Board insurer to pay McCann bill
Friday, August 31, 2007
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The quarrel over who will pick up Gerald McCann's $56,000 legal bill is over. The insurance company for the Jersey City school district has agreed to pay it, an official announced yesterday.

McCann, a former Jersey City mayor, hit the Board of Ed with the head-spinning bill last month.

The amount represents what McCann's says he's been billed by his attorney and private investigator to help defend his election to the school board in April after his victory was challenged in court by the fourth-place finisher. The challenge was eventually dropped.

McCann argued that since he was a sworn board member when the court case was filed, he's "indemnified" by the Board of Ed, meaning the school district is on the hook for his legal expenses. Charlotte Kitler, the district's legal counsel, agreed.

Yesterday, district spokesman Gerard Crisonino said the board's insurance carrier has agreed to pay the bill. The matter therefore won't go before the board for a vote, he said.

In a meeting of the legal committee held Monday, Board of Ed member and former mayor Anthony Cucci loudly protested paying McCann's legal expenses, arguing the court case concerned allegations that took place before McCann became a board member.

You just cannot make this stuff up.
So, McCann's guy lives without utilities.
The person checking up on HIM from the city had an address that was a self storage place??
If it wasn't so sad it would be funny -- Perhaps Woody Allen would be a good choice for a movie on our city "government"...

Quote:

I smell a michael moore movie in the near future

Cucci: Don't pay McCann's $56G

Tuesday, August 28, 2007
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

At odds with prevailing legal opinion inside the Jersey City Board of Education, former mayor and current school board member Anthony Cucci put his objections on the record yesterday - loudly - to the board paying legal bills for recently elected school board member Gerald McCann.

During one closed-door session, Cucci could be heard through the walls bellowing at district staff and fellow board members.

Pointing to an indemnification clause in state law for school board members, McCann, also a former mayor, hit the board with a $56,000 legal tab last month. The money represents what McCann says he's been charged to defend his election in April when his victory was challenged in court by fourth-place finisher Jenny Garcia, who eventually dropped the case.

Cucci contends McCann's court case concerns actions he engaged in before he became a board member even though he had already been sworn in when the court case was filed.

"We (the board) did nothing to violate any law," Cucci said yesterday. "Why should we be left holding the bag?"

But McCann's attorney, Mark Curtis, argues that McCann is indemnified since he was a sworn board member when the suit was filed - period. And Charlotte Kitler, the board's general counsel, agrees with him, he said. Kitler wouldn't comment yesterday.

Citing a 1977 case, Curtis pointed out the Jersey City ed board paid the legal bills of three board members whose status was challenged, even though two of them lost their cases.

Board Chairman William DeRosa said yesterday he didn't know when the matter would be taken up again by the board.

"It won't be on (this Thursday night's meeting) agenda," DeRosa said. "Some board members have raised issues that need to be looked into. It's not a priority."

i would not be able to live without electricity... respect!
this man is of the kind that will save the planet from global warming.

McCann's hired 'help' lived five years without electricity

Monday, August 20, 2007
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Gerald McCann's sleuth has been burning the midnight oil - literally, it would seem.

Former Jersey City employee Arnold Williams says he's been living without electricity in his home at 88 Prescott St. since he moved into the one-family home he leases five years ago.

Williams, who was hired by McCann to help fend off a court challenge to his school board election victory, says he's never paid the electric bill due a billing dispute with Public Service Electric & Gas.

The Jersey City Mayor's Task Force got involved in July when an anonymous caller complained that Williams was walking around the house carrying a lit candle - a fire hazard, according to David Donnelly, director of the task force.

Not having electricity in a residence also violates a city ordinance, Donnelly said.

At the city's request, PSE&G turned the power back on Tuesday, Williams confirmed.

The city took Williams to court to find out whether Williams or the owner should pay the electric bill. The home's owner, by the way, is also in dispute, as the house is in probate.

According to Donnelly, Williams has refused to show city officials the lease, which would stipulate which party is supposed to pay for utilities.

No fines have been levied and the city isn't seeking Williams' eviction, Donnelly said.

McCann and Williams both attributed political motives to the city's actions.

"This didn't start until we successfully forced a dismissal in the courts of the school board case with Gerry McCann," Williams said.

Donnelly says politics is "absolutely not" the reason for the investigation.

"The first time I arrived at the house was when I learned Mr. Arnold Williams lived there," he said.