After listening to political opponents fire derogatory comments at him at the regularly scheduled commissioners’ meetings for months and remaining silent, North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco finally heard enough.
At Wednesday’s meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Sacco took most of the taunts and jabs from the opposition during the public hearing portion of the meeting, when residents are given five minutes to discuss their complaints and concerns to the commissioners.
However, when Russell Pascale, a regular speaker during the meetings, was questioning Sacco’s voting record as a member of the New Jersey State senate, then yelled to Sacco and said, “Listen to me, Nick. You’re not even listening to me,” that’s when Sacco finally retaliated.
“Now, sit down,” Sacco yelled back at Pascale. “That’s enough. You’re done.”
It marked the first time in months of listening to the harsh comments from his opposition that Sacco finally lashed out.
“I can only take so much, but I can’t tolerate such behavior,” Sacco said later. “He [Pascale] had to corrected four or five times and was corrected respectfully. But he continued to be obnoxious and I was not going to tolerate it.”
The public hearing portions of the commissioners’ meetings have become a circus of late. Residents have been attending every meeting, whether they are held at 11 a.m., like Wednesday’s, or at 5 or 8 p.m. The meeting schedule varies according to the schedules of the commissioners. After the regular business of the township is taken care of, the public hearing portion begins and the taunts start to fly.
Some residents attend the meetings to issue their complaints and concerns over pending issues, like the proposed development at the site of the Sier-Bath gear factory, which remains perhaps the hottest topic in the town.
At Wednesday’s meeting, local activist Paul Zampino offered his latest concerns over the proposed development. “Some people have legitimate concerns,” Sacco said. “I told Paul that I would speak to him alone after the meeting and I did to discuss his concerns. We are a township government that will listen to its people. But we can’t be dictated by people with political agenda. It’s always been a concern of mine to see how people feel. But not this way.”
Other opposing voices like Edward “Bo” Scannavino and John Cursinella, one-time political allies of Sacco, have become foes over the years. Wednesday, Scannavino and Cursinella voiced accusations and allegations – most of which were ignored by Sacco and the commissioners.
“The reason why I don’t say anything to them is that I don’t feel that any of them are for real,” Sacco said. “As time goes on, we’ll see their true motives. I don’t look at it as being credible. I look at it as just political opposition. They’re coming up with unfounded allegations and it definitely hurts the true meaning of the process.”
Scannavino has consistently denied any political ties with former Township Clerk Joseph Mocco, the person whom Sacco believes is organizing the bimonthly attacks at the meetings. Mocco was released from prison last year after serving time on charges of corruption due to illegal dumping. Pascale maintains that he also has no political affiliation, just that he is a concerned citizen with legitimate concerns.
In other township business, the commissioners approved a resolution that will allow an annual audit of the town’s books, with all expenditures included, as required by state law and the state’s Local Finance Board. The commissioners also approved contracts issued to build a parking lot on Broadway and 73rd Streets, as well as the contract to improve the Little League field on 76th Street.
Felix Henriquez received a five-year extension on his appointment as a commissioner with the Municipal Utilities Authority and Louise Noble was appointed to the Housing Authority, replacing Jorge Prado, the principal at Horace Mann School, who resigned the position.