Council Rejects Police Contract, Cops Called Out on Wild Goose Chase, Chickens Face Eviction

The mayor and council voted to reject a police arbitration award at a special meeting Monday night, arguing that salary increases over a three-year period would exceed a state-mandated 2 percent cap. 

The council voted unanimously to appeal the arbitrator's award after consulting with the town's auditor, Gary Higgins, and the borough's labor attorney, Avis Bishop-Thompson.

"We were obligated to appeal the New Milford Police Department arbitrator's decision since the cost to the taxpayer would have illegally and grossly exceeded the 2 percent per year cap," Mayor Ann Subrizi told Patch.

Upon reviewing the contract with Higgins and Avis-Thompson, the mayor and council determined that the actual cost of the analysis exceeds the 2 percent cap mandated by the Arbitration Reform Act.

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Last weekend was a busy one for New Milford Police. A  for allegedly trying to force a woman to engage in sex with him against her will. 

Chief Frank Papapietro said that Daniel E. Hernandez-Garcia, age 25, was arrested at his apartment in the Brookchester apartment complex on River Road after police responded to complaints of a noise disturbance from neighbors. 

Hernandez-Garcia was taken to the  where he was arrested and charged with attempted sexual assault, criminal restraint and simple assault. Bail was set by Superior Court Justice James Guida at $50,000 with no 10 percent option.

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A 2-year-old New Milford girl believed to have been abducted last weekend was found in Texas at the home of her paternal grandmother on Sunday.

Kelly Tobon, 20, of New Milford reported to police that she allowed her mother, Blanca Liliana Sanchez, 43, whose last known address was in Bergenfield, to take her daughter for an overnight visit on Friday night and feared that the toddler had been abducted when the grandmother failed to return the child home to New Milford by Sunday. 

While at headquarters, Tobon received a phone call from the child’s paternal grandmother, Tracy Regan, in Houston, Texas, stating that the child had been dropped off by Sanchez and was safe with her.

Chief Papapietro said that charges are currently pending against Sanchez upon consultation with an Assistant Prosecutor. Her location is still unknown at this time.

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Responding to a call of a man hunting geese with a crossbow at Hardcastle Pond behind the Dorchester apartment complex, New Milford police arrested John Hall, 49, of Faller Drive, last Sunday and charged him with three counts of weapons possession, one count of possession of a prohibited weapon and disorderly conduct. 

Officers VanSaders and Moroney secured Hall and removed a 10-inch knife from him. A 4-inch switchblade knife in his front pocket and a 4-inch knife in his boot was found when the accused was further searched. A search of his duffle bag revealed two mini crossbows, one being loaded, and 60 six-inch arrows.

Hall was taken to the New Milford Police Department where he was charged. Municipal judge, Honorable Kevin Kelly, set bail at $20,000 with a 10 percent option. 

Hall was released upon posting bail.

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Tuesday New Milford police officers, Brian Clancy and Kevin VanSaders, found themselves chasing a goose. For real. They responded to a call from a resident who had spotted a gray goose with an arrow protruding from its and leg. The officers tracked the injured goose to Pavone baseball field, adjacent to the Hardcastle Pond where a local man, John Hall, was arrested Sunday morning after being found in possession of varioius knives, a loaded crossbow, a bag full of small arrows.

The goose was transported to an animal hospital where officials said the arrow was successfully removed. According to officials, the goose is doing fine and is recovering in rehab at Bergen County Animal Shelter in Teterboro. 

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 is taking steps to change the 1968 borough ordinance prohibiting the keeping of chickens. Raising chickens for fresh eggs just adds to the list of DelVecchio's green endeavors he and his family have taken towards leading a healthier and more eco-friendly life.

But the Board of Health is unwilling to make any changes or amendments to the current ordinance. DelVecchio appeared at their meeting Wednesday to appeal the decision. Board President Marlene Slavin informed DelVecchio that board members had been advised they could not comment on the matter because it was scheduled to be heard in municipal court. However, Slavin did allow DelVecchio to speak publicly on the matter.

DelVecchio received a letter from the board on January 5th, notifying him of its decision to enforce a 1968 ordinance banning the keeping of chickens. The letter stated he had 45 days to remove the chickens from his backyard. The 45 days have passed and now, DelVecchio is scheduled to appear in municipal court on Wednesday. Patch will keep you updated on the court appearance.

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New Milford has filed to be reimbursed for more than $116,000 from FEMA for costs associated with Hurricane Irene, which ravaged the town in August. The $116,000 figure represents 75 percent of the total costs associated with Irene.

Chief Frank Papapietro, also the town's Emergency Management Cooridinator, told Patch that during Hurricane Irene New Milford's expenses totaled $155,251.31. Here is a detailed breakdown of those expenses: 

• Overtime (DPW and Police): $18,265.01
• Equipment (DPW, Police, Fire): $18,012.17
• Contractors--emergency vegetative debris removal operations: $97,744.17
• Direct administrative costs: $1015.06
• Materials/cleaning (DPW building): $20,214.90

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Superintendent Michael Polizzi sat down with Patch to talk about the budget and the goals of the New Milford school district. In February, the New Milford Board of Education voted to move their board elections to November, effectively ending the annual public vote on their base budget.

Polizzi said that within the confines of the 2 percent cap, the Board of Education is ensuring that the district maintains the current level of programming as well as the growth of the academies. 

"We are extremely sensitive to the community and what taxpayers can afford," Polizzi said.  

Goals include increasing technology, investing in the teaching staff and focusing on updating, improving and repairing the infrastructure. 

Polizzi said it is the goal of his team, along with the board, to design an effective learning experience that will take students into the global forum of the 21st Century. "We're constantly looking at ways to creatively accomplish this at little to no cost to the taxpayers."