Matawan still emotional over attorney controversy BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer MATAWAN - Borough taxpayers are still questioning the motives that prevented Borough Attorney Pat Menna's reappointment earlier this month. After serving as the borough attorney for the past two years, Pasquale Menna, of Menna, Supko and Casagrande, in Shrewsbury, was rejected as attorney for the borough by the Democrats at the April 1 council meeting. The motion to reappoint him failed, with Republicans Buccellato and Clifton casting the only votes for Menna. That decision was the subject of a great deal of public comment during the most recent council meeting. "I would like to ask members of the Democratic council tonight and want an answer as to why they chose to reject him," said Donna Gould, of Miriam Drive and a former councilwoman. "I am rather shocked and dismayed, and quite frankly, don't understand why you would not want the residents of Matawan to benefit greatly from this man's experience, integrity and intelligence and all the good things he has done for our town in a bipartisan way." Gould went on with her questions to the council, answering them herself. "Could it be the fee he would charge the borough of Matawan is too high? Nonsense, the fact is that his quote is the lowest of all applicants." Gould mentioned the fact that Menna had lowered his fees to accommodate the borough and that he was an important part of the downtown revitalization in Red Bank, where he is now mayor. "Who have you chosen to take his place?" Gould asked the council. "I am asking you directly if one of the law firms is McManimon and Scotland LLC?" Council President Michael Cannon had previously stated that a new borough attorney would be announced 30 days after the rejection of Borough Attorney Pasquale Menna. According to Borough Clerk Jean Montfort, the announcement is expected after April 30. Currently, Joseph P. Baumann Jr. of McManimon and Scotland LLC, of Newark, serves as the bond attorney in Matawan. The firm was hired at the April 1 council meeting with a 5-0 vote. Councilwoman Linda Clifton abstained from the vote. Mayor Paul Buccellato's appointment would have been John D. Draikiwicz of Gibbons PC, but was voted down by the council Democrats. William Northgrave, of McManimon and Scotland LLC, previously served as the redevelopment attorney for Matawan Borough and has served as the counsel for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. According to Gould, she never got her answer. The mayor and council closed the meeting without the traditional public comment section at the end of the meeting. That meant all public comment came in an earlier comment portion of the meeting. "Matawan is a charity case and Mr. Menna lowered his fees," said Neil Mendleson, of Broad Street. "His credentials are valid and his price is lower. Why would we go elsewhere?" Most residents who spoke during the public portion extolled Menna's performance record. Charlie White, of Daniel Drive, however, was not as quick to praise Menna's services. "I support the Democrats on this one," he said. "A few years ago there was an incident involving one of the fire captains and Mr. Menna advised the borough to go into litigation on the matter, and it was a matter that, I believe, should have stayed in-house."