Fists fly at Hoboken City Hall

HOBOKEN — Tensions within City Hall exploded into a brawl between the mayor and the city clerk this afternoon, several sources told The Jersey Journal.

But Paul Swibinski, a spokesman for the mayor, denied there was a fight and said it was simply a heated argument between old friends, wildly embellished for political reasons.

Two police cars were dispatched to City Hall in response to reports of a scuffle, but nobody made a formal statement, according to police sources.

According to sources who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, there was an exchange of punches between Mayor David Roberts and City Clerk and School Board President James Farina.

During the altercation, Farina threw a chair at Roberts, and staff members had to restrain them to prevent the situation from escalating, a witness said.

The glass top on a conference table was cracked and a lamp was damaged during the fight, sources said. The glass already has been replaced, sources said.

City spokesman Bill Campbell refused to comment.

The argument stems from Roberts’ refusal to back Farina in the April 17 Board of Education elections, some sources said.