Reflections on Hamilton's years of service to borough Peers recall his part in fighting off nuclear waste, U.S. Home BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer ROOSEVELT - Those who served on the Borough Council with Michael Hamilton had words of praise and criticism when asked to reflect on the years he spent on the governing body. Hamilton decided not to seek re-election last year after serving as mayor for four years and a council member for three. Mayor Elsbeth "Beth" Battel said she is going to miss Hamilton very much. "He has been active in town for over 15 years, serving Roosevelt unselfishly on the school board, the Planning Board, the Fund for Roosevelt, as mayor and on the council," Battel said. "He is caring, compassionate, effective, proactive, efficient, thoughtful, helpful, encouraging, and the epitome of a gentleman." Battel added that a democracy is dependent on the active participation of its citizenry, especially in a small town like Roosevelt where volunteers are the lifeblood of the government. "Roosevelt owes its heartfelt 'thank you' to Michael for all that he has done," she said. Former council member Jeff Hunt, who moved out of town last year, also reflected on Hamilton's service to the community. He said Hamilton's mayoralty followed a time of mismanagement and ill-conceived administration in the municipal government that "had nearly caused the irreparable ruination of Roosevelt". "As a tireless advocate for preserving the best aspects of Roosevelt, Mike was chiefly responsible for stanching the seemingly overwhelming tide of development, nuclear waste dumping and other lame-brained schemes of his predecessors," Hunt said. Hunt called Hamilton "tireless, intelligent and fair-minded," adding that he also knew how to administrate well - to be effective and efficient in getting major projects done while maintaining the daily functions of the town. "Mike's absence will undoubtedly leave a municipal government with much diminished energy, experience and reason," Hunt said. Hunt said Hamilton has been a forceful advocate for the preservation of the qualities of life that define Roosevelt, which are its community spirit and unique history, as well as its physical and natural environment. "To name only one major achievement, he is to be credited with spearheading the successful fight against U.S. Home that represented a serious threat to all of those qualities," Hunt said. According to Hunt, Hamilton has been a dedicated public servant in the best sense. "He was always a good neighbor and the best of what the Roosevelt social experiment has represented, for which I want to convey my gratitude as a former resident and colleague," he said. He continued, "I congratulate him on his retirement from office and give my condolences to the community that will be hard-pressed to find such another dedicated and productive member." Former Mayor Neil Marko, who was ousted last year in a recall election, did not have such kind words about Hamilton, however. He said Hamilton led the recall charge "with lies and half-truths about the yeshiva and my involvement." Yeshiva Me'on Hatorah, a school for Orthodox Jewish high school-aged boys, operates out of the Homestead Lane synagogue. Marko said Hamilton stood at council meetings and "railed about some sort of tax disaster and school disaster" that he said Marko was allowing to happen by being supportive of the yeshiva moving into town. "As if a mayor can stop someone from exercising their rights to live wherever they want," Marko said. "That was only to engender hatred and divisiveness in the community and to support his ego." Marko alleged that Hamilton authored the "talking points" sheet that the recall signature solicitors used. "Now, as he leaves office, Hamilton is striking a more moderate tone regarding the yeshiva," Marko said. "Is this the remorse of a political hack who desires a swan song of moderation. Maybe? Or maybe it is that the deadline for primary petitions to run for mayor is in April. You can never tell with flip-flopping Hamilton but I would bet on the latter." Marko alleged that Hamilton seemed to flip-flop on every issue depending on whether or not there was public support. He used the proposed gray water issue in 2005 as an example. He said that Hamilton was first against treating gray water from outside the borough at the local sewage plant to raise revenue, then he was for it, and later he came out again against the measure. Hamilton said the one regret he has about his tenure on the council is that Marko had to go through the recall procedure instead of resigning. "He could have saved everybody a lot of anguish by stepping down rather than making it highly contentious," he said. Hamilton said Marko should have realized he had a conflict of interest among his roles as mayor, a Planning Board member and president of the synagogue.