Resident Criticizes Phoned-In Votes on Borrowing $4.1M

Two Madison Borough Council members who were on vacation voted by phone at this week's council meeting, a practice one resident criticized as "leaving a bad flavor."

The remote votes from Council President Carmela Vitale and Councilman Ben Wolkowitz helped pass resolutions to borrow more than $4.1 million to pay for the Madison Recreation Center land and the installation of artificial turf fields there. The measures needed a majority of the six-member council—four votes—to pass.

Borough attorney Matthew Giacobbe said the practice of voting by phone is allowed as long as officials participate in the meeting, which Vitale and Wolkowitz did. They asked questions and shared their opinions. After they voted, they said they were leaving and hung up.

Madison resident Sam DeMarzo said having council members on speakerphone was "highly unusual" and "leaves a bad flavor." He said he never saw anything like it, and that participating remotely is a more "generic" experience than being in Council Chambers in person.

He said the Council was "voting on something so important" and being there in person can help officials get the vibe of the crowd and form an opinion, he said.

The larger issue of paying for the Madison Recreation Center was the subject of previous discussions and presentations at public meetings.

4-2 vote

The borrowing was split into two resolutions. One resolution was approved unanimously and the other was approved by a 4-2 vote.

The first resolution to borrow $2,888,000 for the land acquisition to be paid off over 20 years was approved unanimously. The second resolution to borrow $1,263,000 for the installation of the fields to be paid off over 15 years was approved 4-2.

Council members Jeannie Tsukamoto and Robert Catalanello cast the "no" votes. They said Madison could pay for the fields installation with available funds instead of borrowing. The other council members said the concern was being raised at the last minute and the borough's available funds should be used for capital projects.

Are you all right with elected officials voting by phone? Let us know in the comments.