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Sunshine Law debate heats up in Ridgewood

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Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli center of the Sunshine law issue

Sunshine Law debate heats up in Ridgewood
Thursday January 31, 2013, 4:21 PM
BY  DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

A discussion among Ridgewood Council members on New Jersey’s Sunshine Law intensified into a verbal brouhaha at Wednesday night’s work session.

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Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh

Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh’s inquiry into the number of recent meetings involving fewer than three governing officials and other members of the public sparked a heated debate with her council colleagues, particularly Ridgewood’s deputy mayor. And by the end of the argument, the councilwoman called for a “redo” of a December council meeting.

Under the state’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), a gathering of three or more council members constitutes a public meeting, subject to advertisement and adequate notice to the public.

“When we become council members, we get a packet of information that gives us a guideline to follow … it is a guideline of how we do our business and operate as a council. All of us on council want good |government,” Walsh said. “There have been some things recently … the more I mulled them over, |I wanted to have better |government.

“What’s the responsibility to each other when two of us are in a meeting?” Walsh asked regarding sessions that do not require advertisement.

The genesis of the conversation appeared to be an informal meeting in November called by Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli, who sought information on the proposed Graydon Pool ADA ramp. One other council member attended that meeting, and public notice was not required.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/189260611_Sunshine_Law_debate_heats_up_in_Ridgewood.html

42 thoughts on “Sunshine Law debate heats up in Ridgewood

  1. Walsh is the only honest one of the bunch. I don’t agree with her votes all of the time, but at least she tells the truth and has integrity. Unlike our Mayor, she isn’t seeking higher office, she just wants to do what’s right for Ridgewood.

  2. This meeting is a must watch! Paul, Al and Gwen tag team Bernadette and make fools of themselves. Paul is not a leader, he couldn’t keep the meeting together. He also obviously doesn’t know Roberts rules. What a sh*t show it was!

  3. Putting politics aside. Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli performances last night reveled his true personality. After watching the meeting I found him to be arrogant, condescending, rude and a combative . When challenge his true personality reveled itself.

  4. Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli said at last night meeting that he had been receiving text messages on his phone about what was transpiring during this discussing. I wounder what other information is being text’s to him during meeting. Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli also discussed elevation for Terminal Construction aka Ken Smith after a closed meeting of the council. I wounder what other information is passed on by the their HANDLERS on I pads and cell phones that the Council bring to the meeting

  5. #3 you forgot BULLY.

  6. Nice article by the Ridgewood News. Finally the journalism we have all been waiting for! 5 gold stars to them and Walsh.

  7. Hubris, that’s what it’s called

  8. Last night he cried that he had his picture on the front page of the Ridgewood New for the Graydon meeting. Hey big Al how do you like it now. If you can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen you pompous ass.

  9. Paul Aronsohn could not control the meeting because he is probable just involved as BIG AL. He did not have his consultants there to help him. Typical of his style of politics he went on the attack Walsh intimating that she tried to fix a ticket and when she had the answer for that he brought in the old standby Gabbert’s raise. How many time are we going to hear that line?

  10. I give Ms. Walsh credit for her open posture with Ridgewood residents and her illuminating what appears to be blatant cronyism by the Deputy Mayor.

  11. some of the new council better watch out . we see what is going on. we see back door bull shit.

  12. To bad you didn’t see it before you voted for them.

  13. ” Can’t we all get along” Gyenn is just as bad. She is in lock step with them. She just want to be liked and she doesn’t want to be subject to the same bash by the other two.

  14. Its no secret that Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarell has had it in for Walsh ever since she did not support him for Planning Board President. His ego could not except that and has said as much. No doubt thats why he ran for council to get even.

  15. Hey PJ I wounder why there is not a mention of any of this on Paul’s Patch. could be that the troll editor is waiting for Mayor Paul Aronsohn to write the story so the” Aronsohn’s Apologists” can start their spin campaign

  16. Last night was Ms. Walsh’s finest hour. It was Mr. Pucciarelli’s and Mr. Aronsohn’s worst performances ever. They were an embarassment to all of us. Imagine such unprofessional, name-calling behaviour from our elected official. At least Ms. Walsh is a shining example of how to lead. She is a class act.

    1. Doesn’t say much for her three years of service if that was her finest hour.

  17. Go to this site on the Village website to see the action live and in person:

    https://www.ustream.tv/recorded/28928854

  18. Paul Aronsohn is the worst mayor ever. He cannot run a meeting at all.

  19. I just watched the meeting. The public needs to see the emails in question. How many meetings did pucc and Aronsohn have with terminal construction, what did they promise terminal? Looks bad. Maybe cause for an official investigation.

  20. Are you kidding? Walsh looked awful.

  21. The backroom deals have just begun…

  22. I just watched the video. The behavior of Mayor Paul Aronsohn and Deputy Mayor Albert Pucciarelli is an embarrassment for all the town. They were rude and unprofessional in their discussion with Councilwoman Walsh. I was proud to see that Mrs. Walsh maintained a calm, professional manner. Despite their repeated attacks, she never lost her cool. Thanks Bernie.

  23. Yawn. If you don’t have the votes on the policy argue the process. Right from Pelosi’s playbook.

  24. “I don’t understand the use of this conversation. If you think we need new processes, absolutely, let’s talk about that in a positive way.” So apparently Mayor Aronsohn feels that if the conversation is of no use to him, then it’s of no use to the rest of the Village?

  25. I cannot believe that i actually voted for this asshole. I guess it just proves we all make mistakes.

  26. If Mayor Paul Aronsoh, Hauck, and Pucciarelli are claiming they will not release emails and claim attorney client privilege, what are they hiding? What was promised to Terminal developers? They revealed they had a private meeting after an executive session. What more took place that we don’t know about?

  27. How many private meeting about parking garages did they have or with Valley. You have to watch Mayor Paul Aronsohn play on words when asked a direct question. You remember the ” I did not have sex with that woman” by our president and then he argued what the meaning of the word sex was.

  28. It’s Councilwoman Walsh’s right to raise a stink, both as a Ridgewood resident and as a fellow member of the Council, if her colleagues engaged in a series of off-the-record meetings and related communications with interested third parties on a matter of public interest, only to do a data dump at the end of a closed session, once the public has gone home! Her suggested remedy of repeating the meeting is appropriate and I’m glad the council agreed. Yes, this will slow things down, but sometimes this is needed in order to get things right. The possibility that her colleagues will learn a few things about both the letter and the spirit of open meetings laws also makes it worthwhile. And as we “go forward”, I would hope that Ms. Walsh stands ready with additional monkey wrenches to throw should the need arise!

  29. wow keith must have a ton of time on his hands since he is posting so much on this blog

    1. #30 has no answer for what his boys did so he goes to the old liberal playbook — change topics, point to the former guy! Too bad you couldn’t have gone with “it’s Bush’s fault.” Hey wait, maybe you can try “it’s Keith’s fault.” See if that works for you.

  30. “What difference does it make now?” — Oh, wait, we just used that one for Benghazi.

  31. Nice try at making a mountain out of a mole hill…..much noise about NOTHING Walsh.

  32. #33 suggests we go with the “nothing to see here, move along” approach. I forgot about that one.

  33. #35. You got it wrong…..the new Council Members are making themselves look bad.

  34. Stay on point here this has all to do with this Council.

  35. This blog doesn’t have to try to make the new council look bad, their doing a good job all by themselves

  36. Thank you Bernie! It is your sworn duty to raise this issue.
    Aronsohn and Pucarelli should release the info. If there is nothing to hide it will be apparent when they release the info.

  37. Real quick question, everyone is talking abot the Sunshine Law could someone post a link that we could log on to and read this law for ourselves.?

  38. #39 just Google sunshine law nj

  39. We don’t need to make them look bad, they are doing a fine job of that themselves!

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