ROTTERDAM — The Rotterdam town Republican Committee is dropping two-term Town Board member John Mertz from its prospective 2009 ticket.

Chairman Gerard Parisi said the town committee will seek new candidates for the seat occupied by Mertz — former head of the town's failed police commission — because of the councilman’s “controversial actions” and inability to work effectively with other departments. Specifically, Parisi said Mertz was unable to work with town police.

“The town committee wants a representative who supports our police department, works cooperatively with others and focuses on the needs of our residents,” Parisi said in a statement released this morning. “In the end, we need people who are consistently striving to achieve the best results for Rotterdam.”

In making the announcement, Parisi also cited support Mertz offered last year for town board raises “without proper public participation.” The move was ultimately defeated by the board in January, when they instead decided to appoint a five-member ad-hoc committee to study the issue.

Parisi said the committee will endorse Supervisor Steve Tommasone and board member Joe Signore, who served with Mertz on the short-lived police commission in 2006. Signore also voted in support of two resolutions authorizing the town board raises.

Town officials are also engaged in negotiations with the Rotterdam Police Benevolent Association. Town police are now operating under a contract that expired Dec. 31, 2007.

Mertz expressed surprise over the statement. He said he was unaware of the committee’s apparent decision and said he would comment after reviewing Parisi’s statement.

Calls to Tommasone were not immediately returned.