An ongoing feud between two City Council members in Clifton resulted in an impasse that lasted nearly half an hour on Wednesday night when one member demanded the other's seat be moved.
The 18-minute standoff around the council chamber's rectangular table lasted significantly longer than the council's discussion on police contract negotiations, which took only five minutes, according to members.
The conflict has been escalating for some time but reached a critical point recently when Councilwoman Rosemary Pino wrote to Mayor Ray Grabowski expressing her discomfort sitting next to Councilwoman Mary Sadrakula. Pino requested that the mayor relocate Sadrakula’s seat.
At the beginning of Wednesday’s meeting, Pino inquired about the mayor's plan regarding her request. The mayor responded that he had spoken with Sadrakula several times, but she refused to move. He then asked Pino if she would consider changing her seat, but she declined, stating that Sadrakula is "the aggressor" and should be the one to move.
Marc Pfeiffer, a researcher at Rutgers' Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and a longtime observer of New Jersey's local governments, attributed part of the problem to recent turnover on the City Council. This includes James Anzaldi stepping down as mayor after more than 30 years and the deaths of members Peter Eagler and Lauren Murphy.
Pfeiffer noted that demographic changes and new generations of residents have introduced new interests and issues for council members to address, complicating consensus on priorities. Additionally, he pointed out that the nonpartisan nature of the council contributes to these challenges since party leadership often enforces discipline among elected officials.
"You also have to avoid putting people into corners," Pfeiffer said. He emphasized maintaining open avenues for individuals to save face while remembering their primary responsibility is serving the public.
NorthJersey.com, August 8, 2024
