Council President Wants Mayor's Staffers' E-Mails

Council President Beth Mason and Vice President Michael Russo want to see all of the e-mail sent and received by Mayor Dawn Zimmer's chief of staff and communications director, accusing them of politicizing public communications on behalf of the city.

Mason and Russo, staunch opponents of the mayor, are introducing a resolution before the city council, calling for an investigation into the activities of confidential aide Daniel Bryan and communications manager Juan Melli. Melli is in charge of communication with the press, while Bryan serves as the mayor’s chief of staff.

The resolution states that, “two unclassified Administration appointees, Daniel Bryan and Juan Melli, have now been given the primary task of performing public relations duties on behalf of the mayor, at a combined cost of well over $150,000 annually in salary and benefit cost to the taxpayer,” adding that “public communications, including the City’s website, have become highly politicized.”

Mason and Russo want to see all e-mails since Jan. 1, 2010, from the city-issued e-mail addresses of both Melli and Bryan. The resolution directs the city to produce “communication related to the expenditure of tax payer funds for Hoboken’s public relations and communications initiative.”

“A full investigation into an apparent abuse of tax dollars is warranted,” the resolution states also.

The resolution also warns Melli and Bryan not to delete any e-mails from their accounts, "under the Destruction of Public Records Act.”

Mason and Russo did not immediately respond to multiple attempts to contact them. Melli and Bryan weren't immediately available to respond on Friday afternoon.

Both Mason and Russo are running for re-election in May. Mason supporters now make up a , after Fourth Ward Councilman Tim Occhipinti Michael Lenz, a Zimmer backer, last fall.

Last year, when the mayor announced layoffs, one of the city hall employees who lost his job was Public Information Officer Bill Campbell, who is currently suing the city.