Montclair's Very Full Slate

"Phil Read was hanging around the clerk's office yesterday, and tongues were wagging."

Are you sure he didn't go to PAWS by mistake?

I think Mattox spends so much time fighting with people that even when he is right he doesn't seem to get much done. As for Michaelson. She seems to have done a lot. It just doesn't seem to have been very good for Montclair. Unless what I read here isn't true.

When I think of Michaelson, I think of her walking out of a Town Council meeting while a constituent had the floor and was speaking.

Just walking out because she didn't like what was being said...followed by Schlager who works for her.

What an attitude!

And speaking of Michaelson, I heard a rumor that she went to town hall and viewed all of the other candidate's petitions and copied down every name and address. So, anyone who signed any other candidate's petition has already been identified.

Pretty sinister isn't it?

I also received an unwelcome e-mail from the Partnership Montclair team who it seems is harvesting e-mail addresses from the Montclair LaCrosse Team and other places(is that allowed?). Maybe I should file something with NJ's Attorney General.

So, it's already getting dirty ... and the dirt so far is on Partnership Montclair's hands.

(Tell me why all this bores the hell out of me? I pay taxes. I care. But damn, it seems like a lot of folks making much more out of running a town. All this "dirt" and accusations leave me cold.)

I'll shut up now. Just tell me how much I owe......

Dear HidingInBaristaville,
Already the dirt has started. Boy, people really want to sit their butt cheeks in that big chair, badly.

I was hopping that Freier would wind up on the same ticket as Tobin and Fried, but then the other members of the slate would need to change their names.

Crap, I missed the deadline. I guess I'll just have to run a write-in campaign.

I thought that Joyce just gently floated above the chair. She doesn't have reular bodily functions- a dove comes and takes it away.

Yep, she's got dirty hands already.

What did she offer to Terry Reid (sp?) to get him to run on her slate?

I will not vote for Cary Africk. He looks too much like Bill Clinton, and I won't have another philandering creep in office. As for Jerry Fried, I fear he'd increase parking for cars and lower it for bicycles. I never trust anybody on two wheels. And Michaelson? Forget it. Anybody who can't control her bladder long enough to listen to the endless bitching and moaning from her constituents doesn't deserve to hold office.

Ah, so you vote on looks alone it matters not what the person stands for or will do for Montclair.

We could use more bicycle riders in Montclair. Less folks trying to run over pedestrians in crosswalks.

Yes, Cary Africk IS handsome. But he's been long faithful to his beautiful wife. And raised their two daughters through Montclair schools into colleges. And now has time to devote himself to continue asking the right questions, of the right people.

Cary Africk has no agenda other than making Montclair as good as it can be/a much better place.

He's a breath of fresh (non-) political air.

But political enough to have a handle on all of the issues that the town council needs to know about.

I don't get to go to Town Council meetings much so I read the minutes. He's there asking great questions and demanding accountability every time.

He also knows a great deal about the BOE - like where that insurance rebate money is buried.

He's now trying to get a full accounting of the Woodman Field House, asking for ALL costs.

At the Board of School Estimate he got up and grilled them on the $500,000 "classroom of the future" and got them to discuss the two "newly created" central office positions.

This is the kind of guy we want working for US?

"I don't get to go to Town Council meetings much so I read the minutes. He's there asking great questions and demanding accountability every time."

How would you know that from reading the minutes?

That should have been an exclamation point. I typed an exclamation point.

This is the kind of guy we want working for US!

The minutes have his questions and he reports on the Watercooler.

Everybody who reads the Montclair Watercooler or MontclairUnmoderated or The Montclair Times knows that Cary Africk is at all the Montclair town council and BoE meetings, asking great questions and asking for information and accountability!

Oh, all right, given that Africk already goes to the meetings, I guess he deserves to at least hold office.

What's his stand on taxes? Is he for'em or agin'em?

And how many Cary and Cary surrogates are posting here?

142

142 may be close. Joyce michalson attends all of the meetings also. Anyone for awarding her another term? Let's hear something concrete from Cary before we anoint him. And if he suupports his late mate's voting record over the last 4 years.

It's a no brainer that Joyce (new slogan, after four years: "we have to look into trying to find new ways of doing things!") has to go!

And throw out Gerry (I vote with Joyce 95% of the time) Tobin with her!

"Unless what I read here isn't true" says oh puleeze...are you kidding me? Anyone who makes decisions based on what people post here deserves what they get.

Mr Doh

Joyce Michaelson walks out of meetings while her constituents have the floor and are still talking.

Would you lump Ted Mattox in with all of his former slate too?

We've heard a few positions from Ms. Michaelson, she wants the town prone and moving to her beat.

Have we heard any positions from Mattox yet? Nothing here, a little on the Watercooler, Anything on the UnModerated group?

There has been much information coming from Africk. Lots of data, lots of questions and many many good suggestions.

ps- I'm not Africk or his surrogate.

Obviously no on your first question. I think he's voted with Michaelson and Tobin less than half the time!

Like I said, i like Cary. Just disappointed as to who he chose to run with. Hopefully the "stink" from Tobin doesn't stick to him.

And, since Tobin is on the BOSE and Cary has been hitting them with the hard spending questions, what's his rtesponse going to be when Tobin passes a 6% increase or whatever it stands at now?

"And speaking of Michaelson, I heard a rumor that she went to town hall and viewed all of the other candidate's petitions and copied down every name and address. So, anyone who signed any other candidate's petition has already been identified."

Actually, I believe she only viewed Fried's petitions, so those of you can expect some calls from Joyce trying to convert you soon!

And let's guess why she is targeting the Tobin slate voters...No way a Brogans or Mattox voter is going to switch to Joyce. But a Tobin voter? That's different. They are so similar anyway, she figures she has a chance converting them.

Ah, but Ted still voted with them some of the time.

Tarred with the same brush as it were. And don't forget Ted ran on a slate WITH them.

I guess we should rule him out because her ran on THAT SLATE!!!

Are you saying that the town gave Joyce Michaelson my phone number!

So, you say she's only targeting the Tobin people- only those in the 1st Ward. That's weird is her 1st Ward candidate that weak?

I don't think any resonable person- and the Jerry Fried slate- Unity Montclair is a group of people who want the best for Montclair - would switch to a person like Joyce.

A person who is willing to insult her constituents to their faces and who wants to spend spend spend.

No, the people who want to vote the Fried slate wouldn't fall for that.

WHY would the town give her my phone number?

Go back and look at the ordinances they voted together on. Of course there are some things that everyone will agree on. But don't try to lump Mattox with Joyce the same way Tobin is. The voting records just don't support that. You can go back to the meeting minutes on the town website and see for yourself.

Mattox may have run on a slate with them before he knew what he was getting into. Cary can't say the same at this point. Tobin is a known entity and Cary, better than anyone else (based on his perfect attendence) knows this.

But again, like I said...I like Cary and hope Tobin doesn't drag him down ;-)

No she took Fried's petition names at the least, the entire slates possibly.

Who's more likely to switch...Brogan's voters? Mattox voters? Not likely.

What is a Mattox voter.

Is it someone who says NO all the time and refuses to work out a compromise?

The MEDC say that he was on their committee but that he failed to attend any meetings.

Is that true?

Say it ain't so Teddy!

Actually, no it isn't true.

It's someone that is fed up with the way Joyce and Tobin have been running the town the last 4 years!

I thought Remsen was the Mayor. Have I missed soemthing?

How did Ted vote on the Marlboro Inn give away to developer Plfoker?

Didn't Mattox vote yes on the ordinance against the sunshine laws. Laws that support open meetings and open public records?

Why would Mattox vote against transparency in government?

Didn't he vote WITH Joyce to keep the public from being able to get information from the town?

It's my understanding that Ted Mattox voted for the $45,000,000 new school in an ordinance where no one in the town council could agree as to whether they were voting on one parcel or 49 of them.

Hadn't read the ordinance and voted on it anyway.

"It's someone that is fed up with the way Joyce and Tobin have been running the town the last 4 years!

Posted by Jon Doh | March 21, 2008 9:34 PM "

I thought that the last election was 4 years ago. Are you saying that Mattox ran on the slate with these other people and while running got fed up with them but continued to run on the slate with them so that he could win office.

That's whacked!

Good one, one person posting under 3 names! Love it.

No my dear Jon Doe,

I post as myself.

who do you post as:
In the USA, the name John Doe is used for a defendant or victim in a legal example or for a person whose identity is unknown or is intended to be anonymous. Male corpses whose identity is unknown are also known by the name John Doe.

You post as yourself? Do you have 3 personalities?

How did Michaelson, Tobin and Remsen vote?

Remsen is Mayor...so I guess Michaelson=Tobin=Remsen. Not too many would argue that.

Jon Doh,

I guess you don't realize that town council meetings are now broadcast on channel 34 and recorded on CD that anyone with a library card can borrow.

I may not get to meetings much but I sure can follow what's going on.

And when channel 34 get streaming video on it's site we all will be able to watch these meetings from begining to end in the comfort of our homes.

Remsen is Mayor...so I guess Michaelson=Mattox=Remsen where the sunshine laws are concerned.

A vote for Mattox is a vote against the Sunshine Laws.

Let's see. You think Mattox stands with Remsen and Michaleson? Seriously? That puts everything you've posted in question. All 3 of YOU.

Yes Ted I KNOW that you voted with Remsen and Michaelson on
the resolution to oppose the adoption of Senate Bill 1219 and Senate Bill S366- these are the bills to update the Sunshine laws in NJ.

Here are the town council meeting notes. Res ipsa loquitur - the thing speaks for itself

You'll note that there were no town council members absent and that the resolution against the sunshine laws was adopted by unanimous vote
http://tinyurl.com/g5fqh

MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY
April 25, 2006

The Council of the Township of Montclair, in the County of Essex, met in the Conference Room in the Municipal Building, 205 Claremont Avenue, for a pre-meeting conference at 7:10 P.M.
Present: Mayor Remsen, Deputy Mayor Michaelson and Councilors Freier, Lang, Mattox, Schlager and Tobin.
Absent: None

On motion made by Deputy Mayor Michaelson and duly seconded, the following resolution was adopted by unanimous vote:

WHEREAS, Senator Robert Martin has sponsored Senate Bill 1219 concerning certain amendments to the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA); and

WHEREAS, Senator Ellen Karcher has sponsored Senate Bill 366 concerning increasing fines for violations of OPMA; and

WHEREAS, the Montclair Township Council strongly supports the principles and need for openness and transparency of government and public access to governmental records; and

WHEREAS, the Township Council also strongly supports efficiency of government and the need to reduce the risk, costs and expenses of litigation; and

WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1219 increases fines and penalties for any violation of OPMA and OPRA in conflict with N.J.S.A. 59:1-1, et seq. and is otherwise disharmonious with principles of good government in that it:
1. creates a conflict with the definition of ?meeting? and may cause confusion among officers who are statutorily required to be present at meetings;

2. adds language, ?electronic mail, instant messaging or similar technologies,? which is unnecessary in light of the existing all-inclusive language ?or by means of communication equipment? pertaining to meetings;

3. changes the 48 hour notice requirement to a three business day requirement which will frustrate the ability to have meetings because newspapers need time to process notices;

4. provides for public comment at any meeting of any public body, with not less than five minutes per speaker and not less than one hour in total and is unduly burdensome;

5. requires the specification of the basis for excluding the public from executive sessions which may lead to confusion, added litigation and potential exposure to liability;

6. regarding minutes is overly burdensome on the resources of the municipality and may lead to increased expenditure of public funds;

7. provides for unilateral attorney?s fees for the complainant which is unfair and has the effect of frustrating the operation of local government. Attorney?s fees should be available to both parties;

8. expanding the Government records council to include OPMA will further backlog an already inundated agency and prolong litigation;

9. jeopardizes the confidentiality of executive sessions and the purpose of this exception to OPMA;

10. changes the ?knowing and willful? standard to ?substantially? standard, placing the municipality and its officers in risk of litigation in conflict with N.J.S.A. 59:-1-1 et seq.;

11. inappropriately provides for legal representation of private individuals and payment for same with public monies;

12. regulations authorized by the proposed new agency (?Open Government Council?) would be limited in applicability and may result in inconsistent Superior Court and OGC decisions;

13. requires a quarterly review of minutes and recordings of closed session items which has the potential to jeopardize confidentiality;

14. takes a step back in the advancement of technological tools available to public bodies to properly advise the public;

15. requires recordation of executive sessions at which confidential matters are discussed;

16. imposes additional burdens of requirements upon sub-committee meetings;

17. requires that minutes be available within five (5) business days thereby creating undo hardship upon the office of the Municipal Clerk and limits the resources of the municipality; and

WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1219 continues exempt the legislative branch of State government from the same requirement that Senate Bill 1219 would oppose on municipalities, school districts and authorities; and

WHEREAS, Senate Bill 366 changes the ?knowingly violates? standard to ?knowing or negligently violates? standard which is in conflict with N.J.S.A. 59:1-1, et seq. and is otherwise disharmonious with principles of good government in that it:

1. increases tenfold the fines for violations of the statute thus subjecting municipalities and their officers to increased costs and risks of exposure to litigation;

2. provides for unilateral attorney?s fees for the complainant which is unfair and has the effect of frustrating the operation of local government. Attorney?s fees should be available to both parties; and
3.

4. inappropriately includes audio and visual recordings of minutes, placing an undue burden on municipalities to make audio and visual recordings available to the public on the same basis as minutes; now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Township of Montclair, in the County of Essex, that the Council does hereby oppose the adoption of Senate Bill 1219 and Senate Bill S366 for the reasons set forth above and for the reason that said Bills will not positively affect the public?s access to open government and will likely have the counter-effect of frustrating the operation of local government; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the Senate State Government Committee, the Assembly compliment and the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.

"You'll note that there were no town council members absent and that the resolution against the sunshine laws was adopted by unanimous vote"

So Tobin also voted for this? Maybe if you were at the meeting, you'd know the reasons behind the vote.

As far as the viability of Tobin's slate. It is so bad that he sent one of his more mentally challenged lackeys to try to deal for two of Mattox slate members. After that fiasco, and with the harsh realty of no support outside the 1st ward (and little in it) Tobin stepped down, back to first ward and assembled a slate around him. Africk's late sign up was the only real coup. But with no where else to turn (he had already previously agreed to run with two other slates), Cary's only other choice was to run solo. And as even he is fond of writing, you don't have to vote for the rest of his slate.

Maybe they should make it so that the person who gets the most votes would be Mayor!

That way Cary Africk could be at the top, where he belongs! See him at the meetings. Read his letters to The Montclair Times. Check out all his posts to

href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MtcWatercooler/"
target="blank">The Montclair Watercooler

Jon Doh,

Why do you claim to know so much about other slates?

Since you are obviously not running on the Tobin Slate and you are critical of Michaelson that leaves one slate that we know you are involved with.

Are you on the Mattox slate or are you Ted Mattox?

You certainly seem to be one or the other!