Fair Lawn officials say 'Call Me Maybe' in parody for retiring employee
Thursday, January 31, 2013

BY TOM NOBILE
STAFF WRITER
Community News (Fair Lawn Edition)

Fair Lawn – Officials wouldn’t let one of their longtime employees retire without a proper send off.

After more than 25 years of public service in Fair Lawn, former Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Coordinator Ira Marks announced earlier this year he would retire at the end of 2012. On Jan. 10 more than 100 friends and family gathered at The Brownstone in Paterson to celebrate his work as a volunteer with the Fair Lawn Ambulance Corps and years as a deputy coordinator, before he was promoted to OEM coordinator in 2006.

The evening went as planned, with friends reminiscing and sharing stories of days past, until Marks was presented with something he didn’t expect — a parting video that features Borough Manager Tom Metzler, the borough council, various borough employees and emergency service volunteers dancing and lip-syncing to the song "Call Me Maybe."

Fair Lawn joined the Olympic Swimming Team and Harvard baseball squad as the latest spoof featuring the Carly Rae Jepsen song.

Metzler came up with the idea and recruited Liz Twiggs from the Fair Lawn Health and Human Service Department to write a script. The video was shot by Wayne Robbins over four days in early September in various locations around town.

"This town has seen all kinds of emergencies and disasters. When we have a flood, or we have a train derailment or any type of emergency we all depend on Ira Marks," Metzler said in his preamble to the singing.

The video opens with Metzler throwing paperwork over his shoulder to kick off the song. Another shot features the borough council bobbing to the song in council chambers with then-Mayor Jeanne Baratta twirling a gavel.

Police officers, firefighters and ambulance corps members all participated, with Metzler appearing in reoccurring roles as a prisoner, firefighter and a man on a stretcher.

Marks’ wife and children were shown in scenes, with his granddaughter even sending a clip from Chicago to appear in the video.

"The council had a good time doing it. It was fun," said Mayor John Cosgrove, who danced alongside the council. "(Marks) is a well deserving guy. It was great seeing his face after he watched the video."

The clip was posted on YouTube shortly after the dinner for the public to view it. By Jan. 25 the video recorded nearly 2,000 hits.

Metzler said some residents complained about filming during office hours, however, he noted that all the scenes were shot after work. Clocks visible in the background of some of the scenes all read after 5 p.m.

Marks could not be reached for comment.