Vichiconti vs. Township of Vernon dismissal requested

VERNON — In January, Vernon Township Mayor Victor Marotta requested for a salary increase of $30,000 to $70,000 per year to be introduced and included in the budget. The request was subsequently approved and ordinance passed by the town council in a 3 to 2 vote on Jan. 27.

However, a February petition with more than 1,000 signatures was filed to send the proposed ordinance to a referendum on the November ballot, which lead to the Marotta's request of the town council to rescind the ordinance, which was rescinded.

A complaint was filed by petitioner Steven Vichiconti to have the courts intervene on behalf of the tax payers. Vichiconti argued that the ordinance should be decided upon by the voters and that the town council’s decision to rescind the ordinance was an attempt to keep the matter off of the ballot.

Vichiconti has since requested of the court that the case now be dismissed. He appeared before the town council on Aug. 11 to comment on his decision to request a dismissal and went on the record to say, “As a taxpayer and petitioner I do not want the township to incur any further legal fees. It is my belief that if this ordinance was put to the voters the result would have been the same as the council rescinding it.”

A letter was sent to the Honorable Thomas Weisenbeck, requesting that the complaint be dismissed.