To the Editor:
On June 9, Councilman Gary La Pelusa resigned from the board of directors of the Bayonne Medical Center. As a taxpayer, I am finding it hard to believe that we now have a councilman resigning as the municipal representative to this board. This is the very same hospital that, during 2007, many fought hard to keep afloat, including Mr. La Pelusa. I agreed in 2007 that this city needed a first rate hospital, and my opinion has not changed since. The BMC is needed to be an anchor for this community, where jobs and businesses continue to leave for towns that have cheaper taxes.
During Mr. La Pelusa’s tenure as board member, he stated, “Financial records as well as vendor and personal contract information was not openly shown to all board members.” He also stated that he “was not able to vote on certain decisions, especially the current contract talks.” I find Mr. La Pelusa’s actions a dereliction of his duties not only as a board member, but also a representative of the citizens of Bayonne.
If Mr. La Pelusa believed that board members were not given proper records, information or allowed to vote on certain decisions, then he should have requested the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office or the State Attorney General’s Office investigate the BMC. What I also found alarming and disheartening is that Councilman La Pelusa was the prime sponsor of a $6 million loan that the taxpayers of this city gave to this hospital. Mr. La Pelusa was elected by the citizenry to represent the interests of not only the taxpayers, but everyone who utilizes and works for the BMC. With his resignation, he fails to fulfill his obligation to the citizens of Bayonne.
I feel sorry for whoever is appointed to fill Mr. La Pelusa’s position, because they will be at an extreme disadvantage during this turbulent time. Hopefully, whoever is selected will show some intestinal fortitude and make sure the workers of the BMC and the citizens of Bayonne are properly protected.
Finally, I would just like to ask Mr. La Pelusa one question. How was the $6 million used, and will the taxpayers of Bayonne ever get that money back?
BRIAN GAJEWSKI