Mahwah Mayor Receives Unanimous Vote Of No Confidence

MAHWAH, NJ — Mayor John Roth momentarily lost Internet connection during a June 12 Township Council Zoom, he said. When he came back, he was startled to hear what was being proposed.

During that June 12 meeting, the Township Council unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in the embattled Mayor, citing his behavior at a recent meeting, and issues in ways information was distributed.

Council President David May read the resolution, which stated Roth

• Failed to maintain decorum at a public meeting
• Provided inaccurate information to the public at a public meeting and online
• Failed to provide pertinent information to the council and public during a public emergency

This motion comes after a May 28 council meeting in which Roth, according to the council discussion, provided false information regarding cell phone service. Multiple council members also said they've received resident complaints about the distribution of information from Roth.

Roth, who pushed back against the validity of the vote, said he simply misspoke when discussing the cell phone towers at the May meeting.

"I have no idea what caused this, what prompted this," said Roth. "I'm shocked, I knew nothing about this."

The vote does not double as a request for the mayor's resignation, nor does it affect his power within the township, according to the council.

Though not addressed in the vote of no confidence, Roth came under fire after reports surfaced of his drunken behavior at a January party, in which he took his pants off and passed out in the homeowner's bed, who is also a township employee.

He later apologized for his actions, but did not resign despite efforts from a group of residents.

According to a Patch report at the time, an anonymous letter was sent to township department heads and council members about what happened at the party. There were also claims he engaged in "inappropriate touching of a female employee" at the party, Roth said during an apology news conference.

The letter, signed by two dozen employees, demanded private apologies or the mayor's resignation, he said. It was obtained by media outlets, Roth said, which caused "embarrassment and hurt" and was an "unnecessary distraction for the township."

Mahwah's labor attorney, Raymond Wiss, determined "no crimes had been committee, no laws were broken, no assault or inappropriate touching occurred, no property was damaged and no complaints have been filed with the township by anyone," the mayor said at the time.