Bergenfield

Statement to District 37 Democrats

WEINBERG, JOHNSON AND VAINIERI HUTTLE INTRODUCE BILL TO EXPAND HOMEOWNER RIGHTS IN TAX REVALUATIONS

TRENTON - Senator Loretta Weinberg and Assemblymembers Gordon Johnson and Valerie Vainieri Huttle introduced bills in their respective houses today that would provide homeowners who have undergone a property revaluation, like the residents of Bergenfield did, an additional 90 days to file an appeal after the revaluation.

"As the residents of Bergenfield can attest, it is very difficult for homeowners to fully assess the impact a revaluation of their property may have on their property tax bill," said Senator Weinberg. "Both the manner by which new property values are assessed and how those new values impact the owner’s tax burden are confusing to all but the best trained experts, and New Jersey residents deserve a longer time cushion in determining whether they have been unduly harmed by the revaluation."

The Bergenfield Republican Club approved this press release during its
meeting yesterday, Wednesday October 5, 2005.

Bergenfield Democratic Municipal Chairman Kevin Clancy, whose allegedly forged resignations of County Committee members unwilling to back his candidate became the subject of fraud charges in the 37th district State Senate Special Election Convention, resigned his post last night. He is to be replaced, at least for now, by former Councilwoman Elaine Rabbitt -- a current Council candidate, and according to published reports, Clancy's live-in girlfriend. The troubled Clancy was once Mayor of Bergenfield and resigned after pleading guilty to drunk driving; charges that he attempted to bribe a police officer were dropped as part of a plea agreement.

Rabbitt, the Vice Chairwoman, has sent out two letters announcing a special election to select a new Municipal Chair. One sets the date as October 3rd, at the 16 Chovet Terrace home he shares with Rabbitt; the other on October 6th at the Coopers Pond Park Field House. READ

P.S. Important warning -- This e-mail came from Wojciech Siemaszkiewicz, the Bergenfield Republican Club President: "I received information that an authorized press released has been sent to you signed as the Bergenfield Republican Club. Please do not post this release as it was not approved by the BRC for release."

P.S.S. Update from Wojciech Siemaszkiewicz: We confirmed that no press release was sent out. Can you remove my statement about such press release from the Inside Edge? Thank you.

This week's James W. Treffinger Award for Distinguished Public Service goes to Kevin Clancy, the Bergenfield Democratic Municipal Chairman and former Mayor (he resigned in 1998 after a drunk driving conviction -- charges that he tried to bribe a police officer were dropped), who on the surface seems to be among the top-tier of small-time sleazes in New Jersey politics. Evidence that Clancy had a role in forging resignation letters of County Committee members seems, on the surface, fairly strong. Tom Moran's column in today's Star-Ledger is a must read to learn more about Clancy. The last Treffinger Award, on January 8, 2003, also went to a Bergenfield resident: John Mosca, Jr., who had torched the car of the local tax clerk he blamed for losing his job as the borough's Chief Financial Officer two days earlier. He was arrested shortly afterwards and local police say he admitted his role. Bergenfield has long been considered a swing town in Bergen County politics and this fall both parties list a competitive local election where control is at stake (Republicans have it now) as one of their prime targets. Bergen Republicans have a rapidly decreasing number of towns where they can dominate; amazingly, there has been no GOP comment on the latest Clancy scandal.