By LINDA SMITH HANCHARICK
WEST MILFORD — The members of the 2012 West Milford Economic Development Committee are striking out on their own and forming a non-profit corporation to work independently of the township. Citing partisan politics as the reason, the group said they do not want their momentum and impact on the economics of the township to be extinguished.
“Just as a strong and committed team began to see success in creating a positive economic climate in the township, politics once again has attempted to extinguish the flame, as the township council has chosen to replace valuable members of the team with political friends,” according to a statement from the group.
Lack of confidence
This comes just one week after the township council appointed six residents to the newly minted Economic Development Commission. Four of those new members were members of the seven-member EDC from last year. However, three of the former members were not appointed by the council. Mayor Bettina Bieri has not yet made her two appointments to the commission, which has 11 members in total including eight citizen members, one representative of the Chamber of Commerce, a council liaison and the mayor.
“Please be aware that as mayor I did not make any of my two appointments at that time,” said Bieri. “Since we had more applicants than available positions, I wanted the opportunity to carefully review the remaining applicants, which were not known until after the council made its decisions.”
Bob Nicholson, the EDC chairman last year who was reappointed by the council last week, said he was disappointed that the council did not keep the group totally intact and simply add another member.
“The actions of the council and mayor clearly demonstrate a lack of confidence with the former West Milford Economic Development Committee membership as it exists,” said Nicholson in an official statement. “Our requests were well communicated and disregarded. The attempt of the township council and the mayor to break up a body of harmonious, qualified professionals cannot and will not be accepted.”
The council appointed Nicholson, Angelo Silvestri, Tim Wagner, Paul Zarillo - all members from last year - as well as Michele Dale and Bev Puntilillo.
Jon Sherwood, John Ringer and Jeff Mergler, all members from last year, had requested reappointment. Mergler pulled his name from consideration after not getting appointed by the council. Residents Michael Gerst and Clint Space are also EDC hopefuls.
The former members, except Mergler, plus Puntilillo plan to establish a 501(c) corporation and work independently of the township. Their goal, according to Nicholson, is to further the local economic development, “unfettered by the pull and drag of political agendas.”
What went wrong?
Last year, the EDC requested that it become a commission rather than remain a committee in order to have the ability to apply for grant money. The council approved that request, establishing an Economic Development Commission. Changes were made, including the addition of one more citizen member and the mayor. All members of the commission were voting members whereas in the past only the citizen members could vote.
According to the EDC statement, they disagreed with certain areas in the formation of the commission, including having both the council liaison and mayor vote. The group also feels the vote taken last week appointing them should be voided since it was not done according to the ordinance which specifies staggered one, two and three-year terms.
Councilman Mike Hensley was appointed in January by the council to be the EDC liaison.
“I was looking forward to working with all of the members,” said Hensley. “The selection process was difficult as there were a number of highly qualified candidates that put their name forward, not only for this committee but for others as well. I only wish that all interested persons could have been included. The decision of those members to resign before even one commission meeting was able to meet is, in my opinion, premature and demonstrates an unwarranted hostility toward the council.”
Going forward, Nicholson and his fellow former EDC members point to the good they’ve done and the plans they have.
“We are proud of the successes we have accomplished in the past year alone, including the grand opening of the West Milford Family Pump Track,” said the former EDC members in their letter to the township. “At this point, rather than be broken up just as we began to see momentum, we regretfully request that you accept the resignations of those signed below.”
Bieri wishes the group well.
“We have many civic-minded individuals who volunteer for a wide array of committees and organizations for the benefit of the township and beyond. Most of these organizations are not specifically affiliated with the township via ordinance or resolution, yet they achieve amazing goals,” said Bieri. “It appears this is the path these individuals wish to take. I wish them well in their future endeavors.”