Verona’s Town Council meetings are usually fairly short on drama. Not so Monday night, when Councilman Michael Nochimson explained why he was late to the meeting.
With the video camera rolling, Nochimson explained that he had been “surprised” on the stairs of Town Hall by three Verona police officers who were out of uniform, who said that they had heard that he supported police layoffs. “I support our officers,” Nochimson told the audience. “I have never said that I want to lay off officers.” Nochimson expressed dismay that what had been said in private session had been “leaked”. Nochimson did not reveal what had been said in private session, which is typically used to discuss personnel issues.
“I look forward to sitting down with PBA officers,” Nochimson said. “I encourage the dialog.”
This reporter contacted Det. Sgt. Michael Ruglio, one of the three officers present at the incident, by email. The inquiry was returned by John Kraus, the current president of Verona P.B.A. Local 72. “Recently, members of our Local have heard from various town residents and business owners that Mr. Nochimson had been saying that there should be demotions and layoffs on the Verona Police Department,” Krais wrote in an email. “Rather than listen to the rumors or hearsay, I thought it would be best to get the answer directly from Mr. Nochimson. A Superior Officer Representative, a Board of Trustee and I met Mr. Nochimson at the entrance door to the municipal building where I was able to ask my question. Thankfully for the Department and more importantly, the citizens of Verona, Mr. Nochimson said that he was against the idea of any layoffs or demotions.”
By return email, this reporter asked Kraus why he had not reached out to Nochimson by phone or email. Nochimson has a listed home phone number and all Town Council members have a town government email address. Kraus has not, as of this writing, returned that email. Nochimson said yesterday that he left three messages with Kraus regarding a follow-up discussion, which were also not returned.
The issue of what was or wasn’t said about layoffs may be moot, however. Town Manager Joe Martin announced at Monday night’s meeting that there would be a Police Department retirement in November, which would reduce the force to 26 from 27. Staffing in the department had been as high as 33 during Martin’s tenure and has been reduced by retirements. Martin also said that he expected one more police retirement next year.
There were two recent council meetings where Mr. Nochimson publically made an accusation that there was a “leak” in private session concerning a comment he made on police staffing. Since I never heard Mr.Nochimson say he wanted to make police cuts, nor were police cuts ever discussed by this council, I am confused as to these leaks that he claims allegedly took place on a subject that was never addressed.