Last night, the creeping petty insults and grandstanding started to overcome the good behavior in recent meetings where much of the agenda was dedicated to recovery efforts on behalf of the City.

The bubbling to the surface petulance of one Tim Occhipinti, the occupant of the fourth ward council seat was sadly on display again with his usual petty interruptions of others but the signal of the Old Guard’s back to sabotage business came with the discussion of a $2.65 million emergency appropriation.

The edging of the Old Guard to their business as usual obstruction on regular business (outside of their legal action to block the appointment of Jim Doyle) became clear when Occhipinti questioned why the emergency appropriation should be approved since there was no ironclad guarantee from FEMA on reimbursement.

It was only at the previous meeting where Business Administrator Quentin Wiest explained the City could expect about 70% compensation for recovery efforts taking both FEMA and Hoboken’s insurance into consideration with payment collected in not months but years.

Occhipinti decided it was worth grandstanding on the matter and promptly insulted fourth ward residents by saying their losses were not all that bad since their homes had not been “razed to the ground” as homes on the Jersey Shore.

Okay, let’s admit Occhipinti was insulting not only residents who have seen huge losses in the fourth ward but every resident of Hoboken who has suffered at the destructive impact of Hurricane Sandy.

Councilwoman Jen Giattino, a model for good government and good behavior in her service as the sixth ward council representative could not stomach the insult and interjected “speak for yourself,” before quickly apologizing without prompting.

Later, Occhipinti a proponent of the “hospitality” industry in town spoke during New Business about bringing back the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  He’s concerned about the losses in revenue the bars and restaurants have gone through since the hurricane.

On Occhipinti’s Facebook prior to the meeting he announced his plan to bring back the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, enraging Hoboken residents.  Here’s a sample of the fire and brimstone blow back from residents: