Political Patronage at Township of Middletown Sewerage Authority Stinks

Middletown Democratic Party 

For Immediate Release:                                                                                      

September 24, 2012

(Middletown) - The Middletown Township Committee and the Township of Middletown Sewerage Authority (TOMSA) Board and Executive Director have been using TOMSA as a political patronage pit for many years. The seven-member TOMSA board currently includes the Middletown GOP vice chairperson, the Middletown GOP treasurer, and a former Republican mayor. Four of the seven are current Republican district committeepersons. The Executive Director is also a former Republican mayor, and TOMSA’s attorney is a member of the law firm of our former Township Attorney.

 Board members receive an annual salary of $1,750 ($2,150 for the Chairperson), medical benefits, and pension credit. Qualified taxpayer-funded lifetime medical benefits are also extended to spouses. These lucrative benefits are provided even though the board meets for less than one hour per month, and recipients include a member that phones in six months a year because he lives out of state. 

In 2008, the State of New Jersey passed a law to eliminate benefits for newly appointed board members, but the Township Committee gets around that law by continuing to re-appoint their friends when their terms expire. The end result today is that two members have been on the TOMSA Board for almost 25 years, another member has been on the Board for almost 15 years, and most of the remaining members have been on the board for over 5 years. That is not just wasteful, it is disrespectful of Township taxpayers.

Middletown should no longer fund a board of this size at this rate, especially since the Middletown Township sewerage system is largely built out; the Board (established in 1966) has served its original purpose of managing the installation of a sewerage system throughout Middletown Township. Middletown taxpayers could save about $100,000 annually in salary and benefits by eliminating the Sewerage Authority Board and reassigning the responsibilities to a department like Public Works.

Political patronage is a serious violation of the public’s trust. In 2008, Republican Governor Chris Christie harshly criticized the largely Democratic Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission for using the board as their “piggy bank” for patronage jobs. He said the commission was, “a remnant of New Jersey that should be part of our embarrassing past.” He stepped in and fired 71 people. Records showed they were funneling money to no-bid contracts with political insiders.

In Middletown, it is hard to determine exactly what TOMSA is doing with our tax dollars because they routinely break laws designed to give the public insight into what they do. Among their violations: failure to announce public hearings, failure to disclose private meetings, refusal to satisfy Open Public Records Act requests for information, and refusal to allow video recordings of public meetings. When citizens ask questions at Board meetings, members remain silent and defer all questions to the Executive Director, who is deliberately vague in his responses. The Executive Director also refuses to respond to phone calls, emails, and in-person inquires for information. TOMSA’s attorney allows the routine disregard of these laws and other blatant conflicts of interest, like when TOMSA’s Executive Director held both that position and a seat on the Township Committee at the same time. Likewise, the TOMSA auditor routinely attends board meetings, which calls into question the independence of his audit.

Taxpayer advocates have been trying to understand how the Township Committee and the TOMSA Board get away with their clear disregard for Middletown taxpayers. Our Township Committee has been advised of all of these taxpayer concerns but they refuse to address the matter and assail those who question them. It is time for our elected officials to break this “piggy bank” and remove the stink of patronage and secrecy from the Township Of Middletown Sewerage Authority.

WHO’S WHO AT TOMSA-

Patrick Parkinson- TOMSA Executive Director 15 years

            -Middletown mayor (2004)

            -Former Township Committeeperson

Thomas F. Stokes- TOMSA Board 24 years

            -Current Republican Committeeperson

            -Former Middletown Township Board of Education member

            -Calls in 6 meetings a year

James Hinckley- TOMSA Board 23 years

            -Current Middletown GOP, treasurer

           - Current Zoning Board chairman

Chantal Bouw- TOMSA Board 14 years

            -Current Middletown GOP, Vice Chair

            -Current Zoning Board, Vice Chair

            -Local Assistance Board

Joan Smith- TOMSA Board 7 years

            -Middletown mayor (2001)  

            -Current Republican Committeeperson

Charles W. Rogers- TOMSA Board 5 years

            -Emergency Services Manager

Emil F. Wrede- TOMSA Board 4 years (alternate)

            -Zoning Board

Anthony DeMarco- TOMSA Board 2012 (alternate)

William A. Meyler- TOMSA Auditor-

Richard C. Leahey Jr.- TOMSA Attorney – Law firm of former Township attorney Bernard Reilly

John D. Van Dorpe- TOMSA engineer/ Maser Consulting- paid roughly 7% of TOMSA annual budget

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This post has been updated to correct erroneous information pertaining to annual salary of $2,150 for Chairperson, not Executive Director, and to include and correct other offices held by those on the "Who's Who" list at TOMSA.

Middletown Planning Board Member Who Receives Lucrative Contracts From The Township Seems Unethical To Me

When Middletown helps its own, it's not in reference to helping needy families get through the holidays. It's in reference to taking care of those most politically connected to the local Republican Party.

Tim Sodon, who was a candidate for Township Committee in 2007 but lost the election to Patrick Short, has for the past few of years been a member of the Middletown Planning Board. Sodon came under heavy fire in 2007 for being a contractor for the Township while also being a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. As a member of the advisory board, among other things, he would recommend what Township Parks needed electrical maintenance or upgrades performed. Tim Sodon is the owner of Sodon Electric Inc., he was the contractor that would get the work and perform the work.

During the campaign Sodon and the Republican Party couldn't or wouldn't explain why this wasn't a conflict of interest and clearly unethical. Sodon never came out and said that if elected he would give up the contracts he had with the Township.

Now fast forward to more recent times, as an appointed member of the planning board, Sodon is a public official and currently has a very lucrative contract with Middletown to provide electrical repairs and maintenance needed throughout the Township’s Municipal buildings and parks that pays him $75K a year according to Township Resolution 12-061.

This to me is clearly a conflict of interest and unethical. He shouldn't be allowed to do work for the town while he sits on the Planning Board. A contractor for the town should not be in any appointed positions.

Tim Sodon shouldn't be doing electrical projects for the town, those projects should be bid out and basic electrical maintenance should be done in-house by someone who has a license.

As the Mayor's Designee to the Planning Board is Tim Sodon making decisions based on the on the merits of the presentations that are brought in front of the Planning Board, or is he making decisions based on what is expected of him by the Mayor or higher ups in the Middletown GOP in order to keep his tax payer funded contracts?

Before looking at the Library Board for inappropriate and unethical behavior of one of its members, I think Tony Fiore and the Township Committee should be looking a little closer to home at one of their own before casting the first stone. Unfortunately though that will never happen, Middletown Republicans by nature are arrogant and never look into the mirror at themselves beforehand. They are only interested in protecting their own.

The Independent's Election 2011 Middletown Profile : Independent runs for Mid’twn Township Committee seat

For those that are unaware there is a Middletown Republican turned Independent who is running for a seat on the Middletown Township Committee this year, his name is Richard Morrill.

After last night's Meet the Candidates forum sponsored by the Oak Hill Association, which turned raucous at times over some of Morrill's responses, it was a clear case of room-packing and planting adversaries against a former Middletown GOP insider.

Below is his Q&A that appears in this week's Election 2011 Candidate profile published in this weeks edition of the Independent.

Q. What do you believe is the main issue facing Middletown? If elected to the Township Committee what specific steps would you take to tackle this issue?

MORRILL: Taxes. I would like to look to re-engineer how the township operates by analyzing all departments one at a time. I would bring a fresh pair of eyes and ears with experience in re-engineering departments.

Q. What are your qualifications to serve on the Middletown Township Committee?

MORRILL: I feel I am qualified to serve on the Middletown Township Committee due to my success in re-engineering numerous departments at Barclays Bank, saving in excess of $10 million per year. I also managed multiple construction projects in multiple buildings and multiple states, including one valued at $27 million. All came in on time and under budget. I managed an average of 150 people at a time.

Q. Are there any issues facing Middletown that you specifically want to address?

MORRILL: The other issues that I want to specifically address are the spending in Middletown, the supervision of employees, the pricing for professional services and the appointments of individuals to committees and boards in Middletown so that all residents are represented. I would like to encourage new businesses to come to Middletown by assisting and courting them to create jobs in the township.

Subject of Latest Robo-Call From Concerned Citizens Deals With AVAYA and COAH

Earlier today I received yet another robo-call from the group calling themselves Concerned Citizens of Middletown.

The content of this robo- call that was left on my answering machine ~1:30 pm, seems to be geared towards what is going on in Lincroft concerning the redevelopment of the AVAYA sight that will consist of 342 units of high density housing if built.

The timing of this latest robo-call seems to have been planned to correspond with the next Middletown Planning Board meeting scheduled for tomorrow night, where according to the agenda for the meeting, approval of the project may be finalized.

I'm sure that this call (the 5th) will be just as controversial as the others that have gone out in the past by the group Concerned Citizens of Middletown.

Tony Fiore and others associated with the Middletown GOP swear that Concerned Citizens of Middletown is nothing more than the a front name used by the Middletown Democrats to stir up trouble and controversy, which as far as I know, is not the case.

I am sure that one day soon the mystery of who is behind the group will be answered, but until then I'm going to sit back and enjoy the speculation. It's fun to see Fiore and the others squirm a bit and point fingers while trying to explain that the messages being left on answering machines all around town have no merit and shouldn't be paid attention to.

Below is the message that I recorded again off of my answering machine followed by a transcript of the call:

Have you heard? Because The Middletown Township Committee failed to fulfill it's COAH obligations, the Township had to solicit bids to develop housing projects throughout Middletown?

As a result the AVAYA site in Lincroft will become a multi-family housing project that will impact the residents of Lincroft and the Township.

The influx of new residents will have an adverse affect; roads will need to be widened, sewer and water lines will need to be installed and over crowding of local schools will take place, all at a cost to our quality of life.

Paid for by
Concerned Citizens of Middletown.

Speaking of Signs; Has Halloween Tricks All Ready Started In Middletown With The Taking Of Byrnes and Mahoney Signs ?

In the 5 days that I had been away attending my grandfathers funeral in Utah, I noticed in my return that here have been a number of Byrnes & Mahoney signs missing from the roadsides that had been there previously.

I know periodically that signs are taken by kids as pranks or are removed by Township, County or State employees if the signs are thought to be on land that is owned by either entity,but when only the signs of one group of candidates are being taken away and the others remain that raises the red flag.

Such is the case with Middletown Committeeman Sean Byrnes and his running mate Mary Mahoney, their signs seem to be disappearing and not just from the roadside but from private property and resident homes as well, while their republican opponents signs are still visible on lawns and on roadways.

As confirmation of what I have been witnessing, I have been sent an email and found a letter to the editor posted at the Independent's website that discusses exactly what I had been feeling since my return:

"Boo! Once again, Halloween (dirty?) tricks are in evidence in Middletown. On Palmer Avenue, Leonardville Road by the Navy underpass, and other Middletown locations there is a pattern of Scharfenberger-Settembrino election signs being placed very close in front of Byrnes-Mahoney signs, blocking their visibility. Gremlins have also placed some Little signs to block the other side of Byrnes signs.

In the pre-Halloween spirit of generosity, I choose to believe that the disrespectful sign positioning is due to the fearful over-zealousness of campaign workers, like the young goblin caught in the act late at night. Perhaps Mayor Scharfenberger is not aware of the tactics. I call upon the mayor to take responsibility, order the situation corrected at once, and not sanction repetition of the tactic."

And the Letter from the Independent:

Taking political signs impedes political process

The Middletown Democrats have been experiencing an appreciable loss of political signs. Perhaps you have noticed where they are missing. Those are the signs that have the names of Sean Byrnes and Mary Mahoney on them. They seem to be disappearing from various parts of the township.

I have been trying to police them, and I have concluded that some of our signs are actually stolen in broad daylight. The situation has been studied, and I have given it a great deal of attention.

I have concluded that it is not the local raccoons that are attracted to our signs, but it may be the rats. The attraction for Democratic signs has been so great that whenever Democratic signs make an appearance with other signs, it is ours that are taken. Once they are taken, they are never to be seen again. I am not trying to call this kidnapping, but it may be close to the same thing.

Whatever you want to call this, there is one thing for certain. The perpetrators are impeding the political process, which is the basis of our democracy.

Preston Gillam

Belford

Do adults really need to play these silly games? If so, it could only lead to one conclusion in peoples minds and that is, Gerry Scharfenberger and the rest of the Middletown GOP are deathly afraid of losing this election, after a 5 year record of raising taxes by 45%, I would be afraid of losing also. Even still, to have members of your party taking down or block your opponents signs with your own, is childish. It's time to grow up!

Letter: What Planet Do They Live On ?

Here is the first offical post that makes it up onto the blog after my return. It is a letter from Barbara Thorpe who asked the question "what planet do they live on? ", which references a letter written by Tristan Nelsen, the failed former running mate of Gerry Scharfenberger, from his last re-election bid.

It should be pointed out that Tristan owes much to the local GOP establishment, she sits on many boards and commissions in Middletown and is herself part of the problem. Anyone that can justify an increase of 45% to the local municipal tax rate over the past 5 years, must be living on another planet, that goes for Ms. Nelsen as well as all the other supporters of the Middletown GOP, who burry their heads in the sand and refuse to see the truth:

I read with a sense of disgust the repeated letters supporting the mayor of Middletown by his party's faithful cronies. The most recent one from the failed candidate who ran with Scharfenberger three years ago. Can't imagine what planet she has inhabited in recent years because there is no denying the mismanagement of this township. The near forty five percent increase in the municipal tax levy in the last five years tells the whole story. No denying those figures ....no way at all.

The repeated lies and deception that this man engages in is beyond comprehension except it is explained by this man's obsessive desire for re-election. He will do or say anything to achieve that goal. To hell with the people paying the bills in this township. He could not care less. He cannot be trusted to serve the people of Middletown. Far too engrossed in party politics !

It will take legislative action to ever remove supporting the schools from the property tax bill in New Jersey and to find a secure funding for the most important job the citizens of this community and this state have to do... the education of our youth. To think otherwise is delusional and selfish. It is incomprehensible to try and understand just when Mr.Scharfenberger thinks he could ever accomplish such a change in school funding without some extensive legal support for that kind of a change. But I guess I just forget that this man has never shown any regard for the rights of the people or respect for what is and is not legal. He never has had any reservation about what or who he tramples on to serve his own agenda.

COAH is the law in New Jersey. It has recently been reaffirmed and this state has been given five months to get back on track providing affordable housing. Only Sunday the Asbury Park Press printed an article regarding this very information There may be changes to COAH but it is not going away. Again this mayor is blowing in the wind !! Get real for a change !

The disregard for the residents of this community can be seen in the proposals for turf fields in locations nobody wants and at a time when we cannot afford them. Just grandstanding in hope of deceiving the people about his motives.He needs something to try and look good for re-election. Fix the problems of the flooding in the Bayshore that have been neglected for more than twenty years. The sneaky, underhanded actions and the neglect that has surrounded those efforts tells it all !

Try an honest effort to contain expenses and make the hard decisions to reduce the workforce,reduce bond expenses,and institute the necessary measures to properly plan municipal financial obligations. Can't blame all the problems here on someone else so stop trying . Whatever plans this mayor claimed he had have never materialized . He never had any plan and the result is the exorbitant municipal tax increase this year.

Middletown will be a better community to live in when this man is gone from government here.

Barbara R. Thorpe
Middletown, NJ

You Can Fool Some Of The People Some of The Time, But...

Two more local media members have chimed in on the the smoke and mirror attempt by the Middletown Republicans lead by Gerry Scharfenberger, his fellow GOP members on the Township Committee and new CFO Nick Trasente, to whitewash, sugarcoat and flat out mislead the public with Monday night's budget introduction.

As I said earlier, Trasente did a great job at towing the proverbial company line,making it seem the local tax burden was only going increase by 2.8% when in actuality the municipal tax rate will skyrocket by more than 13% once this budget is adopted.

The reporters for both the Independent and RedBankGreen.com, Andrew Davidson and Dustin Racioppi with their articles Township proposes tax increase of 13 percent and BUDGET INCREASES, BUT BY HOW MUCH? did a great job at seeing through the rouse and I recommend that both articles be read.

Sewer Authority Slush Fund ??

One of the more interesting line items that I found in the proposed Middletown Municipal budget that will be introduced at tonight's special budget meeting is the $365K transfer of surplus funds from the Middletown Sewer Authority to the Township.

Under the heading of General Revenues on sheet 10 of the budget, the line item titled Miscellaneous Revenues shows a contribution of Sewer Authority Surplus of $356K to the municipal budget.

So the questions are, if the Sewer Authority has this much money sitting around to give to the Township, are they charging us too much for their services? And, if this $365k is over their surplus allotment what were they planning to do with this money if they did not "give" it to the Township?

Its been a well known fact that the Middletown GOP uses the Sewer Authority as a dumping ground for party loyalist and cronies, each commissioner of the authority is entitled to a yearly stipend, township health benefits and pension credits. Obviously, the Sewerage Authority is like a slush fund where favored professionals get paid, people get jobs, no one watches what's going on and is a nice way for the majority party to reward those who tow the line.

All Candidates For Middeltown Board Of Education Urge Approval of School Budget At Friday's Forum And Other Observations

Friday morning I attended the Middletown Board of Education's Candidate Forum at Panera Bread in Middletown. This last of three forums was hosted by Stephanie Murray of the Middletown Mornings organization. When I got there Friday morning I didn't quiet know what to expect in the respect of turn out, but I was pleasantly surprised to see over thirty people in attendance.

Ms. Murray opened the forum by having each candidate take a minute and a half to introduce themselves and explain why they felt they should be elected to the BOE this year.

Six of the seven candidates were in attendance and in order of their opening remarks are:

Patricia Walsh
Dawn Diorio
Gerry Wexelberg
Michael Mascone
Vincent Brand
Leonora Caminiti

Chris Aveta, who is running on the same ticket as Mascone and Brand was not in attendance Friday morning.

I recorded the meeting in its entirety and was going to break it all down into individual questions and answers, but because I have been hit with some kind of "Bug" that attacked me late Friday night and have been in bed since, I have decided just to post the whole recording.

It runs for 46 minutes but seems to play faster than that. The meeting was fast paced and kept all of those there engaged.

For me the only real news that came out of the forum was that each candidate agreed that the this years school budget should be passed by voters on Tuesday. Failure to pass the budget would only mean more drastic cuts that would penalize students and teachers alike.




After the forum was over I mingled amongst the crowd and spoke to a few candidates. I had a very nice conversation with Mike Mascone and Vinnie Brand, both of whom were polite and cordial but who took exception with me for my earlier blog post that accused them and their running mate Chris Aveta of being lap dogs for Middletown Deputy Mayor Tony Fiore and the Middletown GOP.

Each profess that they had only met Fiore no more than three times and wouldn't even recognize him if the saw him in the street, which I took with a grain of salt put didn't pursue.

I told each of them that my problem wasn't with them as individuals but with the perceived endorsement of Fiore, who signed Brand's and Aveta's school board petitions.

Brand thought that it wasn't a problem and that Tony Fiore (or anyone else for that matter) should be able to openly endorse his candidacy if they so chose.

I disagreed with that statement and I let them know that for years the Middletown GOP has tried to gain influence over the Middletown BOE to varying degrees of success. And when they did gain control several years ago with their "Back To Basics" slate of candidates it was a disaster. The expansion and upgrades to Bayshore, Thorne and Thompson Middle Schools were over budget and wrought with problems, and contract negotiations ended when over 200 teachers were sent to jail.

In my opinion, there is no room for partisan politics on the school board and just having the Deputy Mayor's signature on both Brand's and Aveta's petitions is enough to raise doubts in my mind and others.

Fiore's signature on those petitions poison Brand's, Mascone's and Aveta's candidacy for the board of ed no matter how sincere Vinnie Brand's and Mike Mascone's insistence to me that they are there own men and that they would not be influenced in any way by Fiore or other members of the Middletown GOP.

With that being said, listen to the audio and make up your own mind, but most importantly vote "YES" for the budget and vote for the candidates that you think will be the best representative for your and your child's best interests on Tuesday April 20th

Sign Of The Times: Dump Scharfy

Have you seen these signs? They're popping up all over town. This one is located at the intersection of Newman Springs Rd and Swimming River Rd in Lincroft.

As of right now, no one is taking responsibility for them ( I know for a fact it's not the Dems) ,but word has it that they are being put out by a group of disgruntled members of the Middletown GOP who are fete up with Gerry Scharfenberger and the current Republican members of the Township Committee over the handling (or lack there of) of the Lincroft turf complex issue and other concerns.

So upset in fact, that Scharfenberger will not be running unopposed during the Republican primary in June. Word has it that Tony Avalone, the Director of the Lincroft Village Green Association has decided to challenge Scharfenberger for the party nomination.

Christie Tells Local Officials to Expect Pain

Does this mean that Middletown's Gerry Scharfenberger and his fellow Republicans will now stop blaming Trenton Democrats for their own failures and tax increases in Middletown and now point their finger at one of their own in the future? Some how I doubt it.

N.J. Governor-elect Christie tells local officials to expect 'a continued period of pain'

Gov.-elect Chris Christie sent a strong message to an audience of municipal politicians and workers gathered at the luncheon at the annual League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City today: Stop thinking about yourselves, or you'll will be voted out. (Video by Brian Donohue / The Star-Ledger)

Letter: Don't Fall For Same Old Dirty Tricks From Middeltown GOP

The voters in Monmouth County and in Middletown must make a very important decision to make on Nov.3,2009. Do they want representation or do they want domination. Do they want a part puppet or a proven representative of the people. Do they want someone who can think for themselves or do they want someonw who marches to a party chairman's drumbeat. Do they want someone who wins because they were party to character assassination as a tool to achieve that win .

The residents of Middletown were exposed to the gutter politics of the Middletown Republican Party last year and another dose of it has begun again....more of the low life attacks on opposing candidates this year. Don't fall for it again !!! Patrick Short and Sean Byrnes are honorable and decent men of integrity.They desreve election to the offices they seek. They are proven winners !

Before any voter succumbs to the vicious,unreliable ploys to undermine either of these candidates,consider the source of these vicious attacks. The tactics originate from a party devoid of clear positions on the issues that are important to every citizen of this municipality and this county. The Middletown Republicans are bankrupt of ideas and will resort anything to win,regardless of how low they have to stoop to achieve that win.We,the voters have seen plenty of this in the recent past!!

Think before you,the voters, of this town and this county pull that lever or touch that screen to VOTE. Do you want to be represented or do you want to be dominated?? The choice is clear...Patrick Short for Middletown Committeeman and Sean Byrnes for Monmouth County Freeholder.

Barbara R. Thorpe
Lincroft,NJ

Letter: Middletown needs Patrick Short and a Democratic majority too

I have resided in Middletown my whole life, which amounts to 75 years, the better part of a century. I have seen Middletown transformed from a beautiful place, filled with farms and woods, changed forever by over-development. It’s been since the early 1980s that this has happened, since Republicans have ruled in town.

Today, the highways where businesses should be located are where home developments are. Somehow, in the minds of Republican leaders, this allegedly represents "class." I haven't seen a highway development yet that was what a conservative person would refer to as classy. And, it is all because of the way the Republican majority has run the town. I do not like it at all. There is a place for housing, and it isn't along a highway.

Then there is the issue of how these Republicans finance their budget that bothers me. For the past 18 years, Middletown, like many towns, has balanced their budgets through deferred taxation: a terrible financial practice really, since before the Florio administration in Trenton. The bottom line is that some of the money collected for school taxes is used by the Township Committee: the school board takes the blame and the committee takes the money.

How much money has been involved in this practice? Well, the town governments that use this means of finance for their administrations are not exactly forthcoming about exact figures but, in Middletown, it is somewhere over $55 million right now. It's a gimmick. A cheap trick. And it is the way my town has been doing business for almost 20 years. I don't like it.

Government has become too "slick" for my liking. Government at every level should be smaller, but it will not get that way by adding an army of overpriced lawyers, or appointing political bosses into office, such as is in the case of Middletown. GibbonsLaw, PC, in Newark, has the bonding work in Middletown, and has for decades – ever since the Republicans took over. They have something else too, and that is the Middletown Republican chairman, Peter Carton, as an employee.

It is not one party that is going to return Middletown to real prestige again. It is two parties that will, and Democratic Committeeman Patrick Short has already helped to stem the spending of over-priced projects on the committee. And, he has actually been concerned about flooding in the Bayshore. This is the kind of help that Middletown needs, and that is why I would like him returned to office and to see even more Democrats join him in my town.

Joe Caliendo
Chairman, Middletown Democrats

Patrick Short: Why This Election In Middletown Is So Important

In this video, Middletown Democratic Committeeman Patrick Short, discuss why this years election in Middletown is so important for everyone.

If Short were to loss this election, the two party system of checks and balances will be no more after just 2 years.

The Middletown GOP will go back to its old ways, that is a super majority Republicans will once again reign over the township.

During the past 2 years with Democrats Patrick Short and Sean Byrnes presiding on the Township Committee, township government has become more open and transparent, bonding and spending has decreased and there has been no more rubber stamping of pet projects that only benefits a few.

Middletown's Patrick Short Talks About How Favoritism and Paybacks Run Rampant with in GOP

Democrat Patrick Short sits on the Middletown NJ,Township Committee. in this video he discusses how favoritsim and paybacks are the norm for members of the Middletown GOP.

The Middletown GOP has held power for in town for over twenty years and the township's bond counsel just happens to be the Chairman of the Middletown Republican Party.

Middletown Democratic Chairman Fires Back at Former GOP Mayor

PRESS RELEASE

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP – Middletown Democratic Chairman Joe Caliendo said that a recent letter to the editor by ex-Middletown Mayor Tom Hall is out of line.

"In his letter, Mr. Hall questioned the patriotism of Middletown Committeeman Patrick Short because he did not say the words to the Pledge of Allegiance at Committee meetings," Caliendo said.

Caliendo characterized Hall's remarks as "outlandish," given the fact that Short is a West Point graduate who retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving more than 20 years on Active Duty in his nation's uniform.

"Patriotism isn't something that is measured by how loud you say a pledge, or making sure that you put a bumper sticker on your car. Patriotism is about service, and I would stack Mr. Short's commitment and service to his nation, in the service and out, against Mr. Hall's any day. Of course, I am unsure if Mr. Hall ever served his country in the Armed Services. While I do not think that should be held against anyone, if someone does not, I certainly do think that serving in the Army for a whole career makes a statement too. He is a patriot, and that is that," Caliendo said.

Caliendo said that he believes Hall's attack was based on the fact that Mr. Short is a Democrat. "I spoke to a Republican once and asked him, 'Why does your party insist on character assassination and lies as a way to campaign?' He responded that it is done because it works."

Caliendo said that holding someone accountable to their official actions and problems with public service is expected. "But, there has to be a better way to go than outright lies," Caliendo concluded.

Middletown GOP: What Do They Have To Hide?

An anonymous poster left the following comment to Friday's post Green Team - Finance Team, Can Someone Explain the Difference? I find it interesting that others are now starting to understand that business as usual can not continue in Middletown as it has for the past 20 years:

"This township desperately needs not only a Finance Committee but also a forensic audit done by an accredited firm with no affiliation with the politicians in this township.

It is clearly evident the republican majority in Middletown is trying to hide a great deal from it's citizens. This new attorney seems to be complicit in this endeavor.

It's the residents and their taxes that pay the bills.They are entitled to an honest,clear picture of finances in Middletown.The Republican majority clearly stonewalls any attempt at full disclosure!

Fiscal irresponsibility is the mantra of this bunch of ethically challanged individuals. WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO HIDE. The stench now reaks throughout the township...... "

The entrenchment of the Middletown Republicans has gone on long enough, nepotism and cronyism has lead to the current financial mess the township finds itself in, more so than any unfunded mandates that they like to blame on Trenton.

Because of their continued stonewalling of financial matters, the '09 budget is short on revenues by $2.5 million, will contain a 9.2% (or higher) tax increase and will be 7 months late.

All of this will force the township to send out estimated tax bills to Middletown residents which will lead to utter confusion, long lines and needless anger at the tax offices.

There are curently 19 advisory boards and commissions recognized by the township governing body, all with various volunteers and elected officials as members. Why a Finance Committee would be any different from any one of the other boards or commissions is beyond me.

Unless of course the Middletown GOP HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE !

Gerry and His Buddies Just Don't Get It, Once Again a Big "No" To Finance Committee

Last week at the monthly Township committee workshop meeting, Gerry Scharfenberger and the GOP majority expressed once again how the Township does not need to set up a "Finance Committee" to oversee the budget process. They went as far as having Township Attorney #2, Brian Nelson, "research" the structure of the township's governing body in order to justify the rejection of the Finance Committee.

Nelson said that he spent some time looking through the governance by-laws of the Township and came to the conclusion that a Finance Committee would be against the Township's charter because it would take powers away from the Administrator and Township Committee.

That is total BS if you ask me.

Gerry and his GOP buddies feel that everything is great with the way the township puts together the budget. He works very hard at it and would not want to give up any control over the process, it is very effective, He says. After all Middletown does have a Double AA bond rating and gets kudos from the League of Municipalities for how the budget is constructed, so why change? Simple, it is broken.

Finance Committee would be the watchful eye over the budget to ensure that we aren't "blindsided" by budget shortfall as we were this year.

Here is Gerry's definition of effective management...

A 25% increase in taxes for the last four years

A 9.2% (possibly higher) tax increase for this year's budget

Asking permission from the State to go $2 million dollars over the $4% cap budget cap

2 Township Attorney's salary's

Deferring this year's Pension payments for 15 years

Building a budget when you have "no short term and long term projections that took into account this economy."

The way that Gerry and the boys (sorry Pam) put together a budget is not very efficient or effective and it needs to change. The proposed Finance Committee would look at the budget and give recommendations throughout the year not just during budget time. The Committee would act as an advisory board to the township and would be an effective tool to ferret out wasteful spending in order to save the tax payers money.

The audio clip below is from the June 1st workshop meeting it is Gerry Scharfenberger's reasoning behind not supporting a Finance Committee

Middletown Budget Meeting Tonight: 9.2% Tax Increase To Be Voted On

Tonight there will be a public hearing on the 2009 Township Budget. This meeting will be held down at Town Hall, in the Court room and will start at 8:00 pm . 

The Committee will vote on a 9.2% tax increase in the budget. I encourage everyone to attend this meeting and see how your government works.

There are better ways to preparing a budget for a town the size of Middletown besides the method currently being used. The majority feels that they, themselves, are the most qualified even though they do not have the credentials to qualify as a budget committee. 

The GOP rely on department heads and appointees to provide them with a dollar amount that they will need to operate, instead of providing a figure for them to work with. The majority does not insist on the department heads to justify their requests. 

Democrat Sean Byrnes, has proposed several times to form a finance committee over the course of the past year. This has been met with much resistance, to say the least, all you have to do is listen to the audio from Monday night's committee meeting to hear for yourself.

The town has already appropriated or spent 50% of this year's budget that will be voted on tonight, how will it be possible to close the $2.4 million shortfall that exists inin this budget without such a large tax increase?

This is evident of the total lack of planning and mismanagement that can not continue if Middletown is to get its' fiscal matters in check. 

This meeting should not last more than an hour, there are no excuses for not attending  to make you voices heard.

This is Your Money

Does A Cap On Legal Expenses Mean More Money For Lawyers Or Less? In Middletown There Is No Such Thing As A Cap!

If a township issues an ordinance or resolution to cap the legal expenses that an individual lawyer (who also happens to be on a $50,000 retainer) at $310,000 a year, doesn't that mean that said lawyer doesn't receive reimbursement for fees that exceed the $310,000 mark during that year?

I thought so, but apparently some of members of the Middletown Township Committee think otherwise.

Township Attorney Bernie Reilly, who until this year was the only Municipal Attorney in town, has been designated to handle all of the Townships litigation needs while new kid on the block and political cronie Brian Nelson, deals with municipal matters.  Each has been given the same deal with the Township, a $50,000 retainer and a cap on legal expenses of $310,000.

When Nelson was designated as Municipal Attorney and Reilly as Litigation Attorney, there were immediate objections by Patrick Short and Sean Byrnes, the Democrats that sit on the Township Committee.  In a time of economic stress and with a projected $3 million budget shortfall,they questioned how could the Republican majority justify doubling the expenses that the township pays in legal counsel.

They answered by saying, the expenses for each lawyer were capped at $310,000 each and because of Nelson limited roll as just "Municipal Attorney", he should not exceed the cap on legal counsel that was in place. Their argument was the same for Reilly.

Well guess what, here we are 5 1/2 months into 2009 with no budget in place and the township committee slips in Resolution. 09-137  which authorizes the payment of an additional $7,041 to Bernie Reilly for work done in 2008.

How is this possible if there is a cap in place, a cap that Reilly agreed to no less? Unbelievable.

This is the game that the Middletown GOPers play to keep their buddies employed. They set a price, but have no intentions on holding their cronies to it. With the employment of two special litigators Nelson and Reilly, the potential to exceed the $310,000 amount stated in the resolutions voted on at re-org day is obvious now.

This is what keeps the tax rate on the upward spiral year after year (9.2% proposed for this year). If the town operated legally and stopped frivolous law suites against their adversaries (the Azzolina's and Schwebel's) there would be no reason for half the lawsuits brought on. 

And if this was not enough the Township also authorized the additional payment of $12,000 to The Special Construction Litigation Lawyer,Paul A. Sandars III of the law firm  of Lum, Drasco & Potisan LLC  for ongoing legal work on the Cultural Arts Center.  

Their legal work was capped at $45,000 by the township committee in Resolution 8-026 last year.

You can read more about this at MiddletownMusing, where Pat Walsh picks it a part.