Cerciello: Council President Should Step Down

Two friends found themselves at odds at Monday's Borough Council meeting after one suggested the council president step down over the governing body's controversial, since-reversed, decision to dismiss Borough Administrator Ray Codey to save money, and the other found the suggestion disrespectful.

Carmen Pico, who ran for a seat on the Board of Education last year, and Sam Cerciello, a former councilman who , consider themselves good friends.

But that didn't stop Pico from chiding Cerciello during the public comments portion of Monday's Borough Council meeting for what he saw as Cerciello disrespecting Council President Jeannie Tsukamoto by suggesting to the governing body she resign.

The Borough Council's as a money-saving move at the end of February was rescinded by the council three weeks later, after residents defended Codey and protested the reasoning behind the decision and the way it was executed without public discussion, notice or input.

During the public-comments portion of Monday's Borough Council meeting, the second meeting since Codey was reinstated, Cerciello, after raising concerns related to a garbage bin by the post office, said "a lot of people requested that the president of the council maybe step down" and that he was bringing that message to the governing body's attention.

"A month ago something bad happened here and a lot of people were upset," Cerciello said in his comment. "It should have never happened, but it's nice to see everybody's peaceful and everything. But a lot of people requested that the president of the council maybe step down. This is what people are saying so I'm just bringing back messages of what the people are saying. Thank you."

Mayor Robert Conley acknowledged the remarks, saying, "Thank you. Anyone else wishing to be heard?"

When it was Pico's turn at the podium, after urging the Borough Council to stay committed to the , he addressed Cerciello's remarks.

"And this next thing is hard for me to say, but Sam—I like Sam, he's a nice guy—but for him to bring up about anybody getting rid of the council president, to me, wasn't a good thing to say," he said. "Even though Sam is my friend, you can't disrespect people like that, especially in public. Thank you."

Aside from those remarks, the council seemed to function as usual.

The Borough Council voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance that would establish the Sustainable Madison Advisory Committee, a new version of that will make the borough eligible for grants it previously would not have been qualified to receive by showing a greater commitment to sustainable policies in the borough.

Codey was back in his usual chair, assuring Cerciello the borough was on top of construction issues in the borough.

Tsukamoto said in an interview Wednesday borough employees and elected officials continue to do their jobs. She also said she welcomes the comments from both Pico and Cerciello.

"We always welcome and encourage residents to come to the council meetings and express their opinions," she said. "I thank them both for their comments and their participation at the council meeting Monday night. We always want people to come out and tell us what they think, and our job is to listen. And we welcome their further comments in the future."

At his first meeting after being reinstated, Codey said Madison and work together.

But Cerciello said in an interview Wednesday he believes Tsukamoto should step down.

"Somebody's got to be accountable for what happened with Mr. Codey," he said. "She's the president."

Cerciello also said he believes Republicans will have a tough time winning council seats as a result of the Borough Council's original vote to remove Codey. The one Republican who voted against the initial measure to remove him, Council Dr. Vincent Esposito, .

"People are going to forgive them for what happened, but they're not going to forget come November," he said.

As for his friend, Cerciello said Pico is entitled to his opinion.

"He's the type of kid that won't step on an ant," Cerciello said. "He's a good friend of mine. He still is."

Attempts to reach Pico for comment on Wednesday weren't immediately successful.