ICYMI: Weber Named Acting Police Chief in Middletown

It was announce on Monday that Deputy Police Chief  R.Craig Weber was being named acting police chief, replacing retired Police Chief Robert Oches. I want to wish him well.

The Asbury Park Press had a nice write up on it yesterday:

MIDDLETOWN – Deputy Police Chief R. Craig Weber was named acting Chief of Police, replacing former Police Chief Robert Oches, who retired Aug. 1 after a 40-year career. 

Weber has been with the township police since Dec. 1, 1993, and rose through the ranks until he was named as one of the department’s three deputy chiefs in September 2010. Weber oversees the department’s technical services, which includes the detective, records and service, and community relations bureaus, as well as the communications and computer operations.
Weber holds two master’s degrees and a graduate degree. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. 

A decision about who will be named permanent police chief could come as soon as next month, said Township Administrator Anthony Mercantante. 

“We have a civil service list; it’s a matter of looking at the list of candidates and making a decision,” he said. “I’ll make a recommendation to the township committee, and they’ll vote on whether to promote them.” 

Weber is a lifelong township resident.

President Obama's Weekly Address 8/3/13: Securing a Better Bargain for the Middle Class

WASHINGTON, DC— In this week’s address, President Obama told the American people that his plan for creating a better bargain for the middle class builds on the progress we’ve made, fighting our way back from the worst economic recession of our lifetimes. The President underscored the need for Congress to end the logjam in Washington and act on his plan that strengthens the cornerstones of what it means to be middle class in America: a good job, a home that is your own, affordable health care, and a secure retirement.

Buono Statement On Senator Lautenberg's Announced Retirement

"Senator Frank Lautenberg has committed his life to serving the state of New Jersey. As a veteran of World War II, a successful businessman and a five-term Senator, Senator Lautenberg has always exemplified what it means to be a public servant. New Jerseyans have been lucky to have such a distinguished elected official represent our state's interests in Washington and he will be sorely missed.


"During the next two years, I look forward to working with him to pass laws that will reduce gun violence and create jobs for New Jersey's middle and working class," said Senator Barbara Buono.

Cory Booker's Statement On Lautenberg's Retirement

From NJ.com

"Senator Frank Lautenberg has been a champion for the people of New Jersey for decades and his legacy of service will improve the lives of all American's for years to come,On a personal note, Senator Lautenberg has been a strong model of leadership and service to me since before I even considered entering elected office.More recently, as mayor he has been an invaluable partner in so many of Newark's recent accomplishments and successes. I look forward to continuing to work with him for the remainder of his term in senate and for many years to come."

Ouch!

(Via The Other 98%)

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

APP: Middletown schools chief allowed to leave district early

I found this article from the Asbury Park Press online this morning about last night's Middletown Board of Education meeting. There's not that much information in it that is different from what I posted last night before going to bed. The article seems to correspond with what I was told, which was Karen Bilbao is being let out of her contract early.

You can read it below:

MIDDLETOWN — The Board of Education agreed unanimously Wednesday to allow Superintendent Karen Bilbao to leave the district 60 days earlier than her contract allows.

Bilbao, 58, is set to retire on Feb. 1. She gave notice on Dec. 1, requesting that the board override a contractual requirement of 120 days notice.

Bilbao, whose salary is $190,835, has been superintendent since 2008. She served as interim superintendent from 2006 to 2008.

"I enjoyed it immensely, even the board meetings," said Bilbao, who thanked those who upheld her positions over the years. "A superintendent can only be as effective as the board that supports her recommendations."

According to her contract, Bilbao can be paid about $795.15 a day for no more than 40 unused vacation days, and can be paid $80 a day, up to $10,000, for unused sick days.

Despite voting for Bilbao's retirement, board member Joan Minnuies said the superintendent should have remained in her position for 120 days after giving notice.

"We have no one in the district who has put this budget together before," Minnuies said. "I'm concerned about that."

Board member Vincent Brand acknowledged he and Bilbao did not work well together, but still praised her work ethic.

"The woman worked very hard," Brand said. "I wish you the very best."

Middletown School Board Meeting Was Uneventful But Superintendent Bilbao Allowed To Leave Early

I was unable to attend last night's Middletown Board of Education meeting even though I had wanted to very much. I had a conflict in my schedule that just didn't allow me the time to make it. I was curious if anything would be mentioned about the rumoured BOE member, that has allegedly been ordered removed from the board by the State School Ethics Commission. Luckily though, I did have someone there who was able to report back to me on what happened.

From what I was told, it was a quiet and otherwise uneventful meeting that finished up early, with the big news of the night being that the BOE agreed to allow School Superintendent Karen Bilbao to leave her position within the district early. Bilbao is contractually obligated to stay on the job for 120 days after handing in her resignation, which she handed in on December 1st, but the school board waived that requirement and will allow her to leave on February 1st.

I was told that no real discussions took place at this meeting, on who would replaced Bilbao as Superintendent. As I see it, this could be a problem that I hope doesn't turn out to be something more significant.

With MTEA Union contract talks looming and the new 2% cap on property taxes that will kick in starting January 1st, it will be important to have some one who is experienced and knowledgeable leading the school district and formulation this years upcoming budget. At the moment there doesn't seem to be anyone currently capable of handling this.

I have heard from several people that the likely candidate to replace Karen Bilbao as Superintendent of Schools is James Stefankiewicz, the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum due to ties that he has within the Monmouth County Department of Education.

Whoever the new Superintendent is I hope that they are in place relatively soon, but only after a well thought out and intensive search for the best possible candidate. The upcoming year will be a challenging one for the Middletown school district and a truly qualified individual is needed to lead it.

APP: Middletown superintendent says she's not leaving

According to the article below that has been recently posted on the Asbury Park Press website, it seems that Karen Bilbao is denying that she has resigned as Middletown School Superintendent.

Bilbao blames the shoolyard rumors on an announcement made by board attorney Christopher Parton who at the end of the public portion of Wednesday nights school board meeting announced that board was entering into executive session to discuss the Superintendent's contract. She thinks that those in attendance may have gotten the wrong impression from this announcement and jumped to the conclusion that she was leaving.

This very well could be so, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. However when I reached out to third party contacts they reported back that one board member confirmed the resignation, while a second board member would neither confirm nor deny it.

Being that this all happened during executive session, the board members were very upset that this news leaked out.

Whatever the true story is, I hope that it all works out for the best in the end. If Bilbao is staying as Superintendent, she has a lot of hard work ahead of her putting a budget together that will be in compliance with the new mandated 2% state cap, while trying to oversee contract negotiations with the teacher's union in the next couple of months that could turn ugly (Which I certainly hope doesn't turn out to te the case). It wont be easy.

If she is leaving, then I wish her all the best as she either enters into a new job position or into retirement to take advantage of current benefits before the new pension/benefits rules kick in, that have cause so many teacher and administrator to retire before they had planned to. She has performed admirably in her duties since becoming Middletown's Superintendent, she deserve better than what she has had to put up with over the past year.

MIDDLETOWN — Superintendent of schools Karen Bilbao says she is not leaving her post in the public school district.

Following a Nov. 17 board of education meeting, it was widely rumored that Bilbao resigned her position in executive session that night.

On Friday afternoon, Bilbao said that she had heard the rumors and that they were not true.

Her rumored departure may have stemmed from an announcement by the board attorney at the end of the Nov. 17 public meeting.

"It seems to be that Chris Parton at the end of the meeting announced that the board was going into executive session (to discuss) the superintendent's contract,'' she said.

From there, someone may have "jumped to conclusions'' that she resigned, Bilbao said.

Bilbao has been superintendent of schools since 2008 and served as interim superintendent from 2006 to 2008.

Breaking News: Rumors From The School Yard; Middletown School Superintendent Karen Bilbao Resigns

When picking my son up from school today, several mothers in the school yard were talking about Middletown School Superintendent Karen Bilbao. The rumor that spread across the schoolyard like wildfire was that she had resigned her position as Superintendent of the Middletown School system at last nights Board of Education meeting during Executive Session. No mention of her resignation was made during the public portion of the meeting I am told.

One of the mothers that told me of Bilbao's resignation is an active PTO member and a class mom at my son's school. She had heard for weeks that Bilbao was planning on retiring but never thought that it would be before the school year ended.The mother told me that she had heard that Bilbao had gotten "Some big state job" having to do with education.

I made a couple of phone calls to try and confirm what I hard heard, and I found out that the rumor seems to be fact. Evidently Bilbao doesn't want to be the fall person or lighting rod for this years upcoming battles over the school budget or contract negotiations between the Board of Education and the teachers union, so she thinks now is the best time to go.

Another possible reason why she is leaving now I was told, was because the current members that make up the Middletown Board of Education has made it difficult and at times caustic to work with.

The one thing that I wasn't able to nail down as of yet is the exact date that she will be leaving, but those that I have talked to seem to think that it will be at the end of this month.

BREAKING NEWS: John Madden Retires From Broadcasting

It's an end to an era, it is being reported at this minute that Hall of Fame football coach of the Oakland Raiders/ broadcatser extordonaire, John Madden has announced his retirement from broadcasting.

The 73 year old Madden, has been broadcasting NFL games for 30 years and has decided that enough is enough and that he wants to spend more time with his family. 

He's going to be greatly missed, I have enjoyed spending time with him over the years as he broadcasted NFL games.

So far there has been no announcment by NBC Sports as to a replacement to sit alongsides Al Michaels in the booth during the upcoming NFL season.   

President Obama's Weekly Address: 1/31/09

In his weekly address, President Barack Obama announced that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is preparing a new strategy for reviving our financial system, and urged the swift passage of an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.

Sports Thursday: No. 1 Loses, and More

No. 1 Wake Forest beaten at home Wednesday by Virginia Tech, 78-71; Rex Ryan introduced as the Jets' new head coach; Jeff Kent to announce his retirement; Jayson Werth, Phillies agree on a two-year, $10 million deal.