $15,000, according to Ehrenburg.
While Ehrenburg said Semeraro was apparently hired at the same base salary as that which McMahon was earning with the borough, $45,000, Semeraro's firm recommended the legal line item be $165,000 total for 2011, not including litigation, which comes at a cost of $150 per hour as per Semeraro's appointment. Litigation would include costs of working on lawsuits involving the borough, Ehrenburg said, while Semeraro's base salary and the legal fees pertain to day-to-day operations as the borough attorney.
"I think you've got your priorities a little messed up," Ensley said. "He hasn't done anything special for me yet, besides sit there and rock in that chair."
Earlier in the meeting, the council decided not to purchase a new police vehicle, at which time Mayor Jon Dunleavy brought up the increase in legal fees over last year's.
"Now, because our legal line is $125,000 more, we cannot afford a new police car," Dunleavy said. The mayor questioned Councilwoman Jo Ann Pituch on the matter, and she replied, "Not at this time, I don't want to answer this question."
As tensions appeared to escalate on the topic, Pituch said to the mayor, "I think it's about time you shut it up," and said that she had "had enough tonight."
Later, during public comment, resident John D'Amato also questioned the increased amount in legal fees.
"When do we reach a point in time where we say it's enough with him?" he asked.
D'Amato praised McMahon, who was sitting in for Semeraro during the meeting while he was absent, and said that he did not feel Semeraro was doing as well in the position as McMahon had in the past.
"The attorney we have now is not doing the job we need him to," he said.
But Dunleavy defended Semeraro and said that it is not his fault that the borough agreed to pay more money in legal fees.
"All he did was submit a proposal to the borough," Dunleavy said. "The governing body, the majority of the governing body, with a 5-(to)1 vote, voted to hire him."
Cindy Keegan
8:28 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Incredibly disappointing!
Cara Mirabella
8:47 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Well said Cindy - disappointing. The Council is disappointing.
Not mentioned in this article is the issue of the lights at WTB - that too is disappointing. What a waste of money...
Karen Timpanaro
9:05 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
They could have kept the fireworks and the rest of the stuff they are taking away from our children, if they didn't hire a new lawyer for 100,000 more than we were paying the one that we had!
Cara Mirabella
9:08 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Patch previously reported the council imposing restrictions on public comments with a quote from Huntley: the meetings should be conducted in a "professional and polite manner".
Is that how Pituch was acting when she told the mayor to shut it up?
gail galbraith
10:33 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
I will miss the fireworks this year..they have been a tradition for so many residents and now all we have is to listen to the other town's in the distance!
Kit Emory
11:52 pm on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
This is unbelievable. Disappointing is such a mild term for how it makes me feel. We never needed to hire a new lawyer, much less at such an absurd cost. This council keeps claiming it's committed to protecting Bloomingdale's resources and finances, but how short-sighted is it to allot all this money to a lawyer (who appears to nod off in meetings!) instead of investing it in a new police car, new police PERSONNEL, or pleasing town resident families with something as basic as fireworks on July 4th, for crying out loud? Disgusted.
Jessica
12:52 pm on Saturday, May 28, 2011
This is by far, the WORST group of council members that Bloomingdale has ever seen in god knows how long! As Bloomingdale residents, we need to stand up and take charge in the next meeting. Banning fireworks, Bailey Ave, & restricting Bloomingdale Pride Day?- Please! It's been a tradition for many years. I've grown up in this town and attended everyone of these events that make us a community and I feel sorry for the new generation of kids who wont be able to enjoy these events as I did. These members want nothing to do with family oriented events, and want no change for the better because of their "promised" tax reduction they used to persaude residents during their election (not to mention the fact that they were banning events to reduce the cost). I feel awful for Mayor Dunleavy. He is restricted to making changes for the good in this town because of our HORRIBLE council. I am also outraged by Pituch telling Dunleavy to shut it up- how unprofessional! I am very disappointed in what this council has to offer. What a shame.
Jane
10:23 pm on Tuesday, May 31, 2011
What is our town coming to? Armed robbery in broad daylight, the illegal alien mafia, Murder... our own home has been burglarized twice in less than a year. All the negative things our town has made the news for... One of the little things that we did have going for us has now been taken away. (Be interesting to know what the cancellation penalty for the fireworks.) Wasn't it convenient that they were cancelled before the public could object in person... Next Regular Business meeting is Tuesday 6/28 @ 7:00 pm...
paul bastante
1:50 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
Oh, you mean that there is a FEE to cancel the fireworks that we have to pay to the fireworks company? Just keeps getting better and better, doesnt it?
Linda Huntley
8:38 am on Friday, June 3, 2011
Next council meeting is Tuesday, June 14, at 7:00 pm
Sally Fane
4:06 pm on Friday, June 3, 2011
I loved the fireworks. I loved sitting on the edge of the walkway with my friend and saying hi to everyone. I loved the freedom of knowing my son was safe and with his friends, playing ball, riding rides, volunteering to man rides. I loved Pride Day, because I had pride in my town...I would inevitably find a minute to stand in a corner (after the crowd at the snack stand died down) and look around and think to myself, boy am I lucky that I picked such a wonderful place to raise my son. When I think about the future, I see it all in grey with tumbleweed rolling down Main Street. It's very sad
Carolyn
3:43 pm on Friday, June 17, 2011
Evidently they can "find" the money for the things they want. They wanted a more expensive lawyer, so they found another hundred thousand. They don't want to do the work of sitting on a committee to find grants, so they can "find" the money to hire someone. It's simple: They just don't want fireworks or anything to do with recreation. In the long run they'll cost the taxpayers a lot more money, while eliminating all of the charm from our little town. They'll have their way at taxpayer expense. It's not only sad, it's costly.
Mr. Tom Fox
7:23 pm on Wednesday, June 29, 2011
I guess if the council can remove every sort of fun and entertainment for our residents, we can just accept that our kids will be TOTALLY bored with nothing to look forward to so then they can start doing more drugs and crime; we can rename our selfs "North Paterson" and start putting bars on our windows. And to think, we pay more that "TWICE" the taxes per property then they do down in P. town yet they just had a "Green Fair" yesterday and Saturday they will be holding their annual "Fireworks Extravaganza"! Hum... me things something stinks! in North Paterson aka.>>> Bloomingdale.
Kristen
10:34 pm on Wednesday, June 29, 2011
There are a number of public events that are sponsored by the Borough. There was an easter egg hunt for the children right before easter, there was a trout fishing contest, we had a great Memorial Day parade, there was a clean up where even the Salvation Army donated their time and Sloan Park was cleaned up. I believe we have a river clean up in late summer, we also have had in the past a 911 candlelight walk which is actually breathtaking to see everyone walk and have the bag piper at the end, we usually have a nice ceremony on Veterans Day to honor our veterans and we also usually have something for the children around Christmas.
If the Borough cancelling the fireworks is going to cause your chuildren to be so bored that they are going to get into drugs and crime you have more proplems then the borough cancelling fireworks can help you with. Many towns have cancelled fireworks, but we have a lot of other events to be thankful for. If something stinks it is the opinion that the town has to give us everything. You can go to West Milford and pay so much per car load or you can go to Lincoln Park where it is sponsored by an outside entity. I am happy to be a resident of Bloomingdale and do not think cancelling a couple of events is the end of the world.
Karen Timpanaro
2:50 pm on Thursday, June 30, 2011
This years Egg Hunt was very sad, only a handful of children showed up, in the past we've always had well over hundred at the Egg Hunt. The only way I knew about it this year, was because of the banner hanging in the center of town. Other than that, I never saw any fliers or any other type of advertising, as it was done in the past. I know my boys aren't jumping up and down to go to a River clean up or the 911 candlelight walk, but they do get excited to go to the see the Fireworks, go to Pride Day (for the rides purposes only) and walk Bailey Avenue on Halloween.
Statistics show that one in eight US citizens have a significant addiction problem, and 10% of children in the US drink heavily or take illicit drugs at the age of 12. Unfortunately Kristen, these are the statistics and they may not include your or my children, but they are someone's. If events like these and others, can keep ANY child off the streets for even one day, in my book it's well worth it.
We are not asking for the town to give us everything for free, we understand budget constraints. But, how come annual events are being taken away without given us the option to pay for them? If afterwards, they find that enough money wasn't raised to pay for them in it's entirety, at least then they can't say they didn't try. Yes, it's not "the end of the world," but these events, are the reason why many of our families moved into this town.