Area February 6, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 3 Gabbert: NBCUA stipend acceptance is legal by John Koster Ridgewood Village Manager Ken Gabbert said in an exclusive interview on Jan. 31 that his decision to accept a stipend from the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority was entirely legal based on the decision of a judge. Gabbert’s decision to accept a $5,000 stipend as a commissioner came into ques- The Washington Elm Post 192 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars recently joined forces with the Blue Star Mothers Chapter 3 of North Jersey to help make New Jersey the 14th state to approve the use of Honor and Remember flag. Last week, VFW Post 192 Commander Stanley Kober unfurled the banner at a meeting in Ho-HoKus. The flag may now be flown under the POW/MIA flags in New Jersey thanks to the cooperation of individuals including State Senator Kevin O’Toole and New Jersey Assemblymen Scott Rumana and David VFW Post 192 Commander Stanley Kober presents the Honor & Remember flag to the public. Russo. Commenting on the symbolism of the flag stands for the final tribute to the indiHonor and Remember flag, Kober said vidual’s life. the red field represents the blood spilled, Honor and Remember flags can be the white represents the purity of sacri- personalized with individuals’ names, fice, the blue star signifies active service and may be used to honor all who have in military conflict, and the gold star rep- been lost since the nation’s inception. Visit honorandremember.org to learn resents the value of the life that was given. The eternal flame is a constant reminder more. of the departed spirit, while the folded J. CRUSCO Local effort brings Honor & Remember flag to state tion last week when the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders overturned by a 6-1 vote Bergen County Executive Kathleen Donovan’s attempt to veto the Jan. 8 NBCUA minutes. Donovan’s veto was the latest in a series of moves she has made since taking office in 2011 in an effort to stop the commissioners from accepting stipends and health benefits. In April, 2012, she sent seven NBCUA commissioners dismissal letters. In June, Bergen County Superior Court Judge Alexander Carver III ruled the dismissed commissioners could retain their jobs, compensation, and benefits, finding that Donovan had acted beyond the scope of her authority when she attempted to fire the commissioners for refusing to stop accepting their medical benefits and $5,000 stipends. Judge Carver also overturned Donovan’s vetoes of the authority’s minutes. Donovan’s appeal of Judge Carver’s decision is pending. Before Judge Carver rendered his decision, the Bergen County Board of Freeholders voted unanimously to halt pay and benefits to future NBCUA commissioners, thereby rescinding a 1979 ordinance. However, freeholders contended -- and Gabbert separately agreed -- that stipends cannot be eliminated in the middle of an appointed term, as Gabbert’s stipend would have been had he accepted the attempt to relieve him of the stipend he accepted when he took the appointment. “Judge Carver, as I recall, allowed the utilities authority payment of the stipend to commissioners appointed prior to a specific date in 2012,” Gabbert explained last week. “I was appointed prior to that date and was so advised by the utilities authority counsel, and I elected to receive the allowed and approved stipend. For appointments after that date, Judge Carver agreed, again as I recall, that formal action of the county freeholders had removed the stipend to future appointees.” Gabbert, a former mayor of Upper Saddle River, said he understood the need for cost cutting at the county level, but that his legal right to the stipend -- actually about $4,200 rather than the reported $5,000, he said, and with no health benefits -- had been established by a judge’s decision. (continued on page 29)