09072

BOROUGH OF HILLSDALE

 

RESOLUTION

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Title: Requesting an Extension of Parole Date for Joseph McGowan

 

WHEREAS, on April 19, 1973, Joan D’Alessandro, a seven year old resident of Hillsdale, was brutally assaulted and murdered by her neighbor, Joseph McGowan while delivering Girl Scout cookies; and

 

WHEREAS, Joseph McGowan, a former high school chemistry teacher, is currently incarcerated for the killing of Joan D’Alessandro; and

 

WHEREAS, Joseph McGowan has gone before the Parole Board of East Jersey State Prison many times already.  His release was denied in 1993, 1998, 2002, and 2008 the parole hearing found that Joseph McGowan was unwilling to take responsibility for murdering his neighbor; and

 

WHEREAS, Joseph McGowan has never shown any remorse for his crime and has made no substantial progress in addressing the issues that led him to murder Joan D’Alessandro and has demonstrated a substantial risk for recidivism; and

 

WHEREAS, Joan’s family should not be made to relive this horrible crime every few years when there is a parole hearing, continuing to suffer unnecessarily on Joseph McGowan’s account; and

 

WHEREAS, in addition to the efforts of Rosemarie D’Alessandro, the Borough of Hillsdale hereby supports the position that Joseph McGowan should not be granted another parole hearing  for a minimum of thirty five years; and  

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Mayor and Council members of the Borough of Hillsdale hereby request an extension of the parole date for Joseph McGowan and that he shall not be eligible for parole consideration for thirty five years.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution shall be sent to the New Jersey State Assembly, the New Jersey State Senate, the Office of the Bergen County Prosecutor, and to Chairman Peter J. Barnes Jr. of the New Jersey State Parole Board.

 

Council member

Motion

Second

Yes

No

Absent

Abstain

Arnowitz, Max

x

 

x

 

 

 

DeJoseph, Jonathan

 

 

x

 

 

 

Giancarlo, Michael

 

 

x

 

 

 

Hanlon, Marie

 

x

x

 

 

 

Schiavone, Donna

 

 

x

 

 

 

Weinstein, Andy

 

 

x

 

 

 

 

Adopted: April 14, 2009                                                    

 

                                                                      

Attest: ________________________             ____________________________________

Robert P. Sandt, RMC                        Mayor John Sapanara

            Municipal Clerk