RECORDADO: El alcalde de Hoboken, Bhalla, estaba dentro de sus derechos legales para ofrecerle el trabajo a la concejal falco como directora de la nueva división de vivienda

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THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS A NEW QUOTE FROM COUNCILWOMAN FALCO

An eight page legal decision announced today says that Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla was within his legal right to offer sitting Councilwoman At Large Vanessa Falco the new position of Director of the Division of Housing once her Council term ends in January.

The ruling was made after Councilwomen Jen Giattino and Tiffanie Fisher questioned the legality of the move.

The legal opinion came from Daniel Antonelli and Jarrid Kantor, partners at the Livingston-based law firm Antonelli Kantor, P.C..    Antonelli and Kantor serve as Hoboken’s special counsel for labor and employment.

Their concluding opinion states, “The Mayor was completely within his authority in making a conditional offer of employment to the sitting councilperson. There is no basis in fact or law to assert that this action was taken by the Mayor for his personal gain or to garner influence; therefore, such actions are lawful and not in violation of any statute or the LGEL. In addition, to the extent the councilperson’s oath of office remains valid, the conditional offer of employment on its own, does not increase the potential for litigation against the city, and any votes or participation in deliberations before council are subject to compliance with the LGEL on a case-by-case basis.”

The legal opinion made a distinction between rules for municipalities and those for independent, local authorities, basically stating an offer of employment for a sitting member of a governing body does not have to wait until a council term comes to an end.

Last week Giattino and Fisher contacted both the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and the state Department of Community Affairs seeking their opinion and examination of the Mayor’s job offer, claiming it violated several state statutes.  Wednesday’s ruling squashed that opinion.

Upon learning of the legal opinion made by Antonelli Kantor, Councilwoman Falco issued the following statement:

“La semana pasada, me sorprendió y entristeció las despreciables afirmaciones sobre mi personaje de las concejales Jen Giattino y Tiffanie Fisher, específicamente sobre mi futuro empleo en la nueva División de Vivienda en el Ayuntamiento. Sus afirmaciones fueron ataques personales a mi ética que encontré potencialmente difamatoria, y como resultado, ahora estoy explorando acciones legales apropiadas contra ambas concejales. Mi objetivo siempre ha sido ayudar a proporcionar acceso a vivienda a los residentes de Hoboken que la necesitan. Jugar en política, como Jen y Tiffanie lo hacen con viviendas asequibles, especialmente en relación con mis motivos para hacerlo, muestra sus verdaderos colores.

Hoy, la ciudad recibió una opinión legal, adjunta, que justifica lo que hemos sabido desde el principio, que el alcalde Bhalla estaba bien dentro de su autoridad para contratarme para dirigir el departamento de vivienda asequible en el ayuntamiento. Desde que fui miembro del Ayuntamiento de Hoboken y represento a la Ciudad en general, he tenido la ambición de centrarme en este tema vital en mi ciudad natal, y a pesar de que Giattino y Fisher intentan minar y disminuir mis esfuerzos, sigo plenamente comprometido a devolver a la Ciudad donde me crié, y proveer a aquellos residentes que realmente lo necesitan. ” No puedo .

After the Antonelli Kantor decision was announced yesterday, Council members Phil Cohen and Emily Jabbour, a member of Bhalla’s At Large re-election ticket in the November election, reacted to the statement made by Councilwoman Falco:

“The manner with which Council members Giattino and Fisher viciously attacked Councilwoman Falco’s integrity, regarding her decision to work in City Hall is stunningly disrespectful and unprofessional.