If you’ve ever been in the council chambers on the second floor of Guttenberg Town Hall, a room that also doubles as the municipal courtroom, you would have to notice the array of portraits that grace the walls.
The portraits are of the township’s many mayors that have served over the years. Some of the portraits have historical value.
However, one of the portraits of a former mayor, in particular the most recent former mayor, Peter LaVilla, was mysteriously missing for more than two weeks. Someone removed LaVilla’s portrait off the wall, while the portraits of the 30 other mayors remained.
“It was kind of silly and stupid,” said LaVilla, who now resides in North Bergen, last week. “It goes to show you that jealousy is pretty deep rooted in Guttenberg politics.”
No one really knows how LaVilla’s picture vanished, but there is a ton of speculation, a regular “whodunit” of intrigue. Rumors are circulating that it was perhaps a township employee, maybe even one of the township’s elected officials.
LaVilla said that he was used to the portrait being defaced, but it was never totally removed before.
“When I was mayor, they used to do some silly things to the picture,” LaVilla said. “Someone once put the crown that kids get at Burger King on my picture. Someone else put grapes on the picture, because I used to say that members of the council were sour grapes. They would draw mustaches on it.”
Added LaVilla, “But to take it down? As far as I’m concerned, it’s a part of Guttenberg history. It was an honor for me to be the mayor and it was an honor to pose for the portrait. To deface the picture only hurts the spirit of Guttenberg’s residents. I really didn’t understand it.”
Last week, the portrait was found in a storage room, covered with toilet paper. It was then put back in its proper spot, where it remains, along side the portrait of the once and current mayor, Robert Sabello.
Councilman David Delle Donna said that he had no idea where the portrait went.
“I don’t know where it went or what happened,” Delle Donna said. “I’m just glad it’s back. The courtroom is open all day, with people coming and going, so anything could have happened. I know he wasn’t the most popular guy in the world, but there doesn’t need to be any disrespect for the man. It was not something I paid much attention to. I have other things to worry about. It wasn’t something that I readily noticed. I don’t know if anyone did, until the one woman stepped forward and mentioned something. I’m just glad it was found and it’s over with now.”
Added Delle Donna, “If this was some big game, then it must have been someone with a lot of time on their hands. I don’t have the time to worry about things like that.”
LaVilla, who spends his time as a writer these days and away from public service, said that he hoped that the current administration would move in a positive direction.
“I wish that the administration would do their own thing and stop trying to belittle me,” LaVilla said. “My record stands for itself. No one is hurting Peter LaVilla by doing this. The whole thing was silly and I’m glad the picture is back. I’m happy for the people of Guttenberg, because I still believe I was just a small player in a little pond.”