file photo by Boyd Loving
January 7,2014
the staff of the Ridgewood
Ridgewood Nj, Residents continue to voice concerns about Gwen Hauck’s serious conflict of interest with Valley Hospital . Many were entirely shocked with last nights discovery the Gwen was representing Ridgewood tax payers in negotiations over the Valley law suit. Its seems common sense would dictate be it legal or not that a life long donor to Valley Hospital as well as her significant involvement with Valley hospital operations since she was a candy striper would make her participation null and void .
At last nights meeting Anne Loving raised concerns about Gwenn Hauck serving on the mediation team in the Valley suit against the village , ” Under any scenario, she should have recused herself. She has stated often that she is in complete support of the entire expansion project. How can she be objective and serve the village properly?”
Gwen was challenged as to whether she was on the current donor list for Valley of not ,readers questioned , What I’d like to know though is why Ms. Hauck would have failed to contact The Valley to advise them of the error if she’s known about it for some time.Hold the phone.who’s lying Valley or Gwenn. How can Valley falsify donor lists?
Councilwomen Hauck vehemently denied that she and her husband had made any donations to Valley since she has been on the council , while Valley had her on the donor list .” The only reason I can think of that The Valley would want to falsify a donor list – to make it seem that everyone important was giving and that we should too.” , speculated a reader.
A conflict of interest (COI) is a situation in which a person or organization is involved in multiple interests, financial interest, or otherwise, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation of the individual or organization.The presence of a conflict of interest is independent of the occurrence of impropriety. Therefore, a conflict of interest can be discovered and voluntarily defused before any corruption occurs. A widely used definition is: “A conflict of interest is a set of circumstances that creates a risk that professional judgement or actions regarding a primary interest will be unduly influenced by a secondary interest.”[1] Primary interest refers to the principal goals of the profession or activity, such as the protection of clients, the health of patients, the integrity of research, and the duties of public office. Secondary interest includes not only financial gain but also such motives as the desire for professional advancement and the wish to do favours for family and friends, but conflict of interest rules usually focus on financial relationships because they are relatively more objective, fungible, and quantifiable. The secondary interests are not treated as wrong in themselves, but become objectionable when they are believed to have greater weight than the primary interests. The conflict in a conflict of interest exists whether or not a particular individual is actually influenced by the secondary interest. It exists if the circumstances are reasonably believed (on the basis of past experience and objective evidence) to create a risk that decisions may be unduly influenced by secondary interests. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_of_interest )
the rules don’t apply to her.
Any output from her “mediation” will be tainted. That does not serve the interest of anyone, including Valley. Pencil this in for another 10 year slog unless a good faith process for resolution is adopted.
So let me get this straight. The Valley is taking a $40k – $100k hit while she serves her first term. An the Hauck family is losing that kind of tax deduction?
How did this get by the stop valley organization?
She was a volunteer, past donor and apparently a current donor.
The Councilwoman has no financial stake in the hospital and that’s all that matters. Local elected officials usually have a long history of community volunteerism and if they dont, I would question their motives. Instead of looking to Wikipedia for definitions (really?) how about checking with the NJ League of Municipalities?
Just let us now where there’s a problem here https://www.state.nj.us/ethics/statutes/conflicts/. Bear in mind that being a donor does not under any accepted definition create a potential for financial gain for the donor.
to 10:31
…maybe not but her friends do…
The woman can’t pay her property taxes so why would she be donating to the hospital?
10:31 GW you are roaming the blog early this morning
I love how Mrs. Hauck and her apologists cite the letter of the law when pushing back on such an obvious conflict of interest. I have no problem with her supporting Valley – it’s her right. I also have no problem that she ran for office for the sole purpose of voting yes on the Valley expansion should it ever come to a vote before the Council. Her problem now is that Valley has sued the Village and she swore an oath to represent the best interests of the Village. It is impossible for her to do this given her adamant, long-standing and very public support of Valley. Even if Valley is not paying her, there is still a conflict.
Anyone who does not see this or admit to it is either dumb, playing dumb or unethical.
I also dont understand how being a donor presents a conflict of interest. In addition, she ran as a supporter of Valley. It is not as if she suddenly began to be friendly with them.
This is not someone who is a juror or a mediator where you might say that past donations would lead to a conflict of interest. She is a partisan in the fight negotiating policy to advance her political objectives which is what she was elected to do. There is no conflict there.
NJ League of Municipalities
https://www.njslom.org/magart_1207_pg18.html
“This conflicting interest can be either a financial or a personal interest. It must also be an interest that the official, or the official’s family member or business, does not share with the general public. Beyond these parameters, however, the standards are less clear. In most cases, it is the “practical feel of the situation,” on a case by case basis that will determine the existence of a conflict.”
Gwen’s champions must come form the John Kerry surrender school of negotiations, yes let get the person funding the other side to negotiate for us , please give everyone a break on this
Just say no to another term, then she can go home to her Barbie dolls.
1:36
Letter of the law is what matters.
Also, explain how Knudsen does not recuse herself from Schedler when her parents live directly across the street from the property.
Knudsen also has three sons on the list to become Ridgewood police officers. Why doesn’t she recuse herself on all matters related to the Police department especially when the Village is currently renegotiating the police contract that her son’s could potentially benefit from.
You hypocrites, especially the Lovings, are always crying about the attacks on Knudsen and Sedon. Be consistent.
By the way, does Sedon even pay taxes to the Village? Just asking. Hear he lives in his in-laws house. We have a councilman who doesn’t even own property in the village. What a joke.
lets hope its your property she gives away to Valley
3:00pm – Wow, wow, wow! What business of yours who Mike Sedon lives with? I don’t know if or why he lives with his in-laws but there are lots of good reasons people live together and, BTW, it’s demonstrated that people in multi-generational dwellings live longer. Maybe his in-laws are in need of assistance and Mike and his family are helping out? Did you ever think of that instead of insinuating he’s living off of them? If Mike Sedon is not the owner of a property in Ridgewood, then he does not have to pay taxes. A good portion of rent is generally covering the landlords taxes in most instances so anyone paying rent is functionally paying taxes. I can only pray that my children and their spouses will want me around!
3:39
Is he paying rent? People on this blog seem to make a lot of nonsense their business. Just playing the game.
What about Knudsen’s conflicts? Nothing to say about those?
People in multi-generational dwellings live longer? Really?
Gwenn Hauck has absolutely no business representing us in a lawsuit. For crying out loud, this is glaringly apparent. This is not about what platform she ran for office on, this is not about whether she loves valley hospital. This is the fact that there is a major lawsuit against Ridgewood and one of the two elected official on the mediation is a person who donates big money to them. How can anyone not see the conflict here? She is supposed to be representing US against THEM in this lawsuit, but she funnels money to them.
1:36 sounds like DON DELZIO, the mayor’s latest spokesperson. Judge people by the company they keep
Mr. Sedon and his family live in a home that is listed in his spouse’s maiden name. That is perhaps why you are unable to find it if you are searching the tax records for the name Sedon.
Since her sons are not employed by the Village of Ridgewood and may never be (having your name on a waiting list does not constitute a guarantee of employment – there are other requirements in addition to passing the Civil Service test such as a criminal and financial background check, psychological testing, personal interview, and medical/physical screening), Councilwoman Knudsen has no legal obligation to recuse herself from ALL matters pertaining to the police department. And the Counciwoman has stated that she has no financial interest in her parent’s property, therefore under NJ State Law she has no legal obligation to recuse herself from matters pertaining so Schedler.
I see the Lovings are up to the usual tricks.
why do you all comment without leaving your name – if you morally and ethically believe something you should stand behind it – else anyone can throw stones. These acts are not helping the situation – just showing that we cannot look into the good of people and that this community cannot raise above and think positively. The point was made, adults shouldn’t gang up – only bullies do that. Say something nice or don’t say it at all is what I was taught.
Gwen has no business negotiating for the Village on this issue period ! , ask David Pfund
So to summarize 5:19: There is no controlling legal authority that says this is a violation and none were marked as classified at the time she received them. Glad we cleared that up.
you can recite law all you want you would have to be clueless to have her negotiate for you with Valley Hospital and as I said before better hope she doesn’t give your house away to Valley
Ms. Knudsen ran on a platform of being against Valley’s renewal, and was heartily endorsed by the vehemently anti-Valley group, the CRR. Should she not have recused herself for being so anti-Valley? Also, if Ms Hauck’s parents lived across from Schedler and her sons were on the waiting list for employment by the Police Force and she dod not recuse herself from the Schedler debate and Police affairs, Leon, as in Trotsky, James would have called for her recall. You are a bunch of little people, big hypocrites. Just remember, what is good for the goose is good for the gander.
why Rurik you sound like one of the , “nattering nabobs of negativism” well well well name calling , Valley created their own failure , As for the 3 amigos a footnote in Village history on their way back to Hudson county where they belong , as for you , I liked the bow tie ,but Mrs Hauck has no business negotiating for Ridgewood ,and Valley does it again again ask Former Mayor and Judge David Pfund he will explain the pitfalls , as for the goose and the gander I believe the goose is cooked have a wonderful evening .
There is only one instance in this thread of the word recall being used and that was by Mr. Halaby.
Rurik we know that you are infatuated with Ms Hauck and this infatuation is clouding your mind. It happens nothing to be ashamed of.
Rurik you have no standing with any posts about Valley Hospital or Ms Hauck because of this. “Cynthia Halaby, is a trustee of Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. “
Rurik, you are 180 degrees from the truth. Councilwoman Knudsen most definitely did NOT run on an anti-valley campaign. Just make up anything you want to say and put it on the post. You are a liar and a hypocrite and in fact you really are a small person. Have a good evening
Ladies and Gentlemen, Gwenn is an out and out liar. Amy Nidds recounted that Gwenn told her at the train station “Just vote yes on the referendum and we’ll discuss it later.” Gwenn out and out denied it. Come on, who are you going to believe? Look at the tape at 4:14:49.
Ms. Hauck, Rurik, and other supporters: To remove any doubt whatsoever regarding a conflict of interest concerning Valley and Ms. Hauck, why would she not recuse herself from ANY discussions regarding Valley ?
Knudsen’s parents own property across from the Schedler property? Is she a beneficiary of their will?
4:13 – you need to read more. Start with Atul Gawande “Being Mortal”; yes, older people who live with in mutli-generational familes live longer. And, if you could read, you would see that I didn’t say anything about anyone in particular paying rent. Just that rents contribute to taxes. Duh.