Has Mayor Aronsohn Placed Himself and Council in legal Jeopardy over Richie Allegations

Has Mayor Aronsohn Placed Himself and Council in legal Jeopardy over Richie Allegations
June 5,2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ ,  This time they really stepped in it. Recent attacks on Councilman Thomas Riche and his company Extel Communications have backfired even further with the purported Village ordnance blocking business with Council members and their firms.  If accusations prove true it seems the Village signed off on for over 14 years on illegal transactions .

While Councilmen Riche has claimed  he didn’t know about the law, others including the Village attorney and current and former Village manager have a fiduciary responsibility to the Village and if the allegations are proven true along with the village council may face serious legal consequences..

The Extel Communication issue recently came to the surface when mysterious anonymous letter was sent to the Mayor  making the allegations .Despite the urging from the Village attorney the Mayor Paul Aronsohn went forward and presented the issue to the council.

Sources speculate the letter came from a disgruntled former employee with an ax to grind against Richie .

The village council recently approved a $24,000 contract for Extel to upgrade the fire department communications system which would make the council complicit and any wrong doing. Mayor Paul Arohnson said the village may seek an independent review of Extel’s dealings but most long time Village residents doubt it.

The loss of Extel has also left Village Emergency services, Police and Fire vulnerable to equipment failure .greatly increasing risk in case of an emergency .