In an email sent to the Borough Clerk this afternoon, Fifth Ward Councilman Michael Yakubov stated that he will be stepping down on March 5th as a member of the governing body, which coincides with the first Mayor & Council meeting that month. The correspondence read:
Please note, this is official notice that I will be stepping down from Roselle Park Council on March 5th, 2015. I have advised the GOP of this and they will be presenting 3 names for council consideration. Please feel free to share with members of council.
Last week the councilman, through his attorney, submitted a Notice of Tort Claim against the municipality where he mentioned his resignation. Such a notice is not a lawsuit, per se, but a notice that person might file litigation against a government entity. Under New Jersey law, such a notice must be given within 90 days to allow a government agency to present a remedy in place of – or before proceeding – to court.
“I will be stepping down from Roselle Park Council on March 5th, 2015″ – Michael Yakubov
Mr. Yakubov, in his Notice, is asking for damages related to the loss of the 2014 Roselle Park Mayoral election, slander as well as libel, threat of employment loss, emotional distress, public humiliation, violation of personal rights, false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, out-of-pocket cost for legal services and municipal court fines, and a deprivation of federal rights – among other claims. It was in this section that the councilman referred to “causality and stress leading to councilman moving and resigning”.
In contacting Mr. Yakubov, he stated that he would speak publicly to his constituents more at a later date regarding his stepping down but commented, “My heart is in Roselle Park. I love the town. I love the people. I’m not going to quit being councilperson till the day I’m done. It means a lot to me.”
A copy of the Notice of Tort Claim can be viewed below: