Elizabeth Township’s Kuzma survives challenge

By EMILY BENNETT

ebennett@yourmvi.com

An attempt to replace Andrew Kuzma as president of the Elizabeth Township Board of Commissioners was turned aside at another tense meeting Monday. The effort was led by Commissioner Joanne Beckowitz, who was still angry about a clash last month with Kuzma, who yelled that she “sold her soul to the devil.”
Before the meeting, Beckowitz gave an impassioned address defending her time as a commissioner. She read a prepared statement railing against what she called wrongful allegations against her character.
“I have been a faithful commissioner to our township since the ’80s, because I love our township and I felt I could make a difference,” she said.
The effort to replace Kuzma was quelled by Commissioner Chris Evans, who was proposed as his replacement. After Beckowitz made the motion to unseat Kuzma as president, Evans began to respond by saying, “If everyone would work together …”
Commissioner Donald Similo then seconded the motion.
Evans said he declined, which de-escalated the situation, and all motions to unseat Kuzma as president were retracted.
Supporting the proposed leadership change was Mt. Vernon resident Frank Sabolcik, who wore a flowery Hawaiian-style lei necklace, as did other residents, as a silent protest against Kuzma’s recent trip to Hawaii.
Sabolcik, who was removed from the last meeting, said he felt his rights were violated when he was ousted by police Chief David Kerestes for speaking out against what he felt was erratic behavior from Kuzma. He said he was at last month’s meeting to discuss serious flooding issues that took place on his property and did not at all anticipate being escorted out by police.
“Not to witness a childish screaming match instigated by the board president,” Sabolcik said. “I was frustrated since there were residents here with real problems that needed to be solved. I attempted to end this ridiculous fight that ensued, and for that, I was escorted out of the meeting by the chief of police.” Sabolcik said is a lifelong resident of the township, and said he felt his right to speak was violated.
“Residents of this township and the real issues we face must be the top priority,” he stated. “You all were elected to amplify and be our voice, not silence us for your own gain.”
Sabolcik said he’s seen what he referred to as his “beloved township” transform into what he refers to as a circus. He then requested the board rectify the situation, asking that Kuzma be removed as board president and that Evans take on his role.
The room erupted into applause, to which Sabolcik addressed the commissioners by stating, “it sounds like the residents agree and that we have a majority.”
Beckowitz said she felt the township had become “a place of fear” for residents, and said she feels they are afraid of questioning Kuzma’s choice or leadership, for fear of being removed from a meeting or of legal action by a commissioner.
“When the citizens attend the meetings as Kuzma suggests, they are cut off at three minutes, cut off mid-sentence, gaveled or unfortunately as you saw on the You-Tube video of last month’s meeting, ushered out of a meeting by a police escort,” she said.
Beckowitz added that she and Similo are working on a town hall meeting to safely air any grievances concerning the township, and specifically Kuzma’s leadership.
After the meeting concluded, Similo said did not speak with Beckowitz beforehand about the town-hall style meeting and said her statement was the first he heard of it.
Kuzma responded to Beckowitz’s emotional statement, and said he owed her an apology.
“I let my temper get the best of me,” he said. “I will apologize to Beckowitz for saying what I said to her. I have a knee-jerk reaction sometimes whenever I’m in an argument so I will apologize.”
Kuzma defended his decision to have a resident removed from last month’s meeting and said he will not stand for disorder.
“As far as having someone escorted out, the reason I’m here is because people in this township wanted to move in a new direction. If people disapproved of the way I was operating, I wouldn’t have won reelection like I did. I won’t have disorder in a meeting, I won’t have people get up and scream and as far as discussing with the same 10 people who keep coming to the meetings to discuss the same things.”
Kuzma said he has “no interest” in obstructionists who want to prevent the township from what he feels is moving forward.
“I don’t think 10 people should run this township who are unelected when there are 13,000 others that live here. If people didn’t like the job I was doing, I wouldn’t have been reelected,” he repeated.
In other business Monday:
• A motion was adopted to match a grant fund from the Municipal Assistance Program Grant in the amount of $42,500 for the comprehensive plan.
• A “Safe Exchange Zone” was approved.
• A motion was approved to terminate two unidentified employees.
• A motion was approved to hire Greg Butler as the assistant to the code enforcement officer as a part-time position.
• A motion was approved to hire John Castine as assistant to the working foreman as a part time position.
• A $500 donation was approved to the Buena Vista Volunteer Fire Company and another $500 was donated to the Blaine Hill Volunteer Fire Company, both for community events.
• A motion was approved for a Sept. 27 meeting to prepare the budget for next year.
• A motion was approved for a public hearing to be held at 6:45 p.m. Sept. 16 to address eight proposed demolitions in the township.