Ho-Ho-Kus March 27, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 9 Former water department head files lawsuit by Jennifer Crusco James Montag, the former superintendent of the Ho-HoKus Department of Water & Sewers, has reportedly filed suit against the borough over his December termination. At press time, Ho-Ho-Kus Mayor Thomas Randall and Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Administrator Don Cirulli both told Villadom TIMES they had not been served with the papers. The lawsuit stemmed from the council’s Dec. 18, 2012 decision to terminate Montag. That action was taken via resolution, which states that a preliminary notice of disciplinary action dated Sept. 18, 2012 was served upon Montag, who then requested a hearing on the charges. No details were made available to the press, and neither Randall nor Cirulli commented on the suit. The resolution further states: “Whereas the borough designated and appointed a Special Hearing Committee (the “Committee”) to hear the charges and the defenses thereto, and to make a recommendation to the mayor and council concerning the same; and whereas, the Committee duly conducted a hearing on Nov. 20, 2012, and thereafter received written post-hearing submissions on behalf of the borough and Montag; and whereas, the Committee having considered the record in this matter has issued its recommendation that all charges set forth in the PNDA be sustained and that Montag’s employment with the borough be terminated, now, therefore be it resolved by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus that the recommendations of the Committee are adopted and affirmed, including, without limitation, sustaining the charges set forth in the PNDA and the termination of Montag’s employment with the borough. “Be it further resolved that the borough administrator and the borough labor attorney are authorized to take all appropriate actions so as to implement this resolution.” The issue of Montag’s employment status with the borough was questioned by a resident at a council session held earlier this year. The resident asked about Montag and his health, but borough officials declined to comment. “As is the generally accepted custom, the details of personnel matters are not discussed in public, primarily to respect the privacy of the individual involved. In this particular case, a resolution was voted upon and passed by the governing body at a public meeting on Dec. 18, 2012. This decision was based upon the findings of a duly conducted hearing that took place the previous month at which attorneys, witnesses and a special hearing committee were present,” Cirulli told Villadom TIMES. In October, Ho-Ho-Kus hired Village of Ridgewood employee Eric G. Fooder Jr., who is a licensed water operator, to assist Ho-Ho-Kus on a temporary basis while Montag was reportedly on a medical leave of absence. The resolution that named Fooder as the borough’s temporary licensed water operator of record was retroactive to Sept. 17, 2012. “Because our Licensed Water Official James Montag became unavailable due to a medical leave of absence, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection required that the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus obtain a temporary water official with the appropriate licenses to oversee the operation of the borough’s water utility,” Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Administrator Don Cirulli told Villadom TIMES when Fooder was hired. “Eric Fooder Jr. was appointed to this position on a part-time, temporary basis. Mr. Fooder is an employee of the Village of Ridgewood, and he makes himself available to Ho-Ho-Kus before or after his regular work hours with Ridgewood or during his lunch period.” In 2010, the borough decided to restructure the Ho-HoKus Department of Public Works and divided the leadership responsibilities between the department’s two senior members. Montag was named superintendent of the newly-created department of water and sewers, and Jeff Pattman became superintendent of roads, buildings, and grounds. Ho-Ho-Kus Boy Scout Troop 54 recently recognized two Eagle Scouts for their dedication, leadership, and outstanding character qualities. Kevin Rickenberg and Ryan De Marco are the new recipients of the John Barnett Award, named in memory of the extraordinary Ho-Ho-Kus community member, camper, hiker, canoeist, Scoutmaster, and writer for the Wall Street Journal. Only 10 Scouts have received the award in its 40-year history – and Rickenberg and De Marco received theirs from the last recipient - Brian Barone - at a recent Court of Honor luncheon. Both honorees joined Troop 54 Boy Scouts in 2006. They both attended Camp No-Be-Bos-Sco, Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation, and Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Rickenberg has been a teacher, guide, and an example to others while in Troop 54. He has always been available to teach the younger Scouts camping skills. Last summer, he led Scouts on a canoe trip at Floodwood Mountain in the Adirondacks. He is active in the Order of the Arrow Lodge Rickenberg, De Marco earn John Barnett Award as troop representative, active chapter member, and camp promoter. At Northern Highlands High School, he has run cross country for four years and is active the in the Future Statesmen and Italian clubs. He is active at the First Reformed Church of Hawthorne Youth Group and has participated in several mission trips with the church. His Eagle Scout project consisted of renovating the library and consistory meeting rooms at the church. He has been captain of the Ho-Ho-Kus Junior Firefighters and now is a probationary firefighter while he takes the training course at the Bergen County Law & Public Safety Institute. De Marco began Scouting 12 years ago as a Tiger Cub and moved through the ranks of Boy Scouts to become an Eagle Scout. Always active in the troop, he was the den chief, assistant patrol leader, troop scribe, and member of several winning Iditarod teams. He was a staff member of (continued on page 11) Ryan De Marco and Kevin Rickenberg