Rick Hibell's Creepy Comment: "I didn't smell any chlorine on the girls"

At the April 7th, 2025 Workshop meeting of the Middletown Township Committee, Deputy Mayor, Rick Hibell made a comment that was inappropriate, a little off putting and creepy for a guy in his 50's to say out loud about a bunch of high school girls. 

Earlier in the evening the Township Committee honored this year's Middletown High North Girls Swim Team for winning the C-North Division title. It was a very nice presentation and everyone went home happy afterwards. It's a good thing the girls didn't stick around.

Shortly after the presentation to the girls swim team, it was time for "Committee Comments". Tony Perry called on each Committee member for any public comments they wished to speak to. All declined comment and said that they would defer until the next Township Committee meeting (April 28th, 2025) to make any statement, all except Rick Hibell.

Hibell proceeded to express his congratulations to the girls on the swim team and stating how amazing it is each time the teams come in. He then stated that was all he had to say, but before Tony Perry could say anything, Hibell interject that he didn't smell any chlorine either. Tony Perry looked at him quizzically and said "What?". Hibell then clarified by stating "I didn't smell any chlorine on the girls."

Perry was flabbergasted and taken aback somewhat before regaining his composure to proceed to offer his Committee Comments before opening the meeting up to the public.... No one on the dais or from the public questioned Hibell's comment at the time.  You can watch the clip below.

Middletown Gears Up for New Year

From Middletown Alerts:

As part of township’s annual Organization Day, Committeewoman Stephanie C. Murray was selected to serve as Mayor and Committeeman Kevin M Settembrino as Deputy Mayor for 2014.

Murray noted Middletown’s goals and priorities for the year include our continued recovery from Superstorm Sandy, and a renewed call to action against rising flood insurance premiums in unaffected areas such as Ideal Beach. There will also be a focus on technology that advances the relationship residents have the township. Plans to unveil a mobile app and develop an online records archive are in the works. Middletown will also take a step back in time to mark the 350th anniversary of its settlement in 1664. A series of Middletown 350 events are planned this year to mark the milestone.

The selection of the 2014 Mayor and Deputy Mayor came after Committeeman Kevin M Settembrino accepted the oath of office to serve his second consecutive 3-year term on the Township Committee and Committeeman Gerard P. Scharfenberger, Ph.D. his 3rd consecutive term. Oaths of office were issued to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and the newly elected Committeemen by Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno.

The members of the 2014 Township Committee are: Mayor Stephanie C. Murray, Deputy Mayor Kevin M. Settembrino, Committeeman Anthony P. Fiore, Committeeman Stephen G. Massell and Committeeman Gerard P. Scharfenberger, Ph.D.

One police officer, Jason Mcallister Andrews, accepted the oath of office during the annual meeting from Mayor Murray making him the newest member of the Middletown Police Department. Andrews was a life-long resident of Atlantic Highlands before recently moving to Middletown with his wife Meagan. He was previously employed by the Stockton Police Department.

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Many Possible Reasons Behind Brightbill's Decision Not To Seek Re-Election in Middletown

It's been nearly a week now since Middletown Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill announced that she wouldn't seek another term on the Middletown Township Committee.

The news came as a shock to many, including Board of Education member Joan Minnues, who has worked closely with Brightbill over the years putting together events such as the Great Race and Project Prom. According to Minnues, who I spoke to briefly at the April 14th Board of Education Candidates Forum at Harmony School, Brightbill's decision to step down from the Township Committee was a complete shock. She had told me that she speaks to Pam Brightbill often and had just spoken to her the day before the announcement and Pam gave her no indication of her desire to step down, It was a little out of left field.

So was this a last minute personal decision by our two-time Deputy Mayor in order for her to spend more time with her family and other endeavors or something more?

Those of us that have been keeping an eye on Town Hall have speculated privately for some time that Pam Brightbill was on the way out.

Her frequent meltdowns on the dais are legendary and her arrogant, self-serving display in front of the audience for the February 16th Library Board of Trustees meeting, where she squealed her dismay at board members for not sending her emails or keeping her "in the loop", when it was her that had appointed many of them to their positions, made many mouths drop wide open in disbelief through out the audience that night, didn't help matters.

But what really started the speculation flying about Brightbill was her near total meltdown during Committee Comments back at the September 20th, 2010 Township Committee meeting (audio below). At that meeting, she vented angrily at Township Administrator Tony Mercantante, for his lack of follow-up on many issues along with a total lack of communication between Mercantante, the Townships Committee and other various boards and commissions that she was serving on.

That type of public outburst between an elected Middletown GOP Township Committee member and a fellow Middletown GOP appointed official, must have caused just as much disbelief in the rank and file Republicans as it did to those us on the other side. After all, it's a cardinal sin to air dirty laundry out to dry in front of the public, in such a manner.

I think it was becoming evident to the leaders of the Middletown Republican Party that Pam Brightbill was becoming a problem to them and they wanted her off the ticket before she caused any real damage to their chances of winning this year's election.

The audio clip from the September meeting (above), runs 17 minutes long. It is fascinating to hear the desperate tone in Brightbill's voice when she is reprimanding/pleading with Administrator Tony Mercantante for better communication while discussing many other issues haphazardly thrown in.

Yesterday Was Reorg Day in Middletown; Fiore Appointed Mayor, Brightbill Deputy Mayor

Yesterday, January 2nd, was the annual reorganizational meeting of the Middletown Township Committee. I couldn't be there myself because of my work schedule, but thanks to people that were there who provided me with audio from the proceedings, a column posted at the Asbury Park Press and a couple of blog postings from other sources, I have been able to catch up on what happened.

I was told that the Court Room where the proceedings took place was hot and stuff, which in years past would not have been a surprise to anyone seeing how the room is usually jam-packed and overflowing.

This year however, it seemed like a quiet reorg day, the room wasn't packed as usual. Only about 25% of the volunteer appointees to various committees and boards bothered to show up to be sworn in and the proceedings were over relatively quickly as compared to years past.

The speeches were not that long; I have audio clips that I will post later of the comments made by Scharfenberger and his running mate Kevin Settembrino, Tony Fiore and Pam Brightbill, so that those that may be interested can hear for themselves what was said.

The only real news that came out of the Reorganization Meeting was who were appointed Mayor and Deputy Mayor for 2011. Tony Fiore was appointed Mayor and Pam Brightbill was re-appointed Deputy Mayor for the second time during her tenure on the committee.

These appointments were long expected, based on past practices of the Middletown GOP. The Middletown Republicans have a habit of appointing those who are up for reelection in the coming year to perceived leadership roles on the Township Committee. Next year you can look towards Steve Massell being appointed either Mayor or Deputy Mayor.