on tourism payment By Terry McGahan WEST MILFORD The township council relented on Wednesday night to making an initial payment to a company hired to produce a West Milford tourism newspaper. The council had previously acted to block payment of the bill to Lake Hiawatha-based Percepture, Inc., on the basis that the recently appointed tourism commissioner and former council member Paul Bailey had not fully consulted the council prior to requesting that the town administrator sign the payment order with the company. The council agreed to issue the first payment of $4,113.33 toward a total bill of $12,340 to Percepture for the design and layout work already carried out. The money made available to tourism spending was originally appropriated in the 2005 budget. As with the previous vote, however, there was a far from unanimous consensus on the tourism newspaper. “No matter how you slice it, it’s still baloney,” said councilman Bob Nolan. Councilman Phil Weisbecker had been one of those who had initially voted against payment of the bill due to his belief that the newspaper project had not been put out to bid. Weisbecker said, however, “After reading the proposal from Percepture as well as the proposals from the [three] others, that particular proposal was better.” Concerns had been expressed from a public speaker that paying this bill was a burden on the taxpayers, particularly at a time when the council was facing tough decisions with its finances. Mayor Joseph DiDonato argued, “A bill for $12,000 is not going to raise our taxes. It’s a much bigger picture than that.” Nolan responded, “I’ll paraphrase Everett Dirksen, former Republican Senator from Illinois, $12,000 here, $12,000 there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.’” Councilman Joseph Smolinski had abstained on the vote to pay this bill but gave his approval this time. “We need to put it to rest, but not so easily. Words were used at a recent budget hearing, words such as, grant’, corporate sponsors’, vendor fees’, fundraisers’ - if I don’t see any of these things acquired or pursued, I will hesitate on the next step of fund approval. I will need to see proof of what we’re going to get for our money.” One of tourism commissioner Bailey’s most vocal opponents while he was a council member is councilman James Warden. Warden has strenuously opposed Bailey as head of tourism in town and in paying for this bill. Warden said, “This is nothing more than a feeble attempt to spend taxpayer money. I’m not criticizing the tourism commission I will not support any money as long as Paul Bailey is the Commissioner. We need to find someone the entire council supports.” The council voted 4-2, with Nolan and Warden voting against the payment. Bailey himself said, “I am very pleased that the council has taken a positive position to protect the township from a potential lawsuit.” In response to those who still oppose payment, Bailey said, “It will be refreshing when councilmen Warden and Nolan place West Milford ahead of their childish personal vendettas and get on with their position to help the people of the town.” In other news: Three new police officers were sworn into office on Wednesday night. Lewis Rose, Shannon Sommerville and Bruce Lederman all graduated from the Passaic County Police Academy in February and are now serving on patrol in town. Bios on the new officers will appear in next week’s Messenger.