Signatures Filed In Second Recall Campaign Against Mayor Laforet

MAHWAH, NJ — Signatures were filed with township Clerk Katherine Cavillo Wednesday in the second recall effort against Mayor William Laforet.

Wednesday was the deadline for the grassroots committee of residents to file the signatures.

"I am standing up for the Civil Rights of human beings," said Laforet. "I do not regret standing up for the Civil Rights of any human being, and this petition will not make me waiver, protecting residents of our community, state, and across this nation. It is the Constitution of the United States of America."

Melanie Sue, the recall committee's campaign manager, and Cavillo did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday morning.

Laforet found himself at the center of controversy for backing and then distancing himself from a controversial ordinance banning non-New Jersey residents from using township parks. Laforet came under fire for criticizing the Township council over the ordinance and its alleged discrimination against Orthodox Jews.

Another ordinance required peddlers to get permits before they went to residents' homes soliciting. The ordinances were proposed during a controversy regarding a Jewish religious boundary in town commonly called an eruv.

The state Attorney General's Office filed a civil rights lawsuit against the town.

The Town Council effectively rescinded the ordinances. Hundreds of residents packed council meetings when the ordinances were introduced and approved.

Laforet and the Council butted heads with regards to the ordinances. The Council was critical of Laforet speaking out against the "no-knock" ordinance in an interview he gave in September. Laforet was critical of the Town Council in the interview.

"The Council was told repeatedly to not proceed," Laforet said Thursday. "They ignored the advice of their own attorneys."

The Town Council cast a vote of no confidence in Laforet in September — the second such vote cast against him as mayor.

The group had 180 days to obtain 4,150 signatures, 25 percent of the town's registered voters. If enough signatures are collected, a special question would be placed on the November ballot of asking residents if Laforet should be recalled.

Cavillo must verify the signatures before the question is placed on the ballot.

It is the second recall effort launched against Laforet. The first was in 2015, but the group in charge of it stopped its campaign because there was not enough time to get the required number of signatures.

That group claimed that Laforet allegedly did not abide by municipal statutes regarding the opening of an ice rink on town property, circumvented the Town Council's authority and accused him of using emergency communications equipment for political gain.

Officials and residents were also at odds with Laforet then regarding his decision to terminate DPW Director Ed Sinclair in 2015 over allegations of inappropriate material being watched on DPW computers.

Related:

• Mahwah Council Casts Vote Of No Confidence In Mayor Laforet
• Mahwah Residents Launch 2nd Recall Effort Against Mayor Laforet
• Mahwah Resident Announces Mayoral Recall Effort

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Image: Mayor William Laforet (Patch file photo)