>How could Mayor Pfund, Deputy Mayor Wiest, and Councilmen Harlow and Mancuso have possibly classified the need to complete a study of recreational fields as an emergency, and accordingly have voted yes to authorize a “Special Emergency Appropriation” in the amount of $42K to hire an external consultant for such a study? What is the big emergency? We’re talking about sports here. Do they really think the public is gullible enough to buy such an argument? A sports related emergency? How absurd!
Regardless of Village Attorney Matt Roger’s opinion, the legality of such an action based on existing NJ Municipal Funding Laws is clearly in question. In light of opposing comments voiced by a taxpayer at the ordinance’s Public Hearing, wouldn’t it have been more appropriate, and respectful of the taxpayer, to have requested a ruling from Trenton prior to the Mayor’s call for a vote? Oops, I forgot; they had an emergency at hand; no time for such a consultation. Excuse us.
Undoubtedly, one of the first official actions undertaken by Mayor Pfund’s recently reorganized Council was highly suspect, to say the least, in nature. Hopefully, their consultant’s report (which is hopefully made available for public review) will be worth every penny of the $42K in tax dollars Mayor Pfund personally signed off on.