August - September 2002 Edition 

Borough Manager Leaves Town   By Chris Neidenberg   The, at times, controversial tenure of Barbara Sacks as borough manager came to a quiet and subdued end in June as the all-Democrat governing body ratified an agreement allowing her to immediately resign from the post after a four-year run.   At a special meeting convened during their work session, council members voted 4-0 (with ardent Sacks defender Deputy Mayor for Community Affairs Martin Etler abstaining) in accepting a termination agreement allowing Sacks to take a similar job in Summit in Union County. Sacks remained in her traditional spot at the table in the Florence Dobrow Conference Room, holding on to her position right until the very end, up to the time the council ratified the agreement. A dramatic and rather seamless transition ensued.   Sacks thanked supportive residents for showing their concern and then quietly left the room as the council passed the mantle - at least temporarily - to Borough Clerk Joanne Kwasniewski. The soft-spoken Kwasniewski will carry the dual title of "acting borough manager" until the council finds a permanent successor. Kwasniewski - a known foe of the now-former manager within Borough Hall - tersely told council members that she expects to hold the non-tenured title for only a short period. Before casting his vote, Etler made clear he thought Fair Lawn was made better thanks to Sacks' efforts in guiding the different departments, serving one of Bergen County's larger municipalities. "It's been remarkable," a smiling Sacks said softly, before departing. "Just from the letters I've received and the phone calls I've been receiving over the last couple of days, it's just remarkable. I think I've been blessed to serve the Borough of Fair Lawn."   Ganz said the governing body and Sacks mutually agreed that it was time for a change. "The memorandum of agreement that's been negotiated between the parties terms Mrs. Sacks departure as borough manager of the Borough of Fair Lawn as being on the basis of philosophical differences," said Ganz, who enjoyed a close working relationship with - and generally supported - Sacks. While the mayor said the negotiations leading to her departure were protracted, he blamed neither side. "I just want to say that this is a process that has been a difficult one," he told colleagues. "It's not because of anything Mrs. Sacks' lawyers have done, or because of anything our lawyers have done. It's just been a time-consuming process for us."   After the meeting, Ganz told Fair Lawn News the package essentially compensates Sacks for up to 90 days in "vacation" time after her departure. Sacks began her run in Fair Lawn in 1998 in replacing Bert Kendall, after arriving from South Orange where she lived and was village administrator.   Her tenure in Fair Lawn was marked by controversial personnel decisions. During her first year, she decided not to renew the contract of Robert Martin as civilian police director. In ending the borough's experiment with the set up, Sacks returned departmental control to a uniformed chief (Rod Marshall). The move triggered a lawsuit by Martin which he ultimately won. In 2000, she laid off veteran full-time Welfare Director Bernice May and transferred her functions to Bergen County in an apparent cost-cutting move.   Last year, Sacks touched off another controversy in terminating Candice Vivino as the municipality's cable television programming coordinator, marked by a dispute over how council meetings should be telecast. Vivino was replaced with a group of volunteers comprising Fair Lawn TV Productions.   During her tenure, Sacks also engaged in running battles with Republicans Ed Trawinski and Joe Tedeschi while they sat on the council, and more recently, Democratic Councilman Vic Amato. The latter accused her of stone walling unreasonably in complying with his requests for information relative to some expenditures, a charge the manager adamantly denied.   Strains also developed with Kwasniewski and Borough Attorney Richard Lustgarten. Sacks accused both of "wanting to be the manager," alluding to apparent turf disputes which developed between the three. The now former manager asserted that some employees wanted her ousted simply because she made decisions they didn't like.   In recent months, Don Oliver, of the Fair Lawn Homeowners Association, called upon the council to terminate Sacks. (See Below)  He cited what, he termed as, questionable actions taken in her position. Oliver complained that Sacks' implemented a massive and costly expansion plan for the municipal building largely on her own, and poorly handled certain personnel moves costing taxpayers dearly in litigation costs. Oliver also cited low morale among employees turned off by Sacks' conduct, based on some personal discussions. "I want to thank the mayor and council and the attorney," he said in addressing the council. "I think the decision made this evening is an excellent decision. I've been approached by many employees who thanked me with their phone calls."   Amato asked Ganz when the council should initiate a replacement search. The mayor urged a go-slow approach. "We're not there yet," said Ganz, a candidate for county freeholder. "We don't have any candidates, and we have to gather our thought processes on how we should proceed."     The Don Oliver Factor   Don Oliver is a Fair Lawn resident who likes to keep public officials on their toes.  This Spring, at several Council meetings and on the Fair Lawn News Discussion Space, he repeatedly called for the Borough Manager's dismissal.     On July 5th, he posted this message:  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -    Now for the news of the evening.    The manager is officially gone. I just came from the council work session. The reason given for her departure is philosophical differences between the council and manager.    But I must say that I can not take full credit for the managers demise. The truth is Dan Whalen asked for her departure before me, minutes will prove that.    After Dan Whalen's request I gathered more and more information to prove my point that there were some serious violations perpetrated by the manager and there was a serious morale problem caused by the manager.   With my information I kept the managers actions in front of the council and public to see what was going on.    The result is obvious the manager is gone and imagine this I have had more thank you's from borough employees then ever before. I have been approached by people who saw me on TV with horror stories about the manager and the handling of people, both employees and residents. I have also received quite a number of anonymous letters giving me more information and direction. Some I think are bogus, some might require additional research. But I thank everyone who wrote. I ask for you to give me time.    The truth is the manager's action caused her demise so she is truly the only one who can take credit. I was just the messenger.    Now where is the party and where is my invite.       Note: Mr. Neidenberg is a talented local writer looking for a job. If you have a job tip for him, send an e- mail to chrisneidenberg@hotmail.com