Politics & Government

Officials Clash Over Veto Override Process

Council members fought to override Mayor McCarthy's waiver of residency requirement veto for Township Administrator Ted Ehrenberg.

Bloomfield officials spent a considerable portion of their Wednesday meeting debating the nuances of Robert’s Rules of Order.

The last item on the agenda for the meeting was a resolution to override Mayor Raymond McCarthy’s veto of a May Council vote to waive the residency requirement for Township Administrator Ted Ehrenberg, who lives in Hackettstown. An attempt to override the veto at the previous meeting had not garnered sufficient votes. Because of that previous failure, McCarthy argued that it was not a legal agenda item and that the council could not vote on it.

Councilman Michael Venezia disagreed with the Mayor’s interpretation of the law. Relying on direction from Township Director of Law Brian J. Aloia, Venezia argued that they could vote on the veto that night.

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“Last time I checked, this is America,” Venezia said. “This is a Democracy.”

McCarthy chided the Councilman for what he characterized as a second attempt at a failed motion.

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“We don’t redo votes so you can get a second bite at the apple,” McCarthy said.

Venezia questioned McCarthy’s legal expertise, saying McCarthy didn’t have a law degree and that the council should follow the legal advice of Aloia and assistant Township Attorney Steven Martino.

Councilman Bernard Hamilton and Councilwoman Peggy O'Boyle Dunigan argued that the resididency requirement was old fashioned in a modern work environment and that attention should instead be paid to performance.

The veto was ultimately overturned.  


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