VIDEO: Public Works Director, Resident Nearly Come to Blows During Council Meeting

LindaF April 25, 2012 at 11:06 am

I watched this video and find it appalling that the public works director of the town attacked Mr. Gladden over trash cans, I also find it appalling that the Mayor had Mr Gladden escorted out of the meeting when Mr Gladden was not the aggressor. Is that the way all citizens are handled at council meetings. Poor Judgement on the Mayors part.

julia donahue April 25, 2012 at 11:33 am

some folks are natural provokers, sad to say. Nothing is ever 'right" or "good" just always NEGATIVE about things. Had Mr. Gladden won his bid for election, I'm sure he'd see quickly that the unpaid job of council is one that is difficult, because you can't make all the people happy all the time. If folks find this town so God-awful then there is always an OPTION, correct? I happen to LOVE this town with it's imperfections and I choose to stay here! That said, the PW director was wayyyy out of line and needs some anger management sessions. Thankfully the officers seperated them before the taxpayers would have to pay Mr. Gladden provoking an incident that would have made him many dollars....people, let's lose the negativity on all sides and try to work together for better place to live!!!

Dawn Rivell April 25, 2012 at 11:55 am

Yes, Linda, that is how they always act! I've seen them do it to an elderly man probably in his 80s. They are disgusting!

Kalena Ross April 25, 2012 at 12:14 pm

Correct me if I'm wrong Mr. Moffa stood to argue his point and Gladden started yelling sit your #$$ down and Snapping his arm at Moffa while Moffa was waggling a finger. Gladden also yelled DO SOMETHING twice. Moffa stuck to the facts about the parks being clean, Gladden tried turning it into a street fight because he's there for a fight every meeting. Moffa could have had the same argument from his seat and Gladden may have still charged him. Gladden is a bully and he looks for a fight every meeting sadly Moffa got dragged into it this time. GLADDEN is the one who came chest to chest NOT Moffa because Moffa stopped advancing. Watch the video people and wake up. There is a bully crew in GT and they're not up there on the dais or working for our township they're the people we elected and hired. The people we elected and hired are trying to make this a better place and STOP the fighting. I am SICK of the nastiness brought to these meetings. Get up and ask a question and be nice about it and if you can't sit down, like they do in school.

Sue April 25, 2012 at 02:32 pm

Council is paid: Elected Officials' Salaries
Mayor $52,000 Council President $8,261 Council Vice President $8,089 Councilmember $7,917 http://www.glotwp.com/departments/elected/elected.html

Big Daddy 1 April 25, 2012 at 03:04 pm

I watched Mr. Moffa take numerous strides toward Mr. Gladden. Mr. Gladden took one or two. They were still right next to the miicrophone. I thought Mr Gladden also said "Do your job" which is the context of the "Do something" comment. Street fight? Looked like Mr Moffa was much bigger than Mr. Gladden. Perhaps Mr. Gladden could have reacted better, but Mr Moffa was clearly the aggressor. Didn't Mr. Mayor fire the long time public works head to bring Mr. Moffa in?

Jennifer O'Donnell April 25, 2012 at 05:00 pm

Mr Gladden "had the floor" and had the right to speak his mind without being interrupted. When he was done, THEN Mr Moffa would have the right to speak.

robert dimascio April 25, 2012 at 05:35 pm

first of all mr moffa was a disgrace for not letting mr gladden finish what he was saying wheather you disagree or not . after mr gladden was finshed than mr moffa could have done the disputing.

Robbie April 25, 2012 at 07:29 pm

Whether you think Mr. Gladden is wrong or right, but the idea that a public worker (Mr. Moffa) would approach a city resident at a public meeting and think that he is being miss represented by Gladden, stating what he saw around the town is no reason to threaten a person, in all fairness Mr. Gladden was in the right because it was his time at the microphone not Mr. M0ffa. Most people I know would have taken Mr. Moffa's approaching Mr. Gladden as a serious personal threat.

Michael April 25, 2012 at 07:36 pm

Gabe Busa was a class act, and they let him go for this idiot?

Nancy April 25, 2012 at 08:30 pm

I agree the Mayor should not have had Mr. Gladden escorted out of the room, Mr. Moffa should have been escorted out. Mr. Gladden had the floor NOT Mr. Moffa!!!

Rock Bottom April 25, 2012 at 08:44 pm

Overview of council meeting 4/23/2112 ---- 1) Extremely frustrated citizens voicing concerns over neighborhood blight..... 2) Loose cannon firing shots aimlessly...3)Public employee returns fire...4) All hell breaks loose... 5) President pounds chest to remind us of what a great job he has done... I believe this incident is the "residue" of the way this township and council conducts business. Lets face it, the council has hidden agenda's, crony appointments and ulterior motives. There is an underlying agenda that we as residents never see. Is Darrin a blowhard? Absolutely! Passion Mr. Hutchinson? It was addressing you and council front and center. We reap what we sow. Sad.

Paul J. DiBartolo April 25, 2012 at 10:17 pm

Unpaid? Please, Julia, cut us a break. BTW, I would think even you would know that there's more than a salary at play here.

julia donahue April 25, 2012 at 11:13 pm

Thanks for clarifying the salaries, honest mistake on my part--perhaps naive LOL
I knew the Mayor was a paid position but not council. Are school board members paid as well?

Sean McCullen (Editor) April 25, 2012 at 11:33 pm

No, Julia, school board members do not receive a salary/stipend. Not sure why that is, to be honest.

ymbdfa April 26, 2012 at 12:40 am

Gabe Busa, a class act? Well I can see how Gladdens fans here relate to Busa. After all Busa is Gladdens Idol. A role model you can say. After all Busa set the pattern Gladden is following, Busa actually did assault a 75 year old resident during a council meeting then he cost the tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars by filing a frivolous lawsuit against the township after he voluntarily retired so he didn't lose his pension, over his assaulting the senior citizen at the council meeting. Then Busa changed his mind after he was replaced by Moffa and filed a baseless lawsuit against the tax payers of GT demanding his $110,000 salary plus sick time, and lost pay claiming he only retired to have enough time to defend himself from the assault charges he faced. Oh yes he also demanded 5 weeks of vacations and his personal time even though he retired at 66 years old. Yep Gabe Busa sure was a class act. Well at least according to Darren Gladden and his cronies.

Pete Heinbaugh April 26, 2012 at 02:11 am

I'll bet that in-person and on-line attendance will be up for the next council meeting.
Maybe the Township should sell advertising/sponsorship rights.

julia donahue April 26, 2012 at 02:20 am

thanks, Sean. I am just happy that the Scouts who attended the meeting earlier didn't witness the adults acting in this way....

Schu April 26, 2012 at 02:20 am

The saddest thing is most of the voters in GT will vote in the same people every election cycle and few changes will happen because we the voters are too lazy to do something about it.

Sean McCullen (Editor) April 26, 2012 at 02:55 am

On that, I think everyone can agree, Julia.
Quick point of clarification on something I've seen in a few comments: It was the Council president, not the mayor, who ordered Darren Gladden to leave Council chambers. It's his meeting, not the mayor's, to run.

Darren Gladden April 26, 2012 at 03:58 pm

YMBDFA ......Hahahaha....... Don't and try to make me out to be somebody that "I'm NOT " I love your spin they make me LAUGH all the time ..........hahaha . Can't you just SEE with your own two EYE'S . I'm a broke down guy that JUST care's about all . Let's just stop with your LIES "CSATSBAFSN" You don't know the man I am. I'm a FATHER First , A Husband to a wonderful woman that I care deeply for . A Friend and a very dear true friend I would say, I would give the shirt off my back to anyone GOOD in need and I would also like to say to my foes you know " the wrong doers" that I love my TOWN , MY HOMETOWN, STATE AND COUNTRY ......NOW..............Just care , I do......... "I was Born on 420 " ........... Peace out and enjoy the song
http://youtu.be/T8jvEJngh4M

Michelle Wolfson April 27, 2012 at 02:44 pm

I think it's fair to say that both parties involved did not handle it in the best way. However, I think Mr. Gladden had the floor and it was up to Mr. Moffa to wait until he was finished and respond in a professional and appropriate manner.

Michael April 30, 2012 at 12:44 pm

ymbdfa, I don't know Mr. Gladden and all I know of him is what I've seen here on the patch. As for Mr. Busa, most of what I know is from seeing him at council meetings and the job the Township PW employees did when he was in charge. At council meetings, Mr. Busa was always a gentleman, and I never saw him attack or degrade a resident like Mr. Moffa did. When Mr. Busa was in charge, the streets were plowed quickly, the trash at the various ball fields was removed in a timely manner and I never saw PW employees where they weren't supposed to be. With Mr. Moffa in charge, I would submit that most of that has changed.

Big Daddy 1 April 30, 2012 at 02:28 pm

When is the next meeting?

Sean McCullen (Editor) April 30, 2012 at 09:19 pm

The complete remaining schedule for Council's public-action meetings for 2012: http://gloucestertownship.patch.com/events/township-council-meeting-b0ca490a

The Truth May 29, 2012 at 05:09 pm

Darren S. Gladden is nothing but a loud mouth trouble maker who cant hold a job!!! i have known him for several years, he is not a good person and is just looking to get his name in the papers!!

Darren Gladden May 29, 2012 at 06:29 pm

Please you have no clue who I am and if you knew me you would state the truth by stating your name but we all know your spin . Get real and speak the truth by stating your name . O" well guess not cause You ARE a "phony bologna" .............Just care , I do and you have yourself a nice day ;-)

Darren Gladden April 24, 2013 at 01:20 pm

It's been a YEAR since Mr. Moffa acted the way team Dave 's team works . I did not file any charges cause I'm not like those winjobs on a team like Mrs Coyle ....So Lenni I hope and pray everyday you will retire or resign because you are by far da worst PW leader I have ever met and Dave is by far the worst MAYOR in the world . ...........Just care , I do