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POSTED: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 11, 2010

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Englewood Cliffs council's two
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Like Democrats quit

Claiming they were fed up with the constant bickering along party lines
since a Republican majority took over the Englewood Cliffs Council in
January, longtime Democratic council members Tomas Manolio and Ilan
COMMENTS: Plawker announced they were calling it quits at a public meeting
Wednesday night after 15 years in office.
9
BY GIOVANNA FABIANO
BERGEN.COM

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS — After 15 years in office, both of Englewood

Cliffs' Democratic council members called it quits at a public meeting trending now
Wednesday night, saying they were fed up with the constant bickering since
Panic at the Disco | Westfield Garden
a Republican majority took over in January. State Plaza | Hot Topic | Amy Lerner |
Julie Bowen | Bill Wrubel |
Thomas Manolio resigned effective immediately, walking off the dais at the Entertainment | Heather Zwain |
municipal complex after an emotional speech that blamed the Republicans Bananas | Alonzo Bodden | Joumana Kidd
| Dina Manzo | Maria Cucciniello |
for turning council meetings into a "monthly charade, a black comedy, if you James Gandolfini | Cubby's | Bethenny
Frankel | Bookends | Phil Simms | Lea
will," he said. Michele | IZOD Center | Glee | Mary J.
Blige | Marc Jacobs | Fashion
Ilan Plawker, who also sits on the state Board of Education, said he will
serve out the remainder of his term but is withdrawing his bid for reelection.

Both council members were up for reelection in the fall.

Plawker, who last week was designated as a state school board liaison to the
state Legislature, was stripped of essentially all power on the borough
council in January after serving 12 years as council president, he said.

"My input based on many years of experience no longer seems to be of any

value," he said, reading from a statement.

"Frankly, other than the constant bickering we find ourselves engaged in at

every meeting, well into the early morning hours, our deliberations are of no
substantive value," Plawker said.

The announcements, made at the start of the meeting, came as a surprise to

residents in the audience, many of whom gasped as the statements were
read and shook their heads in disbelief.

Mayor Joseph Parisi Jr. said he was saddened and angry that both men "felt
compelled to leave," telling Manolio, "It's a shame you're being chased off
this council because you're not being heard."

Republican Councilman Eric Petrone said he was disappointed in Manolio's

resignation, adding that it is "not the Republicans' fault" that council
members were not working together. The other Republicans present —
Carrol McMorrow and Martin Asatrian — did not immediately comment.
Robert Agresta, the council president, was absent.

In response to accusations by Plawker and Parisi last month that

Republicans had not listened to suggestions made by Democrats during a
contentious budget process, Agresta said they had "extended the olive
branch, but Democrats refused to take it."

Council meetings in the borough have become particularly acrimonious,

with Republicans and Democrats often shouting over each other in order to
be heard. Residents chided the council at a July meeting and implored them
to work together after Manolio stormed out during an argument with
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Bergen.com - Englewood Cliffs councils two Democrats quit http://www.northjersey.com/bergen/081110_Englewood_Cliffs_councils...

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