Second Ward Councilor Robin Schlager, reading from a prepared statement at Wednesday’s council meeting, made allegations of two incidents of verbal abuse she experienced while in office. Schlager was visibly shaking and tearful during her statement.
Schlager’s statement came after the council voted to approve a lease for a senior center in Montclair and public comment had ended. Mayor Sean Spiller began initiating a motion to enter executive session. Schlager requested the opportunity to speak.
She then read a statement accusing fellow council members Bob Russo and David Cummings of verbal abuse.
“There have been two incidents in particular. I’ve never said anything publicly about these incidents. I’m not a confrontational person. It is not my nature to confront others including members of this council. But in recent weeks it’s become clear to me that I cannot be silent any longer,” Schlager said.
Both Russo and Cummings were absent from Wednesday’s meeting. The Local emailed Russo, Cummings, Communications Specialist Ananmay Uttara and Township Clerk Angelese Bermudez Nieves and asked who was informed of their absences but has not received a reply.
The Local asked Schlager if she was aware of that Russo and Cummings would be absent and whether she would have made the statement if they had been present. Schlager was also asked why she chose to make the statement at this time. One of the incidents occurred in 2022; a police report related to the incident became public in 2023.
“I did not know that Councilors Russo or Cummings would not be at the meeting this past week. And it wouldn’t have made a difference either way. I wasn’t addressing my comments to them, I was speaking for myself to the community,” Schlager said in an email to the Local.
“My decision to speak at this point was because there are only three council meetings before my term ends. These incidents continue to bother me and I felt that I needed to say something,” she added.
The First Incident
Referring to an incident on Oct. 25, 2022, Schlager said, “In an executive session meeting in the upstairs conference room, I asked a question of councilman Bob Russo. He apparently did not like the question, became verbally abusive to me, yelling at me, threatening me. As if that was not enough, he stood up, came around the table to where I was sitting and physically lunged at me.”
As previously reported by the Local, there is a police report from the night of Oct. 25, 2022, that describes the altercation.
Schlager, in the police report written by Officer Webb, stated that Russo said he “couldn’t take this anymore” and that he doesn’t trust or like any of the other council members. Schlager said she calmly responded to Russo, saying that if he really feels that way, he shouldn’t be a councilman anymore. She stated Russo then began to yell at her, stating, “How dare you?” and “I got you this job,” among other things.
Councilor Russo speaking with Acting Town Attorney Paul Burr with police standing by at the October 25, 2022 Montclair Council meeting.
Schlager alleges that while continuing to yell at her, Russo began to quickly walk towards her in an aggressive manner. She said he got very close to her and was “continuously pointing his finger in her face aggressively.”
In an email to the Local on Thursday, Russo said, “What happened was an orchestrated political hit job, that began with the former council member’s endorsement email attacking me. The words used by Councilwoman Schlager to describe what happened in 2022 were exactly the same false and exaggerated statements made by Peter Yacobellis, who was not even in the meeting room at that time. I never ‘lunged’ at anyone. The conduct was more like elder abuse and bullying of me!”
Members Corroborate Schlager’s Account
According to Schlager’s account in the police report, Deputy Town Manager Brian Scantlebury, Township Attorney Paul Burr and Deputy Mayor Bill Hurlock all stepped in between them and ushered Russo away from her. Schlager alleges that this seemed to upset Russo even more, and he aggressively walked toward her a second time. Schlager stated the three men again stepped in between them to usher him away. At this time the situation began to deescalate.
In the police report, Schlager said she was very fearful of physical harm as Russo advanced toward her. She stated she did not believe Russo would strike her, but that he might push her or touch her. Schlager said Russo did not make any verbal threats of physical harm towards her. At the time of the report, Schlager stated she “is not fearful of any action or threats from Mr. Russo regarding this incident, but is also not comfortable being around him.”
“I was visibly shaking and terribly upset as nothing like this has ever happened to me. After the police arrived, the council was forced to end our meeting,” Schlager said at Wednesday’s meeting.
Russo said the comments made by Schlager at Wednesday’s meeting about him and Cummings were a surprise.
“I never had a problem with my long-time colleague who has worked with me over the last 18 months since the incident on a number of issues, such as leafblower regulation and speeding. We even took pictures together at her last Thanksgiving food drive and talked
positively at a Brother to Brother breakfast earlier this year,” Russo said.
Russo believes Schlager’s statement was politically timed and brought up before the election to hurt him. Russo is the only incumbent seeking reelection.
“This was all an unfortunate incident which occurred 18 months ago, with
apologies already made, provoked by some politically motivated colleagues who
do not respect my age and experience. And now we see it all brought up again right
before an election, at the instigation of the mayor and a former councilman, who
have one agenda – to stop my continued service as a whistleblower and watchdog for
the public. They have been bullying the CFO for nearly 2 years and now watchdog
resident Sarah Avery.”
Previous Incidents of Outbursts
According to the police report, from Oct 25, 2022, Hurlock, Scantlebury and Burr corroborated Schlager’s account of the incident. They stated that Russo’s alleged behavior had become progressively worse during the last year, citing other incidents of yelling and outbursts during meetings.
In this police report, Hurlock stated Russo had pushed him once before but that incident was handled internally.
Russo, in an earlier statement to the Local from 2023, admitted that his walking out of meetings has “occurred more often than I would like.”
In 2023, Russo says he walked out during executive sessions at two other meetings. This was due to “disrespectful treatment and strong objection to policy decisions.” He also recalled two meetings where he left early because “I can’t stand the way things are being run from the management and legal side, not just the council side.”
Since this council took office on July 1 2020, Russo has had more absences than any other council member. The Local analyzed meeting minutes from July 2020 to March 2024 to track Russo’s absences. This excludes the times where he walked out of a meeting.
The Local asked Russo if there was a particular reason for his absences.
“My attendance at meetings was excellent over a 24-year period. But when I
suffered from a bad case of diverticulitis over the last 2 years, I had to miss some
meetings. Fortunately, my recent colon surgery has given me a new lease on life,” Russo said.
Cummings Incident: A Foul Message
“The second incident was a little less scary, but no less disturbing to me as a woman. It involves a public text chain started by a constituent and copied to the full council. This occurred about five months ago,” Schlager said Wednesday, reading from her statement.
Schlager further went on to state that Cummings used “hateful” and “foul” language while referring to Councilwoman Lori Price Abrams and herself.
“One of his responses was, ‘Lori and Robin eat Sean’s s*** just like they did Peter’s.’ Councilman Cummings used the actual four letter word in the text but I will not repeat it,” said Schlager who spelled out the word. “I have no words for how offensive this was to me. It continues to disturb and nauseate me.”
Schlager mentioned that although Cummings had apologized, it was “not enough.” “To this day, we have not spoken to each other,” she added.
Speaking to the Local and responding to Schlager’s statement, Cummings said, “I publicly apologized to Ms. Schlager and Ms. Price Abrams. There a lot of things I apologize to residents for when it comes to this Council. What I’m dumbfounded about is her comment that we have not spoken to this day. I have not spoken or reached out to Ms. Schlager since August after she agreed in writing to delay a vote on Lackawanna Plaza only to do the opposite when the matter came up to a vote.”
Cummings’ remarks were brought up before by Schlager at an October 18, 2023 meeting to replace former councilor Peter Yacobellis. At that same meeting, where Roger Terry was appointed to the council and Russo walked out in frustration, Schlager mentioned verbal abuse by another councilor. Mayor Sean Spiller acknowledged Schlager, saying “I know you’ve shared that you received some offensive and threatening emails and messages.” Spiller was then interrupted by Cummings.
“I didn’t threaten anybody. I just said that her and Lori would eat your…you can think about it. That’s what I said. I’m not hiding behind anything.”
Ending her statement on Wednesday, Schlager said, “What makes both of these incidents so hurtful is that I’ve known both of these men for more than 20 years. I’ve always tried to be a helpful colleague, working with them on matters of importance to this town and constituents. This council is a place of business. No one should have to endure abuse from their colleagues as I had to endure in these two incidents. Both men inflicted a pain that I shall never forget as I leave this council.”
Council Members Offer Support
On Wednesday, Hurlock, Abrams, and Spiller expressed their support towards Schlager.
“I know it took a lot for you to say that Robin and I know all of us here, we know your feelings, your pain and we’ve always supported you and said it’s upto you how you want to proceed with everything but it does take a lot of courage always. We will support you and your decision to speak about it,” Spiller told Schlager.
Hurlock agreed with Spiller. “Sorry that you experienced that. We’ve grown to be very good friends over the last 12-13 years whatever its been now and I’m sorry you experienced that,” Hurlock added.
“I don’t wish to comment on the context of what you just offered further but for you, I really want to commend you for not letting this end without saying your piece and I think everyone should speak their piece,” Abrams said.
Since making her statement, Schlager said many people have been supportive and reached out to her, including two of the women who are running for council.
Robin Schlager’s carefully scripted diatribe against Bob Russo may have been the nastiest, most calculated attack on a Council member by a colleague I have ever seen, and the basest moment ever at a Montclair Council meeting. I am not naive enough to believe that Robin came up with this herself, since Frank Rubacky’s opinion of Robin’s “personal qualities” is probably overly generous. Whatever Bob Russo did in that closed session, he plainly didn’t touch Robin, and he may have very well had a reason to be angry. To gratuitously accuse a man who has served the Township for two decades without this kind of blemish of being an “abuser” of women for one perhaps unfortunate, perhaps exaggerated action occurring in the heat of argument is unconscionably vindictive and hurtful, particularly when it is obvious by the timing and orchestration that the statement was made to damage Bob Russo’s candidacy for another term as Councilor-at-Large. Councilor Schlager (or her ghost writer) even hyped up her claim against Russo by wrapping herself in Women’s History Month as the motivation for coming forward after two years with this “J’accuse.” In the decades I have known and worked with Bob Russo, his fairness, humanity and concern for others, women and men and anyone who identifies otherwise, has been his most outstanding characteristic, and there has never been a whisper of the kind of misogyny that Ms. Schlager speaks about. If there is any doubt that Councilor Schlager’s condemnation was not politically motivated, the Mayor removed it by going on a gratuitous scripted rampage against Mayoral candidate Christina Thomas. It’s not coincidental in my opinion that these two attacks were against candidates who had expressed concerns about retaining the Manager and attorney, or who weren’t sure votes on the Lackawanna project. All this is tangled together, but to meanly set out to impugn Bob Russo’s character and destroy his reputation in order to achieve some political objective diminishes the accuser (and her minders) more than the accused.
First time I have been accused of pulling my punches.
Ira, the truth hurts. Let people speak from the Fire Department to the Baseball field it’s always one sided. You of all people should know there are many sides/opinions. Respect everyone and stop trying to be relevant, you had your turn and you choose to Resign.
Robin Schlager lowers herself to be accepted by the other three. Honestly, this is a childish, ridiculous attempted takedown of Bob Russo, coordinated with Peter Yacobellis and the others. Yaco first sends his black box warning about voting for Bob. Then Schlager rads her statement, choking back tears. In my 45 years in town, I have never seen anything so mean and utterly ridiculous.
At this meeting apparently things got hot, because as usual they were diminishing Bob as a person and as a councilor. He lost his temper. Big deal. She was not lunged at, he never touched her, but she went running to the police, I am sure encouraged by the other three, that tagged along (seriously?). Bob apologized. The person who has taken consistent abuse here, by the four of them Hurlock, Spiller, Yacobellis, Price-Adams, is Russo.
It was takedown night. Spiller showed fake empathy and then attempted to takedown Chrissy Thomas.
They should all be embarrassed by their childish, petty, cruel behavior. A new low, by this awful council.
Jenn M. That was an empty comment. What exactly do you not agree with? Why the mean comment towards Ira?
This forum should not be about commenter vs. commenter. Retirement after 11 years as Township Attorney does not disqualify me from participating in this discussion. The truth, by the way, does not hurt. The truth sets us free. I do think it’s important that those of us who know Bob Russo’s character speak up for him. The coordinated attack on Bob’s integrity was spiteful, hurtful and simply untrue.
A disgraceful, 11th hour political maneuver to try and derail Bob Russo’s candidacy and hurt the slate members who he’s running with.
Sorry. I have never spoken against a woman when she’s felt threatened from a Man but the timing here…the players involved and the sought after political results are just so obvious — that Robin Schlager really needs to be outed.
In my opinion, she is a continuing tool of the Spiller-Yacobellis-Price Abrams NJ. Trenton axis agenda. And so, this not so subtle attempt to sabotage Russo and others, really should be labeled for what it is. Unethical politics.
Her pity party, crocodile tears just don’t cut it. Of course, the police did nothing when contacted and the incident actually happened way back. Because nothing happened.
Boo ho. She got seriously yelled at — correctly so — during an executive session political mano mano (gender neutral) because she and her Council majority crew continued to diss Russo. Cut him out of the democratic process. To continue with their self-help, back room cover-up hiring machinations Montclair style — while still pretending to be progressives.
Those are back-room deal machinations have now put them under investigation from the Attorney General’s office. And they are the reason why residents have multiple lawsuits against the town now, given the people this Council has brought into government.
Of course they want to take Russo down. He and his team can actually win the coming election. And may throw this crew to the wolves and let them hang. Not let the town cover their legal expenses which they schemed to set-up, to pay for all the bad behavior under their watch. Because Russo was the only one on this Council who’s been completely decent and honest. Regardless of any other issue.
Schlager and the rest need to go. And are. The question is…will they be able to stick people back in who will roll-over and allow them to still pull the strings. Let them continue to play big development ball here and run another ‘establishment’ $ show, so some can still get over?
Or, is the town going to see right through this now after four years (just like Schlager’s performance) and get completely rid of those morally corrupt. Bring in new people who will again, represent our residents interests? Do the right thing?
A decision will soon be at hand…
Do we really want to talk about the abuse of woman.
If so, then let it all out.
We had two woman (Robin and Lori), who sat on this dais and knew about and allowed woman to be abused in the workplace and kept silent.
Some may say, was complicit in such behavior. Those two woman,did nothing to protect woman employed in the township, and have now been implicated in the Rao lawsuit.
It is, too little, to late, to claim abuse, on the eve of our election.
So Robin, who helped you draft such a scandalous statement?
Was it Spiller? Or was it your partner in crime, yacobellis.
It certainly was not you. You don’t talk like this, you don’t write like that.
A statement to blemish Russo’s reputation, appears to be an attempt to influence an election.
You are better than this, or so I thought.
Shame on you. Your abuse appears to be continuing at the hands of your fellow council members.
And please, please, please, don’t try to put on a pity performance, you are just not that good.
Martin,
Maybe now would be an appropriate time for full disclosure of your part in this?
Robin never ceases to lower the bar. In the REAL hostile workplace harassment incident, Juliet Lee, former deputy town clerk was forced to kneel on the floor to dig through a trash receptacle in front of other staff members, while Stafford towered over her demeaning her. It bears noting that according to the Peter Yacobellis deposition testimony transcription, that Stafford’s secretary, Angelese Burmudez Nieves witnessed the abuse and to this day has no problem defending that caveman.
Don’t know what you are really asking for ‘in code’ Frank Rubacky but here’s a full disclosure for you.
I was texted that Robin participated in yet another unscrupulous Council maneuver. This time against Bob Russo directly. I watched it after on YouTube. Was shocked then, that even she could stoop so low. And felt compelled to write about it after. To explain the political backstory and motivations, so all could fully see.
This morning, I actually want to pray now that these undemocratic manipulators have been fully outed. And that some of the candidates whom they want to succeed them on May 14th, are seen in the same light.
Fortunately, the town already voted to kick this group out of supervising the Board of Education. So hopefully, residents will get it again. Hopefully, people will also choose to elect others to the Council now, who are much more committed to the interests of the community. Not support the same self-serving, and economically unsound agenda behind this group and their backers.
Frank, You care to explain what role Martin had in this? Don’t imply something, and leave it hanging. I think this Town Council did a good job of making a huge mess for score settling, all by itself.
I’m surprised no one is mentioning the context of the altercation between Russo and Schlager. It took place in the midst of heated debate over the botched Glen Ridge fire deal. EVERYONE was agitated back then. Council chambers were packed and people had “hair on fire” over this (rightly so).
My recollection is that Schlager was originally against this rigged agreement but then got convinced to change her vote by attorney Burr. He accomplished it lying that she had personal legal exposure. Unfortunately, she was not discerning enough to know better. Or to at least get a second opinion – after all, by then, everyone knew Burr was a dud.
I myself was furious at her over this. By casting that ‘yes’ vote, she locked us in a rotten deal for 15 years. Nonetheless, was it wise for Russo to lose his cool, get in her face and raise his voice? Obviously, not. Still and all, I think we can all agree he had valid reasons to be pissed.
“The second incident was a little less scary, but no less disturbing to me as a woman. It involves a public text chain started by a constituent and copied to the full council. This occurred about five months ago,” Schlager said Wednesday, reading from her statement.
Martin,
This is what I was referring to.
Watching the video of the October 25, 2022 Council meeting makes me even more skeptical of Councilor Schlager’s account of what happened that night, and her reaction. That meeting was of the most contentious, divisive and in then-Councilor Yacobellis’ words “broken” meetings ever. After repeated arguments and hearing from numerous angry constituents, the Council went into a nearly 3 hour closed session. It appears that the main issue concerned the allegations by the CFO and what to do about the then-Manager. Apparently, it was during that 3 hour executive session that, according to the Local’s article, Robin Schlager claimed that “she was very fearful of physical harm as Russo advanced toward her.” Yet “[s]he stated she did not believe Russo would strike her, but that he might push her or touch her. Schlager said Russo did not make any verbal threats of physical harm towards her.” And in her police report, Schlager stated she “is not fearful of any action or threats from Mr. Russo regarding this incident, but is also not comfortable being around him.” Nothing was said to suggest that being a woman had anything to do with Russo’s anger or the atmosphere in the room. When the Executive Session ended, the Council resumed the public meeting with both Councilors Schlager and Russo present. Schlager was seen smiling and laughing during the remainder (about 15 minutes) of the meeting.
Now, nearly 18 months later, Schlager has juiced up her story and distorted the truth to meet current political exigencies. She says: “I was visibly shaking and terribly upset as nothing like this has ever happened to me. After the police arrived, the council was forced to end our meeting.”
Context matters. The oldest and slightest man in the room frightened scared everyone and police were called. And he wasn’t even armed. It seems that the assault on Councilor Russo that occurred at the recent Council meeting was set up, or at least instigated, 18 months before. And trundled out to poison his candidacy in the upcoming election.
Ah, now I understand what you want Frank.
Yes, truth be told, I was the resident on that email chain where David Cummings used the excrement metaphor to describe Robin and Lori being in the pocket of Sean Spiller politically. Doing everything he wanted, acting like a doormat.
It was actually funny at the time. And I forgot about it. That’s because I had first sent all Councilors a text lambasting their actions over some new wrong-doing (so many I can’t remember which).
David Cummings however, thought my text was only for him and responded with an exchange, commenting then directly about the two Councilors. With all now reading his missive.
I will say this, now that all is said and done. David’s metaphor used was crude for public consumption. However, it was still politically correct and very much on point.
Robin’s acting performance and Sean’s tender support commentary after only proves it IMO. Just more evidence that the whole thing was politically arranged.
Thanks Ira & Martin for the added context. Thanks DH for pointing out the linguistics of the prepared statement.
Wow, interesting to find out the details of the email exchange. I submitted an OPRA request at the time when Cummings apologized, seeking emails containing “Eat Sean’s…” with those parties. I’m sure everyone will be shocked to learn my OPRA request was never fulfilled.
PS. I stand corrected, LOL. Per my last comment above, it appears that David Cummings was actually fully aware that other Councilors were reading the text thread, when he commented metaphorically about Lori and Robin’s relationship to Sean Spiller’s political output.
I was rolling on the floor after reading Martin Schwartz’s explanation of the context surrounding Cummings’ scatological comment! God, nothing funnier – and more mortifying to sender – than an unintended “reply to all”, lol!
Happened to me once too – I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole! Luckily for me, crowd I was dealing with at the time did not contain a nasty character like Robin Schlager so no one ever used it against me. They made merciless cracks at me for a while, I blushed, we all laughed. I was lucky, I guess.
Hey, Martin – as you are praying “that these undemocratic manipulators have been fully outed”, can you also add a prayer that come July we will have at least 4 reasonable and competent people on the council? And that they will do some much needed purging? Surely, there are some other municipalities around New Jersey who can use a devious town manager and a brainless town attorney.
I have lived in Montclair since 1964. In the late 60’s and through the 70’s I was actively engaged in the politics of the Town, County and State. I became a Judge in 1979 and therefore I have not been able to be politically involved until I retired in 2020. I will not comment on the particular dispute being discussed here . I have known Bob Russo for over 50 years. I will attest to his character and I would suggest that the Township would be well served by keeping his knowledge and experience on our governing Council. Philip Freedman
Curious, what is a public text?
Lauren,
You can OPRA emails all day long. Text msgs are not emails.
Don’t bother to OPRA text msgs. These are stored on the cellular service provider’s servers.
Text msging is the new, smoke-filled back room of politics.
Yikes….sorry Lauren. Too many details. My bad. It was a text thread. Sent to all Councilors. You know the rest.
@ pmfreedman1,
Speaking for myself, I am not questioning Councilor Russo’s high character. Further, I think it was a little unfair that only his attendance was provided above and not the attendance record of his colleagues. I suspect that his absences, in comparison, and accounting for his major surgery, would not be an issue.
That said, my issue beyond being a member to hold to account for the actions of this governing body is his temperament. Just the sharing – and further legal exposure – of privileged conversations by many members of this Council is reckless.
I think there is ample support that his temperament has increasingly affected the performance of his duties.
I won’t even dignify with a comment apart to say that the entire matter reeks of small town, back biting politics on behalf of all parties involved. Montclair is better than this. Vote them all out next month!
Dear Judge Freedman,
Thank you for speaking in support of Councillor Russo. He did not deserve to be treated this way. Like many others, I am disappointed and disgusted that our leadership stooped down to this level. I am, however, uplifted that nearly all people that I heard from find this unprovoked, dirty attack abhorrent and that most are still firmly committed to vote for Bob Russo. Curiously, I heard from some who said that this ugly hit job placed them even more firmly in his corner. Here’s to nasty ploys backfiring…
A relevant contextual update to this story has occurred which, in my opinion, requires an update to the story itself. This Monday in the Rao suit, Judge Petrillo compelled Montclair to produce diaries, journals, day planners and calendars possessed by Robin Schlager, which are relevant because of evidence they could contain related to Rao’s claim that all the councilors but Russo received healthcare benefits illegally. That this discovery dispute was actively ongoing when Robin Schlager chose to revive the previously reported 18 month old incident provides a likely explanation for the timing and motive.