Ken Gabbert Ousted in Split Council Vote

Citing a need to incorporate "fresh ideas" into village government, the council majority voted 3-2 to remove Village Manager Ken Gabbert from office by Aug. 31.


Dissenting council members, however, said the vote process was "despicable" and further claimed it was an attempt on Mayor Paul Aronsohn's part to become a "dictator" with a "weak" village manager replacing Gabbert.

The resolution passed Wednesday night stipulates that Gabbert, who took over nearly four years ago, is entitled to three month's pay (about $46,000) and compensation for any unused vacation days. He has the right to request a public hearing within 20 days. An interim village manager will be appointed to take over Aug. 31.

Following the resolution vote, Gabbert said that he has not yet decided if he'll request the hearing.

The mayor and village manager have dozens of times since Gabbert was appointed in fall of 2009. They've battled over Gabbert's handling of storms, his $20,000 raise, and financial issues. 

"Clearly this is a very difficult issue," Aronsohn remarked. "But clearly in my mind this is the right decision. The one thing I will say about the process is we really worked hard over the last several weeks to find a unanmious agreement with something we could all support. But we couldn't do it at any cost. At the end of the day we had to make this tough decision."

Dissenting council members Tom Riche and Bernadette Walsh strongly denounced the power play, stating that Gabbert did not receive due process.

An attempt was made to can Gabbert in February. Though the council passed a resolution vowing to evaluate Gabbert and held 12 closed session meetings where the subject arose, Riche and Walsh claimed no such evaluations had taken place. This all despite the requests of Walsh, Riche and Gabbert, they claimed.

Aronsohn said evaluations were made, though not formally during those closed session meetings.

According to Riche, a deal that would have ensured that Gabbert received a "soft landing" with an accompanying legal release was suddenly pulled last week. The majority says a consensus was needed and none could be found. But Riche described the move as a "bait and switch" maneuver on the part of the council majority.

"It was made clear that my dissenting vote would result in measures which would be punitive to Dr. Gabbert's separation terms," Walsh added. "I feel strongly that such a style of negotiation is both unreasonable and unethical."

Aronsohn did not address the terms of negotiations that took place prior to the vote. Proponents of the ousting characterized it as an unfortunate but relatively normal course of business.

"I would emphasize this is not a termination proposed but an opportunity, as state statutes contemplate, bringing in a new village manager who will perhaps bring fresh ideas and a different vision, somewhat like the financial advisory committee's task to do," said Pucciarelli. "I hate for anyone to see this as an indictment on Dr. Gabbert but rather as a normal process that village managers come and village managers go..."

In a prepared statement, Riche called the vote "despicable" and said it would have a "negative long-term impact" on the village.

"I am dismayed and disgusted by tactics that have been employed here. On a serious note, I truly believe that Ridgewood is headed toward a form of government akin to a dictatorship by decree of the mayor, with a weak village manager in place always fearful of a termination notice." 

Hauck, meanwhile, said there was no conspiracy to be found, just disagreement among elected leaders.

"There might be a split in philosophies on the council but there's nothing underhanded about it. I would like to thank Dr. Gabbert for his service to village but would also like to look toward the future with new leadership."

Several officials said the're not even close to determining who will take over on an interim basis beginning Aug. 31. 

Riche after the meeting said he expects the village will be named a party to legal action brought by Gabbert.