Gavel grabbing has no place in township hall

EDITORIAL

By Ruth Luse
   The unfortunate confrontation between Hopewell Township Committeewoman Arlene Kemp and Deputy Mayor Marylou Ferrara at the May 1 Hopewell Township Committee meeting could have — and should have — been avoided.
   Common sense says that since Committeeman Jon Edwards has not yet been sued or charged with anything in relation to his January e-mail message to members of the township Democratic organization, Hopewell Township officials did not have to consider taking immediate action on the issue of paying his legal bills.
   If and when Mr. Edwards does face legal problems resulting from his allegations that in November 2001 members of the county Democratic organization said they would funnel $10,000 from attorney Josh Markowitz to the township Democratic organization if Mr. Markowitz was hired as township attorney, then it would be quite appropriate for township officials to take a stand about who should foot Mr. Edwards’ bills.
   We agree with Ms. Kemp and Vanessa Sandom that Hopewell Township taxpayers should not be paying any bills, if indeed such bills are forthcoming, but we do not think that point was worth the ridiculous battle over the gavel that took place May 1.
   Such performances by elected officials cannot help but create increased bad feelings among members of the group that is supposed to be leading the Hopewell Township community. Indeed, such actions are childish and send the community the message that all is not well with Hopewell Township government.
   Even if Ms. Kemp believed Ms. Ferrara was running the meeting improperly, she should not have grabbed the gavel. She had no right to it. Ms. Ferrara, as deputy mayor, was in change on the meeting in the absence of the mayor, Fran Bartlett.
   Civil disobedience is for emergencies and grave injustices. The disagreement May 1 hardly falls into either category.
   Just imagine what it would be like in a court of law if some unhappy individual grabbed the judge’s gavel after the judge ruled against a defendant or plaintiff. Complete chaos would follow, a situation that cannot be allowed to exist in courts or on any government level if they are to serve the people properly.
   We suggest that members of the Hopewell Township Committee find some way to handle their obvious differences, political or otherwise, so the business of the town can be conducted with maturity and without further ado.