Tag: Ridgewood Planning Board Attorney’

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Former Bergen County Prosecutor who Tried Ridgewood’s “Meter Thief” now Works for former Ridgewood Planning Board Attorney

bergen-county-prosecutor-john-l-molinellijpg-6994b5ed55b809b7
October 21,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, former Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli joined Price, Meese, Shulman and D’Arminio, which is headquartered in Woodcliff Lake and has offices in White Plains, N.Y.. in November when he was unceremoniously pushed out by the Christie administration after a series of high-profile case losses.

To many Ridgewood residents the name Price, Meese, Shulman and D’Arminio rings a bell .Price, Meese, Shulman and D’Arminio is the firm of former Ridgewood planning board attorney Gail Price.

Interesting that Mollineli now works for Gail Price. He’s also the guy that cut a deal with the Ridgewood quarter thief, Ricca.

Rica, a Hawthorne resident, will pay back just under $250,000 of the $460,000 he admitted stole under a plea agreement.

Thomas Rica known in the Village of Ridgewood as ‘coin boy” or the “meter thief” was convicted and sentenced for stealing nearly 2 million quarters from the Ridgewood parking system.

Initially, Rica paid a $64,337.55 down payment, to be followed by $2,000 a month in monthly payments over the five years he will serve probation. Ricca also agreed  to forfeit his $30,000 pension as part of the plea deal and $4,000 Ridgewood seized from his home. Shockingly Rica received no jail time .

Mollineli the Bergen County prosecutor at the time was later forced out of office .

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Ridgewood Planning Board Attorney and Planning Board Member get hit With Conflict of Interest allegations

Valleywood_theridgewoodblog
May 23,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood blog has conducted an investigation of series of conflict of interest changes surrounding the “Whispering Woods ” hearings .Initially Valley’s attorney Jonathan Drill challenged planning board member Wendy Dockray for being part of the “campaign team” of then Village Council Candidate Jeff Voigt.

In a letter to Planning Board Chairmen Charles Nalbantian Drill asked that Wendy Dockray recuse herself or the planning board should disqualify her.

Drill referenced a letter posted on the Ridgewood blog in which Jeff Voigt expressed both skepticism and opposition to the Valley Settlement.  Drill used Jeff’s own words against him by quoting him saying a board member should recuse if “even a whiff of a conflict of interest” .
Kevin Mattessich ,Wendy Dockray’s attorney fired back using Mr.Drill’s arguments against him ,challenging Planning Board attorney Gail Price and her husband Richard Brooks who was at the time running for Village Council , Mattessich went further saying not only Price but Price’s law firm should recuse and board should retain independent council. Observers speculate if applied consistently the entire “Valley Expansion” process  can be viewed as tainted and undermined .
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Reader takes issue with Ridgewood Planning Board Attorney’s Comments

village-hall-theridgewoodblog

Mrs. Price is not correct that there are two blocs. There is one bloc running, and there are also three independent candidates. Three candidates have intentionally aligned themselves together, that is Brooks Willett and Weitz. They made it very clear that they are together, and even ran a full-page ad in the Ridgewood News to this effect. The other three candidates are not a bloc. They are independent of each other. The fact is that many MANY people support the three of them, Walsh, Hache, and Voigt. That does not change the fact that the three of them are running independently.

Next, the Attorney for the Planning Board is paid by taxpayer dollars and as such that person works for the Village. You can depict it any which way you want, but the fact remains that the Planning Board Attorney is paid for by us. So there is nothing inaccurate or twisted in stating that one of the candidates, Richard Brooks, is married to the Planning Board Attorney and as such this looks like a conflict. Granted most of the Planning Board business does not come to the Village Council for consideration or action……but some things do. And there are two representatives from the Village Council who serve on the Planning Board. There would be a potential for husband and wife to be together in this. I’m sorry, if it looks like a conflict and it smells like a conflict then it must be a conflict.

Next, the comment about “tradespersons” possibly making more than $125 an hour…..this is wrong on so many levels. Now correct me if I’m wrong here, but it sure sounds like Mrs. Price thinks she is superior to “tradespersons” and therefore her measly $125 an hour should be increased because maybe a plumber or carpenter makes more. Kiss my A*** Mrs. Price Brooks. You don’t like your hourly wage? Then don’t take it. We can get another PB attorney, and we would be lucky to be rid of such a disgruntled one. You think lowly tradespersons should not make as much as you? I’m betting they do a much better job than you do!

HACHE VOIGT WALSH are the three to elect. Save us from four more years of this systematic destruction of Ridgewood.