Categorized | Carousel, Editorial

I Concur

Resident gets the last laugh! *Photo by Carolyn Maxwell

Resident gets the last laugh!
*Photo by Carolyn Maxwell

The Perth Amboy Council Meeting on June 13, 2016 ended at 11:30 p.m. During the last couple of months, an Alpine Street Resident has attended the Meetings and often complains about a particular Municipal Court Judge, (sometimes two) and/or a couple of Police Officers. Deputy Police Chief Larry Cattano has also been a target for some of his criticisms. Because people know what to expect when this gentlemen speaks, there are rolling of the eyes and snickers at the comments that he makes.

One thing about this gentleman does, is that he listens to every remark that all the speakers make while he is there. He never holds back and often jumps up to support or disagree with comments made by others. This prompts Council President Lisa Nanton to give him cautionary warnings about speaking out of turn.

During the public portion, this resident is often the first one to get up and speak. It was very unusual at the last meeting (7/13/16) during the last public portion, he waited until everyone spoke before getting up to make his comments. As he approached the mic., he heard the usual snickers and laughter from some of the attendees in the audience. But actually, the last laugh was on the people. He turned the tables on those who were left to hear him speak.

He said, “Oh, okay go ahead and laugh at me, but you know the best will be last.”

The people behind him corrected him and said, “The saying is “You save the best for last.””

After he made his usual remarks about the Judges, certain Police Officers, etc., this resident made a very astute observation. He surprised everyone by closing with this last comment: “Thank God I don’t have cable so I don’t have to watch this.”

I concur. One of the longest arguments during the Council Meeting was about a small garden being named for a Resident who helped beautify the City as a founder of the Royal Garden Club. This individual had been recognized statewide and her works have  been given numerous awards throughout the State. One Councilman vehemently argued against her being honored with a garden (at the tennis courts) being named after her. He stated, “We have an ordinance on the books that we must follow when naming public entities for people.”

Council President Lisa Nanton, who was the one responsible for having this resolution put on the Agenda, not only read the Ordinance pertaining to naming public entities after people, but she also gave a background on the Honoree, the late Rosemary Mazzeo.

I can’t for the life of me figure out why this Councilman objected so strongly to this resolution. It’s not a street; it’s not a building; it’s a small garden being named after someone who beautified the City and founded the Royal Garden Club. It was embarrassing that this wasn’t voted unanimously and one Councilman had to put a scar on it.

The Perth Amboy Council Meetings, especially this year has been a rolling political show with everyone trying to get a plug in for their candidates. A blind, deaf and dumb person could see this. They said no politicking should be done at the Council Meetings, but that’s all that’s being done.

It turns out that the Alpine Street Resident was the one that made the most astute comment that night at the end. I know this to be true because when he made that statement about not having to watch this (tonight’s meeting), he received a loud applause, because a lot of people agreed.

So who was it that got the last laugh that night? In my opinion this was the top comment that any resident has made at any of the Meetings that I have attended all year to date.  C.M.

P.S. – At least this gentleman knows not to interrupt others until after they have finished speaking.

Street naming regulations available here.

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