The Demarest Daily News

Source: NORTHERN VALLEY SUBURBANITE

TO THE EDITOR:

There he goes again. Former Demarest Mayor Jim Carroll is obsessed with finding ways to put taxpayer money into the pockets of his political allies.

His Suburbanite letter of Oct. 6 is very revealing (“More questions than answers in Demarest”).

This year Demarest discontinued the position of property maintenance officer. This was a position ex-Mayor/Freeholder Carroll had created for one of his Dumont political cronies in exchange for the Dumont Democrat council hiring one of Mayor/Freeholder Carroll’s Demarest political machine. Jimmie believes in the old adage “one hand washes another.”

Patronage often gets votes but it’s the taxpayers who always get the bill for political patronage.

We all are taxed more when politicians hire their friends, especially when they create new positions for those friends to fill.

Our new mayor, Ray Cywinski, has not only trimmed the payroll but he also settled a nuisance problem by talking to the violator and convincing him to abate the nuisance without legal entanglements.

No costs to the town, no fees for legal action.

Ex-Mayor Carroll’s letter objects to our current Mayor Cywinsky resolving the problem in a neighborly manner. But is Jimmie’s real problem that his friendly lawyer didn’t get to bill the town for a problem that could be resolved without legal process?

Or is he just disappointed that an unneeded job he had created was eliminated?

Jim Carroll is no longer collecting three publicly-funded salaries as The Record exposed he did for many years. Ex-Freeholder Carroll lost his last election.

But he is running for Demarest Council this year to rebuild his power base and patronage mill. I hope the whole town studies his letter carefully. I served on the council for many years watching Jimmy manipulate the process, in my opinion. It’s clear to me his getting back into power is not going to be good for Demarest taxpayers, many of whom are struggling while opportunists take care of themselves and their political allies.

Carole Cardinale

Demarest

The writer is a former Demarest councilwoman.

Source: NORTHERN VALLEY SUBURBANITE

TO THE EDITOR:

I was disappointed to leave the Sept. 26 Demarest Mayor and Council meeting with more questions than answers about the enforcement of the borough’s property maintenance code. Last year, the Borough Council, at my recommendation, adopted an ordinance providing a mechanism and procedure to permanently and definitively remedy properties that are not properly maintained by their owners, and to remove dilapidated structures, at the owner’s expense. After firing the property maintenance officer whose responsibility was to oversee such matters, over the summer, the mayor unilaterally chose to engage in a private negotiation with a property owner on Woodland Road who has been a chronic problem for the neighbors and the Borough for the past six years.

Having served eight years as mayor, I know that this action is completely outside the scope of the mayor’s authority. What we didn’t know at the time was that the owner, Anthony Volpe, is a Republican council candidate in Haworth on the 2011 ballot. This raises another question. If you are a Republican supporter or candidate for office, do you get preferential treatment from Mayor Cywinski? All elected officials in New Jersey take an oath to “support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey…” and “to impartially and justly perform all the duties” of their respective offices.

Maybe Mayor Cywinski can be taken at his word that his Republican Party compatriot’s candidacy had nothing to do with the private negotiation to rehabilitate his property and avoid the embarrassment and expense of law enforcement action. But can every resident and property owner expect the same treatment? In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Democratic Party candidate for Demarest Borough Council this fall, and if elected, I intend to ensure that the law is equally applied to everyone, regardless of party affiliation, race, creed, religion or any other factor.

I thank the editors for the courtesy of this forum.

Jim Carroll

Demarest

Good Day Demarest Residents,

First, let me apologize for not responding individually, but I thought it best to send one email to all I have heard from by email, in person or otherwise, who may be interested in this year’s Demarest Day. (Actually, this is a repeat of an email sent yesterday to some residents).

In general, this year has been a challenging one for Demarest from a financial standpoint. Your governing body had to do all we could to stay under the 2% tax cap levy in order to avoid going to referendum and risking defeat of the municipal budget as well as the school budgets – each of which could have had substantial adverse impacts on all.

In 2003 as part of Demarest’s centennial celebration, a fireworks display was held. That same year a gala was held at the Rockleigh Country Club where over 300 residents attended. Because of the success of the centennial events, “Demarest Day” was started in 2005, incorporating fireworks, food and rides. Demarest Day has been held annually ever since.

During budget deliberations this year, the funding amount for the “Celebration of Public Events” (Memorial Day, 9/11 Remembrance and Demarest Day) was reduced, but not eliminated. This was a unanimous vote by the members of the Council and although I do not vote on these individual items, I did support this measure in order to help bring our budget within the 2% tax cap. Having said that, there is still funding for these public events and there has been and continues to be discussion of having a Demarest Day in some form. There have been occassions when funding was short, some residents have voluntarily stepped up and contributed financially toward Demarest Day.

At the June 27 Mayor & Council meeting, we asked the members of the Municipal Alliance Committee who are tasked with this event to investigate all options regarding Demarest Day. Just this past Thursday, I suggested to our Police Chief, who is a member of the committee who organizes Demarest Day, that he place a message on the electronic sign at the duck pond asking if any residents would be interested in assisting the committee in regard to Demarest Day.

Is Demarest Day a tradition? Perhaps not yet, although all traditions have to start at some time.

Is Demarest Day enjoyable for those who attend? Absolutely!

Does Demarest Day take quite a bit of organizing and work? Yes, something that Borough employees and residents have been willing to take on in the past.

So no, Demarest Day was not canceled at the last Mayor & Council meeting (June 27). What was canceled by the Council members was our previously scheduled July 11 Mayor & Council meeting.

So…now that I have an extra night free, I would like to invite you to a:

“Meeting with the Mayor”,

July 11

7:30 PM

Borough Hall

Main Topic – Demarest Day

I have reached out to residents one-on-one, but this gives me a chance to hear what more than a few residents may be interested in (Demarest Day), in an informal setting – just residents and myself. I hope this type of get-together can become a periodic event, a listening ‘tour’ if you will.

I look forward to meeting you on July 11 and hearing your comments, suggestions and even constructive and respectful criticism(s) (if warranted). I stated in the November 2010 Borough Newsletter as Mayor-Elect, that I would reach out to residents in an inclusive and open way. I feel I have done just this, starting with my appointments made to the various commissions, boards and committees in the Borough. I will continue to work in the best interest of all of Demarest, realizing I cannot possibly make everyone happy. With almost every decision, there are some who will be dissatisfied.

Thank you for expressing your views to me and, in some cases to the council members, regarding Demarest Day.

Again, I hope to see you on July 11 and look forward to a constructive dialogue.

Please invite any other Demarest residents concerned about Demarest Day to this meeting.

I will also listen to other issues once your concerns regarding Demarest Day are heard.

Have a Happy, Safe & Patriotic Fourth of July!

Sincerely,

Mayor Raymond Cywinski

Letter: Dumont contracts tell a story

Thursday, March 3, 2011
Last updated: Thursday March 3, 2011, 1:25 AM

Twin-Boro News

Dumont contracts tell a story

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