Heard it in the Hallways: Brightbill To Step in As Director of Recreation

Remember all the controversy that surrounded former Middletown Parks and Recreation Director Gregg Silva that lead to his termination retirement? If you remember there was speculation that former Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill was interested in snagging herself a plum township job upon stepping down from the Township Committee and she had her sights locked onto the Parks and Recreation job being vacated by Silva. Of course at the time, she denied having any interest whatsoever in succeeding Silva as the head of the soon to be reorganized Department of Recreation, saying at the time the she preferred to continue volunteering on one or more advisory boards.

At the time of her denial, I thought it unlikely that Brightbill would take over for Gregg Silva. After all, she wasn’t qualified in the first place to assume the job but more importantly the job as Director of Parks and Recreation was (is) classified as a civil service position and from what I was able to gather at the time, Pam had never taken the civil service exam. Not that it ever mattered, in the past Middletown has changed many ordinances or resolution so that favored people could get a job, you only need to look at the lawyer sitting up on the dais next to the mayor, for a perfect example of the cronyism that I speak of.

So now it’s been six months since Gregg Silva stepped down and the department that he headed has now been downsized, reorganized and renamed as the Department of Recreation and Janet Dellet (Adams), who was the director of the Tonya Keller Community Center in North Middletown, was promoted to lead the new recreation department for the township and Pam Brightbill has been busy on the Planning Board and a few committees such as the Middletown Day Planning Committee. Her volunteerism has kept busy and floating around the hallways of Town Hall and Department of Recreation complex over at Croydon Hall, driving people crazy. So much so, that Janet Dellet’s job performance as head of Recreation is now being scrutinized after only a couple of months into the job and much of what she does is questioned by township administrators.

Do you think it could have anything to do with the fact that Janet Dellet is pregnant and will be going on maternity leave next month? There are some that think so. Especially since administrators won't tell anyone what the plan is for coverage while she is on maternity leave.

So why do you think people are so tight lipped and won’t give Janet Dellet or anyone else, any clues as to who will be taking over her duties as the Director of Recreation in her absence? The reason being I’m told is because Pam Brightbill will be covering for Dellet while she is on maternity leave.

It has been said that Pam is persistent when she wants something and eventually gets what she wants and she really wants to head the Department of Recreation; she has wanted to head the department for a long time.

I was told that she is the one responsible for talking the Township Committee into laying off all the employees in the Parks and Recreation Department last year because she didn't care for Gregg Silva, even though the programs sponsored by Parks and Recreation kept the department in the black and paid the salaries of  its employees. Brightbill couldn’t rightfully get him fired so she made his job as difficult as possible and waited for him to screw up so that she could take over for him one day.

Now that Janet Dellet will be leaving on maternity leave soon, Pam will have her chance to head the Recreation Department just like she has longed for.  The only question is will her reign be short lived and over as soon as Dellet comes back from her leave or will it be extended for some unforeseen reason? For Dellet’s sake, I hope that it is the latter.

Brightbill Denies Interest in Silva's Job; We'll See

Back on Monday, December 19 th, I was the first to break the story about Middletown Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, Gregg Silva being placed on indefinite administrative leave. In that post, I commented that a rumor was also circulating that departing Township Committeewoman Pamela Brightbill was next in line to replace Silva as Director.

At that evenings Township Committee meeting, Brightbill was praised and lauded by her fellow committee members and members of the public, for her years of service to the Township.

At no time during the course of the evening did Gregg Silva's name come up or did anyone suggest that Pam Brightbill would make a good replacement for him (although other suggestions were made about what boards or committees she would excel at if placed on).

It wasn't until after the meeting that Township officials were approached by members of the media about Silva's departure and the rumor about Brightbill taking over for him.

To be expected, no one would publicly comment on Silva's situation and only state that the matter was being handle internally.

Kudos however goes to Sue Morgan of Middletown-Patch for going the extra mile by asking Pam Brightbill in a telephone conversation the following day, if she was interested in taking over for Silva to run the Department of Parks & Recreation.

According to the article that was posted, Brightbill denied having any interest in taking over for Gregg Silva and saying that she prefers to continue volunteering on one or more advisory boards.

The brief article then goes on to state inadvertently, the very reason why so many feel that Brightbill is next in line to succeed Silva by stating, "The deputy mayor's extensive resume of community involvement includes times on the advisory board to the parks and recreation department and other volunteer activities relative to township government and the local school district."

I for one said at the time I heard the rumor, that I thought it was unlikely for Pam Brightbill to take over for Gregg Silva and I am glad that she has now gone on the record denying having any interest, but to be frank, I wouldn't have expected her to confirm having interest either.

We'll just have to sit back and see what happens over the next few weeks concerning the ongoing investigation of Gregg Silva and whether or not he is terminated as a Township employees, before we can place any credence on Pam's denials.

It's Your Town - Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 24-12/19/11

The latest and last edition of "It's Your Town" newsletter for the year, which covers the Middletown Township Committee meeting for Dec. 19th, 2011, is now available for your reading pleasure.

Besides the usual contents of the newsletter such as the monthly bill list and various ordinances and resolutions, inside this newsletter you will read a very accurate representation of the public hearing concerning the expansion of the Middletown Library's Board of Trustees, Ordinance 2011-3048 , which became a rather testy affair at times between acting mayor Tony Fiore and the members of the public that stepped forward to address their concerns over the expansion of the board.

The expansion of the Library Board is seen by many as a way for the Township to gain greater influence over the Library's budget and business dealings, to ensure that future surpluses are readily available for the Township's purposes and a repeat of the public spectacle that took place earlier this year over the Township Committee's ruthlessly brutal extortion of $500K worth of surplus and reserved funds from the Library.

This was also the last Township Committee meeting of acting deputy-mayor Pamela Brightbill, who decided not to seek reelection to the Township Committee this year. A Proclamation was presented to Brightbill for her years of service.

You can download the newsletter ..... Here

Middletown Director of Parks & Recreation Placed on Administrative Leave By Township

Early last week I received an email from someone that wanted to know if I had heard or knew anything about Middletown's Director of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs, Gregg Silva, being investigated by the Township of Middletown for some wrong doing and as a result of the investigation has been placed on indefinite administrative leave(fired?) by his bosses at Town Hall.

This person also informed me that as a result of Silva being placed on indefinite leave, rumors were running rampant that Middletown's former mayor/deputy mayor, the soon to be departing Township Committeewoman Pamela Brightbill, be will replacing Silva as the new Director of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs.

I responded by saying I hadn't heard anything about Silva's current troubles or the rumor about Brightbill, but I would make a few inquiries and get to the bottom of it as best I could. So I sent out a few emails and made a couple of phone calls to some people that I know to see if they had heard anything themselves.

It didn't take long to get a response.

From what I have gathered, it seems that Gregg Silva is most definitely on administrative leave and has been for over two weeks. The leave has been technically without pay (he is being allowed to use accumulated sick time) while he is under investigation by the Township.

What did he do wrong that has caused the Township to place him on leave? If you know anything about Gregg Silva, it could be just about anything, he has a long history of engaging in questionable practices. But what seems to have been the last straw was the building of a private memorial, on Township property, on the grounds of Croydon Hall in Leonardo.

A few months back a Township teenager, who grew up in the Leonardo section of Middletown, passed away as a result of a car accident while traveling down Chapel Hill Rd. The teenager, Daniel Piano, by all accounts was a great kid who had a lot of friends and a very loving family.

As a result of his passing, his friends built a makeshift memorial at the site of the accident but it wasn't a place that Daniel's mother wanted to go or thought that others should go to either because of the nature of the road, Chapel Hill Road is very busy and is dangerous for people to stand on the side of. So she had the idea to ask the "Township" for permission to build a memorial for Daniel on the grounds of Croydon Hall, seeing how it was a place that her son spent many happy hours of his life playing and hanging out there.

After receiving permission from Gregg Silva to build the memorial, Mrs. Piano went about the business of arranging for the construction of Daniel's memorial, the building of which was covered by private donations and volunteer labor.

You can read all about it in an article that was posted online at the Two Rivers Times.

So then, why would Gregg Silva be placed on indefinite leave of absence with his job in jeopardy if he received permission from the Township, to allow the construction of the Daniel Piano Memorial on the grounds of Croydon Hall? Well, evidently he never asked his superiors if it was alright for the memorial to be built. He took it upon himself to OK it without the consultation of others and that is where the trouble now lays.

If Gregg Silva would have first spoken to Township Administrator Tony Mercantante first, I am sure that the memorial would not have been allowed to be built. But now that it has been built the Township has to deal with any potential repercussions that might be a result of the memorial being built, namely others that may want to build similar memorials to loved ones that have passed.

As unlikely as that may seem, by giving the go ahead to the Piano family to built the memorial, Gregg Silva inadvertently set a precedent within Middletown that would allow for these types of memorials to be built in other parks throughout the Township. If the Township denies other the right to privately construct such memorials it could lead to lawsuits that would be costly to Middletown taxpayers.

As for the Brightbill taking over for Silva rumor, at this time from what I have been able to gather, it is still just a rumor but could have legs for a variety of reason, which I will save for another post.

In an effort at full disclosure on my part, everything that I have written here I have heard from others. I just want it to be known that I sent Township Administrator Tony Mercantante an email last week seeking comment but I haven't heard back from him as of yet. From what I understand, I was not the first to try and contact him last week on this subject. Two real, non-blogging journalist (I don't consider myself a journalist) have either spoken to Tony directly ( I was told the conversation was short, curt and ended with Mercantante stating that Silva was under investigation and the investigation was being handled in-house) or sent him, like myself, and email. If I hear back from Mr. Mercantante later on this subject, I'll post an update.

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.

Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill Not Running for Reelection In Middletown

The following press release was issued today announcing that Middletown's Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill will not be seeking re-election to the Township Committee this November. Brightbill will be replaced on the ticket with Stephanie Murray.

Murray is a current member of the Middletown Zoning Board, Housing Authority and is the founder of the conservative leaning Republican women's group Middletown Mornings that will be hosting the 1st Middletown Board of Education Candidate Forum Tuesday morning April 12th:

MIDDLETOWN—Middletown Township Mayor Tony Fiore and Zoning Board Member/Housing Authority Commissioner Stephanie Murray today filed petitions seeking the Republican nomination for Middletown Township Committee for 2011.

“I know Stephanie Murray will serve the taxpayers of Middletown well based on her record of service on the Zoning Board and as a Commissioner on the Housing Authority,” said Mayor Fiore. “Stephanie is not only a tireless member of our community, but also a dedicated wife and mother to three children whose family has lived in Middletown for 10 years.”

“While my commitment to public service is no less now than it was six years ago, I feel that it is the right time to pass the baton to another active member of our community, which is why I am pleased to support Stephanie Murray for Township Committee,” said Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill. “I know that Stephanie will make an excellent addition to the Committee and help preserve the quality of life we all enjoy in Middletown.”

“It is an honor to have received a tremendous amount of support to continue my public service to Middletown by seeking to serve as a member of the Township Committee,” said Stephanie Murray. “I am looking forward to the challenges ahead to help maintain the quality of life we all enjoy while keeping taxes low in one of the largest municipalities in New Jersey.”

In addition to serving as a member of the Zoning Board and a Commissioner on the Middletown Housing Authority, Mrs. Murray has also served as a member of the Township’s Parks and Recreation Advisory and Open Space Committees. Stephanie is also the founder of a community group known as “Middletown Mornings” which is an open forum for residents of Middletown to meet with their local public officials. Murray holds a B.A. from Fordham University and runs a small publishing company.

Stephanie Murray is also the founder and co-owner of Crescent Moon Press , a small specialty book publishing firm, that publishes fantasy and occult novels.

Ringing Controversy; Concerned Citizens of Middletown Robocalls Strike A Nerve

It seems that the latest round of Robocalls that went out yesterday afternoon by the group calling themselves "Concerned Residents of Middletown" have struck a nerve with some sitting on the Township Committee who say that the calls don't ring true.

In a column published this morning over at Redbankgreen.com, Middletown Mayor Tony Fiore and his Deputy Mayor Pam Brightbill question the legitimacy of the group Concerned Residents of Middletown and it's message.

“It appears to be just another desperate attempt by the Middletown Democrats to spread misinformation to the taxpayers,” Fiore is quoted as saying in reference to who he thinks is behind the calls. He adds “the real truth will come out. The information they’re pointing out is just not accurate,” when referencing that the Townships budget will be introduced next week.

As if that has any real barring on the truthfulness of the messages contained in the robocalls. Remember last year how Mayor Scharfenberger and those sitting on the Committee, other than Democrat Sean Byrnes, insisted that the Township tax increase was only 2.8% when the proposed budget for 2010 was introduced in last June, when in actuality the municipal tax rate increased by 13.9%.

I think the people lacking credibility on budget issues are those that sit on the Township Committee. The real truth behind the budget numbers and any proposed tax increase which will be presented next Monday night, wont really be known until revised tax bills are sent out to residents, after the budget is adopted later in the year, just as it was last year. When residents looked at their tax statements expecting to see only an increase of 2.8% in the municipal rate, they were stunned by the difference.

Before passing judgment on these robocalls, it is important to see if the message included in them pan out as describe. Only then can we tell who was spreading false information to residents.

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.

The Issue of Artificial Turf Fields In Middletown Was Officially Put To Rest With Resolution 10-310

Last night's Middletown Township Committee meeting brought the official end to the artificial turf field issue. The committee voted 3-1 to approve Resolution 10-310, which authorized that the unused bonded money that was meant for the installation of two artificial turf fields at West Front Street Park and Croydon Hall, be used instead to pay down existing bond debt.

In the audio clip below Committeewoman Pam Brightbill discusses why she reluctantly voted to approve the resolution, after which you can hear why outgoing Committeeman Sean Byrnes voted against it.



The one curious thing about Resolution 10-310 is the fact that it is the only resolution that was discussed last night that has not made it's way onto the Township's website, for some reason it is missing. I am wondering if it has anything to due with the potential controversy that may surround it.

The controversy being that the original bond that was issued in 2006 which allocated funding for the turf fields specifically stated that these funds could not be used for any other purpose other than recreation, and with the nature of bond issues those funds cannot be used for the purpose offsetting operational budgets.

Using these bonded funds to pay off debt may not be legal,so until the resolution is made available to the public we'll just have to wait to see how the Township intends to do this.

The Gloom of a 13.9% Municipal Spending Increase for Property Taxpayers

By Virginia Amend - Lincroft Village News


There is no way to put a good face on a 13.9% increase on the $64,979,576 municipal budget.

As one citizen said to Mayor Scharfenberger and the Republican majority of Pamela Brightbill, Anthony Fiore and Steve Massell, “The Republican majority owns this budget.”

That may be only partly true. Governor Christie’s actions at the State level heavily contributed to the 13.9% increase in municipal spending. First, there was the loss of $1,564,911 state aid. The anticipated pain for 2011 is that loss is then built in for future budgets.

In the “unanticipated outcomes” category Governor Christie’s threats to future pension rules, caused 23 Middletown Township employees to choose retirement in 2010 in order to be covered by the existing, more favorable pension benefits.

Another “unanticipated outcome” is the $760,000 needed to pay retiring employees sick leave and vacation day payouts. Ouch!

Not too many people remember when the Republican majority couldn’t find the funds to pay 2009 pension contribution. The temporary CFO Roth negotiated a settlement with the local Finance Board in Trenton whereby Middletown would pay 1/12 of the pension contribution in 2009 and the remaining 11 payments to be paid over the next eleven years @ 4% interest.

The budget introduced on Monday, June 23, -- halfway through the fiscal year – indicated the pension increase in this budget required $1,800,000 to fund the pension increase. Healthcare costs, and two borrowings from prior year’s salary increase. The current freeze on salaries is too little, too late to pay last year’s unpaid medical bills caused. CFO Anthony Trasente to budget another $1 million to cover this year’s health costs.

All the signs were there of an out-of-control fiscal plan in the late 2008 and in full bloom in 2009. The Republican majority should have clamped down on negotiated settlements with the several unions. In this 2010 budget the township committee is faced with an increase of $1,400,000 for the As Everett Dirkson once said, “A million here, a million there pretty soon we’re talking real money.”

The only legitimate cost was the $900,000 for this post winter’s unanticipated heavy snows and and rainstorm costs which amounted to almost a million - $900,000.

But what about the massive amounts of brush and tree limbs still littering Middletown streets? As a retiring Public Works employee, a 40 year employee said, “We used to have all the brush cleaned up by March. But they laid off one public works employee and eliminated all over time. So the public works employees come in at 6:00 AM and leave by 3:30 PM.” He said the situation is made worse as residents add their own tree and shrubbery trimming adding volumes to the existing mess of brush and tree limbs.

The reserve for uncollected taxes is at a perilous low of $500,000.

Mayor Sharfenberger prides himself on being on Governor Christie’s transition team, but it must be embarrassing to them both that Middletown with 22 square miles, and 60,000 residents has the highest municipal tax rate of 13.9%. How does that fit with Christie’s proposed 2 1/2% cap? If the cap is passed by the 2010 legislature how will Middletown face a 2011 budget?

The only “big ticket” reduction would be layoffs of personnel. To date layoffs have been limited to low-salaried secretaries and aides. No voluntary freeze of higher level salaries were made this year.

As someone once said, “One time budget solutions are just a hole in your next years’ budget.”

Currently, salaries cost $25,572,304 each year. Health benefits and insurance add another $9,292,880. A serious reduction in force would reduce both these categories.

Remember, Middletown provides lifetime health benefits to retiring employees. That means double the health benefits for each position in which a person retires. No town can afford that. Freehold Township passed a resolution in December 2009 stating there would be no lifetime health benefits for all new hires. Middletown needs to do the same.

The formula for funding the libraries is dictated by State Law and costs Middletown taxpayers $3,986,437 per year. Only legislative action can modify this formula.

To add final insult to the injury of a 13.9% increase in the municipal tax spending is the proposal of CFO Nick Trasente to accelerate tax sales against homeowners which could generate a one-time solution of $2,750,000. Again, a hole in the 2011 budget.

A one-time transfer of $365,000 from the sewerage authority may indicate they are over charging and that rate could be lowered in the future. Also health benefits for this authority needs to be examined.

Mr. Trasente said there are a number of one-time revenue sources; approximately:

1. $500,000 serial bonds
2. $200,000 from payment of a capital bond
3. $202,000 increase from the revaluation
4. $365,000 sewer authority surplus

Total - $1,267,000

However these funds will not be available for the 2011. It avoids the reality that this approximate $1,267,000 will cause the 2011 budget to increase by this amount unless spending is cut, (and there is the specter of a 2 1/2 % constitutional cap.)

Mayor Sharfenberger at this budge introduction attempted to deflect the deadening reality of a 13.9% increase in the municipal budget and the financial pain being delivered to Middletown’s homeowners, by pointing to the Board of Education budget which consumes 62% of the overall budget, a common percent in many towns. In Middletown there are 17 schools and approximately 10,000 students the percent increase of the Board of Education’s budget was a tight 2.6 per cent increase in school taxes. A quality education for all of Middletown’s children is reflected in that percent.

CFO Nick Trasente, in his report, said this budget maintains all current programs and township events.

The question becomes what programs would you, the taxpayer, eliminate to lower the 13.9% increase.

Public Information Officer Cindy Herrschaft announced the introduced budget would be on the township website the next morning. Several suggestions from the audience asked whether citizens could add their remarks and suggestions.

Committeeman Sean Byrnes acknowledged the hard work under difficult pressures, that CFO Trasente had on compiling this budget. While Byrnes was the lone “no” vote on the passage of this budget, he iterated once more the need for a finance committee composed of members of the township committee and private citizens to advise the committee early in the process. He gave a 10 pt. list of ideas and times that he introduced them to anticipate the budget process earlier.

Two of the casualties of Middletown’s budget disaster is the bonding of $3 million to dredge Shadow Lake.

The other is the diverting of the bond funds to the West Front St. Park, and a further promise to turf the Ranger field instead. It almost seemed like a done deal until Middletown budget introduction painted a black – 13.9% -- picture.

A reasonable question of CFO Trasente – is what has happened to those bonds.

The public budget hearing is scheduled for July 19, 2010 at town hall.

Only 16 or 17 people attended the introduction of the budget. That is sad. Each citizen is impacted by the actions of the township committee. Each homeowner will be financially impacted in 2010. The re-val is anticipated to generate 202,000 – that’s your money. 13.9% increase in spending will come from your pocket.

Inform yourself. Ask questions. Review the budget online. Suggest other cuts to bring down $64,979,576 of municipal spending.

And be prepared for reduced services too!!

Note - Since this article was first published in the Lincroft Village News, the NJ State Legislature passed a 2% property tax cap that has been signed into law by Governor Christie.

Hazlet Committee To Hold Open School Budget Discussions; Why Not Middletown

According to the article posted on the Asbury Park Press website it was announced at last night's Hazlet Township Committee meeting that there will be an open and transparent public meeting before its next scheduled committee meeting to discuss proposed cuts to the township's school board budget.

What a novel idea! Why can't Middletown do the same? Could it be that Mayor Scharfenberger is afraid that the meeting will get out of hand and uncontrollable like the ones that had angry residents protesting the installation of turf fields at West Front Street Park?

At Monday night's Township Workshop meeting after being questioned by a resident, former mayor Pam Brightbill stated that she was against holding a public meeting on the school budget, which runs contrary to what School Superintendent Karen Bilbao stated after learning that the school budget had been defeated two weeks ago.

Why wouldn't you want residents input on something that will have such a large and potentially adverse effect on the lives of so many people that live in the community?

I think instead, Scharfenberger and Brightbill would rather lurk in the shadows and issue inflammatory press releases and letters to the editor, taking a page out of Chris Christie's playbook by stroking the anger of residents against the teachers union in order to gain some sort of political advantage come November.

They didn't even tell other members of the Township Committee that they planned to meet with four members of the Middletown Board of Education before the workshop meeting Monday night.

Committeeman Sean Byrnes was never informed of the meeting but found out about it over the weekend because someone from the Board of Education asked if he would be there. And newly elected Committeeman Steve Massel announced during the workshop meeting that he had not been informed of any meeting either.

So what are Scharfenberger and Brightbill up to? Why the need for secrecy, is it because there really isn't anymore dollars left in this bare-bone school budget left to cut after Governor Christie already eliminated $11M from it and they are afraid that if they hold open meetings people will see through the ruse of pitting residents against the teachers and their union.

I guess we'll have to wait and see, just like those other members of the Middletown Township Committee, until after Gerry and Pam meet with members of the Board of Education once again later today to hear what type of cuts THEY recommended to the school board.

Audio: Anthony Malone Scolds Pam Brightbill During Public Comments Portion of 3/15/10 Township Committee Meeting

You asked for it and now you have it!

Lincroft resident Anthony Malone scolds Committeewoman Pam Brightbill after she lost her cool while being questioned by Pop Warner Chargers support Jim Cody at last Monday nights Township Committee meeting.

Mr. Malone was very passionate and boisterous during his time at the podium and demanded respect be given to the residents as opposed to Committeewoman Brightbill telling speakers and those in attendance to be respectful of her and her colleagues sitting on the Dias.

Cody Vs. Brightbill; What Did Pam Have to Say About Trezza Field While Defending Herself ?

Here is the last audio clip that I have from March 15th Township Committee meeting that deals with the Pop Warner Chargers, Sonic and Trezza Field.

In this audio Clip you can hear Lincroft resident and Chargers supporter Jim Cody confront Committeewoman Pam Brightbill about what she had told those in attendance of a Pop Warner fundraiser in 2008 about upgrades that would be made to Trezza Field, the home of the Chargers.

Committeewoman Brightbill in trying to defend herself against accusations of improprieties and false statements becomes frustrated, at one point she threatens to have someone removed from the courtroom while her voice raises to a shrill.

The exchange between Cody and Brightbill was an act of classic showmanship on Cody's part. It showed that when the heat is on, most of those on the Committee can't take it.

Barbara Thorpe: The Lying Liars of Middletown

As many reader's of this blog know, Barbara Thorpe is a Lincroft resident and a friend of this blog. She is a registered Republican and over the years has worked tirelessly to better the quality of life for those who live in the Lincroft area.

Over the past few years she has become disillusioned with the local republicans in office and has started to speak her mind, for doing so she has been ridiculed and threatened with retribution by the powers that be.

Mrs. Thorpe sent me the following email that she wished me to publish on the MiddletownMike blog, to further highlight that the local republicans have no ideas of their own and wish to capitalize on the efforts of others in order to "enhance their resumes" :

Hi Mike,

To add to your points against Scharfenberger and Brightbill ,I'd like to give you some of my own where these two do nothing individuals use other people efforts to enhance "their resumes" .

In 1992,when Joe Leo was township administrator.I began my crusade to get the speed limit reduced on Swimming River Road. It took over 10 years to accomplish that feat. I was helped by the LVGA Board of Directors members,especially Mary Ellen Hintz and Walter Horan who dedicated themselves to getting this done. In about 2003,Rosemarie Peters,then mayor,agreed to a resolution to the County to get the reduction. The township police chief at the time was no help....he threatened it could be increased. Good riddance to that one !1 It was finally temporarily reduced in January 2004 while I was in Minnesota when my daughter-in-law was tragically killed in an accident with a speeding truck on an icy county road there... Bill & I suffered the kind of loss we always fought against here.Our grandchildren,who were in the vehicle with their mother, were miraculously spared,thank god.

Then in later years Bil & I,with the help of the LVGA,Tinton Falls Council President Jerome Donlan,and then Middletown Mayor Tom Hall ( he helped with many endeavors ) and many citizens from the area who signed petitions, and the Monmouth County Freeholder Board, stopped the expansion of the Marpal Recycling facility on Wayside Road.

Also the LVGA, Tom Hall and Bill & I put in tireless effort to stop the Home Depot in Tinton Falls on Wayside Road. One day I knocked on doors in Tinton Falls to alert the residents there to what their own officials were not telling them. We (Bill & I and Mary Ellen Hintz and Walter Horan ) were in Tinton Falls with Tom Hall the night referred to by the recent assault on my character by one of the Middletown Republican "lap dogs". Tinton Falls would not even let Tom Hall speak except as a concerned citizen. I wrote letters to the press about Tinton Fall's Planning Director Joel Davis's demeaning behavior towards Tom Hall. That night I succeeded in presenting a Monmouth County Board of Health noise study I had requested that Mr Davis repeatedly tried to avoid accepting in the hearings for the proposed Home Depot Plan for Wayside Road. which were attended by the afore mentioned individuals from Lincroft. The then mayor of Middletown ( Gerard Scharfenberger),WAS ABSENT as always when needed. He and his cohort, Pam Brightbill, never did anymore than cast a vote. No time ,no effort expended..

The same holds true for the current garbage contract in Middletown.perhaps these two voted in favor,nothing more that I am aware of. The only official that put time and effort into this endeavor was Tom Hall. I can't say enough positive about my encounters with this man as he never let the citizens of Lincroft down in the problems those of us in this corridor experienced. I'm not sure the whole truth exists publicly regarding the proposed "sports complex". Some of that was half truths and hysteria....it never came to pass and it cost one Lincroft resident his life. I might add that Pat Short also helped the people of Lincroft in that instance and he was only a candidate at the time.I never saw Scharfenberger or Brightbill put in an appearance.Seems they are all talk and no action most of the time. In regard to both of them,my observation is they sure know how to ride someone else's coattails !! I resent both of them for trying to take credit for the hard work the LVGA and Bill & I and former mayors Hall and Peters put into these accomplishments. Today my advice to Scharfenberger and Brightbill would be "put your money where your mouths are". I'm sick to death of the deception,the lies and the acts of intimidation and threats and other psychological and emotional tactics they use to try and control the citizens of this township.Give it up because they don't fool this resident and they don't fool a lot of other residents either.

The other people who live on Swimming River Road with this resident were penalized during the installation of the gas and water pipes because those two do not like my current political choices!! An illegally conducted survey and it's consequences violated every citizen's right to equal protection under the law. I long for the day when both of these committee persons no longer serve. I don't believe they serve the people's interests....they serve themselves and the Republican party faithful. In my opinion neither are suited for public service..

Tony "the Fibber" Fiore Suggests That The Only Place Left In Budget To Cut Is Police For Savings

Last week Middletown special financial consultant Bob Roth re-introduced the FY 2009 budget to the Township Committee. The budget, which seems as though it was put together by the use of smoke and a mirror will be voted on and approved tonight.

The budget relays on 1 shot gimmicks such as reducing the surplus reserve for uncollected taxes and deferring a portion of the townships pension obligation, so instead of a 9.2% tax increase that was proposed back in April the new tax increase to the municipal rate will be 5.8%, and we have the State to thank for it.

After months of telling the public how hard and how tirelessly they were working on the budget, meeting department heads over and over again to ensure that their budgets fell in line with township priorities, the Republicans on the Township Committee lead by Mayor Brightbill and Deputy Mayor Scharfenberger left the decision making to the state because they could not find any budget cuts or savings themselves!

The junior Committeeman, Republican Tony ”the Fibber” Fiore went as far as saying that the only area in the budget left open to the Committee in which to cut costs, was emergency services and to lay-off or furlough police officers and staff.

What a stupid thing to say!!

How could you possible say that the only place left in the budget in which to cut costs would be to trim the police department? Fiore’s statement from the dais last week was not only a head shaker, but also an outrageously gross attempt to place blame on others for the Republican’s failures to produce a budget that was inline with the realities of the day.

There were and are numerous areas and line items throughout the FY 2009 budget that could have been cut or trimmed in order to lessen the financial impact on residents if the Republicans truly wished.

Fiore, for all of his efforts and work that he put into the budget could not even implement any of his infamous ideas from the 8-point plan that he introduced back on February 2nd. Other than the suspension of the township committee’s yearly stipend, none of his ideas listed below were worthy enough for consideration:

1. Suspend the entire Township Committee’s salaries.
2. Freeze all non-essential hiring not required by law.
3. Freeze all union and non-union salaries.
4. Evaluate all non-essential, non-revenue generating programs for elimination.
5. Seek out additional shared service arrangements.
6. Sell surplus township property and assets.
7. Eliminate all non-essential Township subscriptions and dues payments.
8. Eliminate all conference and travel expenses unless required by law for continuing education requirements.

Now, how can someone have the nerve to sit in front of others and say with a straight face that the only remaining area in the budget in which to cut or reduce would be police manpower? Were the other 7 out of 8 recommendations that Tony Fiore proposed deemed to essential by his fellow Republicans and therefore taken off the table?

I have a several budget savings ideas, in no particular order, that I would like to recommend to Tony Fiore and his Republican colleagues to consider before the next time they infer that the only option left open to the Township Committee is to cut the budget by reducing the size of Middletown’s police force:

1. Privatize the Cultural Arts Center or change its mission to allow for-profit organizations to rent and utilize the building.
2. Reduce the number of township supplied employee cars.
3. Reduce the operating hours for the Kanes lane recycling facility.
4. Privatize a portion of public works.
5. Fund Middletown Matters by sell advertisments instead of by tax payer dollars.
6. Consolidating purchases, printing and advertising.

Based on the horrible outcome of this year’s budget process to the residents of Middletown, it is essential that the Township Committee establish a Budget/Finance Committee that would interact with township personnel well before the end of the calendar year and make specific recommendations to the Township Committee on budget matters. To leave important budget issues up to the State, like was done with this years budget, is irresponsible.

And to suggest that the only option left to the Committee to reduce spending is to lay-off township police officers, is just plain stupid.

Middletown Finally Applies For Menendez Energy Grant $$

During the first week of May, I posted two columns concerning letters written by local Middletown GOP supports and hacks that attempted to give credit to Mayor Pam BrightBill and Deputy Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger for having enough foresight to apply for and secure funds from an energy grant before any such energy grant program was announced federal authorities.

My posts,  Middletown GOP, Once Again Taking Credit Where None Is Due and Middletown GOP - Liars, Lairs Pants on Fire: Update On Energy Grant, went into great detail about how the Energy Efficiency Block Grant program was set up by U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and then funded through President Obama's economic stimulus package. 

The posts contain must listen to audio clips that prove the Mayor and Deputy Mayor had no idea about the grants and were just as surprised as anyone to hear of the townships good fortune.

As an update to those earlier posts I feel it necessary to point out as further proof that the Middletown GOP takes credit where none is due, by bringing to everyone attention that the township has just this week, gotten around to passing a resolution that would officially apply for the grant money, more than a month after first being told about it.   

Below is the resolution, that was voted on this past Monday, to apply for the $610,800 that was made available in March by Sen. Menendez. This goes to show that the GOP letter writers either are out of touch with what is happening in our town or they flat out lie to take credit for something they had nothing to do with. In either case, they are just showing the public that they are incapable as leaders, unless they are trying to lead the public off a cliff:

Resolution No. 09-160

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT APPLICATION

WHEREAS, the US Department of Energy has announced that $610,800 in grant funds have

been made available to the Township of Middletown under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, which has been provided with funding via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; and

WHEREAS, the EECBG Program, authorized in Title V, Subtitle E of the EnergyIndependence and Security Act of 2007 and signed into Public Law (PL 110-140) on December 19, 2007, will provide funds to the Township to develop and implement projects to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions; and.

WHEREAS, the EECBG Program will assist the Township to develop, promote, implement,

and manage energy efficiency and conservation projects and programs designed to reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce total energy use, improve energy efficiency in the transportation, building, and other appropriate sectors; and create and retain jobs; and

WHEREAS, the application deadline for accessing $610,800 in grant funds from the EECBG

Program has been set by the US Department of Energy as June 25, 2009.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Township Committee of the Township of

Middletown, in the County of Monmouth, New Jersey that the Mayor and other authorized

appropriate and responsible Township officials including but not limited to the Administrator, the Chief Financial Officer and the Director of Planning and Community Development are authorized to submit an application to the US Department of Energy for grant funds under the EECBG Program, including all execution of all understandings, assurances and certifications contained therein, and to act as the authorized representatives of the Township of Middletown, and to provide such additional information as may be required.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Jason A. Greenspan, PP, AICP, Director of Planning and

Community Development is hereby designated as the authority responsible for applying for and receiving funding from the EECBG Program on behalf of the Township of Middletown, and is hereby authorized and directed to execute such assurances, certifications and other documentation as may be required in the EECBG Program application by the US Department of Energy.

The bottom line is is simple, Middletown residents need to be very leery of about what the see and hear from their GOP majority and it's supporters because if you read it in print or happen to see their lips moving, they are probably lying. 

Middletown GOP Candidate Massell Proposed Tax on Homeowners Who Cut Down Trees

Middletown Planning Board member and GOP Candidate for Township Committee, Steve Massell, recently proposed to the township committee that homeowners should be taxed for cutting down trees on their properties.

During the public comments portion of the May 18th Middletown Township Committee Meeting, Massell read from a front page article of the Asbury Park Press, the first paragraph of a story entitled “Justices OK tree-clearing fee in Jackson”.  

The paragraph stated that the “The state Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of Jackson's tree-removal ordinance, which requires property owners to replace any healthy tree taken down or pay into a fund dedicated to planting trees and shrubs on public property.”

Massell said that he was upset at seeing sections of town “clear-cut” by developers in order to build housing developments like Harmony Glen, which is off of Harmony road, behind the Shoprite. He felt that by charging homeowners upwards of $800 per tree (to be put in a general fund for tree and shrub replacement like the Jackson tree-removal ordinance calls for), would be a good way to dissuade developers from building in town. He never thought of the cost to the average homeowner that would like to build a single family home on a private lot or the homeowners that would like to expand their existing homes. Deputy Mayor Scharfenberger pointed out to Mr. Massell that as a member of the planning board, he should be aware that the township already has ordinances in place to force developers into replanting a certain number of trees that had been clear-cut once a new development has been completed.

Steve Massell then left the podium, mumbling to himself something about how he still thought it would be a good idea if the township committee considered the Jackson ordinance, which surprises me. One would have thought that Massell would have first talked about this with his fellow GOPers before presenting his idea in front of the committee, after all Pam Brightbill and Tony Fiore sit on the planning board with Massell.

I have a couple of things I would like to point out to Steve Massell:

First, as a Planning Board member, you have a say in how builders develop property in town. When a builder brings prints to the planning board for approval why don’t you insist that a property could not be clear-cut? Have builders submit plans that leave some trees and shrubbery in place, I am sure that an architects could handle planning such a development.

Second, in the winter 2005 edition of Middletown Matters, then Mayor Tom Hall address the issue in the Mayor’s Message titled “Keeping the trees was not an option for the Crestview Drive & Route 35 site”.

He stated, “…can’t help but notice a new landscape. The stretch of woods located next to the revamped shopping center has been replaced with a barren, unattractive construction site.” “…I share the sentiments conveyed by many in phone calls, letters and conversations: I’d rather keep the trees. However, that’s simply not an option.” 

So Steve, before you propose a tax on residents make sure that you do your homework first and check with the other members of your party before presenting such an idea, particularly since as a Planning Board member, you can already take steps against clear-cutting

Audio: Finance Committee? Who Needs a Finance Committee in Middletown, The GOP Majority Does a Great Job of Raising Taxes On their Own

During Committee comments at last nights township committee meeting in Middletown, Democrat Sean Byrnes once again implored the Township Committee to establish a "budget finance committee".

 The Finance Committee's purpose would be to oversee the budget process and look for potential cost saving within the budget. The committee would begin to look at the townships revenue streams from the moment that the new fiscal year starts on January 1st, not the day after election day. In this way the township can begin to identify possible saving early in the budget year and have a budget ready by the following January, not 5 1/2 months past. 

Because of this lack of financial planning  Middletown has needed to rely on temporary budget resolutions to keep the township operating, so far almost 50% of the current fiscal year budget for 2009 has been spent without any cost saving measures.  This type of budgeting by the GOP majority can not go because it has lead to the need to have proposed budget tax increases of 25% over the past 4 years.

Here is Sean Byrnes's opening comments from last nights meeting as it pertains to the Finance Committee:

After Byrnes finished  his opening statement, Patrick Short backed him up by stating that at the next workshop meeting he will re-introduce Byrnes's ordinance to form a finance committee.

Short's announcement flabbergasted Deputy Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger, as the senior member of the township committee and leading member of the GOP majority, Scharfenberger needed to state his opposition to the a finance committee.

Gerry feels that he and the other members of the majority do a great job overseeing the budget process by allowing their department heads to dictate to the committee, their needs as opposed to the other way around. Again I will point out that he and his GOP buddies have done such a great job at handling the budget process, that Middletown finds itself lacking $2.4 million and looking at a 9.2% tax increase to come up with the funds. Also to be noted is the fact that because of a one shot budget gimmick last year (selling the township's cell tower leases), we are left with an almost identical budget shortfall this year as last.

Listen to what Gerry had to say about the Finance Committee:


After Mayor Pam Brightbill made her usual incoherent opening statements the meeting was opened up for public comments. A few residents addressed the issue of the finance committee and thought it was a good idea.

Locust resident Jim Grenafege, who is no stranger at township meetings, blasted Gerry Scharfenberger for his arrogance and his lack of experience on budgeting matters outside of the township:

Mr. Grenafege was right on target, so much so that the Mayor had to cut him off by telling him he was out of speaking time.

It is really a shame that most residents do not see how members of  GOP majority,their elected officials, behave and treat citizens who disagree or question their authority. 

Hopefully these audio clips from last nights meeting will help them to understand who are the real tax and spenders in town.  

Middletown Passes Ordinance To Eliminate Health Bennies for TOMSA Commissioners, Sorta

I attended the Middletown Township Committee meeting last night, a meeting that I am happy to say ended early, if you think that 10:25 PM is early.  Typically these meetings in Middletown have been know to last till midnight on occasion.

One of the more interesting outcomes of tonight's meeting was the passage of an ordinance to eliminate the health benefits for commissioners of the Township Of Middeltown Sewerage Authority (TOMSA). What made it interesting was the fact all current commissioners of TOMSA have been grandfathered under the ordinance and will be able to keep their benefits! The ordinance only applies to newly appointed commissioners.

That's right read it for yourself below: 

TOWNSHIP OF MIDDLETOWN NOTICE

This is a copy of Ordinance No. 2009-2967 that was introduced at a scheduled meeting of the Township Committee of the Township of  Middletown, April 20, 2009 held over for further consideration upon second and final passage at a meeting of the said Township Committee
to be held In the Main Meeting Room in the Township Hall, One Kings Highway, Middletown, on Monday, May 18, 2009 at 8:00 p.m., at which time all persons interested will be given an opportunity to be heard.

AMENDING CHAPTER 47 OF THE TOWNSHIP CODE GOVERNING THE TOWNSHIP OF
MIDDLETOWN SEWERAGE AUTHORITY

WHEREAS, the Township Committee of the Township of Middletown has previously eliminated the receipt of health benefits for members of the Township Committee and other appointed officials; and

WHEREAS, the Township Committee of the Township of Middletown believes it is the best interest of the taxpayers of the Township to eliminate the receipt of pension and/or health benefits by part-time elected and appointed officials; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Sewerage Authorities Law, N.J.S.A. 40:14A-5(d), the Township Committee is limited in its ability to amend the compensation paid commissioners of the Township of Middletown Sewerage Authority; and 

WHEREAS, the recently adopted Public Employee Pension and Benefits Reform Act of 2008, P.L. 2008, c. 89, however, helps restrict the Public Employment Retirement System benefits and eligibility for health benefits received by any commissioner of the Township of Middletown Sewerage Authority appointed after November 2, 2008.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED, by the Township Committee of  Middletown Township, County of Monmouth, State of New Jersey, that Chapter 47 of the Code of the Township of Middletown (1996) be amended to include the following:

§ 47-5. Benefits Restricted.

No member of the Township of Middletown Sewerage Authority hereinafter appointed shall be eligible to receive any benefits not otherwise provided for pursuant to the provisions of P.L. 2008, c. 89.

This is really an outrage and a few people questioned the logic behind grandfathering in the current commissioners for as long as they continue to serve on the board of TOMSA continuously.

A few people were upset because according to the Public Employee Pension and Benefits Reform Act of 2008, that is soon to take effect, any part-time worker or appointed official who earns less then $7,500 a year would no longer be eligible for benefits.

Committeeman Sean Byrnes wrote the original draft of the ordinance which intended to have benefits for the commissioners end upon the dates that their currents terms expire but it was changed by Township Attorney Brian Nelson to protect current sitting TOMSA commissioners. 

It should also be noted that after presenting the revised  ordinance to the committee, Mr. Byrnes's name was missing from it and Mayor Pam Brightbill's name was in his place, which is another clear and sad example of how the GOP majority tries to take credit for ideas that weren't their own.

In this case however, Mayor Pam can take the credit and the consequences that go along with it.

All of the Sewerage Authority commissioners have been good loyal Middletown Republican insiders, they have been either Republican mayors, committee members or party leaders and this blatant attempt by the Middletown GOP majority to protect their own will not go unnoticed by residents who are struggling to make ends meet.

Nepotism and Cronyism has to end in Middletown, if it doesn't then residents will forever be burdened with its outcome of high taxes and inefficient government. 

Residents have to remember that when the current TOMSA commissioners  terms expire that they insist that they not be reappointed. Otherwise they will continue to receive costly health benefits for a job that pays them $1750 for less than 12 hours of work per year.     

Now it's the community's job to cut the township budget ???

If you are a Middletown resident then you must again take a look at Pat Walsh's Middletown Musings blog.

Pat responds to the township press release of April 24th, were the Mayor stated that  she and the Township Committee are committeed to seek further reductions in the 2009 proposed budget.

The one problem though is that Mayor Pam wants the residents to come up with further budget cuts themselves so that she and her GOP buddies cans wipe their grubby little fingers clean of a 9.2% tax increase.

For some one who promised to be fiscally conservative and campaigned on a platform to Not raise taxes, Pam Brightbill has done just that in her 4 years on the committee.  When this rate increase goes into responsible effect on July 1st, Pam and Co. will have risen the municipal tax rate by 25% during her time in office.