Mayor gives unexpected thanks

Now that Victor Marotta has announced his candidacy for a second four-year term as Vernon's mayor, his "State of the Township" speech not only credited his honor with many accomplishments, but went as far as thanking the Vernon

Township Taxpayers Association for putting town councilmeetings on their website.

Great Caesar's ghost! Really? For many years, despite the VTA's strong endorsement, this mayor's administration and prior

ones opposed putting council meetings on the township website, citing exorbitant costs as a deterrent (despite the fact that several township residents offered to do it for free). Could those costs possibly exceed more than approximately $100,000 in performance awards to township employees, a $40,000 salary increase or a 30-year tax abatement status for Mountain Creek to develop a $140 million indoor water park complex? Has it just now dawned on our mayor that all Vernon citizens should be afforded easy access to town council meetings?

Mayor Marotta went on to include Dan Kadish and Jean Murphy in his praise of Vernon's council, leaving out that he openly denigrates and disparages them on his Facebook page and "Vernon Vibes" mayor's forum. For that matter, he has never hesitated to publically rip into anyone who has criticized or disagreed with him. So, why this about face? Could this "end justifies the means" rhetoric have anything to do with our mayor's desire to serve a second term?

Can a leopard really change its spots?

Bonnie Rubin
Highland Lakes