Republicans walk out over attorney choice Lawyer who represented county Democrats picked to handle redevelopment BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer "I will refrain from characterizing Mr. Northgrave or his firm, but one can surely draw his or her own conclusions." - Paul Buccellato Councilman MATAWAN - Two Borough Council members walked out of Thursday's meeting in a protest move, citing their objection to the mayor's choice for a new redevelopment attorney. Debra Buragina and Paul Buccellato, the only two Republicans on the council, left the meeting after just 12 minutes. The pair said they disapprove of Mayor Mary Aufseeser's choice of William Northgrave, of the law firm McManimon & Scotland, as the new redevelopment attorney. Buccellato believes the mayor's choice is "politically motivated and clearly a reward for services rendered." "I will refrain from characterizing Mr. Northgrave or his firm, but one can surely draw his or her own conclusions," Buccellato said in a statement released on Friday. Buccellato and Buragina said they objected to the appointment based on Northgrave's involvement in a September lawsuit involving current Councilman Michael Cannon. Northgrave and his law firm represented the Monmouth County Democratic Committee in that lawsuit, defending Cannon's eligibility to run for local office. Cannon, a former Republican council member, stepped down from office in September 2005 and moved briefly to Aberdeen, but returned in May 2006. Because of his move, he did not meet the one-year residency requirement necessary to run on the Democratic Party ticket. A Superior Court judge granted Cannon an exception and allowed him to run. Aufseeser said she has tried several times to get a copy of the lawsuit but was told it was a private document. "But if the public really wants it, I can call Victor Scudiery," Aufseeser said, referring to the chairman of the Monmouth County Democratic Party. "The same Victor Scudiery who loaned the Democrats $200,000?" asked resident Agnes Falk. The mayor nodded. Northgrave will replace Jan Wonters, the redevelopment attorney from the firm of Bathgate, Wegener & Wolf, Lakewood, who recently succeeded in having a case filed by Silver Oaks Properties dismissed. That lawsuit, brought against the borough by the would-be transit village developer, has been ongoing for two years, and was finally ruled upon on Jan. 8. Aufseeser described hiring a new redevelopment attorney as a risk she was willing to take. "I'm really not a gambler," the mayor said. "For those of you who know me, you know I was married to a gambler. I take very few risks. But the risks I do take, they have turned out to be the best [decisions]." Aufseeser said that although she's not a lawyer, she worked for a major law firm for 17 years. While there, she often heard attorneys use a popular phrase that she found apropos for the situation. "When you go into a fight, you want the best bulldog," Aufseeser said. "I want the best deal for Matawan," Aufseeser continued. "I want the best attorney to get that deal." The mayor said she told a few council members about her choice on Jan. 20, while visiting Jackson Street Park. "We were freezing our blankity-blanks off when I told [Councilman Joseph] Mullaney I had changed my mind and felt Mr. Northgrave was the best choice for Matawan," she said. Councilman William Malley called Buccellato and Buragina's walkout a "disgrace" several times during the meeting. "I believe they're in dereliction of their duties," Malley said. "I find that to be quite shameful," Malley added. "There are many other items that need to be taken care of." But after about an hour and half, at around 8:30 p.m., Malley expressed his own interest in leaving the meeting early, noting it was getting late and "it's a work night." Malley made the comment while resident Agnes Falk was at the podium, speaking during the public comments portion of the meeting. After hearing Malley's statement, Falk paused, then said, "I will wrap this up." Malley stayed for the rest of the meeting.