Boonton Township buries name-change proposal
BOONTON TWP. – Once and for all, it’s Boonton Township.
Angry residents seeking closure regarding the recent controversy about one man’s proposal to change the township’s name turned out in force for a Township Committee meeting Monday night at Rockaway Valley School.
After weeks of social media posts criticizing Edward M. Daspin’s public suggestion to find a name that disassociated the wealthy township from what he described as the “blue-collar” town of Boonton, nearly 70 people showed up for the meeting.
The usual attendance at Township Committee meetings? Just one reporter from a weekly publication, according to Mayor Paul Allieri.
“Usually no one comes out and gets involved,” Allieri said. “Mr. Daspin woke up a sleeping dog, and for that, we thank him.”
After hearing from so many residents about the controversy, the committee was compelled to change the meeting venue from the municipal building to the school in anticipation of an overflow crowd.
More than a dozen people wrote their names on a public-comment sign-up sheet prior to the meeting, but after receiving assurance from the mayor and committee that Daspin had disbanded his own “committee,” and that the Township Committee was against a name change, most people declined to step up to the microphone.
“Mr. Daspin walked into our lives about a month ago, made a suggestion, met some resistance with his suggestion and, as of today, has taken an about-face on the entire process,” Allieri told the assembly. “We wanted to share with you today that he will not be here tonight, the PAC that he put together has essentially disbanded, and the committee would like to thank you for speaking as loudly and as passionately as you did, because we’re in synch and proud to serve you, and really appreciate your help on this one.”
Fred Bona came armed with a two-page statement he intended to read, but kept it short.
“I think I’ll forgo the comments because there’s no sense taking everybody’s time,” Bona told the committee. “I’m dead-against this, I thank you for your quick action in nipping it in the bud and will let it go at that.”
Charlie Maraziti joked: “I’ve lived in Boonton Township for 45 years, and my family has been in Boonton for over 115 years. I have a 40-page document I’m going to read to you. No. I just wanted to take this opportunity to publicly thank the members of the Township Committee for their solidarity for defending our town, our town’s name and its heritage.
“We are proud to call our home Boonton Township and enjoy strong and enduring ties with our good neighbor, Boonton. I would also like to thank Mr. Daspin for bringing up a topic that has unified our town and rekindled our love for this beautiful place on earth.”
Mark Berman, the Boonton postal worker who launched a response Facebook page titled “Keep Boonton Township Boonton Township,” said the page now has more than 850 followers in a town of about 4,200 residents.
“I’d like to see this page become a place where we could begin a dialogue on how to make the township an even better place in the future,” Berman said.
With others on the list declining to speak, Bona stepped up once again.
“I think that on behalf of Boonton Township, we need to apologize to the town of Boonton for this insensitive resident who denigrated and belittled our association with the town of Boonton,” he said.
“It appears to be the end of it,” Alieri said after the meeting. “I thought we would be here for quite some time, but the town spoke its mind.”
Daspin told the Daily Record before the meeting that he could not attend because of to a medical condition.
On Tuesday, Daspin announced that he had received a letter from the Township Committee informing him that “The Township Committee read your letter at their meeting last night. The services of your PAC are not required at this time.”
“We are satisfied that the council is aware of the situation, and the PAC leaves it in their capable and supportive hands,” Daspin said.
Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.