Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan wins temporary halt to freeholders code revamp
Friday, October 11, 2013 Last updated: Friday October 11, 2013, 4:54 PM
BY JOHN ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER
The Record
Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan won a temporary restraining order Friday against the freeholder-approved re-write of the county code that she contends illegally tries to curb the powers of her office.
Bergen County Superior Court Judge Menelaos W. Toskos issued an order that temporarily prevents an ordinance that the freeholders adopted by a 6-1 vote on Sept. 17 from taking effect.
The ordinance, which was to go into effect Saturday, explicitly gave the freeholders the power to reorganize county government and investigate how it is run. Donovan contends they do not have that power under the county executive form of government.
Toskos delayed the ordinance from taking effect until a further hearing on Oct. 31, when he will listen to arguments from both sides.
