I was on the phone earlier today with MiddletownMike contributor Linda Baum, who relayed to me a very funny story about her experience while picking up a packet of information today from the Township of Middletown Sewerage Authority (TOMSA).
Linda went to TOMSA today to pick up documents that she requested through an OPRA request. Before leaving she looked through the packet to see if all the information she had requested was in the packet. While leafing through the packet she had a few questions and thought that she should ask them before she left.
Now of course, asking a question of anyone other than TOMSA Director Patrick Parkinson is against the rules, no one accept Parkinson is allowed to talk to anyone. But seeing how Linda Baum was the one asking the questions, Parkinson refused to come out of his office until he had had enough of her hanging around the hallways. At that point, he came out and told her to leave and that he called the police to escort her out.
When the police arrived Parkinson made a big scene and told them that she had been there for 30 minutes disturbing the workers with questions and taking them away from their duties. Linda's response was to this was classic and dumbfounded Mr. Parkinson.
She said that she had only one question and seeing that he is the official records keeper of TOMSA and is the only one authorized to speak about such things, she would have been out of the building 29 minutes earlier if only he would have simply answered her question in the first place (which by the way she never received).
The police did arrive but I don't want to tell you everything, Linda said she would send an accounting of her time at TOMSA today for posting later.
I just wanted to give readers a little heads-up of what's coming and I am sure that Linda will tell it a lot better (and more accurately) than what I have posted here, so check back later.
23 comments:
Jeez, you would have thought Parkinson wasted enough of our tax dollars without wasting police time too.
Only someone with a lot to hide would call the police instead of answering a question.
Is Linda threatening? Does she start fights? Isn't calling the police instead of answering one question a misuse of Law enforcement? What if something happened and we really needed the the police? Sorry folks we cannot respond to the 'hit and run' accident TOMSA has the police tied up with pesky Linda Baum. A real threat! Dam Mike. Can't make this up!
Hey! I had multiple girl scouts trying to sell cookies at my house. Quick! call the police. Parkinson sounds like a wad. Give me your money, don't ask questions and go away---that's how it's done in Middletown. What say you defenders of all that is bad?! (legion)
The facts are a bit off, but Mike got the gist. The whole reason I had to go there in person in the first place is because the price was too high for what I asked for and I felt the reports were run incorrectly. But they wouldn't allow me to inspect the documents before paying. I asked if I could get a refund if I handed back 300 pages on the spot. I was basically told, pay and they're yours. Parkinson never came out of his office to answer. The office staffer had to act as a go-between. It was nutty. And typical of Mr. Parkinson. The police, however, were very polite.
More details to come...
let's call the FBI. Your question must be a doozie, By the way the police were polite because I had not know what they were doing there
I myself have requested specific detailed OPRA requests from the town which were a bit pricey only to find that once I examined them at home that everything was there except the specific item I requested. Kudos to Ms. Baum for examining her records response on the spot and only wanting to pay for what she specifically requested.
Shame on Mr. Parkinson for not answering her questions and her OPRA request. Shame on him for wasting taxpayers dollars and the police departments time. Could he have been charged with filing a false police report?
LOL!!!!
Poor Pat, poor tactics in poor taste, intimidated by Little Linda.
All kidding aside that's a problem, questions that go unanswered, it happens all of the time.
Perhaps next time she submits a detailed OPRA request he'll make sure that she gets exactly what she requested and not try to bury her with unrequested nonsense paperwork in hopes of discouraging her with mere volume and costs.
He probably wasted more time dialing the police and speaking with the dispatcher than it would have taken him to answer her question.
I'd love to have been a fly on the wall at the PD afterwards.
Linda, don't let them screw with you..if they're violating OPRA Laws, take em to court, they'll be responsible for your legal fees.
Perhaps several thousand in attorney fees to attorneys not in their inner circle and then they may start following the rules.
What a role reversal, Parkinson hiding from the skirts rather than chasing them.
Don't understand what the problem you have with TOMSA. In Middletown, we pay less than 25 bucks a month to flush our toilets. Check what other towns are paying in the state of NJ before you stir this nest. TOMSA is responsable for everything that goes down our toilets and our sinks. I think we are getting a pretty good deal for the money!
If there is no problem there, why won't questions be answered? TOMSA should be welcoming the public to meetings instead of having an attendant to work an electronic gate. TOMSA should be satisfying requests for information in a timely fashion like the Township Clerk does, not waiting for the last minute of the required time period. They do the bare minumum to satisfy those they serve.
What are these controversial questions they REFUSE to answer that are so important?
Very curious as to what this is all about!!!
Anon 9:34 -
TOMSA said they have their own rules and taping their meetings isn't allowed like it is at town hall and that ordinance doesn't apply to them. Taking their word for it isn't what intelligent people do, so the documents proving it are to be provided upon request. The question is, did they include the answer in the documents? That's all, pretty simple. But quite comical that Mr. Parkinson would dally with MTPD again, after his last episode with them as a Peeping Tom!
I can't believe that Peeping Pat would do such a thing
This is especially to Anon 8:48 who doesn't want their 'nest stirred." What's $25 compared to a quarter a million dollars? Pay attention:
Ms. Baum's lucky he didn't invite her over to his house some weekend his wife's not home, like he did with our former township clerk, when he cost the taxpayers about a quarter of a million in settlement fees and increased insurance premiums from the lawsuit. Good thing he wasn't peeping in Ms. Baum's windows either, like he was caught doing on Navesink River Road close to 20 years ago. Peeping Pat the Sewer Rat was the front page of The Courier then. A week or so later was Middletown Day at Croydon Hall, above which flew a plane pulling a banner, "PEEPING PAT PARKINSON" - seeing as he was our Mayor at the time, he was not a happy camper.
anon 10:35,
Actually, my questions on friday were about some reports rather than TOMSA's video-recording policy. However, re the latter, Mr. Parkinson indicated at TOMSA's March 8th Board meeting that there was a written policy, but when I OPRA'd it, the reply was that there were no documents responsive to my request. For those who haven't heard, I was denied the right to video-record at the March 8th Board meeting by Mr. Parkinson and TOMSA's attorney.
I am told that the public's right to video record public meetings is established by the 2007 court ruling in the case of Tarus vs. Borough of Pine Hill. That ruling applies to all governmental bodies, including independent authorities. Accordingly, TOMSA may only set reasonable guidelines, but cannot disallow video-recording.
I have advised Mr. Parkinson that I intend to video-record future Board meetings, but have received no response from either him or TOMSA's attorney. TOMSA's next Board meeting is currently scheduled for April 12th at 7:30 p.m. at TOMSA's administrative office on Beverly Way in Belford. I hope you can all make it.
Hey, be glad you don't live off Navesink River Road and he was peeping in your window.
Things never change in Middletown, because politicians and the people that be cannot do the right things there are always something to hide. If the politicians and the people that be, ever did the honest right things we would have nothing to talk about. The inner circle is so corrupt and it always has been, we eally need someone from a higher authority to come in and clean house.
We need a new form of Government. Divide the Township into districts...7.... each district would elect a Township Committee person. Neither party could win in every district. So, you'd have 4 republicans, 3 democrats.... or 5 democrats, 2 republicans... but no party would ever have complete control like it does now and their behavior is disgraceful. The same gang screwing us for years. Pat the Sewer Rat one of the gang.
FYI, the TOMSA board meeting has been changed to April 19th. Same time, 7:30.
Yes, I was informed that earlier. It seems as though Mr. Parkinson does not want Linda Baum there.
Poor Pat! I really feel for him. She is his worst nightmare. Middletown finally has the closest version of Erin Brokovitch that it could've ever hoped for. Get used to it, Pat, Peter, G.O.P. kings and queens. Linda's a homeowner here, a smart businesswoman, and she's not going anywhere save closer to the truth. Dig deeper Linda, uncover all the buried bodies! Bravo to you.
What exactly does Mr. Parkinson do for that 130K?
What does he do? While serving on the Township Committee he on a very regular basis harassed female employees politely requesting sexual favors. One sued him. She won. I, along with a few others could have, but didn't. Presently, from what I've seen, he makes sure the young attractive staff he has sits right outside his office. When you flush your toilet, it goes right to him. Very appropriate. Today is April 1st. This is not a joke.
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