Sine die meeting recap
Outgoing Republican council members William Fenwick and John Cozzi, who were defeated on Nov. 7 by Democratic challengers Robert Metzdorf and Michael Mintz, were lauded by council colleagues and the mayor during the end of year sine die session on Jan. 2.
During the sine die session prior to reorganization, Misciagna awarded plaques to Council President William Fenwick and councilman John Cozzi for their council service.
The plaques recognized both officials “in grateful acknowledgment and appreciation for your three years of dedicated service” from 2021 through 2023 and “with heartfelt thanks of the borough’s residents and governing body,” said the mayor reading from the plaques.
Mayor Keith Misciagna, who occasionally clashed with Fenwick over issues, including the termination of former administrator Julie Falkenstern, said, “it was enjoyable working with you and Councilman Cozzi. You’ll be missed. We didn’t always agree on how to get things done. But we got a lot done and so I wish you well in your future endeavors.”
Misciagna noted he would likely be assigning Cozzi to future advisory committees in town and told Fenwick he would consider his appointment, too. “I don’t expect that this will be the last we see of either one of you,” he told them.
Construction admin position abolished
The council also voted to eliminate an exempt (“at will”) position and one employee. The council voted, 4-0, with two abstentions (councilmen John Ferguson and Matthew Capilli) to eliminate the position of construction office administrator and terminate Edward Scannavino “for reasons of economy and efficiency” as the services he currently provided in the position can be provided by other borough employees.
Voting to eliminate the position and terminate Scannavino were councilman Gregory Hoffman, Bruce Goldsmith, John Cozzi and William Fenwick. (It was Fenwick’s and Cozzi’s last regular meeting.)
Prior to the vote, Chris Diktas, of Diktas Gillen PC, an attorney representing Scannavino, said a Rice Notice letter was sent to the borough that afternoon requesting the motion to terminate Edward Scannavino’s employment be presented in public. The resolution, 023-357, abolishing the position and Scannavino’s job, was voted on in public after Ditkas’s brief public comments.
The resolution said the position was created in 2020, and that “the Borough has determined that it no longer has a need for a Construction Office Administrator as the services currently being provided by the Construction Office Administrator can be provided by other current Borough employees and continuing the position would therefore be uneconomical.”
No mayor or council comments were made about the resolution or the attorney’s request. Council voted 4-0, without comment, to eliminate the position and terminate Scannavino. Town Hall sources told Pascack Press that Scannavino’s salary was approximately $74,000. Efforts to reach Ditkas for comment were not returned by press time.
