Judge sends harassment complaint against mayor to mediation

Vernon — In Hardyston municipal court last Wednesday, Jan. 19, Judge John E. Mulhern sent the complaint filed by Vernon resident Craig Benda against Mayor Sally Rinker to be heard before the Citizen Dispute Resolution Committee (CDRC) for possible settlement. Rinker was represented by Newton attorney Kevin Kelly, who entered a not guilty plea on behalf of the mayor. Kelly is also the attorney who represented Vernon Council member Richard Carson in his lawsuit against Vernon Township and various members of the Republican Committee. Benda did not have an attorney with him. Although the judge did not address the courtroom audience, it was a virtual who’s who of Vernon. Mayor Rinker brought with her Robert Oliver, who is a member of the Financial Advisory Committee in Vernon, and Jean Murphy, a local Realtor. Benda brought Deputy Mayor Harry Shortway; Mike Furrey, a member of the township’s Environmental Commission, and Andrea “Bunny” Cocula, a member of the Vernon Township Republican Committee. Benda’s wife Holly and Shorway’s wife Cherie were also in the audience. The judge described for both Rinker and Benda the makeup of the Resolution Committee. It consists of three to five people who have been trained to perform this type of mediation. He told them it was not arbitration and was not a “fault finding exercise.” Mulhern said the mediation would be held in a closed courtroom with no lawyers present. He also cautioned both Rinker and Benda, saying: “Something said to the mediator can’t be brought up in court later.” He told them both: “The mediators are good at resolving things.” Rinker and Benda should expect to receive a mailed notice of the date for the mediation hearing. If the two sides cannot come up with an agreement through this process, Judge Mulhern told them the matter can be scheduled for court. Benda filed a harassment complaint against Rinker after she allegedly grabbed his arm and said: “You better watch yourself. You are skating on thin ice.” According to his complaint, she then told him it was “a statement of fact.” The incident occurred after a forum about the proposed change in form of government in Vernon held at Vernon High School on Oct. 23, 2010.