By Darryl R. Isherwood | November 26th, 2012 - 12:01pm
| More

Acting Hamilton Township Mayor Kevin Meara has fired Business Administrator John Ricci in a move that does not sit well with the township council.

Meara, who took office Wednesday in the wake of the resignation of former Mayor John Bencivengo, will hold the post for no more than 30 days.  

Ricci's firing has fueled an already contentious relationship between Meara and fellow Republican Council members.

"This is an outrageous abuse of power by a mayor who will be there less than 30 days," said Councilman Dave Kenny, who has feuded with Meara in the past. "He has no support from anyone on the council for these actions and the council no longer has any faith or trust in him."

Rumors have swirled today that other firings are imminent and Meara has scheduled a press conference for 1:30 p.m.

Bencivengo resigned last week after he was convicted of taking a bribe in exchange for an offical action.  Bencivengo reportedly took a $12,400 bribe in exchange for helping a local insurance broker maintain a contract with the township school board.  As council president, Meara took over the post for a maximum of 30 days, while the local Republican Committee chooses three potential candidates to serve until the township holds a special election next November.

Council woman Kelly Yaede is said to be the front-runner for the job and the committee is scheduled to meet Friday to choose the three names.

 

Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest - May 23, 2013

PolitickerNJ.com interview: Jason O’Donnell Confident he has the votes to be the next Democratic State chairman, Jason O’Donnell said his objective will be to drive the core message of the Democratic Party. “My main objective is to bring Democrats home,” said O’Donnell, 41, an assemblyman from Bayonne. “If we...

Op-Ed

Time to have the talk we hope to avoid but can’t

By Tedford J. Taylor No topic is a less likely conversation-starter than our eventual deaths. Still, there is a lot to talk about. When polled, about 90 percent of people presented with end-of-life scenarios prefer the prospect of dying at home with... Read More >

Contributors

How to Blow a Cool Million  (5/23/13) - $1 million doesn't buy what it used to in New jersey political advertising.  So what is the Buono campaign thinking?... more »
(5-22-2013) All Ethics Bills are Not Ethics Priorities -In New Jersey it remains OK for state legislators to make money from towns they represent, but it is... more »
NEWARK - The Boys and Girls clubs hosted the professionally staged announcement for Shavar Jeffries’ Mayoral candidacy announcement. Over 400 supporters packed the gym, some of whom had already... more »
Chris Christie's recent "Lap Band" weight-loss surgery scoop remains the talk of the nation.... more »

Quote of the Day

Quote of the day

"That's state money and the speaker has never raised an objection to that, and now all of a sudden she objects to her own bill. She's objecting on a basis she hasn't objected before on the TAG Grant program. Let's face it everybody, this is just politics. It's election year and it's politics." - Gov. Chris Christie, on Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-34).

- PolitickerNJ.com

Poll

What did you think of Barbara Buono's television ad?
That's top quality work right there. Look for the polls to tighten.
40%
Nicely produced ad, but if it doesn't move her in the polls, it will have been for naught.
20%
Who?
40%

Resources

Visit the PolitickerNJ.com/resources page for links to the best collection of information on New Jersey state government.

 

  • Polls
  • The best blogs
  • Columnists
  • State election results
  • Assembly election results
  • Local party websites
  • And more.

PolitickerNJ.com/resources