To the editor: The Accountability Ordinance requires lawyers to provide ethical backgrounds within seven days of being hired. Our excellent Town Attorney Fred Semrau stated in the last council meeting, “In my experience, the forms waiving confidentiality to disciplinary histories are easy to fill out.” If this is the case, why do our four Republican Councilmen favor repealing the law? Councilman Weisbecker refers back to the Paff vs. Byrnes case that cost tax payers a $33,000 legal bill. This happened because the majority party hired Attorney William DeMarco, who had no experience in municipal law. It was Town Clerk Kevin Byrnes and Attorney DeMarco who chose to ignore Paff’s Open Public Records Act request that cost the township money. If our public servants had followed the law, there would have been no lawsuit. Councilman Schimmenti says, “Why does West Milford have to be the only municipality to have such an ordinance? Do we need to invent a new wheel...?” I would like to remind our newest Councilman that West Milford was one of the first municipalities in New Jersey to initiate the “pay to play” ordinance. Town Clerk Antoinette Battaglia reported on January 24 she “has received calls from all over the state” inquiring about this ordinance; a “new wheel” ordinance that has set the example for other NJ townships. Leadership means taking a forefront on the issues. A Trends editorial said, “The fact the township needed an attorney ethics law became apparent after the switch to a partisan council.” With crocodile tears, Mayor Di Donato claimed last September, “Attorneys will back away from West Milford as a result of this ordinance.” Does anyone really believe such a claim with the plethora of attorneys looking for work? How sad it is that just three short months after the elections, the majority party is more interested in repealing an ethics ordinance for a few attorneys than fighting for the majority of residents in getting tax relief. A higher priority should be lobbying Senator Martin and Assemblymen DeCroce and Pennacchio to introduce a Water Surcharge Tax Relief Bill for the Highlands region. According to town Web-site, the Attorney Accountability Ordinace repeal vote was to take place on March 7th. The council has pushed it up to a Valentine’s Day vote (before you will have read this letter). Why the rush? If the council majority are going to fight for an unethical bill, I guess it is best to rush it through without giving its citizens a fair shake for public debate. If you feel as disappointed as I feel, join us at the next W.M. Democratic meeting on February 27 at the Hillcrest Center at 7:30 p.m. Think globally; act locally. Jim Geist Hewitt