By Steve Morris

The clock seems to have struck midnight in Rutherford, as the Bergen GOP's Cinderella story of 2007 is unraveling before its eyes amid broken campaign promises, transition issues, and money trouble.  Democrat-turned-Republican Mayor John Hipp has already broken campaign promises not to meddle in the police department, shut his council out of the transition process, and has had a gaping million dollar hole appear in his budget in what has been a lackluster first 30 days in office.  The great victory of 2007 for BCRO Chairman Rob Ortiz seems to have turned into a major thorn in his side. 

Hipp's woes began during his transitional period, when he opted to exclude the council from the transition process, instead drafting his transition team from his ranks of cronies. The Mayor has also been spending plenty of time re-arranging the brass at the Rutherford Police Department (RPD) despite promises to the contrary, and is even pushing a plan to abolish the chief of police, despite a similar plan failing in Lyndhurst.  On top of all of this, the borough has $200,000 of EnCap money tied up in escrow, is owed $500,000 in back taxes by EnCap, has a $200,000 police retirement bill to pay, and has a $500,000 settlement owed to 4 officers dismissed in 2005 looming on the horizon as well.

Insiders close to the mayor and his transition team have questioned the success of the process and are disappointed with the slow speed with which the mayor's agenda is moving.  Rutherford is also facing a law suit from one of its officers over controversy filled eleventh hour promotions that took place during the McPherson administration and arbitration is looming on the horizon between the borough and its police department.  Rutherford's money troubles aren't confined to EnCap and police retirements, as pledged funds for special events have not been coming in as expected.

Rutherford has also been besieged by other police related legal actions.  The 4 officers dismissed over the 2005 kidnapping scandal have appealed their dismissals, and one has already won.  The borough doesn't anticipate the rest of the appeals going much better and the Mayor has already commented that he sees a $500,000 settlement on the horizon.  We at Inside Bergen are anxious to see how the Mayor manages this fiscal crisis, especially after he has tied 1 arm behind his back by alienating his council with broken promises and a cold shoulder during the transition process.