TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Most of the governing body convened at a special meeting on Feb. 12 to discuss the 2020 budget, taking a first pass through trust fund items and approximately $2.7 million in new capital expenses.
Mayor Peter Calamari, Council President Stacey DeMarco-Feeney, and Borough Attorney Kenneth Poller were absent.
Town CFO Judy Curran stepped down Jan. 31, following lively exchanges at the dais with Poller and without being given an exit interview. She had offered to stay for two weeks but was let go immediately.
Interviews are ongoing for town auditor. In the mix are previous town auditors Gary J. Vinci of Lerch, Vinci, and Higgins; and Louis C. Mai CPA and Associates.
Calamari recently named Township Administrator Robert Tovo as Finance Director.
It was the governing body’s first meeting since Feb. 3, when most members agreed with Desserie Morgan’s call to scuttle a $10,000 forensic accounting of the town finances, which was approved and funded in 2019, the work briefly going to Chakonis & Pettit LLC of River Edge.
The about-face prevailed in a 3–2 vote, with members Michael DeSena and Steven Cascio voting for the work to continue and Art Cumming supporting newcomers DeMarco-Feeney and Morgan.
The call for forensic accounting was made by former Independent Councilman Robert Bruno, who has decried a lack of transparency in this administration and its predecessor.
When payroll irregularities, including the backdating of pay slips, came to light last year, Bruno called on Calamari to resign and said that he had contacted the State Ethics Commission, the New Jersey State Comptroller, and the county prosecutor’s office.
“They’ve been notified. We’ll see who picks up on it,” Bruno told Pascack Press at the time.
The council authorized the mayor to enter into contract with Chakonis & Pettit under Resolution 19-296. Since then, Poller has been investigating whether it was proper to pay a retainer Chakonis asked for to start the work.
On Feb. 3, Poller reported that he had been advised that paying a proposed retainer for a forensic accounting was against code provisions.
“It would appear this prepayment cannot be made,” Poller said Mai advised him.
DeSena asked, “So has anybody talked to Mr. Chakonis to see if we can amend [the contract]?”
Morgan, a freshman Republican councilperson like DeMarco-Feeney, took over, saying, “I definitely don’t agree with this [expenditure]. I know that this was before [my time] but I feel like Lou Mai already did an audit. It was addressed. It was written up. Everyone was here. It was explained. The necessary corrections were made according to Lou’s audit.”
DeMarco-Feeney backed Morgan, asserting that “there isn’t a difference” between a typical municipal audit and a forensic audit.
Poller put in, “I’ve dealt with plenty of forensic accountants in matrimonial cases and commercial cases, and forensic is to go find something—it’s already been found.”
Also at the budget meeting, the council held back from tackling department line items because the administration had failed to formally notify workers that their employment might be discussed.
The council learned roadwork will amount to approximately $1.4 million this year, as taxes levied for the work last year were not expended.
The town also is planning to address drainage issues at some residences—at $40,000 to $50,000 each, beyond the road program—though DeSena and Cascio objected to spending tax dollars on this while public streets remain in poor shape.
DeSena told Pascack Press on Feb. 13 of the capital expenses thus far, “We can’t afford a $2.7 million capital plan for 2020 after the major bonds and expenses we incurred in 2019. This is on top of our $6 million new firehouse and ambulance headquarters, which we bonded last year.”
One item that came to light in the meeting was an apparent $8,000 outlay to summer recreation program host Bethany Community Church over what Tovo said was a broken window.
“This is the first we’re hearing of it,” DeSena said. “I don’t understand why we paid an $8,000 bill for this window when we didn’t go through insurance. It doesn’t make sense to me.”
The next regular meeting of the governing body is Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Budget hearings will continue then and March 2. The council said it would invite department heads to come in and present requests.