Petitions born of frustration

At an Aug. 19 press conference held outside City Hall at the beginning of the petition drive, one citizen expressed dissatisfaction over the need for petitions to begin with.

"We have a city manager who isn’t managing and a city council that has not listened to us," said resident Frances Treanor in a comment that condensed months of concerns expressed at city council meetings. "Perhaps if we get this referendum, they will listen to that."

Hackensack firefighter John Linquito, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2081, believed that the base of support for the EMTs is wide enough to have a decisive electoral impact.

"When this fight started four months, it was a bunch of union guys fighting for union jobs," he said. "Obviously, the residents of Hackensack have heard our call. The people are on our side."

"It’s a shame that we have to put this on the ballot, but we want the people of Hackensack to be heard," added city resident Kathleen Salvo.

Will referendum make the ballot?

By obtaining more than double the required signatures, it appears that the referendum initiative has cleared one hurdle on the way to getting on the ballot. According to union spokesman Steve Mangione, the target number of 600 signatures from registered voters represents the required 15 percent of the approximately 4,000 people who voted in the 2007 general election. The required number of signatures had to be submitted 74 days before the Nov. 4 election.

If approved, the referendum would compel the city council to pass an ordinance that is in "opposition to the privatization or subcontracting of the EMS to Hackensack University hospital or any other third party." Residents would get the opportunity to vote on the question just over seven weeks after the transfer of daytime ambulance services to the hospital and the layoffs of the eight EMTs.

However, union officials pointed out that municipal officials could ultimately refuse, under state law, to put the question on the ballot in November.

While City Manager Stephen Lo Iacono was uncertain of the exact statutory guidelines regarding referendums and needed to look into the matter further, he noted in an interview that it would be difficult to discount the petitioners if their paperwork was in order.

"If they come with a proper number of signatures…it would be silly to ignore that kind of an outcry," he said.

Then again, Lo Iacono went on to state that he was unsure that a petition with 600 signatories from a city of more than 40,000 people would "demonstrate broad support" for reversing the council’s current position regarding the eight EMTs.

A press release issued by EMT supporters pointed to the response the council could expect if the issue is not put to a referendum.

"Rest assured, if Mr. Lo Iacono, Mayor [Michael] Melfi and members of the city council reject the people’s petition to decide our own fate on who provides our emergency medical services, the next petition we circulate will demand a recall election so we can throw these officials out of office," the press release stated.

Shortly after helping to hand in a stack of signatures on Aug. 21, Salvo was even more blunt.

"If the city ignores us, it’s political suicide," she said.

E-mail: bonamo@northjersey.com