Calls for Bipartisan Unity Crumble in Minutes at Reorg
Despite talks of cooperation in the new year, West Deptford's township committee is a body deeply divided.
Pleas for a more unified West Deptford Township Committee fell on deaf ears as appointment votes divided almost strictly along party lines at Thursday’s reorganization meeting.
The meeting started out with promising appeals for cooperation. Deputy Mayor Sean Kilpatrick, a Republican, said he wanted to see the committee start 2013 with a clean slate and put differences aside. Echoing the sentiment, Democratic Committeewoman Denice DiCarlo opened by saying she hoped to see more involvement from the whole committee and not just the Republican majority.
DiCarlo even reiterated the Republican slogan—“people before politics”—to GOP Mayor Raymond Chintall, as she urged him to keep the slogan in mind as he made his appointments.
Then the bipartisanship started to fall apart.
It started with the vote for mayor and deputy mayor. The Republican majority—Kilpatrick, Chintall and Committeeman Sam Cianfarini—returned Chintall to the mayor’s chair and voted Kilpatrick as deputy mayor, both repeats from 2012. DiCarlo and Democratic Committeewoman Donna Szymborski voted against both selections.
The committee’s Democrats also voted against appointments for township solicitor, auditor, redevelopment counsel, public defender, prosecutor, municipal engineer, financial adviser, insurance broker, township physician, deputy township clerk and members of the zoning board. Republican support allowed all of those appointments to pass with a 3-2.
Some appointees—such as the township administrator, municipal housing liaison and Office of Emergency Management coordinator—did get the full committee support.
While voting against the Republican majority proved ineffective for both committeewomen, so did a motion to appoint Kelly Conroy as solicitor for the multiple dwelling regulation board. The Republicans voted down a motion made by DiCarlo, and instead passed a motion to resubmit the position for bids.
Gloucester County Freeholder Robert Damminger (D) expressed his frustration during public comment with the committee’s Republican majority, insisting that Conroy was qualified to hold the position. Damminger asked the committee members who voted against Conroy if they did so because she was a Democrat before walking away from the microphone.
“You got a qualified person, why would you vote no?” Szymborski wondered after the meeting. “When you have a qualified person, you have to keep politics out.”
Szymborski said she and DiCarlo based their votes on who they believed would work with the township as a whole and not with just the majority. The committee’s Democrats have complained before about being cut out of decision making after Republicans took control of the committee in 2012.
Resident David Sileo scolded the entire committee for its disregard of “putting people before politics.”
“I think you should all go to your room and not come out until you can work together,” he chided.
Sileo and Damminger were not the only members of the audience outraged by the committee’s behavior. Gloucester City resident John Schmidt called DiCarlo and Szymborski “disgraceful” for their votes against the temporary budget, which he called a proactive measure so that the township can pay its bills.
“Why did two people vote not to pay bills?” Schmidt asked.
The temporary budget passed in a 3-2 vote.
Occupant
8:38 am on Friday, January 4, 2013
It was quite a show indeed. We were all entertained by the same old lady complaining as she does at every meeting as to why a Gloucester resident dare come into West Deptford and speak. It was also a Who's Who of the Democratic Machine in attendance. From State Senator Steve Sweeney all the way down to former West Deptford administrator Gerry White. There was no question that the two Democratic committee persons couldn't at least vote Yes for some of the nominations presented to them just to show that they were at least willing to work with their Republican counterparts. Unfortunately, they dug in their heels on every nomination and voted plainly along party lines. Quite amusing was freeholder Damminger's spectacle performed right on cue. Had he stayed at the microphone the committee might have given him a response to his question as to why Kelly Conroy was not selected as solicitor for the multiple dwelling regulation board. If he thought she was being short changed, just ask Larry Wallace and Vince Nestor of how Damminger and the county Democrats treat them. Wayne klotz had a few remarks, but he chose to speak from his seat in the audience. We never heard what he said, probably better that way. Everyone please put on your boots and get your shovels ready, 2013 is going to be quite a year for West Deptford government.
Wayne Klotz
10:44 am on Saturday, January 5, 2013
Hey Genious: I thought we asked you to give your fingers a rest! Oh, by the way,clown, why not ask the three stooges why they voted out Fred Purcell out after30 yrs. but put a no experience Madeline fucci on the board? Oh, I forgot! SHE'S A REPUBLICAN!!! A LOT OF INEXPERIENCE REPUBLICANS who were owed a favor by ray,Sam, and no sense no knowledge Sean! Answer that one, Genious!
redneckwillie3
8:40 pm on Saturday, January 5, 2013
Wayne,the majority republican committee are doing what they are supposed to do.
You are frustrated because IT'S JUST NOT GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN.
You comment on here because your angry,humilated,and full of hate.
and there isn't a thing you can do about.So sit back relax and wathc when they have their meetings every month how many times Donna and Dicarlo get voted against.For the first time in quite a few years,now i'm loving every minute
Occupant
1:42 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071030135143AAdz0ig
Occupant
1:42 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
Why is "genius" often spelled "geniOus"?
On-line, I see more spellings of "genious" than "genius."
Is it an obscure spelling that wannabe-pedants use in trying to be witty? Is it an Internet-wide on-line inside joke? OR are people just spelling it wrong because they're (ironically) stupid?
Because "genious" isn't conventional/correct English! and yet it's everywhere!
To the guy who says it's just like spelling "colour" with the U, uh, I don't think so. British and Canadian dictionaries (the countries I'm familiar with) do not have "geniOus"!!
To think that SO MANY people spell "genius" as "genious," all along I thought they couldn't be serious, but I guess they are... idiots
David Sileo
10:44 am on Saturday, January 5, 2013
Shannon
I believe bipartisan unity crumbling was a bit of an overstatement. It was clear there was voting along party lines particularly when the Dems voted NO so vehemently particularly with nominations of citizens from thier own party and voting against a temporary budget which was vital to keep us afloat while we right the ship.
Also the quote "people before politics" came from Committee member DiCarlo. These were not my words but merely and echo in challenging the committee to work together in 2013. Those on the dias know if their votes were genuine or an effort to posture early in the new year. I am sure they will all work together for a productive and restorative 2013 for the residents of West Deptford.
We had 20+ years of a one party monopoly, the times and situation called for shared governance which the citizens voted for. Genuine bipartisan cooperation is right in our sites which we must follow and avoid the crumbling of unity which the Patch has already forecasted.
theresa barnett
11:32 am on Saturday, January 5, 2013
I believe someone speacial said "A house divided can not stand".
Tony Foricini
8:40 pm on Saturday, January 5, 2013
The democrats are getting what they deserve.The residents in this town had to put up with the corruption and lies for the past 20 years.
With Obama falling flat on his face this year with his overspending,riots in the street because the freebies will end abruptly,looks like definitley republican control for a long long time.So Klotz the comments you make on here don't mean diddily squat.
I saw you with mommy the other night.not man enough to go out on your own.
You got to be the biggest loser in this town and a frustrated one at that.
I'm sure glad thay did not vote damminger's relative in.he's got to be the biggest fool in the dem party beside SS.
redneckwillie3
8:40 pm on Saturday, January 5, 2013
didn't dicarlos flyers that went out before election said people before politics.
How can you tell Dicarlo's lying.When her lips are moving.
Nothing like throwing sean under the bus.
Gonna be a long year for the two book ends.
Hey Wayne Happy New Year buddy.Don't let your pressure go up don't want you to keel over.We need the comedy central rolling this year.
Wayne Klotz
1:42 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
Hey tony, if that's your real name! Please leave my mom out of your cowardly mouth! I think you and your cronies need to tell me to my face, instead of sitting in the crowd like little moles! The gentleman who the three stooges replaced with an inexperience people, served under two republicans mayors! So, mouth almighty, and Willie, come see me at the next meeting if you two can come out of your holes!!!
Wayne Klotz
8:49 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
Occupant; it took you this long to respond, or did somebody write this for you? Please tell your friend to get real?
Occupant
8:49 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
Hey Klutz, If your referring to Fred Purcell serving under two Republican mayors... the township has been a Democratic stronghold for over 25 years.
Arthur David
8:49 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
After 20+ years of the "corruptocrats" raping and pillaging this town and controlling 100% of the pie with no opposition, they have become greedy never having to share the power. Denice and Donna had an opportunity to rise above the fray but instead decided to play partisan politics and voted strictly along party lines. It was almost laughable but not surprising. Even having won the election, Denice is an angry woman. The "corruptocrats" are never happy campers.
Wayne Klotz
4:39 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Occupant; again you talk with out thinking! If you had gotten the cotton out of your ears, you would have heard mr. Purnell say that George brown, a republican, appointed him! And that's over 30 years ago, slick. See you and the clown brigade on the 17th!!!
WDNeedsHelp
10:38 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
To the WD Dems, you spout off you want a bipartisan approach to governance but you show none. You two are in the minority and therefore you are the ones who need to make concessions. The WD voters voted in a Republican majority for a reason, to stop the run-away spending, debt and cronyism that was wrecking this town. Time for Dicarlo and Symborsky to step up and admit they are they ones who need to concede to the will of the Majority and stop with the Sweeney/White agenda that will no longer win in WD.
Proud D
11:38 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Question: for the sake of argument, let's suppose what DiCarlo said is true, that being Mark Cimino's unresponsiveness to her. If you were in her position, would you vote for his reappointment? I wouldn't.
I have no way of knowing if what she said is true. But if he is in fact unresponsive to her, he is totally out of line and I'd say she is almost obligated to vote against him. I would not want someone representing me who is okay being left out of the loop on Township business.
Mary T Brennan
3:23 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Do you honestly think that she made phone calls to Cimino's office.
I don't think so.She has no reason to.Wouldn't that go against protocol.
Just another lie coming from someone that can't get her way and won't.
Just about every resolution Donna and her voted no or should I say she was puppetized into saying no.
Dicarlo is a complete political fraud that has no right representing the people of this township or any other township.
The BOE position she had is proof enought.
I don't know what direction our town is going in,hopefully the right direction which is the republican direction,but as long as we have the dicarlo's,whites,sweeneys and even you Klotz,there'll be nothing but lies and corruptness from these die hard democraps.
Proud D
8:40 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
I have no reason to believe she was lying. I've never heard the Mayor, Sam or even Mark Cimino himself deny that she has called. If I was Mark and she blasted me like that you better bet I'd try to set the record straight if what she said was not true
Wayne Klotz
4:43 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Mary; are you on the right planet? Because it sounds like your republican friends tell you only what they want you to hear! Can you explain that, Mary? If not, then I'll see you at the show on the17th! Have a good day, Mary!!!