By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
Cookies from Costco’ were stale, says Nowak
While many towns are seeking ways to reduce expenses, one resident wasn’t happy with cuts the borough made to this year’s reorganization meeting, demanding more cookies be offered.
”Do you think the event we had (after reorganization) was a dignified event?” asked resident Rudy Nowak at Monday’s Borough Council meeting. “I thought it was an absolute disgrace.”
Mr. Nowak said he was specifically referring to the “stale cookies from Costco” and water that was served for residents and guests after the annual meeting to swear in new council members Sherri Lynn and Rich Onderko as well as to appoint many to new positions in the borough.
”Is that all we can afford?” Mr. Nowak asked. “So bread and water will be sufficient next year?”
But Council President Sue Asher, sitting at the head of the dais for Mayor Lillian Zuza who was absent due to an illness, said directions were to supply items within a reasonable budget.
Councilman Ed Komoroski said there is really no way to win in this situation.
”If we put out $500 worth of food, someone would be complaining we spent too much,” he said.
Borough Administrator Gary Garwacke said in a separate interview he had surveyed 21 different communities in Somerset County, including the county, and found 13 did not purchase any food with borough funds, five only supplied cookies like Manville and three provided sandwiches. None of them, he said, spent more than $500.
And Manville, Mr. Garwacke said, spent less than $100 in borough funds for the food.
Mr. Nowak said he plans to contact towns on his own to determine whether this is accurate.
In addition, Mr. Garwacke said, when the borough purchased coffee and cookies for the 2009 reorganization meeting, much of the coffee had to be thrown out, and the borough had to pay to clean coffee spilled on carpeting during the event.
Mr. Nowak said he remembered past reorganization meetings in which a special luncheon or other event was held afterward, and he believes there is money in the budget for public events that could have been put toward better refreshments.
”To throw stale merchandise, that is the best we could do?” he asked.
Slapping down a pile of papers on the table at the front of the courtroom, Mr. Nowak then questioned the money spent for council members to stay in private rooms during the annual League of Municipalities conference in November and said council members could have doubled up in rooms to save funds.
”I have a list of shameful expenditures from the League of Municipalities,” he said. “Let’s tighten the belts around here.”
Councilman Lou Fischer, who is serving as chairman of the Finance Committee for 2010, said he would be examining all vouchers and looking at where additional funds can be spent or cut, including for such events as the League of Municipalities conference and the reorganization meeting.
”It will all be looked at,” he said.
But Mr. Nowak would not be appeased.
”This will be concluded when I say it’s concluded,” he said, gathering his papers and returning to his seat.
