July 20, 2015 Middletown Township Committee Meeting

At the July 20th meeting of the Middletown Township Committee, four new police officers were sworn in. The key to the city was presented to 3 volunteer firefighters with over 50 years of service each.

Ordinances were adopted to amend the township code regarding development and the other amended ordinance 2014-3116 to install a crosswalk at the arts center.

Ordinances were introduced to increase day care fees at Tonya Keller, amend the salary ordinance, define parking regulations at commuter lots and to establish an EMS department.

Many resolutions were adopted, some of which authorizes the Planning Board to evaluate if the wetlands area of Belford, including the seafood co-op, can be designated as a redevelopment zone. A liquor license was also granted to the Ice World / Junior Titans Hockey Club arena. A contract was awarded for $392k to install a dispatch and records management system for the police computers. The contract to issued to Bennett Landscaping, to collect brush in town, was increased from $49k to $140K.



As always, you can download a copy of the Meeting Agenda that contains the discussion items and the proposed resolutions and ordinances that were voted on or presented during the meeting. A box around an item is a link, bringing you further into the document to that resolution or ordinance. At the end of the resolution there will be a link bringing you back to the agenda. Attached to this agenda is also the monthly bill list, so that everyone can see how the Township is spending our tax dollars.

Pallone & Menendez to Discuss Benefits of Flood Insurance Reforms with Homeowners

MIDDLETOWN, NJ – On Friday, March 28th, 2014, at 1:30pm, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) will meet with Middletown homeowners to discuss the benefits of the newly-enacted Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. The bipartisan bill, which Pallone co-sponsored in the House and Menendez led in the Senate, was signed into law by President Obama last week. Pallone and Menendez will arrive at the Tonya Keller Community Center at 1:30pm and then proceed to tour the neighborhood and speak with constituents.

The law, which passed both the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, will protect millions of homeowners, many of whom are still recovering from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy, from facing huge National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) premium rate hikes. This law will ensure relief for homeowners living in flood prone regions thanks to key provisions, such as repealing certain rate increase “triggers,” lowering FEMA’s ability to increase rates, refunding excess premium charges to those who have paid significant rate increases and providing FEMA the funding necessary to complete an affordability study.


WHO:
Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06)
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

WHAT:
Discuss benefits of newly-enacted Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act with New Jersey homeowners

WHERE:
Tonya Keller Community Center
50 Bray Avenue
Middletown, NJ 07748

WHEN:
Friday, March 28, 2014
1:30pm-2:00pm

Need Sandy Recovery Assistance? Visit the Mobile CDBG Center

From Middletown Alerts

Residents recovering from Superstorm Sandy are urged to visit the Tonya Keller Community Center on Tuesday, June 25th to meet with representatives from the Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

With the recent announcements of assistance available through the Stronger NJ Business Loan Program and the “reNew Jersey Stronger” Housing Initiative, the Christie Administration will host a Mobile CDBG center on Tuesday, June 25 from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm in Middletown at Tonya Keller Community Center located at 50 Bray Avenue, to discuss these latest recovery programs and assist local homeowners and businesses in their recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Representatives from the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) will be on hand to meet with affected residents and answer questions related to the housing and business assistance programs available through the federal Community Development Block (CDBG) grants. Homeowners and business owners interested in attending can expedite the process by bringing relevant documentation related to the issue they are facing.

The “reNew Jersey Stronger” Housing Initiative was launched May 24, 2013 to encourage and assist homeowners to reconstruct and resettle in their primary residences. The Stronger NJ Business Loan Program will be launched in July to help local businesses recover and expand within storm-impacted communities.

Additional Details
Visit www.renewjerseystonger.org for more information for housing assistance and resettlement assistance.

• Frequently Asked Questions about the Resettlement Program
• Frequently Asked Questions about the Rehabilitation, Reconstruction, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) program

The following two hotlines have been set up by the state to answer all homeowner and business owner questions regarding elevations:

• 855-SANDYHM (855-726-3946) for homeowners
• 855-SANDYBZ (855-726-3929) for business owners

3rd Annual IBCA Flea Market on Saturday, 9/15

FYI - if anyone enjoys a good flea market or yard sale Saturday is suppose to be a spectacular day. Why not head on over to Ideal Beach and see what treasures you can find.

by guest blogger Linda Baum

The Ideal Beach Community Association (IBCA) is holding its 3^rd annual flea market this Saturday, 9/15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Tonya Keller Community Center field, rain or shine.  Come shop for some great new and used items and support a good cause.

For sellers, ten foot square spaces reserved in advance are priced at $10 for individuals and $30 for vendors.  Spaces will cost an additional $5 on the day of the event.  To reserve a spot, contact Holly Morgan at 732-598-9722 or htjjm@aol.com.

See the IBCA’s website, www.myidealbeach.org, for more information about the event and their mission.

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.

What I Learned; Ted Gets An Assistant, Janet Gets A Raise And Gregg Takes The Money

Kevin Penton of the Asbury Park Press had a small article posted online last night about the future of Middletown's Department of Parks and Recreation.

The article didn't contain anything that we didn't already know about how the department will be restructured. Middletown's Department of Public Works headed by Ted Maloney, will take over the maintance of the township's parks and Janet Adams, the director of the Tonya Keller Community Center will oversee how township parks and beaches are used by various groups.

What I did learn from the article is that Middletown will be hiring Ted Maloney an assistant director, Janet Adams will get a nice raise and former Director of Parks and Recreaction Gregg Silva, who retired on January 1st while under an unspecified investigation, will walk away with a big fat lump sum payment from the Township for unused sick and vaction days!

Middletown Patch: Middletown mayor explains status of the township department and Gregg Silva, its longtime director

For those interested in the "official" version of Gregg Silva's retirement/termination (Middletown's longtime Director of Parks and Recreation), Middletown Patch did a good job of following up my story about his departure.

It's funny how my phone call to Tony Mercantante about Silva went unreturned but when asked about Silva by Patch editor Elaine Van Develde, Tony Fiore stated to her that no one inquired about him and therefore the Township wasn't planning to explain his departure anytime soon.

In the article Fiore confirmed much of what I wrote about and explained how the now employeeless Department of Parks and Recreation would be split-up and divided between the Department of Public Works and Janet Adams, the Director of the Tonya Keller Center in North Middletown.

Fiore also stated that due to Silva's decision to "retire" no personnel investigation or hearings were conducted on Silva and due to legal constraints he wouldn't elaborate further.

You can all about read it Here if interested

Heard It In The Hallways....Middletown's Director of Parks & Rec, Gregg Silva "Forced" Into Retirement, Big Changes coming to Department

As of this moment this is all rumor, but about two hours ago I received a tip concerning the Middletown's Director of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs, Gregg Silva. I haven't been able to get official confirmation from anyone but from a few that I have spoken to, it seems legit.

Silva as you all may remember, was placed on administrative leave last month by his bosses at Town Hall for stepping over the line by approving a private memorial for Daniel Piano on the grounds of Croydon Hall without the prior approval from the Township.

I've been told that as of January 1st, Gregg Silva has officially retired. Furthermore, I have been told that township officials have been in meetings most of the day reorganizing the now employeeless Department of Parks and Recreation.

The person who passed along this information has stated that Silva's old duties for Parks and Rec. will be split up, the maintenance side will fall as a subdivision under DPW, while the Croydon Hall Senior Center, the Tonya Keller Bayshore Rec Center and Middletown Cultural Arts Center will be combined and administrated by Janet Adams who currently is in charge of the Tonya Keller Bayshore Center.

Individual Township sponsored recreational events will be planned on an event by event basis. Steve Eisenstein, who was brought in this year to run the Daddy/Daughter Dance and the holiday train ride, worked in the parks department a few years ago and will continue to help plan and coordinate events.

All of this should be in place and in effect by the end of the month I'm told.

I am currently waiting for a return phone call from Middletown Township Administrator Tony Mercantante for confirmation. When I called his office a couple of hours ago, I was told that he was in a meeting and could talk. The secretary that answered my call said that she would have him call me back.

Update - Steve Eisenstein's name was misspelled as Einstein and Adams is the maiden name of Janet Della, Director of the Tonya Keller Rec. Center