February 26, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Midland Park Town officials decry complaint against DPW A Midland Park resident’s complaint about the DPW’s removal of accumulated snow in front of a Glen Avenue business met with strong words from borough officials last week. Richard Casse of Erie Avenue sent a video and an e-mail to the mayor and council showing a DPW truck clearing the sidewalk in front of Park Wood Delicatessen. He claimed that the business establishment was getting special treatment and alleged that the owner was illegally paying off the worker. “I am sure all of our residents would like this extra ser- vice. At the end of the video please take note of the owner of the deli coming out and handing the operator something, maybe a little something for his hard work taking care of his entrance?” Casse told the council in his e-mail. “Someone, perhaps Mr. Casse, has a problem with ParkWood Deli. Let that person take his or her issue to the store owner and keep our employees out of their business. There is no evidence of corruption, payback, or extor- tion,” said Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan, noting that he will not stand for defamation of character against town employees. O’Hagan explained that the borough completes storm cleanups as time permits. “One storm followed by another slows down our snow removal efforts for the businesses. What is totally missing is the kindness and respect the residents and businesses show to our hard working employees -- specifically the DPW staff. In the summer, I have given water to the men while working in hot weather to make their conditions a bit nicer. During the winters, our men have been given coffee, cakes, and other comfort items as a gesture to say thank you and to recognize their efforts to make our town cleaner and safer,” the mayor added. Borough Clerk/Administrator Addie Hanna said town employees were cleaning the snow, not from the deli’s pri- vate property, but from the public right of way in front of the deli, as they do in other areas of town. She said that historically, once streets and town lots are cleaned, the DPW workers remove accumulated snow from busy corners and sidewalks in the business districts so drivers can access sidewalks and pedestrians can walk freely. “Roger (ParkWood’s owner) brought him (the employee) Doing a good turn out two cookies -- but this is often done by local merchants when they see the men plowing all day long (that’s what Midland Park and being good people is all about),” Hanna explained. Midland Park Boy Scout Troop 157 volunteers shoveled out all of the fire hydrants in Midland Park. Pictured are Scouts Andrew Krag, William Krag, Patrick Monahan, Robert Biebrich, and Christopher Stokes.