HAMILTON: Council gets heated over letter’s release

By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Managing Editor
   Councilwoman Ileana Schirmer called Councilman Kevin Meara to the carpet during Tuesday night’s council meeting.
   She wanted to know why he released an anonymous letter containing personal contact information and allegations about township officials to the media. The letter, which all council members received, alleged township officials solicited campaign funds for Mayor Kelly Yaede during township work hours on township computers.
   The township attorney, with the help of the municipal prosecutor, has since investigated the allegations, finding that “none of the emails were performed during township hours except one correcting a location on a meeting, which was done from a personal device,” according to Township Business Administrator John Ricci.
   Council President David Kenny said the council spoke about the letter at a previous public meeting during which he expressed concern for the employees’ private email information.
   ”I’m concerned that it was in the paper the next day,” Councilwoman Schirmer said, adding that those named in the letter had both a right to know that they were being accused and an opportunity to prove their innocence.
   ”It’s not right to go to the media and make them look guilty through the media,” she said.
   Councilman Meara said he received the letter via the U.S. Post Office and considered it his personal property.
   ”If it was introduced in executive session, I probably wouldn’t have shared it,” he said. “It was introduced in a public, open session.”
   ”The problem I had was how did we know if it was true or not,” President Kenny said, adding that information had been redacted and could have easily been added to make things look a certain way.
   ”I just have a problem when it’s unverified information,” President Kenny said. “I thought the appropriate thing to do was to have it investigated. You don’t want to jump to conclusions if you don’t know what the facts are.”
   Council Vice President Dennis Pone said the council receives documents like the accusatory letter all the time and members don’t run to the media with them.
   ”Why that particular document,” Vice President Pone asked.
   Councilman Meara said, “That particular document was discussed by the president, which made it more important.”
   Vice President Pone said, “In this case it was a false accusation anyway. Private phone numbers and emails — I wouldn’t want them given out without some kind of permission and representation. I’m not sure why that particular document had to go to the press. Because of the private information it shouldn’t have gone to the press. I remember the president saying we should reserve discussing it at that meeting.”
   Councilman Meara said, “I would rather err on transparency and openness with the media than not. I don’t see any problem with that.”
   Councilwoman Schirmer said, “We should be careful when we receive these things. It is our job to make sure that it is investigated; not to run to the media and say, ‘Look what I got.’ I think it’s inappropriate.”
   She also questioned why Councilman Meara didn’t attend ethics training like the rest of the council members did this year. Councilman Meara said he was in the emergency room with his brother that night.
   Vice President Pone said he received two anonymous letters regarding Councilman Meara weeks ago.
   Councilman Meara said give them to the media to which Vice President Pone said, “I wouldn’t dare.”
   Councilwoman Schirmer also brought up allegations made against Councilman Meara that turned into a lawsuit that cost the township $17,000 to settle.
   ”I don’t know if the allegations were true or false,” she said, referencing the case in which township employee Paul Tessein alleged Councilman Meara portrayed him as a “sex addict.”
   ”You cost taxpayers $17,000,” Councilwoman Schirmer said. “You think you owe taxpayers an apology?”
   ”The fact that you’re bringing it up is trying to make it look like it’s true,” Councilman Meara said, adding that all of the council members voted to settle the lawsuit.
   Councilman Meara alleged council members were trying to politically assassinate him.
   ”I stand by my record,” he said. “I stand by what I do. If you have anything, come after me.”
   During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Antonio Gambino noted the township clerk called the police during the meeting and there were five police officers in the hallway outside of council’s chambers.
   ”It’s shameful what’s going on in council’s chambers,” he said. “You need to clean up your act. That’s what you need to do.”
   Each council member has an opportunity to provide closing remarks at the end of a council meeting. In his remarks, Councilman Meara said, “Shame, shame, shame” to President Kenny.
   ”You know you should not have let that happen — the personal attacks by council,” he said. “I’ve never attacked any council member personally. If this is the way these deliberations are going to be held, OK, it’s a free for all. I still don’t plan on doing personal attacks. I do think we sunk to a new level and it’s not a level our residents deserve.”
   Vice President Pone said he thinks it’s perfectly fine for council members to say something if they don’t like what another councilperson did, such as releasing personal information to the press.
   ”I know you take it personal,” he said. “I don’t think it’s personal…It’s all business to me. We all get attacked and we do need a little bit of a thick skin.”
   Councilman Edward Gore said, “Ms. Schirmer raised a point of personal privilege…You have the right to respond or not.”
   Councilman Gore added that he too thought it was not right for Councilman Meara to turn private email information over to the press.
   ”Councilmen have the duty to protect their citizens,” Councilman Gore said. “You should have redacted the information or not gone to the press before the information could be corroborated and investigated.”
   He also said, “Let’s not take it personally…After the attacks are done and the anger is over, let’s go about doing the people’s business.”
   Councilwoman Schirmer said she had the right to ask a question.
   President Kenny said the council should strive to have as much transparency as possible, and part of that should be asking questions of the administration and each other. He said as council members they are all subject to attacks but they still have a job to do.
   ”We just have to continue to provide good open government to the people of Hamilton Township,” President Kenny said.