Burlington County Chairman situation changing by the day

by: Jason Springer

Thu Jan 28, 2010 at 06:03:50 PM EST

As the days go by, the situation continues to change in Burlington County. Yesterday, I got a notice reminding me of a Special Meeting to elect a new Chairman of the Democratic Committee on February 4. It said in part:

As there is some confusion as to the status of the forthcoming special meeting

The letter covered what they said were allegations made in reference to the special meeting that required them to "respond in an honest effort to clear the record." To be honest, I'm not fully clear on the acting designations, but the letter covered who is authorized to send notice of meetings and alleged procedural irregularities with the resolution. Herb Conaway had introduced a resolution at the last committee meeting calling for an election on that date, rather than in June as had been anticipated.

Today I opened my mailbox and had another letter, this from Acting Chairwoman Alice Furia:

By now you have heard about a special meeting scheduled for February 4, 2010 at Kove II, which purportedly has as its purpose the election of an "interim chairman" for the Burlington County Democratic Committee. Such an election will not take place or be recognized on that date. Pursuant to the advice and opinion of legal counsel, the special meeting February 4, 2010, to the extent it seeks to elect an interim chairman for the BCDC, is absolutely contrary to and violates the BCDC's by-laws. Therefore, any action taken at that meeting purporting to elect an interim chairman shall not be recognized, and will be declared null and void. The election iwll take place in June - as scheduled - pursuant to and as required by the BCDC's by-laws, and will take place on the first Tuesday immediately folllowing the primary election.

Along with the letter came a legal opinion from the firm of Zucker Steinberg with respect to whether an election can be held February 4:

Since the BCDC by-laws do not permit the selection of a Chair on an interim basis, any attempt to do so through a special meeting is ultra vires and therefore, void.
In fact, if a Chairperson were to be elected on an interim basis, that election would breach the by-laws and unjustly infringe upon the duties specifically assigned to the Vice Chair.

What a mess, I can only imagine what I'm going to find in my mailbox tomorrow.

Jason Springer :: Burlington County Chairman situation changing by the day