Update: Parisi responds to lack of trust statement from McMorrow, Agres... http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/115216184_McMorrow__Agre...

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Story tools Update: Parisi responds to lack of trust

Comments: 25
statement from McMorrow, Agresta;
E-mail this story questions appointment process
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Friday, February 4, 2011
Decrease Font Size LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2011, 2:55 PM
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BY AMANDA BASKIND
NORTHERN VALLEY SUBURBANITE
Staff Writer

0
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS - The two Republican council members at the center of the
Share controversy surrounding the hiring of a new administrator/clerk said they did not
Like Be the inform the mayor and specifically Councilman Ilan Plawker because of trust issues.
first of
The mayor and Plawker are Democrats.
your
friends
to like "My opinion is we don't have
this. a comfort level that Mayor
vote [Joseph] Parisi and
now Councilman Plawker act in
good faith with us for the
benefit of the town," said
Republican Councilwoman
Carrol McMorrow on Feb. 3,
speaking for her and
Republican Council President
Robert Agresta. "Having
served on the council there
are numerous instances in
LESLIE BARBARO/THE RECORD my opinion where
Borough Clerk/Administrator Ilene Councilman Plawker and
Cohen, Mayor Joseph Parisi, Jr. and Mayor Parisi misrepresent
Borough Attorney Fred Semrau listen as facts to our residents."
a resident speaks out against the
McMorrow's comments came
council's lack of transparency in
after a heated public meeting
replacing Cohen and Deputy Clerk
on Feb. 1 to appoint a new
Lisette Duffy and requesting they
borough administrator/clerk.
remain in their positions, during a
The meeting also resulted in
special meeting to appoint several new
steps taken to eliminate the
employees Tuesday night in Englewood
deputy clerk position.
Cliffs.
The council majority voted to
appoint former Palisades Park mayor, councilwoman and administrator Susan
McGinley-Spohn at a salary of $75,000, replacing Ilene Cohen.

Democrat Councilwoman Melanie Simon and Plawker both abstained from voting
on the appointment, stating that they never saw Spohn's resume and had not met
her. Parisi hadn't seen Spohn's resume or had the opportunity to meet her either.

"I don't know why they wouldn't trust me," said Parisi on Feb. 4. "It would have
made less of a spectacle and I could have made the transition smoother," he added.
Parisi noted whether Agresta and McMorrow trust him or not, they still have to
follow the proper procedure for appointing a borough employee. "They didn't follow
the procedure of appointment and they violated our personnel manual," added
Parisi.

According to Parisi, the proper procedure of appointment is the council gives the
mayor names of candidates, the mayor reviews resumes and interviews candidates,

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and then the mayor makes a recommendation.

"That's nonsense," said Plakwer on Feb. 4 in response to Agresta and McMorrow's

statement about trust issues. "I don't know what they think there is to hide," he
added.

Agresta and McMorrow both met and interviewed Spohn prior to the special
meeting. Although Republican Councilmen Eric Petrone and Carlo Bartolomeo
never met Spohn, they both voted for her appointment. Petrone and Bartolomeo
did not respond to e-mails seeking comment.

Plakwer said "something very strange is going on" because Patrone and Bartolomeo
never met Spohn, yet voted for her appointment.

Prior to Spohn's appointment, Simon motioned to appoint former Borough Clerk

Joseph Favaro for $15,000 a year with no benefits. The Republican-controlled
council voted against that measure.

Parisi said the plan would have appointed Favaro as administrator/clerk for
$15,000 and would have allowed Lisette Duffy to retain her position as deputy clerk
at $30,000.

Cohen, who served as the administrator/clerk this year was making $75,000. The
plan to appoint Favaro and Duffy would have saved the borough $60,000.

"I believe in saving money," said Parisi in an interview on Feb. 2. "They don't
understand."

Agresta said the hiring of Spohn will help chart a new course for the borough.

"I think an outside perspective will be a good thing for Englewood Cliffs," said
Agresta on Feb. 2. "I think someone coming in from out of town, like Susan, will be
able to offer new and different ideas."

McMorrow cited experience as a reason for appointing Spohn,

"Susan is a certified registered municipal clerk. She has over 12 years of leadership
and management experience in the local government and was a mayor and
four-term councilwoman," McMorrow said. "We will be saving money because she
will be doing the job of administrator, clerk and deputy clerk. with a savings of
about $50,000. In addition, we look forward to leveraging her experience to be able
to run the borough in the most cost effective manner for our taxpayers."

Douglas Doyle of Decotiis Fitzpatrick and Cole were was also appointed to the
positions of borough attorney and labor attorney, replacing Fred Semrau and Fred
Knapp.

E-mail: baskind@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6723

Click here for more news from: Englewood Cliffs

Reader Comments (25)

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1. Monday February 7, 2011, 10:14 PM - sitbak says:

Why is Carol at borough hall everyday, is she checking in on the employees? Who is
the new Clerk - I googled her...not very clean.

2. Monday February 7, 2011, 9:08 PM - gojets says:

I love how this mayor says ,well now I can save money by hiring people for
cheaper,Well, duhhh, why didn't he do that in the first place before all this hoopla???
What a genious.

3. Monday February 7, 2011, 5:33 PM - moveit says:

whether you like the mayor or not, the question is what has he done for the town in
his reign? For the taxes we pay, ec should be the jewel of bergen county. ec needs to
move forward and be the town we could be proud of. update our infrastructure! why
does our town lose power for days whenever there is a storm? where is our
library/rec.center?why aren't the broken post lamps on witte field fixed? why does
the dpw building look like it is about to cave-in? why are the tennis courts on new
street in total disrepair and an eyesoar? why are the streets riddled with potholes?
the mayor should have been tending to the town instead of the concentrating on all
of the infighting.he should be a mayor and run the town with pride and integrity and
not treat his position as his means of a social scene.

4. Monday February 7, 2011, 12:57 PM - bergen632 says:

I liked the mayor's dad (rumor has it that he was a closet Republican, and only
changed parties to run in EC, just like Ed Aversa), but this mayor is a complete joke.
If you like him, it's because you either party with him on the weekends or you're an
Obama super liberal.

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Update: Parisi responds to lack of trust statement from McMorrow, Agres... http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/115216184_McMorrow__Agre...

5. Sunday February 6, 2011, 12:54 PM - Recall says:

The Majority put absolutely no thought into this change of clerks. No transition!
What business does that? What business hires without interviewing, advertising, or
at least meeting the candidate? The new clerk has NO experience in a Municipality,
was an Administrator for a company, not a Municipality, and is drowning in a sea of
work because of a lack of experience. Agresta told us she was experienced, that is
not true and she is the first one to admit it. Carol wanted to have someone to mold
and say yes to all of her demands, perhaps that is why she voted yes to the new
clerk. She is at Borough Hall every day working the phones or "helping". This is NOT
a commission form of government. She does not belong in Borough Hall! The
attorney appointment is a whole other issue. Check his recent dealings in Ridgefield
online. This is what we want for EC? What are these people doing to Englewood
Cliffs? Dems, Reps, and U's need to fight for OUR town now! Please stop by Borough
Hall and see for yourselves. Come to the 2/9 meeting at 8PM and demand answers!
How does this help EC and how does this save money? That is the very least we
deserve. Remember...Recall!

6. Saturday February 5, 2011, 11:22 PM - tcsh says:

@ Bergen632, has it occurred to you that the mayor and large number of residents
are looking out for the best interests of the town? Maybe you should make the same
comparison to the hundreds of people who signed the petition, or the hundred or so
people who showed up to the last two meetings. The problem is, is that the majority
has no defense for there reckless actions, so what is the result, you send out the
Parisi haters, like that hasn't been done before. It does not work, it never worked
and will not work. Maybe you should focus your rage at your Republican majority
who really stepped in it and continue to do so. You had two dedicated employees
who when compared to other towns offered EC a real cost/performance advantage.
Now you have a county crony making the same salary and padding a pension. BTW
do a Google search on Palisades Park, Spohn, Taxes, see what happened to the
appointed mayor and her 1.5 years in office and what it did to Pal Park and their
taxes. I'll give you a hint, they went up...a lot.

7. Saturday February 5, 2011, 2:51 PM - bergen632 says:

Tsch, I'm not insinuating anything, what are YOU referring to? I just don't
understand the Mayor's overriding concern with this one employee. Half of the
people in the Town Hall videos are just instigators who refuse to admit that their
boys Obama and Parisi are huge failures. I thought these people embrace "Change"?

8. Saturday February 5, 2011, 12:36 AM - compromiser says:

"I don't know why they wouldn't trust me," said Parisi on Feb. 4. who are you
kidding, Joey boy?

9. Saturday February 5, 2011, 12:29 AM - compromiser says:

bergenec - you are on to something. I wish King JP II put as much effort into
promoting our town and its businesses as he has in promoting the unlicensed ladies
who've been running Town Hall. I understand he's even using internet social network
resources to make appeals to "take back the town" yadda yadda yadda. From the
videos I've seen, the only turnout he's getting are the same old faces who always
show up when the King demands it. Most people don't care or think about who
works in Borough Hall? As long as garbage and leaves are picked up and the streets
are plowed - everyone is happy. Just as it is suspected that Republican County
leaders recommended the folks who were just appointed, there is no doubt that the
King will find places for the unlicensed ladies in other towns or, at very least, at the
prestigious offices of Otterstadt Insurance - especially since (as the big sign in Fort
Lee tells us) they are one of the nations's leading insurance agencies. G-d help us
all.

10. Saturday February 5, 2011, 12:10 AM - compromiser says:

We should have term limits in Englewood Cliffs. No one should serve more than two
terms. The system that has allowed a single family to rule this community for over
four decades must be fixed. We are a community of good people, yet we are saddled
with leadership that does not mirror the character, intelligence, and compassion of
our residents. At the root of the problem is the corrupt Parisi Monarchy, supported
by savage profiteers like Plawker - the most contemptible man, who is completely
lacking in integrity. Sadly, there is no compromise with the Parisi herd. Like the
oppressive regimes we see collapsing around the world, our Mayor must have
complete domination. Those who object to him (who we call “Republicans” under our
silly system) will inevitably be scorned, bullied and blamed. It takes real guts to
stand up against the king, and my hat is off to everyone in the last 40 years who
had the guts to challenge the king. The best thing we can do is unseat the king and
his courtiers - and even after that, it will probably take years to build the kind of
governance structure that we deserve.

11. Friday February 4, 2011, 10:24 PM - tcsh says:

Wow, just when I thought you hit a new low with "ECFD", you guys start insinuating
an illicit relationship. Is that the best you trolls can come up with? WOW!

12. Friday February 4, 2011, 7:14 PM - bergenec says:

bergen632, it's very strange, there must be more to it, if he is so concerned, he has
a business, let him hire her and save the taxpayers money.

13. Friday February 4, 2011, 6:51 PM - bergen632 says:

-Eileen wasn't a certified borough clerk. -"Parisi...would have allowed Lisette to
retain her position", why does he care so much about her?? Strange.

14. Friday February 4, 2011, 11:55 AM - Bimbohemp says:

wow and OMG Tommy Toscano and the democrat law firm Decotis supporting an
administrator who when she was on the council in Pal Park did nothing when the
corrupt cops robbed and plundered that town

15. Friday February 4, 2011, 1:01 AM - tcsh says:

Wow, you couldn't have proven my argument better, thanks "ECFD" your bizarre
rantings have only alienated your party further from the residents of Englewood
Cliffs. Keep it up, because the more you say, the more your anger, venom, hatred
and stupidity is exposed to those around you. I sure hope that you're just a kid
trying to get a reaction, because if you are a grown adult, God help you.

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16. Thursday February 3, 2011, 11:54 PM - ECFD says:

Tush, please change your handle as you you are an insult to legitimate a-holes
around the world.

17. Thursday February 3, 2011, 11:45 PM - ECFD says:

Tush, you must be Pinnochio Plawker because you sound as illogical and out of touch
with reality as he does.

18. Thursday February 3, 2011, 11:43 PM - ECFD says:

Cont'd while the meeting is in recess, why is that conciliation? 10) If pinnochio
Plawker suggests that the town set up a legal fund to defend itself against not
rehiring Cohen/Duffy, in effect inviting a lawsuit, why would you say anything? 11) If
the voters reject the school Budget, and Parisi and Pinochhio Plawker say lets raise
taxes, why would you think they are listening to the voters? 12) When the Dems say
the are worried about the impact of replacing the labor attorney, is that a concern
considering our ALREADY VERY highly paid PD - and history of sweetheart Police
Chief retroactive payments? Trust Parisi and Pinnochio Plawker? Really?????????

19. Thursday February 3, 2011, 11:42 PM - tcsh says:

Hey look it's the ECFD poser aka Halas,Mungioli,O'Shea, or any of the other usual
crew of Republican neanderthals who can make comments about the mayor beating
his wife or calling him a "little Hitler" and then blame the other side for being uncivil.
The truth is your side blew it BIG TIME, and your comments show that you are
either in denial or to stupid to realize that more you open your mouths at meetings
or post on these message boards, the more people realize that Carol and company
are a big cancer on the borough of Englewood Cliffs. Also please don't post under
ECFD, you insult the men and women who volunteer their time to do good for the
community, while you just seek to spread hate and anger.

20. Thursday February 3, 2011, 11:27 PM - ECFD says:

The conspiracy theory sound nice, but a stretch. More likely, they are reluctant to
stand up and say: 1) Ilene is not qualified and doen't do a good job; 2) Lissette has
had numerous positions in the last year, regardless of ability, and without the Dems
following the "Policy Manual'; 3)Pinnochio Plawker is a snake and will lie and
sabotouge any Republican initiative; 4) If we can't get the road repair records after
three months, why not clean house; 5) If I vent to the Borough attorney about being
thrown out of the ECFD, and that becomes the basis for the "BIG MERGER LIE" - and
includes the PD for an added scare tactic, why say anything; 6)If the Mayor says the
Administrator won't have a key to open Borough Hall, while he has it in his pocket,
why would you trust anything he says? 7)If Pinnochio Plawker says experience is
important, but Melanie Simon has no Council experience, why is that OK? 8)If the
Dems always work as a block, why is that unacceptable for the Republicans? 9)If, at
the reorg meeting the mayor pledges conciliation, and then attempts to nominate
and appoint Pinnochio Plawker as Council president,

21. Thursday February 3, 2011, 11:27 PM - ECFD says:

The conspiracy theory sound nice, but a stretch. More likely, they are reluctant to
stand up and say: 1) Ilene is not qualified and doen't do a good job; 2) Lissette has
had numerous positions in the last year, regardless of ability, and without the Dems
following the "Policy Manual'; 3)Pinnochio Plawker is a snake and will lie and
sabotouge any Republican initiative; 4) If we can't get the road repair records after
three months, why not clean house; 5) If I vent to the Borough attorney about being
thrown out of the ECFD, and that becomes the basis for the "BIG MERGER LIE" - and
includes the PD for an added scare tactic, why say anything; 6)If the Mayor says the
Administrator won't have a key to open Borough Hall, while he has it in his pocket,
why would you trust anything he says? 7)If Pinnochio Plawker says experience is
important, but Melanie Simon has no Council experience, why is that OK? 8)If the
Dems always work as a block, why is that unacceptable for the Republicans? 9)If, at
the reorg meeting the mayor pledges conciliation, and then attempts to nominate
and appoint Pinnochio Plawker as Council president,

22. Thursday February 3, 2011, 11:26 PM - tcsh says:

That's rich, Carol McMorrow saying she can't trust the Democrats. Judging by your
recent actions Carol, the public doesn't trust you and your puppets Bartolomeo and
Petrone to be honest with the community. Remember your call for openness and
transparency in the hiring practices of the borough, well you threw that out the
window right away didn't you. (Time will tell if this also results in a civil action
against the town too) And btw why did you have to answer for Agresta, can't the
boy wonder speak for himself or do you have to do it for him. Then again he may be
out of town again. Does he even live in Englewood Cliffs anymore?

23. Thursday February 3, 2011, 10:57 PM - HoboM says:

Can someone explain to Councilman Agresta the results from last years election?
That "chart a new course for the borough" sailed away two years ago. The council
not letting anyone know they were appointing, just another failed political hack who
had been thrown out of her own town for poor management, while two councilmen
voting to give this $75,000 nominee a job whom they never met? Yes "chart a new
course" alright, right into the iceberg!

24. Thursday February 3, 2011, 10:38 PM - NoComment says:

McMorrow and Agresta have no excuse for not responding to the residents of EC.
They looked like idiots at the council meeting. Its something I'll never forget. They
are an embarrassment. They allowed themselves to do what the county republicans
told them to and now they have no idea what to say. Carroll McMorrow is a master
at blaming everyone else for what she does. Then she cries her crocodile tears when
she gets called on it. Its the residents of the town calling you on it now Carol. Blame
who you want. You have no excuses.

25. Thursday February 3, 2011, 9:31 PM - PaigeAve says:

this is a county wide gang attack on Englecliff Cliff by Bergen Republicans. News
stories report that Republican Doyle cost thousands in Franklin Lakes, by current
Freeholder and the new clerk is a pension pump a Republican. Republicans are
disgraceful and should be ashamed of themselves.

4 of 5 3/27/11 11:09 AM
Update: Parisi responds to lack of trust statement from McMorrow, Agres... http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/115216184_McMorrow__Agre...

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