Weehawken Attorney: Insurance ‘Paying Every Penny’ of $747k DeCosmis Settlement

Weehawken Attorney: Insurance ‘Paying Every Penny’ of $747k DeCosmis Settlement

Hudson County View, 7-Dec-15

By John Heinis

In light of a $747,000 settlement between Weehawken and Police Lt. Richard DeCosmis, Township Attorney Richard Venino says although it wasn’t the best case scenario, insurance is “paying every penny” in the matter.

“That’s the whole reason for the settlement was approved, that the insurance company is paying every penny of that,” Venino told Hudson County View over the phone last week.

“We have no control when the insurance company gets to that point. They were always very confident in our position, but the case went on for seven years. We’re talking three lawsuits. If any claim in the federal suit is sustained, they can be liable for the attorney’s fees on the other side. That’s a bigger risk than normal.”

“They let us know: ‘We want to settle, do you approve?’ If we say no, that shifts the risk to us. They’re the pros on that kind of stuff,” Venino added.

Hudson County View first reported on the settlement last week, which brought a conclusion to three lawsuits from DeCosmis, as well as pending disciplinary action from the police department against the lieutenant.

DeCosmis alleged that Mayor Richard Turner and the building department engaged in repeated instances of political retaliation, while the police department alleged DeCosmis abused his authority during an incident with a building inspector where both men filed police complaint against one another.

As of this writing, no other media outlet has released a copy of the settlement.

As we previously reported, DeCosmis earned $138,820 in 2014, according to public records – not including overtime – and is entitled to a 15 percent salary increase effective effective October 26, 2016.

Therefore, DeCosmis will earn $159,643  between late October 2016 and late October 2017. His retirement is effective November 1, 2017 and he is on terminal leave until then.

While it can be argued that DeCosmis’ settlement actually earned him over $1 million, given his salary, Venino said it is important to note that the settlement is the result of over seven years of litigation so a significant portion of those figures are likely going towards legal fees.

Another provision of the settlement is that DeCosmis can never work for the Township of Weehawken again.

“It’s in the best interest of the town he does not return to work here. Working here, he has already filed three lawsuits. We can’t let that trend continue, we must eliminate all potential of him continuing litigation,” Venino explained.

“It’s very difficult when people have lawsuits pending for such a long time … disciplining him became a problem. He should’ve been subject to discipline, but since he’s in a lawsuit, it’s this never-ending battle. Difficult for the police to maintain decorum and understanding in the police department.”

Venino also stated that DeCosmis was “hell bent” on filing lawsuits, even though he was in the wrong in certain situations – evidenced by him paying a fine for doing construction on a property without the proper permits.

Louis Zayas, DeCosmis’ attorney in the matter, declined to elaborate on the settlement.

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Mayor Turner Takes $90K 6-month Contract with Town of West NY

N.J. mayor with $90K contract in neighboring town an 'expert' in local government, he says

14-Nov-15, NJ.com

By Laura Herzog

Since Nov. 1, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner has been working as a consultant in West New York, charged with not just mold remediation, but cutting costs, overseeing other projects, and applying for road-paving and open space funds.

Turner said the $90,000, six-month contract he's landed with the nearby town isn't a conflict of interest, and said it is aimed at saving money.

"I will save West New York more than what they're paying me. We already hit the (roughly $60,000) mark (in savings)," Turner, 65, said. "There's not a question in my mind they'll save more than what they're paying."

He said he already started working for the town this fall, without pay, offering advice on different projects to officials he knows in West New York. Turner also said he is taking a six-month unpaid leave of absence from his other job, as district director for U.S. Congressman Albio Sires (D), to take on this job.

In addition to handling mold remediation, Turner said he will oversee a fix of city hall's "major water infiltration issue," which he said will need costly renovations to repair the damage and prevent further water seepage, likely more than $100,000.

He said he is also managing requests for proposals to find an architectural firm to determine how to seal the outside of the building to prevent more water from coming in, and going out to bid to hire a contractor to fix the roof.

Though Turner called himself an "expert" who could help manage these projects in West New York, several residents said they had questions about his contract.

"The fact that we accept that as a viable reality flies in the face of (rationality)...The reality in which these people live is so skewed and so corrupt," said West New York resident Jon Evans. "Why is this man necessary?"

Turner's appointment seems like political patronage, he said: "(Local politicians) nurture each other, they owe each other, and then they give each other jobs that they're not necessarily qualified to do."

Ronald Scheurle, who recently ran against an administration-backed slate in the West New York school board elections on Nov. 3, said he plans to speak to the town about the contract.

"Turner was a capable business administrator, but I have questions to ask the mayor and the commissioners," he said.

West New York Mayor Felix Roque declined comment on Turner's role.

Turner, who has been the mayor of Weehawken for 25 years and said he is collecting an $8,000 a year salary as mayor, is retired after 25 years of public service in N.J. He noted that his service included spending 1995 to 2006 working in West New York as a business administrator when Sires was the town's mayor. Turner is currently collecting a pension of around $70,000 a year, he said.

He also volunteered as a consultant in West New York for several months when Roque was elected, he said, and Roque and several commissioners approached him this year about the new contract work.

"I work basically 24/7 in one role or another and it all gets done," Turner said. "I have become an expert in how local government works."

Despite the recent resignation of West New York's former business administrator, Turner is not acting in that role, a town spokeswoman said. Turner agreed, and added that his role will come at a cheaper cost than replacing the administrator would.

"They're saving the fringe benefits, and (my contract fee is) less than they were paying the previous administrator (at $196,000 a year)," he said. "This can be indeed more complicated and more intricate (than business administration)."

Weehawken Pathmark gets brand new life as ACME supermarket

Weehawken appoints new schools superintendent

Weehawken appoints new schools superintendent

Hudson Reporter, 25-Nov-2015

Dr. Robert R. Zywicki was unanimously appointed at the Nov. 24 meeting of the Board of Education as Weehawken Township’s new superintendent of schools. He will be responsible for the operations of the PreK­12 school district.

Dr. Zywicki currently serves as the assistant superintendent of the High Point Regional School District in Sussex, and previously served as High Point’s Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology. 

He began his career as a middle school social studies teacher in the Bayonne Public Schools. He taught history and coached lacrosse at Voorhees High School in Northern Hunterdon County. Dr. Zywicki gained recognition as an AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics teacher at Montgomery High School in Skillman. 

While an AP Economics teacher at Montgomery, he was selected to serve as an AP Reader for The College Board, contributed to the Council for Economic Education’s AP Macroeconomics Teacher's Manual, and developed assessments for Paul Krugman’s Economics for AP.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers College of Rutgers University and a Master of Arts and Doctor of Education degrees from Saint Peter’s University.

Currently, he serves on the Governor's Standards Review English Language Arts Committee that is tailoring the Common Core State Standards to meet the needs of New Jersey’s students. 

Dr. Zywicki is an adjunct at Saint Peter’s University and has taught at Rutgers University’s Center for Effective School Practices. He is a frequent presenter for the Foundation for Educational Administration on project based and blended learning and a consultant to several districts to train educators on how to increase blended learning via Google Apps for Education.

He and his wife, Melanie, have four children. Dr. Zywicki will start his new position in Weehawken when released from his current school district. 

Dr. Zywicki regularly leverages social media to engage students, parents and community stakeholders. He can be followed on Twitter at @ZywickiR.

Weehawken High School Marching Band

Weehawken and Union City Team Up to Save Reservoir

Weehawken and Union City Team Up to Save Reservoir

Hudson Report, 4-Oct-15

By Al Sullivan

Holding a party for a reservoir might seem a little odd. 

But for residents and public officials in Weehawken and Union City, preserving a 14.4-acre former reservoir near the border of both cities is a big deal. The towns closed down a portion of Palisades Avenue on Sept. 24 to celebrate. People danced or sang. Kids climbed onto various amusement rides. Many visitors took a stroll around the reservoir to admire the wildlife as well as the view of the New York Skyline.

“The property could have been sold for development,” said Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner. “There were plenty of offers from developers.”

But he said the site offered a good opportunity as a public amenity, a park with walkway in a part of Hudson County that is already densely populated.

Turner reached out to state Senator and Union City Mayor Brian Stack to see if they could come up with a plan to purchase the property.

Known Hackensack Reservoir No. 2, the property is located on the Weehawken side of Palisades Avenue.

“Even though it is in Weehawken, this will benefit residents of Union City,” Stack said.

Although built in the 19th Century, the reservoir property hasn’t been in operation since 1996. But it has been reconfigured into a passive park with benches and a rail around the perimeter.

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“This is the largest preservation project in North Hudson in the last 50 years.” – Richard Turner
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“There is a lot of water,” Turner said. “And it will provide a place for people to sit or walk. If they need to contemplate something, they can do it there.”

Turner said United Water originally owned the property and offered to sell it for $11 million.

“Through a combination of grants and low interest loans we were able to buy the property,” Turner said. 

This included an $8.66 million low interest loan from The Trust for Public Land, a national, non-profit organization that has worked with landowners, funders and townships across the nation since 1972.

The loan – three quarters of which is at 0 percent interest, and one quarter of which carries between 1 and 2 percent interest – will be split by both parties. The loan’s projected payoff will take 20 years. 

The project also received a $2 million grant from the state’s Green Acres – a program under N.J.’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) dedicated to funding land conservation and recreational resources.

Both towns kicked in to fill in the rest of the sale price, and they will split the cost of maintaining the park. Maintenance cost is estimated at about $600,000 annually.

“This is good for the residents of both our towns,” said Stack.

The agreement with NJ State DEP guarantees that the reservoir will be preserved indefinitely as a park.

The reservoir is bordered by Washington Street, Gregory Avenue, Highpoint Avenue, and 20th Street.

“This is what government is supposed to be doing,” Stack said. “This will be felt by the public.”

The reservoir will be open to the public in the morning, guarded by security, and closed after dusk with no nighttime access or lighting.

“This is a great moment for Union City and Weehawken,” Turner said. “This is the largest preservation project in North Hudson in the last 50 years.”

Weehawken HS Brings Back Girls Tennis, Cross Country

Weehawken HS Brings Back Girls Tennis, Cross Country

The Jersey Journal, 26-Sep-15

By William Harrigan

With its athletics program classified in Group 1 for decades now, Weehawken is consistently one of the smallest high schools in Hudson County.

However, the Indians have added two new sports to the card this year, and so far the results have been very promising.

Cross country and girls tennis — both offered in the past but later discontinued — are back this year and already in the midst of their respective seasons, with the girls tennis squad taking on a JV schedule in 2015.

In just one month, interest and numbers have tripled for Kyle Mahoney's cross country squad. Back in late August, the Indians had only four runners in the entire program.

"We are up to 13 kids in the program, and the breakdown is five girls and eight boys," Mahoney said. "Once school started and students realized that we actually had a team, there was an incredible amount of interest in the program. We are definitely gaining momentum."

While the Indians went 0-3 in its inaugural outing — a quad meet with Dwight-Englewood, Hasbrouck Heights and Paterson Charter — they received a strong performance from senior Michael Stepkovich, who finished in 20th place.

"Michael has been our fastest runner so far. He actually played football before, so he's a very athletic kid and has been very serious about improving his times," Mahoney said.

Weehawken's fast improvement was evident in its team scores at its second NJIC quad meet, when the team fell to North Arlington, 36-21, and St. Mary's of Rutherford, 38-19. The first victory for the program came via a forfeit over Paterson Charter.

On the girls side, Weehawken's fastest performance of the season came from Miriam Janssen, who ran a 29:06 on that first NJIC race day. Fellow runner Isabel Jeffoni's fastest time to this point is 48 seconds off that pace, which she accomplished in the Season Opener Invitiational in Mahwah on Sept. 12. Teammate Alexa Castellano finished close behind Jeffoni on the day.

Diane Clarke — an English teacher at Weehawken — is piloting the girls tennis side, and has already experienced some success. Weehawken is 1-2 on the JV circuit, with senior Nicole Primero sitting at 3-0 in first singles. The Indians' victory came against Secaucus' JV squad. The sides have split a pair of matches to this point.

"The team will play nine JV matches this season, and we plan to have a full varsity team for next year," Clarke said. "Right now, we have eight girls in the program, so we have a full lineup and an alternate player."

With only two seniors on the club, Clarke plans to add more depth to the squad moving forward.

"A lot of our players have younger siblings who will probably join the team, and kids who are interested in tennis and want to play, now can," she said.