John Paff, Chairman of the New Jersey Libertarian Party‘s Open Government Advocacy Project filed a complaint against 21 elected and appointed Montclair government officials today. In a letter addressed to Thomas H. Neff, Chairman of the state’s Local Finance Board, Paff claimed that the officials failed to file their Financial Disclosure Statements by the April 30 deadline. The forms have several questions dealing with real estate holdings and asks for details about sources of income within a family.
“This information allows citizens to detect any conflicts of interest,” Paff told Baristanet. Basically, it’s about full disclosure.
Paff said that the officials had all received multiple reminders about the deadline to complete the forms, and yet they still were not filed. “Whether or not they like the law, which has been on the books since 1990, not filing suggests a cavalier disregard for it,” he explained. “If they don’t want to file, they shouldn’t take the job. It’s not OK to disobey.”
According to Paff, the violation could result in fines ranging from $100 to $500 per person.
In his letter, Paff stated that he “has no interest in or relationship to this complaint greater than any other citizen or organization who wishes for all government officers and employees to comply fully with the Local Government Ethics Law.”
He told us that in response to today’s filing, Paff was informed by Montclair’s municipal clerk Linda Wanat, that Christina Rule had actually resigned from the Historic Preservation Commission shortly after the forms were distributed, and that she has not been replaced. In an email response, Paff requested information about the exact date of Rule’s resignation. According to Paff, If she served for any period within 2011, then it’s not clear that her resignation relieves her from her responsibility to file. If she filed prior to 2011, Paff said he would amend his complaint with the Local Finance Board.”
“In general, the situation strikes me as revealing an execution failure,” he said. “It makes me wonder how many other years these forms have gone un-filed and whether the council and mayor are aware.”
Here’s the list:
1. RogerTerry, Counciloratlarge
2. KatherineBerning, Director of Human Services
3. Gary Obzarny, Director of Utilities
4. Andrew Hageman, Historic Preservation Commission
5. Denis Orloff, Historic Preservation Commission
6. Jonathan Perlstein, Historic Preservation Commission
7. Jennifer Reive, Historic Preservation Commission
8. Christina Rule, Historic Preservation Commission
9. Diane Scotland, Historic Preservation Commission
10. Ira Smith, Historic Preservation Commission
11. Katherine Nicholas, Library Board
12. Lois Whipple, Library Board
13. Guy Whitlock, Library Board
14. Paul J. Burr, Board of Adjustment
15. Holly English, Board of Adjustment
16. Sharon Cockey, Board of Adjustment
17. Paul Edwards, Board of Adjustment
18. Frank Haimbach, Planning Board
19. Dan Nachman, Planning Board
20. Sally Ross, Planning Board
21. John Wynn, Planning Board
UH OH! No Town want John Paff sifting around. I say “Welcome John” I hope you are able to get loads of information that we the citizens can’t get. Why hasn’t Marc Dashield followed up with the 20 something people who have not filled out these disclosure forms mandated by the State? It is just another example of things falling through the cracks. I am sure that there are so many examples of this, which is why we are in the situation we are in here.
When I think of Libertarians I think of the only place in the world where a true Libertarian Government exists : Somalia, and when I think of Somalia I think of cholera.
When I think of Somalia, I think of lawlessness and pirates. Libertarianism does not equal lawlessness.
Aren’t Libertarians supposed to oppose too much government interference i.e. filing forms and disclosures?
Libertarianism = I want my guns + I don’t want to pay income tax.
I’m Pretty Sure Somalia is a Libertarian Paradise : http://youtu.be/7QDv4sYwjO0
While your video elicted a chuckle from me, again, when I think of Somalia, I think of anarchy, or lawlessness. Libertarian doesn’t mean mean “lawlessness,” it’s just about keeping government in check, something that we’ve forgotten how to do in America. The government should work for the people, not the other way around.
John Paff is well known for being a great advocate for compliance on the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and Open Public records Act (OPRA. John -seeks to increase governmental transparency and accountability, particularly at a local level.
John also checks civil court cases where at least one of the parties is a government agency or official. Most often, these settlement agreements are never revealed to the public. He posts them on the Libertarian Party’s blog. You can check out some of John’s work at:
http://njcivilsettlements.blogspot.com/
One of the local articles that you might find interesting is:
****Cedar Grove pays $8,000 to settle free speech lawsuit****
On February 28, 2011, the Township of Cedar Grove (Essex County) agreed to pay $8,000 to a Millburn woman who sued the Township and its former mayor for refusing to let her speak during two Township Council meetings held in 2009.
The members of the zoning board, the planning board and the HPC are all volunteers. They sit once a month, often from 7:30 PM until midnight, on a weekday, at public hearings. This after taking time at home to review the paperwork that is attached to all applications. They visit the premises under review prior to the hearing as well.
The idea of a monetary fine of any sort assessed against any of these volunteers (for not mailing that required ethics form) is rather stunning. I guess the LIbertarians, in seeking good government, aren’t ones to offer a gentle reminder prior to grandstanding in this way. But Libertarians are on record despising land control ordinances of any kind so I am not surprised by their choice of targets.
Yes Pat, you are correct about John Paff, I did some research when this was first posted. I also disagree with you Spiro, even though the folks you talk about are volunteers what the financial disclosure will tell is if there is a conflict of interest with these volunteers occupying seats on the planning board, HPC etc. I would think so if they are developers, realtors etc. Who knows what John Paff will find. There is a much more in depth article on the Montclair Times website and on the Patch.
There are some Montclair residents who should contact Paff about Mister Mayor’s attempts to keep them from speaking during public meetings. He does it regularly, in addition to talking over people when they speak, getting on a soapbox to refute what they say, and more.
I’ll add that the form in question has maybe five fields. A Zoning Board member may not get paid, but they are very, very powerful, and the public has a right to know whether Montclair’s has a job with, say, Dick Grabowsky.
I can’t say I’m surprised at the indifference expressed by some liberals above. But I welcome the attention of Paff and his efforts at openess. I think those persons listed who don’t comply with the law should immediately resign.
… Or be removed from office.
LOL at Marta ~ there is so little government control in the US that I really have to wonder how little is going on in Libertarian’s lives that they actually think the government is standing in the way of individual freedom. Given the way that corporations are pretty free to do whatever they damn well please the argument that there is too much government is a silly one.
“Individual freedom” does not equal flouting the laws and not bothering to file required forms.
Financial disclosure is required. The financial disclosure form is then PUBLIC INFORMATION. Those appointed to committees and and boards by the town are required to file it.
“didn’t Montclair try to close the Bellevue Ave branch and fire the Libertarians?” – heard that from a person coming out of Dunkin Donuts, which is why I go to Starbucks
The Bellevue Branch reopnmes on June 6th
The Montclair Public Library’s Bellevue Avenue Branch, 185 Bellevue Ave., will reopen on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting Monday, June 6.
The Friends of the Bellevue Avenue Library will host a daylong grand reopening celebration on Monday, June 6.
The Grand Reopening includes
• Storytelling, puppet shows, and face-painting for children beginning at 10:30 a.m.
• The ribbon-cutting at 12:30 p.m.
• Live music from 2 to 8 p.m.
Throughout the day there will be free refreshments, and ice cream will be sold from a vintage ice cream truck from 2 to 6 p.m.
For information, go to http://www.montclairlibrary.org
The filled out forms were stolen by the Weiner Hacker.
Is that a reference to Weiner Lesniak who now rules the township of Bloomfield?
Johan: If you think we suffer from “too much freedom,” read this:
http://www.lp.org/issues/current-issues
I agree that John Paff performs a valuable service to taxpayers.
Also, in Glen Ridge, if someone doesn’t submit their financial disclosure forms, they are hounded (nicely) until they do. I believe I’ve read wording to the effect that one would be removed from whatever they serve on if they don’t submit the forms, although I’m not sure that has ever happened. It would appear that Mopntclair management is dropping the ball.