Mahwah Mayor Criticizes Council On Withdrawing Cell Tower Project

MAHWAH, NJ — Mayor Bill Laforet only has a few days left in office, but that hasn't stopped him from criticizing the Township Council.

Laforet criticized the council for withdrawing a bid and request for proposals to construct a cell phone tower at Fire Company 3, a project that Laforet firmly stood behind and solicited offers for.

"No surprise, it is a precursor as to what is to come. There are no rules," Laforet said of Mayor-elect John Roth and the new Town Council."

The tower would have been a solution to fix a 2-mile wide cell phone and emergency communications dead zone in town that has existed for years.

However, outgoing Township Council President Robert Hermansen, said that the Town Council told Township Administrator Quintin Wiest it would not vote on bids for the project if they came back in December, NorthJersey.com reported. According to the report, Roth personally requested to have the bidding process stopped.

Laforet claimed that canceling the request for proposals is based "purely on political backroom favors for a few residents."

Only the mayor can authorize bids for projects and Roth has not been sworn into office yet. He will be once the Bergen County Clerk's Office certifies the results from the Nov. 6 general election. Township Clerk Kathy said she did not have final numbers available and that provisional ballots would be counted Saturday.

Residents Nov. 6 overwhelmingly voted to recall Laforet and have Roth replace him. (See related: Laforet Recalled, Roth Elected Mayor)

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Image via Shutterstock