AN NA TODAY EXCLUSIVE:
And now we know the rest of the story?
NORTH ARLINGTON’S OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENT BASED ON A 2023 COMPLAINT FILED BY LIBRARY EMPLOYEE!
PRONTI, DEL RUSSO AND DECICCO STILL WON’T COMMENT!
WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?
WHO IS HOLDING THE LIBRARY BOARD ACCOUNTABLE?
MORE PRONTI PUPPETS, WHERE IS THE TRUTH?
NORTH ARLINGTON – Here is a 2023 news report of the complaint that was filed by former library employee Irene Colao, who was recently awarded $200,000 in an out-of-court settlement approved by the all-Republican Mayor & Council!
So now we know the rest of the story.
Council candidate John Balwierczak, who is challenging Republican incumbents Kirk Del Russo and Amanda DeCicco had his records request denied regarding this out-of-court settlement in which this former borough employee of the Library Board was awarded $200,000 for vagueness.
Here the resolution by the Mayor & Council awarding Colao $200,000 but never refers to the actual complaint!
Below is the response from the Municipal Clerk.
But here is a news account by www.nj.com detailing the suit when filed against North Arlington in 2023:
N.J. town’s library was racist, vulgar workplace, ex-employee says in suit – nj.com
A worker at the North Arlington Public Library in Bergen County said her supervisor made discriminatory and vulgar remarks in her presence.
And here is the response received from the Borough Clerk regarding the OPRA request:
———- Forwarded message ———
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, Sep 16, 2025, 2:27 PM
Subject: OPRA Request – John Balwierczak 9/8/25
To: John Balwierczak <[email protected]>
Good afternoon,
You’re receiving this email in response to your OPRA request received on September 8, 2025.
Your 1st request for all correspondence regarding the settled legal matter: Colao v. North Arlington including transcripts, emails and other information that resulted in this out-of-court settlement does not specify an identifiable record nor does it provide a date range and, therefore, must be denied pursuant to Simmons v. Mercado, 247 N.J. 24 (2021) and MAG Entertainment, LLC v. Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534 (App. Div. 2005)(finding that a request failed due to the lack of specificity or particularity, when it required a custodian “to manually search through all of the agency’s files, analyze, compile and collate the information contained therein, and identify . . . the cases relative to its requests prior to the process of determining what records were exempted or required redactions.”). In short, OPRA does not countenance open-ended searches of an agency’s files.” Id at 549.
Your 2nd request for any documentation with the North Arlington Library Board must also be denied due to its vagueness as it also does not specify an identifiable record, and, would include, by the literal wording of your request, all books held by the library.
The Borough’s response to your OPRA request is considered completed.
Katie
Katie Moore, RMC, CMC, MPA
Borough Clerk
Borough of North Arlington
214 Ridge Road
North Arlington, NJ 07031
201-991-6060
“I think the residents of North Arlington have a right to know what occurred here based on the reporting of NJ.com and the description of the original filing. What’s the secret? What needs to be requested to see the details and the decision by North Arlington to settle out-of-court? This is nonsense.” offered council candidate John Balwierczak.
“How much money was spent defending the Library Board? Who made the decision to settle and why? Why is this information not being shared with the public at-large? Taxpayers just spent $200,000 on this mystery settlement. The residents should not need to beg for information.”
NA Today has learned that the original civil action was filed March of 2023 and Colao was represented by the law firm Sattiraju & Tharney, LLP located in East Windsor, New Jersey.
The complaint called for a jury trial demand and was filed in the Superior Court of the New Jersey Law Division in Monmouth County.
“Del Russo and DeCicco know the facts and refuse to disclose the dirty details to the public. Why no investigation of this incident? They are trying to sweep the entire matter under the rug just weeks before the election. It’s a disgrace and residents are entitled to the facts,” said Balwierczak.
MEET THE DEMOCRATS OCTOBER 8TH AT THE ARLINGTON DINER BEGINNING AT 7:00 PM – RSVP BY CALLING 201-655-8497.