(Re)Belsky Again

By The Franklin Lakes Journal

Published: May 21, 2009

“Anyone who challenges the prevailing orthodoxy finds himself silenced with surprising effectiveness.” - George Orwell

Ira Belsky’s penchant for speaking his mind as a member of the Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education previously earned him a reproof from fellow board members. A descant offered at a recent town council meeting almost earned him a more severe penalty as he lamented how the Franklin Lakes community was being drawn into gutter politics with attacks upon former borough attorney William Smith.

The specific issue he addressed dealt with politically charged literature impugning Smith’s relationship with the borough and other unrelated allegations; the documentation also included support for the Trava/Murphy ticket. As previously reported, William Smith is seeking election to the town council, a position he has served in before, and the Republican Party primary in Franklin Lakes has been littered with a volley of accusations being lobbied by supporters from both sides.

The recent verbal exchange that occurred at the council meeting did not devolve into fisticuffs, but it almost led to handcuffs. For the most part, council meetings follow a particular protocol which limits public comments to items on the agenda. Mr. Belsky’s comments left no doubt that he believed the Trava/Murphy ticket had knowledge of the group behind the lowbrow literature, and his accusations led to a heated exchange with the Mayor.

Any resident who has attended a board of education meeting is familiar with Mr. Belsky’s tendency to continue speaking till his thoughts are fully clarified, but speaking from the bleachers in a town council meeting does not offer that same opportunity. Mayor DeNicola’s instructions to cease and desist in his discourse led to a call for law enforcement to physically remove the retired attorney from the council chambers. Mr. Belsky did desist prior to the arrival of law enforcement, but to the dismay of the Mayor another resident rose to continue to express concerns on the same subject.

Mr. Belsky’s recent experience might further cement his existing reconsideration on a policy resolution presently before the high school Board of Ed. The Out of School Conduct Code would impose extracurricular suspensions on any student charged by police, irregardless of a conviction. Mr. Belsky’s actions at the town council meeting, while equivalent to an act of civil disobedience, may have prevented him from attending his senior prom had he been a student.