Neylan, Resident Discuss 'Crazy' vs. 'Praising' Incident

Clearing up one of the more bizarre incidents in recent Town Council history, Councilwoman Joann Neylan said she understands that a resident during a meeting in May. 

Central Avenue resident Maria Carluccio, who has been advocating since September for the removal of a stoplight from her neighbor’s front lawn, spoke before the Council Tuesday night asking for Neylan to acknowledge that Carluccio did not call her “crazy” during the May 24 meeting. Carluccio insists that she said “praising Mrs. Neylan” and not “crazy Mrs. Neylan” during her remarks in May.

“It has been a very long two weeks Mrs. Neylan and I did not refer to you as crazy," Carluccio said.

“I would assume that you are telling the truth,” Neylan said in response to Carluccio.

The debate started on May 24 when Carluccio was addressing the Council regarding the stoplight placed on her neighbor, Adina Enclescu’s front lawn. Carluccio and Enclescu have been coming before the Council since September asking that the government move the light 100 feet to the intersection of Central and Clover.

During the May 24 meeting, Carluccio referenced a letter to the editor that had appeared in the Westfield Leader, regarding Neylan’s work with a constituent in the second ward. Carluccio had said “praising Mrs. Neylan,” regarding the letter, a line that some had thought to be “crazy Mrs. Neylan.” Neylan asked Carluccio and the audience from the dais that night if Carluccio had called her crazy, which several in the audience agreed Carluccio had.

The debate over whether or not Carluccio had called Neylan “crazy” contributed to a shouting match Carluccio had with former Councilman Sal Caruana during and after the May 24 meeting. Caruana had come before the Council that night to defend the light’s placement.

Carluccio has frequently questioned Neylan over the light, due to Neylan’s role as public safety committee chairwoman.

On Tuesday night, Carluccio questioned Neylan over whether the councilwoman had watched the TV-36 recording of the May 24 meeting, which included Carluccio’s complete remarks. Neylan said she had watched the tape, including the “praising” versus “crazy” portion.

“I appreciate that. I can understand that you said that,” Neylan said of her viewing of the tape.

Carluccio concluded her three-minute remarks to the Council with one last defense of her May 24 statement.

“For the record, I never called you crazy,” she said.