01-18-2011 - mayor leads rally in support of ousted borough administrator, deputy clerk - north...
TRANSCRIPT
8/7/2019 01-18-2011 - Mayor Leads Rally in Support of Ousted Borough Administrator, Deputy Clerk - North Jersey
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/01-18-2011-mayor-leads-rally-in-support-of-ousted-borough-administrator 1/2
Screen Name Log in Register | Email A le rt s Lost Password? Mobi le Forums Subscr ibe Place an Ad Class ifieds Legals Garage Sales Jobs Cars Homes Deals!
32.0°F
Search
Home : News : Bergen
Comment: 1
E-mail this story
Print this story
Decrease Font Size
Increase Font Size
Story tools
0
Share
LikeBe the
first of
your
friends
to like
this.
vote
now
Mayor leads rally in support of ousted borough administrator, deputy clerk
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
BY AMANDA BASKINDNORTHERN VALLEY SUBURBANITE
Staff Writer
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS - Residents showed support for Borough
Administrator/Clerk Ilene Cohen and Deputy Clerk Lisette Duffy at a rally on
Friday. Both Cohen and Duffy are scheduled to lose their jobs at the end of the
month.
"The reason why I called the
meeting was because I've
been getting so many calls
from residents about how
they were so upset about the
dismissals of Ilene and
Lisette," said Mayor Joseph
C. Parisi Jr., a Democrat.
According to Parisi,
approximately 75 people
attended the rally, which he
organized in support of
Cohen and Duffy.
The Republican majority on
the borough council chose
not to reappoint Cohen and
Duffy at the Jan. 4
reorganization meeting. The
two women are serving in a
holdover capacity for 30 days.
After the reorganization
meeting, Council President
Robert Agresta, a Republican,
said, "Every decision made by
this council is being made to save the taxpayers money." He did not return an
e-mail seeking comment about Friday's rally.
Councilman Ilan Plawker, a Democrat, called the dismissal of Cohen and Duffy
"unwarranted" and "unconscionable."
Plawker said what is worse was that Cohen had asked both Agresta and
Councilwoman Carrol McMorrow, also a Republican, if they had any intentions of
replacing her weeks before the reorganization meeting took place. Cohen, he said,
was assured that she would not be replaced.
"You just don't do that to people, especially when their job performance was
outstanding," Plawker said.
At the rally, Parisi explained how the appointment process works. He also spoke
about how he did not receive any recommendations for appointments for borough
positions before the Jan. 4 meeting. He added that he still had not been given a list
of people recommended for the vacant positions by the council majority.
STAFF PHOTO BY JOE CAMPOREALE
Englewood Cliffs Mayor Joseph Parisi Jr.,
lead a meeting on Jan. 14 called 'Take
Back Englewood Cliffs.' The unofficial
meeting was designed to support
outgoing Borough Clerk/Administrator
Ilene Cohen and Deputy Clerk Lisette
Duffy. The Republican controlled council
told the two municipal officials were told
that there services would no longer be
needed.
News Towns Obituaries Sports Health Real Estate Arts & Entertainment Food & Dining Community Events Shopping Travel More Traffic
r leads rally in support of ousted borough administrator, deputy cler... http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/114145624_Parisi_lead
3/27/11 1
8/7/2019 01-18-2011 - Mayor Leads Rally in Support of Ousted Borough Administrator, Deputy Clerk - North Jersey
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/01-18-2011-mayor-leads-rally-in-support-of-ousted-borough-administrator 2/2
Click here for more news from: Englewood Cliffs
Edward Aversa, a Democrat, also spoke at the rally. According to Parisi, at one
point Aversa filled a council vacancy. Aversa spoke about the ways in which Cohen
and Duffy interacted with the town.
He also explained that he could not see how the borough would save money by not
reappointing them. Parisi said it would be very difficult for one person to do both
Cohen and Duffy's jobs.
In addition to the rally, a petition in support of the reappointment of Cohen and
Duffy has been circulating electronically. Englewood Cliffs resident Claudine
Colmenar Rosenthal started the petition, which at last count had over 270
signatures.
"The rally held last week, along with the outpouring of support via a petition
currently being circulated, are clear indications that the residents of Englewood
Cliffs will not tolerate the total lack of civility demonstrated by the council
majority," Plawker said.
Among those who signed the petition was former Republican Councilman Martin
Asatrian. Asatrian, whose council term did not expire until 2012, resigned from
council in November.
Asatrian said, "As a former republican councilman, I urge the majority to reappoint
and reinstate Ms. Cohen and Ms. Duffy as they are assets to the borough hall."
Parisi noted that the appointment of Cohen and Duffy was not political.
"They aren't my people, they are the people of Englewood Cliffs, and they work for
everyone," he said. "I would love if the council majority would turn around andchange their minds."
The mayor urged those who support Cohen and Duffy to attend the Jan. 24 council
meeting to press the council majority on the matter.
E-mail: [email protected] or call 201-894-6700
Reader Comments (1)
Reminder: Our comments section is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Tuesday January 18, 2011, 2:22 PM - concernednj says:
It's politics. The majority rules. Seen it at the County level and god knows how
many people lose their jobs when the White House changes hands. You live in thispolitical environment you have to expect these things.
1.
Please report comments that violate the terms of service.
Share your view:
You have to register before you can post comments or use our advanced features.
User Name:
Password:
Lo In
Our Partners: NorthJersey Images | Bergen.com | (201) | (201) Bride | (201) Health | Parade | 1010 WINS | MyFoxNY | My9 | boocoo auctions © 2011 North Jersey Media Group
Open Footer/Site Directory
r leads rally in support of ousted borough administrator, deputy cler... http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/114145624_Parisi_lead
3/27/11 1