Monday, May 13, 2013
The hearing is scheduled for May 21.
Months of deadlock at the City Council could be coming to an end. On May 21, the appellate court will hear the case about whether or not Jim Doyle will be allowed to complete former Councilwoman-at-Large Carol Marsh's term. Doyle's appointment to the city council, which took multiple votes, was disputed by the council minority — Councilmembers Theresa Castellano, Beth Mason, Tim Occhipinti and Michael Russo — and Doyle was removed. Doyle was ultimately restored as councilman, but that decision too was disputed. For the past three months, Doyle and the rest of the city council have been waiting for the matter to be heard by the appellate court. While the case is scheduled to be heard in front of the appellate court later this month, the …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
The cost has risen more than $12,000 since February.
Litigation concerning the appointment of Jim Doyle to the Hoboken City Council has cost the city nearly $30,000, according to invoices. Doyle was appointed in October 2012 to complete former councilwoman Carol Marsh's term. Marsh resigned, citing personal reasons, in September 2012. Council members Theresa Castellano, Mike Russo, Beth Mason and Tim Occhipinti sued the clerk and the mayor, claiming that Jim Doyle's appointment was invalid. Assignment Judge Peter Bariso then removed Doyle from his seat, resulting in an 8-member council that often ends up in deadlock over the city's issues. While Bariso ruled in February that Doyle's appointment was in fact legal, the four plaintiffs filed an emergency appeal. Until that appeal is heard by …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
According to invoices presented by one member of the public.
The law suit between Mayor Dawn Zimmer and the four minority council members has cost the city more than $16,000 so far, according to two invoices provided to the city council and Patch. Former zoning Board Member Phil Cohen presented the documents to the council. One invoice is for $13,242.27. and another for $3,030. The invoices are dated 12/11/12 and 1/28/2013 and ordered by special counsel McManimon & Scotland LLC. The four council minority members sued Zimmer as well as the city clerk and the city attorney, claiming that Jim Doyle's appointment was invalid. After many rounds of court, the case is now in front of the appellate division. Meanwhile, Doyle's seat remains vacant. Cohen made his comments during the public portion. …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
After a judge decided that Doyle could be appointed as councilman, the council minority appealed the decision.
Jim Doyle's council seat remains vacant for at least another meeting. While Assignment Judge Peter Bariso ruled that the latest vote that appointed Doyle was in fact valid, the council minority has appealed the decision. Bariso's ruling last week stated that "the Municipal Vacancy Law was not intended to encourage gamesmanship. Council members should not be permitted to undermine the deliberative process and trump the intent of the legislature.” But, since the appeal hasn't been heard yet, Doyle wasn't able to take place at the dais on Wednesday night. The decision was made a little after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, less than two hours before the start of the council meeting. Mayor Dawn Zimmer said that tens of thousands of dollars have been …
Friday, February 1, 2013
Assignment Judge Peter Bariso ruled that Jim Doyle's appointment to the Hoboken City Council was valid.
For the first time since November, 2012, all seats on the Hoboken City Council will be filled. Jim Doyle, who was appointed as councilman last October, only served two meetings before he was removed. Doyle was appointed in a 4-2-1 vote. The four minority council members then sued their opponents on the city council, Mayor Dawn Zimmer and City Clerk Jimmy Farina to have Doyle removed claiming that five votes were necessary to appoint Doyle. Assignment Judge Peter Bariso ruled that indeed five votes were needed and Doyle was removed from his seat. After two more attempts to appoint Doyle — the last one two weeks ago — Bariso decided in a court hearing on Friday morning that the latest vote is valid and that Doyle can take his seat on the …
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Doyle will not be sworn in until Hudson County Assignment Judge Peter Bariso approves the 5-4 vote.
Mayor Dawn Zimmer cast the fifth and deciding vote Wednesday night to appoint Jim Doyle to the vacant At-Large seat on the Hoboken City Council. But Doyle will not be taking a chair at the dais just yet. The matter is going back to Hudson County Assignment Judge Peter Bariso for a final ruling. Council members Peter Cunningham, Jennifer Giattino, David Mello and Ravinder Bhalla voted to appoint Doyle. Councilwoman Theresa Castellano and Councilman Tim Occhipinti voted no, and Councilwoman Beth Mason and Councilman Michael Russo abstained. The abstentions counted as two "no" votes as opposed to to "non-votes," according to the city's corporation counsel Melissa Longo. Zimmer was called in to break the tie. In November, Judge Bariso ruled …
Mayor Dawn Zimmer will have the authority to break a tie vote if it occurs.
A resolution appointing Jim Doyle to fill the vacant At-Large seat on the Hoboken City Council has been added to tonight's agenda. Deputy City Clerk Jerry Lore said the court-ordered resolution was added yesterday. According to council documents, the order was stayed pending an appeal which was denied last week by Hudson County Assignment Judge Peter Bario. In November, Judge Bariso ruled that five votes were necessary to elect Doyle. City spokesman Juan Melli has confirmed that Mayor Dawn Zimmer is planning to be in council chambers tonight to cast the fifth and deciding vote in the event of a split vote. It is not clear whether all council members are planning to attend tonight's meeting. Councilwoman Theresa Castellano, reached by phone…
Monday, December 17, 2012
All eight sitting members of the Hoboken City council will vote on Jim Doyle's appointment on Wednesday.
The entire Hoboken City Council will have to be present on Wednesday — either in person or over the phone — to vote on Jim Doyle's council appointment. Hudson County Assignment Judge Peter Bariso ruled on Friday that all members must be present at the meeting to take the vote. Doyle was appointed after former Councilwoman-at-Large Carol Marsh stepped down from her seat. Doyle was sworn in, after a 4-3-1 vote at a council meeting. In response, the four minority members of the council sued their opponents on the city council as well as Jimmy Farina, the city clerk, claiming Doyle's appointment was illegal. Bariso ruled that, in fact, five votes were needed and Doyle was removed from the council. While all eight members will have to be at …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Many votes could fail in a 4-4 stalemate.
The Hoboken City Council will officially only have eight members for at least two upcoming meetings. This will likely mean that controversial issues will either be postponed or will fail in 4-4 votes. A couple of weeks ago, Hudson County Assignment Judge Peter Bariso ruled that five votes were needed to appoint councilman Jim Doyle, after the four minority council members sued the city and the rest of the council. While the minority considered Doyle's appointment "illegal," Corporation Counsel Melissa Longo and City Clerk Jimmy Farina said that a simple majority was needed to appoint Doyle. The judge disagreed. Doyle was initially appointed to serve the remainder of former council woman Carol Marsh's term. Marsh's term was originally set …
Saturday, November 17, 2012
The newest member of the council was appointed to complete Carol Marsh's term.
Hudson County Assignment Judge Bariso ruled on Friday that five votes were necessary to appoint Jim Doyle to the Hoboken City Council. Doyle was appointed in October to complete former councilwoman Carol Marsh's term. Marsh resigned, citing personal reasons, in September. Doyle's appointment — which was met with heavy opposition from the council minority — passed in a 4-3-1 vote. Councilman and mayoral critic Michael Russo abstained. Councilwoman Beth Mason was absent that meeting. Corporation Counsel Melissa Longo and City Clerk Jimmy Farina both said that a simple majority of council members present was enough to appoint Doyle. The four minority council members sued their opponents on the city council, Mayor Dawn Zimmer and City Clerk …
PlanetDan
4:05 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Let's just hope Doyle is approved and we can get on with it. more ›