GAO Report Confirms Need for Pallone’s Bill on Flood Insurance Transparency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2017


Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report on the compensation paid to Write-Your-Own (WYO) companies that administer the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The report confirms the need for Congressman Pallone’s Flood Insurance Reimbursement Standards Transparency (FIRST) Cap Profits Act, which he introduced last year and will introduce in the new Congress. The bill would require increased oversight and transparency of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and cap the profits of private companies providing flood insurance at 10%.

The report states “FEMA continues to lack the information it needs to incorporate actual flood expense data into its compensation methodology as well as determine how much profit WYO companies make and whether its compensation payments are appropriate.” In July 2016, Pallone led a bipartisan letter asking FEMA to fulfill its legal obligation to provide oversight of the WYOs.

“It is shameful that private insurance companies have profited from Sandy while failing to meet their basic obligations under the NFIP. This reports confirms yet again that FEMA has failed to provide proper oversight of those entities - especially when Congress has already empowered and required the agency to do so,” said Pallone. “FEMA has a responsibility to ensure that policy holders are treated fairly and charged a fair market price for the service they purchase, and it better get to work.”

In May, Pallone led a bipartisan letter from members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation to Administrator Fugate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requesting that it take swift action on behalf of those who have suffered from documented, widespread fraud perpetrated by private insurance companies in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. The lawmakers asked for an explanation of why it is taking FEMA so long to process the insurance claims of these victims and to detail the steps FEMA is taking to swiftly rectify the situation.

After that letter was sent, Pallone and Congressman Bill Pascrell (NJ-09) met with Roy Wright, Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance and Mitigation at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to demand that FEMA take swift action to process claims for victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Pallone Calls on Governor Christie to Disclose More Detailed Reports on Sandy Recovery Effort

Highlights Need for More Transparency Surrounding Hired Contractors, Rebuilding Grants

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) issued the following statement today urging the Christie Administration to release additional information detailing how Sandy aid funds are being spent in the State of New Jersey:

“It has been almost two years now since Superstorm Sandy made landfall in New Jersey and devastated our communities, and we still do not have sufficient answers regarding how relief funds are being spent. The 24-page integrity monitor report that was finally released last week, the first and only one we have seen since Governor Christie signed the bill requiring the state to assign monitors into law in March 2013, was entirely unacceptable. We need more detailed integrity monitor reports so the public can understand what mistakes have been made in the Sandy recovery process and how Sandy aid funds are being spent in New Jersey.

“I am particularly concerned about the lack of detail regarding the contractors utilized by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA). The integrity monitor report does not include any information regarding the work performed by these contractors, and the state has still not provided the public with any details on what these contractors have accomplished with millions of dollars in recovery funds. Thousands of homeowners are still awaiting grants to repair and raise their homes more than a year and half after Sandy struck. They have a right to know what DCA is paying these contractors for and whether they are doing their job properly.

“My office has also received many complaints throughout the Sandy recovery process about a lack of transparency and publicly available criteria for DCA-run recovery programs, particularly the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation, and Mitigation (RREM) Program. I am troubled that only $133 million in RREM funds has actually been dispersed and implore the Christie administration to expedite this important aid to homeowners who are still trying to rebuild.

“Thousands of New Jerseyans have noted that rebuilding funds have been slow moving with many still awaiting payments to assist with the cost of repairs to their homes. It is outrageous that Sandy relief for homeowners has been delayed for so long.

“I fought hard in Congress to pass the Sandy aid package by assuring my colleagues that Sandy recovery funds were desperately needed and would be spent wisely. We need to know where the money is, what contractors are doing with it, and why it is not in the hands of those who need it to repair their homes. One 24-page report in 16 months is hardly adequate oversight. It is time for the Christie Administration to be straight with New Jerseyans and help residents rebuild.”

Pallone Calls on State to Provide Transparency Regarding Sandy Contractors

WASHINGTON D.C.—Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) called for increased transparency from the Christie Administration in its dealings with the contractors responsible for administering Superstorm Sandy relief funds. Pallone cited recent media reports that the Christie Administration has expanded the role of an existing contractor that will now oversee the distribution of Sandy aid dollars previously managed by Hammerman and Gainer Inc. (HGI), whose $68 million contract was terminated by the state last year without explanation from the state with a $36 million payout after completing only seven months of a three year contract.

ICF International, a Virginia-based firm, has been engaged by the Christie Administration to manage the disbursement of Sandy aid including the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) program, which can be used by Sandy victims to rebuild and repair their homes. Thousands of New Jerseyans have noted that rebuilding funds have been slow moving with many still awaiting payments to assist with the cost of repairs to their homes nearly a year and half after the storm made landfall.

“It is outrageous that Sandy relief for homeowners has been delayed for so long,” said Pallone. “I am constantly hearing from my constituents that they are still waiting for the help they so desperately need, yet all we hear from the Governor’s office is that they are hiring and firing contractors without explanation and without results. Enough is enough. Sandy victims deserve better than this and the Christie Administration needs to spell out exactly where the relief dollars are being spent and disclose what these contractors are actually being paid to do.”

Pallone called on the Christie Administration to explain the scope of the work contractors have been hired to conduct as well as their progress. He criticized the sluggish distribution of aid to New Jerseyans and called for immediate action to ensure that Sandy victims get the help they need to rebuild from the storm. Pallone also noted that the state’s contract with ICF had no specified limit, so there is currently no way to determine how much relief money will be paid out to the contractor as opposed to directly reaching Sandy victims.

“Sandy reconstruction has been wrought with inexcusable delays,” said Pallone. “I didn’t fight as hard as I did to get the Sandy relief package passed in Congress in the face of unconscionable opposition, just to see those dollars held up and mismanaged here in New Jersey. We need to know where the money is, what contractors are doing with it and why it is not in the hands of those who need it to repair their homes. It is time for the Christie Administration to be straight with New Jerseyans and help residents rebuild.”

PALLONE CAMPAIGN HITS OPPONENTS FOR LACK OF "TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY"

“Voters have simply been ignored by Cory Booker, Sheila Oliver and Rush Holt.”

LONG BRANCH ¬ Weeks after first Congressman Frank Pallone first signed the “People’s Pledge” and asked Cory Booker, Sheila Oliver and Rush Holt to join him, Pallone’s campaign today noted the request has been met with silence. While widely regarded for its ability to remove outside special interests and unnamed PAC money from the Massachusetts United States Senate race between Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren in 2012, the Congressman’s opponents have simply ignored the request for transparency and accountability. Congressman Pallone’s campaign today released the following statement:

“Fifteen days ago Congressman Pallone signed the ‘People’s Pledge’ in an effort to provide voters in this year’s special Democratic Primary campaign for U.S. Senate the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates, and he asked his opponents to do the same. Since that time, our campaign’s request for accountability and transparency has been met with silence.

In an expedited election sorely lacking in much needed direct voter contact as a result of multiple debate opportunities being turned down by Congressman Pallone’s opponents, the ‘People’s Pledge’ is the bare minimum the other three candidates can do to make sure Democratic voters aren’t encumbered by outside influence. Yet, Democratic voters have not even been give the courtesy of an answer in the negative and an acknowledgement that outside special interests and unnamed PAC’s with their own agendas will play an active role in this race. Instead, these voters have simply been ignored by Cory Booker, Sheila Oliver and Rush Holt.

The dismissive posture taken by all three of Congressman Pallone’s opponents with regard to accountability and transparency in this election is truly perplexing and should speak volumes to New Jersey’s Democratic primary voters on August 13. We will continue our call for Frank Pallone’s opponents to sign the ‘People’s Pledge’ in the coming days and weeks, just as we will continue to hold out hope they will agree to more debates to allow for a proper vetting of all four candidates previous records and future platforms in this campaign for United States Senate.”

NJFOG Meeting on Wednesday, February 27th

by Linda Baum for NJFOG

The New Jersey Foundation for Open Government (NJFOG) will hold its monthly meeting on February 27th at 7 p.m. at the Bound Brook Public Library, 402 E. High Street, Bound Brook, NJ 08805. The meeting is open to the public.

Come join other open government advocates to discuss the tools available to the public for improving governmental transparency. Current legislation with respect to the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) will also be addressed, including a proposed provision in bill S2512 that would adversely affect a citizen’s right to reimbursement of legal fees when a court decides that records have been improperly denied. NJFOG strongly opposes this change to the OPRA law, which currently guarantees a citizen’s right of recovery in a successful suit.

From the NJFOG website:

“The New Jersey Foundation for Open Government seeks to increase transparency, accountability, honesty and democracy in government at all levels by defending and expanding public access to government records and meetings.

NJFOG is the only organization in New Jersey with the sole mission of protecting and expanding public access to government records and meetings. Established in January 2001, it is a statewide coalition of organizations and individuals who support open government. NJFOG is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and a member of the National Freedom of Information Coalition.”

NJFOG meetings are typically held the last Wednesday of each month.

For more information, check out www.njfog.org or email info@njfog.org.

MUA Cadillac Benefits To Go, Says New Brick Dem Majority

by Linda Baum

Think it doesn’t matter who you vote for? It took a change of control in Brick to say enough is enough. That’s what it’s going to take in Middletown.

******************

Did anyone see the “Watchdog” column in Saturday’s Asbury Park Press (2/9/13)? The headline read “Brick MUA pays $93G for commissioners’ health benefits”. See the attached PDF with the APP article or link to it here: https://www.app.com/article/20130208/NJNEWS2002/302080134/Brick-MUA-pays-93G-commissioners-health-benefits

Political party control recently changed hands in Brick and the new Democratic majority has taken steps to end the provision of health benefits to Municipal Utility Authority board appointees. Patch readers may recall that I drew attention to this same issue a few weeks ago with regard to the Middletown Sewerage Authority (TOMSA): http://middletown-nj.patch.com/blog_posts/middletown-twp-committee-approves-lucrative-board-compensation

Per the APP article, the value of health benefits for some Brick MUA board members is in the range of $26,000 to $33,000 annually! I was frankly surprised that anyone was even able to get at this information given the difficulty I’ve encountered here in Middletown and suppose the new majority there finally had the pull to obtain it.

The APP article states that “the Brick authority is self-insured, which allows them to make the rules about who is eligible for health benefits.” Middletown Township is also self-insured for health benefits, but from what I can gather -- at least for current employees if not retirees -- TOMSA is not self-insured. Instead, TOMSA offers employees several insurance plan options, one of which is a state health benefits plan. According to the APP article, “under the state health benefits plan, boards and council members are not allowed to take health benefits.” Surprisingly, however, two TOMSA board members – Chantal Bouw and Joan Smith -- were among those enrolled in the state plan per a list of TOMSA enrollees received from the state last year.

The article offered some other insights, too. For example, I hadn’t considered that TOMSA board members might be receiving dental coverage from the Authority or that they might be getting full or partial “opt out” payments for benefits they have declined.

Though I’m not sure if TOMSA provides payment for “opting out” of their health plan, Middletown Township does with certain restrictions. The Township offers no partial “opt out” payments, and any employee covered by another Township plan (e.g., a spouse’s plan) is ineligible. Township retirees are also ineligible for “opt out” payments, as well as dental and eyewear coverages.

Since TOMSA board members – even those who are actually retired -- are not retirees from the Authority’s perspective, the board members could be receiving full or partial “opt out” payments and dental & eyewear coverage in addition to other benefits. I have already confirmed that board members have eyewear coverage based on reimbursements that appear on TOMSA payment reports.

Another question is if TOMSA board members are contributing toward their health benefits in line with the 2010 State law that requires it. They are supposed to be paying the greater of 1.5% of salary or a certain percentage of the insurance premium. The latter is the far greater of the two for board appointees.

And if board members are being treated like employees during their terms on the board, are they being treated like retirees when terms end, continuing to receive health benefits well into the future?

Of the 7 TOMSA board members listed in the chart below, one -- Anthony DeMarco -- is a new appointee and therefore ineligible for health or pension benefits, though whether or not he is receiving benefits has not been verified.

I may never know the answer to these questions because TOMSA keeps this information well hidden. I can tell you that with the exception of the few report entries that I’ve already mentioned, there is nothing that reveals what benefits board members are receiving or what the costs of those benefits are. That information has been requested but has been denied -- unlawfully denied, in fact -- and it might take a change of guard like that in Brick Township to get it. http://middletown-nj.patch.com/blog_posts/middletown-declines-to-say-who-receives-paid-health-benefits

Brick council members have said they will appoint to the MUA board only people who will decline the benefits. While that’s a move in the right direction, I have to wonder why council members don’t just pass an ordinance eliminating the benefits altogether. That raises the question of whether or not an independent Authority would need to comply with such an ordinance. In fact, TOMSA has not seen fit to comply with the Middletown ordinance (codified in Chapter 47, section 4 of the Twp administrative code: http://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=Middletown-nj ) that states that TOMSA board members shall receive no compensation other than salary. However, the resistance of the majority on the Township Committee to pass an ordinance in 2009 stripping benefits for all board appointees suggests that such an ordinance may have teeth.

One thing is certain, though – greater oversight and transparency are needed and won’t happen until there is a change of political control in the Township. Middletown has been under Republican control now for three and a half decades.


TOMSA BOARD APPOINTEES:

Thomas F. Stokes - TOMSA Board 25 years, term expires 2/1/18
Lives out-of-state part of year; calls in to meetings
A regular board member until 2/1/13; made an alternate thereafter.
Current Republican District Committeeperson
Former Board of Education member

James L. Hinckley - TOMSA Board 24 years, term expires 2/1/14, current vice chair
Current Republican District Committeeperson
Current Middletown GOP treasurer
Current Zoning Board Chairman

Chantal Bouw -  TOMSA Board 15 years, term expires 2/1/18, current chair
Current Republican District Committeeperson
Current Middletown GOP Vice Chair
Current Zoning Board Vice Chair
Current Local Assistance Board member

Joan A. Smith - TOMSA Board 8 years, term expires 2/1/15, current secretary / treasurer
Current Republican District Committeeperson
Former Middletown mayor

Charles W. Rogers  - TOMSA Board 6 years, term expires 2/1/17
Middletown Emergency Services Manager

Emil F. Wrede -  TOMSA Board 5 years, term expires 2/1/18
Made a regular member on 2/1/13; previously an alternate
Current Zoning Board member

Anthony DeMarco - TOMSA Board 1 year (alternate), term expires 2/1/16

There seems to be no good reason NOT to air Township Committee meetings

The letter below, written by Middletown resident Paul Jansen, was sent to me accompanied by a link to the video below, showing Mr. Don Watson handing a DVD recording of various township meetings to Township Administrator Tony Mercantante, for airing on Middletown's public access cable channels, Comcast 20 and Verizon Fios 26.

Even though these recordings have been made by community volunteers, at no cost to the Township, Middletown's governing body refuses to add them the limited playlist that runs on its public access channels.

Many excuses have been made over the past few years as to why the township couldn't or wouldn't record these meeting on their own for public airing ranging from the cost of producing the recordings to the possibility of persons "grandstanding" for the cameras, to the possible cost of litigation due to persons being recorded without their consent.  None of these excuses however hold water.

If anyone has taken the time to watch one of these videos they can see that NO grandstanding has ever taken place (other than by Township Committee members themselves). No one has ever objected to being recorded, after all it is a public meeting and all comment are recorded already and it has been shown that these video can be made for little to no cost (provided for free).

So what's the issue?

There really isn't one other than the Township's governing body would rather keep the resident in the dark about how their town is run - No transparency equals uniformed voters who vote for the majority incumbents.

Editor,

In a recent article in the Asbury Park Press about the two candidates running for Middletown Township Committee, Committeeman Massell stated that airing township meetings would cost $100,000. This is untrue. A group of people led by Don Watson have been video recording township meetings for the last 9 months. Mr. Watson and other volunteers, myself included, have recorded Township Committee meetings, library board meetings, and sewerage authority board meetings, among other public meetings. At each Township Committee meeting Mr. Watson presents a DVD with the previous meeting. This DVD could be shown on the township's own municipal access television station viewable 24/7 on Comcast channel 20 or Verizon FIOS channel 26. The township refuses to show the meetings, even though the recordings are provided free and unedited.

Paul J Jansen
Middletown, NJ





At every Township Committee meeting since March, the Township has been presented with a digital copy of the previous Committee meeting. For years the Committee has provided every excuse they could think of to not video record meetings and make them available for public viewing. The latest reason was that it would cost the Township over $100K to do this and it was cost prohibitive.

A small group of residents, from all party affilliation and some with no affilliation, came together and purchased a camera to record these meetings. The recordings presented are now available for the public to request their own copy or watch over the Internet. This is the only avenue available because the Township Committee continues not to broadcast the recordings even though there is no cost to the Township in doing so.

OPRA – The Basics

Here is some very good information for those that may be interested in obtaining any type of records from their local government. This article is specific to Middletown but it holds true for other municipalities around the state.

  Cross posted from MiddletownDemocrat.org

by Linda Baum

New Jersey’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA), effective in July 2002, is one of the best tools the public has to obtain information about what government is doing.

Middletown’s OPRA request form is available on the Township’s website, and by clicking here. The Middletown Sewerage Authority (TOMSA) has its own form, which is not available on the TOMSA website, but you can access it here. The Middletown Library currently doesn’t require an OPRA form -- an email or hand written request will do.

Though you should use an entity’s prescribed OPRA request form if they have one, not using it is not, by itself, grounds for denial. Further, there is no requirement to identify yourself – the OPRA law allows you to submit a request anonymously. Chances are, however, the office you’re dealing with will insist you use their form and state your name.

A 2010 amendment to the OPRA law reduced fees for paper copies to just 5 cents per page for letter size and 7 cents for legal, except for requests that require a great deal of time and effort to fill. The fees apply only to paper copies. There is no charge for email delivery of electronic documents, thus you can save money – also time, trees, and gasoline – by requesting an email reply to your OPRA request if an office has this capability. Note that TOMSA currently does not, so you will need to visit in person, pay, and collect your package, or get someone to do it for you.

You can drop off your request in person at the appropriate office, mail it, fax it, or email an electronic copy. Email Township requests to TownClerk@middletownnj.org or fax them to 732-957-9090. Email TOMSA requests to PParkinson@tomsanj.com or fax them to 732-495-4565. Email Library requests to WLatona@mtpl.org or fax them to 732-671-5839.

An office has 7 business days to fill your request, but may ask for additional time to do so before the 7 days have elapsed.

• Some common pitfalls that may result in an OPRA request being denied are:
• asking for “any and all” – The request must be for specific documents.
• being too specific – The document may not exist.
• asking a question – The request must be for a document.

Government offices vary in how they respond to these “pitfalls”. Use of the words “any and all” doesn’t automatically make a request improper – it depends on the scope of the request – but you would be wise to avoid the phrase because some offices will issue a rubber stamp denial.

If you feel your request has been improperly denied, you can do one of two things, but not both. Within 45 days of the denial, you can file a lawsuit in NJ superior court. Alternatively, you can file a written denial of access complaint with the NJ Government Records Council (GRC). There is no statute of limitations for filing with the GRC.

If you file a complaint with the GRC, your out-of-pocket costs are not recoverable, even if the GRC decides the claim in your favor, and I am told a decision could take a year or two given a backlog of claims. However, if you file a lawsuit and win, the entity that denied your OPRA request is required to reimburse your expenses, including your legal fees. I am told that lawsuits are typically decided in a few months.

The GRC put together a slide show presentation that provides a good summary of your rights, responsibilities, and recourses under the OPRA lawand a PDF document from the GRC containing the same information.

Good luck with your research.

Amy Mallet Reflects Back On Her Time As Monmouth County Freeholder

The following letter was received from Freeholder Amy Mallet

“Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”- Former President Teddy Roosevelt

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve the people of Monmouth County for the past three years. I am proud of my accomplishments which began with promises I made three years ago.

Monmouth County is now a major developer of clean, renewable solar energy at no additional cost to taxpayers. This effort provides environmental and economic benefits now and in the future. User-friendly computers offer the public a chance to learn about our solar savings in real time at four county locations. This initiative has served as a model for other solar projects that are being planned and developed throughout Monmouth County.

A key element in Government must be transparency. I proposed using digital technology so that everyone in the public can hear unedited proceedings of our meetings. Today it is simple from any computer via www.visitmonmouth.com. The home page has a button “Listen to Freeholder Meetings”. This is transparency, but only a start.

Our Legal Department was restructured due to past instances of excessive billing. We hired an in-house counsel to serve in a full-time capacity. This brings accountability and efficiency to our legal matters and has saved over 1.3 million dollars in just over two years.

I lead the expansion of the Veterans Interment office to include professional Veterans Services. Through the passion, diligence and long hours of our trained Veterans Service Officers and Veteran volunteers, this office is busy helping veterans in Monmouth County every day.

A comprehensive Aging Advisory Board brings energy and ideas to helping our seniors. We introduced the free Wellness Discount Program for all residents which offers discounts on prescription medication and other health products and services. Through the Office on Aging, we also established the first caregiver respite program in our county.

I called for changes at Brookdale Community College in order to take it in a better direction. This call came after researching and questioning budgets, meeting minutes, policies and procedures. We need to do what is in the best interest of our students, while providing a premier learning environment, quality education and facilities to our college.

The backbone of county government is our staff, taking us through the day-to-day operations. Many are on the front line directly helping residents care for their health and well-being, improving the safety of our roads and bridges, maintaining our justice system, imprisoning criminals at the jails, disposing and recycling our waste, staffing our libraries, parks and many functions residents do not see.

As liaison to Human Services during my tenure, it is my hope that my successor has the passion to serve as a voice in helping our neighbors who are most vulnerable. This requires an understanding of the needs of those who are less fortunate. They are our neighbors, friends, families and constituents. These individuals and families may be homeless, unemployed, hungry, home-bound, emotionally or developmentally disabled, handicapped, seniors, caregivers, troubled youth, drug and alcohol dependents, returning veterans and so many more. Our staff tends to these needs with a case load which has been growing weekly during these difficult economic times. While the demand for services is that much greater, they have still been able to hold the line on their budgets.

I must point out the areas where I believe there is more to accomplish:

Boards and Commissions which are autonomous require Term Limits. Many residents don’t realize that these entities control spending of millions of tax dollars and influence policy. The makeup of the boards should also be diverse. Turnover would make for a healthier environment. Lack of turnover is contrary to the oversight expected from residents.

Continued consolidation of duplicative functions.

Transparency needs much more work. Meeting Minutes of all autonomous boards and commissions need to be online. I already made this request twice. The website is only as good as the information contained within it. In addition, we should list all employees and new hires online (name, position, department, salary, start date)

Ethics reforms are needed. The Democratic majority instituted an Ethics Board in 2009 which was reversed by the Republicans at their first opportunity. This voluntary board would have been quite busy given the questionable situations which have arisen. Government should not be left to police itself, and history tells us there is too much at stake here to be ignored.

Advertising Panels on our bus fleet will serve many purposes including a new revenue stream. My suggestion is that we start by cross-promoting our Care Centers to bring awareness and fill additional beds which will be a revenue source. After testing the program, we can promote this program to outside entities for advertising revenue.

In the words of John Quincy Adams “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” I hope that my leadership will inspire more residents to ask questions, get involved and exercise their right to vote. Let’s never forget that this is a government “of” the people, “by” the people and “for” the people. Anything short of this is unconstitutional.

Public Discussion, Why Would We Want To Do That?

Anyone who has been to a Middletown Township Committee meeting this past year has noticed a marked difference between meetings held this year and meetings from the past 4 years,the difference being the length of meeting, or how long the the meeting took to end.

This year,Township Committee meetings (the typical business portion, after all the pomp and circumstance) are typically over in a hour or less. While in the past (when Democrats Patrick Short and Sean Byrnes were seated) Township meetings lasted a couple of hours.

The reason for this dramatic change in meeting times has become very evident over the past 8 months, agenda items listed as up for discussion are very seldom if ever discussed during these public meetings and Committee members have nothing to say to the public during "comments".

In the past, Patrick Short and Sean Byrnes made it a point discuss items on the agenda during public meetings and because of their practice of informing residents through the discussion of agenda items, they were attacked by the majority for being "unprepared" and not reading through their meeting packets, which was never the case. To the contrary, Short and Byrnes were well prepared to discuss items in the public forum and were chastised for it.

So now, during the last Middletown Workshop meeting when resident Donna Kuntz stated that she was there to here what the Committee had to say about "easements", which was Discussion item "B" on the night's agenda, and wanted to know why nothing on the Discussion Item list was discussed, our acting mayor, Tony Fiore, basically stated there was no need to discuss items in a public forum. Committee members, if they have a question after receiving the meeting packets on the Friday before a meeting, call each other or the Township Administrator for clarification.

Listen to the audio:

As long as a quorum is not present, this type of behavior by elected officials is not in violation of any sunshine laws, but it is a rather dubious practice that keeps the sunshine from shining on those that administer the town. Any time you limit the input or knowledge of residents into how their town is run, is a direct attempt to limit the transparency of government and is a troubling practice to engage in and Middletown seems to do a lot of it.

You can read about this and other news from the last workshop meeting by reading the "It's Your Town" newsletter, its the next best thing to actually attending the meeting.

It's Your Town - Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 16- 8/1/11

This edition of It's Your Town newsletter covers the Middletown Township Committee Workshop meeting that was held on Monday, August 1, 2011 .

There were only a few resolutions voted on and 11 items on the agenda for discussion. However, most of the discussion items were not discussed. When a resident asked about the lack of discussion a very interesting response was given.

Tony Fiore, Middletown's acting mayor, said that there was no need to discuss agenda items in public because members of the Township Committee members receive their meeting packets on the Friday before every meeting. If a question arises, a Committee member will call a fellow Committee member, Township Administrator or someone else for clarification prior the public meeting, hence no need for discussions in public.

While this practice of Township Committee people calling others for clarification and information pertaining to items in meeting packets prior to open discussion of an item it not technically a violation existing sunshine laws, it is an extremely questionable practice that limits information being disseminated to the public by open and transparent means.

Read the newsletter for yourself, it's all covered here in this issue.

Letting The "Sunshine" In Monmouth

By Monmouth County Freeholder Amy Mallet

Common sense tells us that government is more responsive and ethical when its actions are open to public scrutiny. As Supreme Court Justice Brandeis famously said, “Sunlight is the best of disinfectants.” Woodrow Wilson, who appointed Brandeis to the Supreme Court, wrote about the need to shed light on the government. He said, “Light is the only thing that can sweeten our political atmosphere.”

As far back as the 1890s several states were already experimenting with disclosure rules to combat corruption in campaign finance. This is not a new conversation. Modern times change the delivery, but history provides us with perspective, and sometimes even inspiration.

The digital age allows more opportunities to let the sun in than ever before. We are living in unique times where technology creates new, exciting opportunities to widen access between the public and government. New tools such as imaging, scanning, the Internet, mass storage capacity and millions of hand-held devices have the potential to give people better insight into governmental decision-making, budgeting and spending.

This progress allows for two-way communication. For example, through the county Web site, individuals can send an e-mail with concerns or comments on a particular issue. The success of our political system requires that citizens be involved.

Human nature is such that elected officials who see no public interest in their activities are more likely to stray from the core interests of their constituents. At its worst, circumstances where elected officials face an apathetic public provide a breeding ground for corruption and abuse. Citizens need to care about how we govern, understand how government works and be aware of the issues we are addressing. They also need the tools to hold elected officials accountable for their actions.

Since taking office, I have advocated for certain changes geared toward a more transparent, accessible government:

In 2009, the Board of Chosen Freeholders supplemented online meeting agendas with the resolutions that were up for consideration by the board. This allowed the public to see more than just titles of these items.

Also in 2009, Monmouth County embraced social media and developed Facebook and Twitter sites.

In 2010, Monmouth County also began posting its proposed budget online. In the past it was posted only after it had been adopted.

Also in 2010, at my request and at little expense to the taxpayers, our Clerk of the Board moved from an antiquated tape system of recording minutes to digital recording technology. I would like to say this brought us into the 21st century, but it is more accurate to say it brought us out of the 1980s. This simple improvement has now allowed staff to more accurately transcribe the minutes, freed up space that had previously been used to store cassette tapes and gave the freeholders and staff immediate access to the important discussions that take place.
I am proud that as a result of moving to digital recordings of freeholder meetings, full audio of regular and workshop meetings are now available on the county Web site,http://www.visitmonmouth.comThis allows residents who are unable to attend meetings to hear the discussions that took place and stay more engaged in issues that are relevant to their lives.

The benefits of this technology go beyond convenience. We find ourselves in troubled times where citizens and the governments that serve them confront dire financial challenges. Municipal, county and state governments must be held to the highest standards of efficiency and productivity. The best means of reaching that goal is to pull back the curtain. In addition to posting meeting minutes and the budget we should post expenditures and employment and other contracts.

Despite these technological advances, I recommend that residents attend the meetings. They are generally held at the Hall of Records, 1 East Main St. in Freehold, with workshops at 2 p.m. and regular meetings at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. There are exceptions when the board takes the meetings on the road. A full and detailed schedule of meetings, as well as a wealth of other information, can be found on the county Web site.

Moving forward in this fashion would be a marked departure from the way many of our local public bodies have approached accessibility. But as technology advances excuses for failing to make this type of information available will evaporate.

Public officials need to be imaginative and efficient in organizing and making these documents available to the public. They should be encouraged in the knowledge that their efforts to promote government transparency fulfill the intent of those who founded our great country and ensures that the power entrusted to elected officials will not be abused.

ReBankGreen.Com: SCHARFENBERGER BLASTED FOR PAY CLAIM

Nice job on the column posted at RedBankGreen.com detailing the events that went on last night at the Middletown Township Committee Meeting. Dustin Racioppi told it like it happend, with little sugar coating of the details.

What stood out to me the most about the column was the after interview that Scharfenberger gave to Racioppi, it was a further attempt on Gerry's part at a little revisionist history.

Racioppi states that, “…he (Scharfenberger) didn’t make an announcement about the state job for two reasons: the state, he said, was in the middle of restructuring the planning agency, and he thought it would put out some sort of press release announcing his hiring; and he didn’t want to appear he was using the job to show his support of the Christie administration in an election year…”

This comes after he was qouted last week in the Two River Times and the Independent that he thought "everyone knew" because everyone around him knew about it and because it was posted on the State's website .

Scharfenberger, then went on to add that those that have bashed him have a personal vendetta against him.

After reading this type of crap comming out of Scharfy, is there any doubt why so many question his integrity and issues with disclosing the truth, it’s not a personnal vendetta against him, it’s a vendetta for truth and transparency from those that are elected to represent Middletown's residents.

Scharfenberger, an archaeologist and adjunct professor at Monmouth University, told redbankgreen that he didn’t make an announcement about the state job for two reasons: the state, he said, was in the middle of restructuring the planning agency, and he thought it would put out some sort of press release announcing his hiring; and he didn’t want to appear he was using the job to show his support of the Christie administration in an election year.

You can read the full article >>> Here

President Obama's Weekly Address: 4/17/10 Holding Wall Street Accountable

The strongest consumer protections ever. Bringing transparency to financial dealings. Closing loopholes to stop recklessness and irresponsibility. Holding Wall Street accountable and giving shareholders new power in the financial system. President Obama lays out what Wall Street Reform is about, and questions whether opposition from the Senate Republican Leader might have something to do with his recent meeting with Wall Street executives.

Middletown's Patrick Short Talks about Transparency In Government

In this latest video of Middletown's Democratic Committeeman Patrick Short, Patrick talks about how he and fellow Democratic Committeeman Sean Byrnes fought hard for open government in Middletown.

Because of their efforts residents can know access Township information such as ordinances, resolutions and bill lists from the Township's website. This informed information was never before made available to residents before Township meetings until Patrick Short and Sean Byrnes made it possible.



Learn more about Patrick Short and what he stands for visit www.middletowndemocrat.org

CREW Applauds Obama's New Ethics Rules and Approach to the Freedom of Information Act

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON - January 21 - After eight long years of secrecy, President Obama's actions today indicate that transparency in government was more than just a campaign promise. The Obama administration's approach to the Freedom of Information Act will allow government watchdogs and the public to obtain information about what the executive branch of government is doing and why. CREW also applauds the new ethics rules announced today. Melanie Sloan, CREW's executive director said, "The fact that Mr. Obama took these actions on his very first day in office signals a new era in government accountability."

CONTACT: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
Naomi Seligman

 202.408.5565

Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov

The change was swift, at exactly 12:00pm est. the official website of the White House and the Presidency of the United States dropped all references to the Bush administration and ushered in all things Obama.

Here is the first post from the White House blog:

 

Welcome to the new WhiteHouse.gov. I'm Macon Phillips, the Director of New Media for the White House and one of the people who will be contributing to the blog.

A short time ago, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and his new administration officially came to life. One of the first changes is the White House's new website, which will serve as a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world.

Millions of Americans have powered President Obama's journey to the White House, many taking advantage of the internet to play a role in shaping our country's future. WhiteHouse.gov is just the beginning of the new administration's efforts to expand and deepen this online engagement.

Just like your new government, WhiteHouse.gov and the rest of the Administration's online programs will put citizens first. Our initial new media efforts will center around three priorities:

Communication -- Americans are eager for information about the state of the economy, national security and a host of other issues. This site will feature timely and in-depth content meant to keep everyone up-to-date and educated. Check out the briefing room, keep tabs on the blog (RSS feed) and take a moment to sign up for e-mail updates from the President and his administration so you can be sure to know about major announcements and decisions.

Transparency -- President Obama has committed to making his administration the most open and transparent in history, and WhiteHouse.gov will play a major role in delivering on that promise. The President's executive orders and proclamations will be published for everyone to review, and that’s just the beginning of our efforts to provide a window for all Americans into the business of the government. You can also learn about some of the senior leadership in the new administration and about the President’s policy priorities.

Participation -- President Obama started his career as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, where he saw firsthand what people can do when they come together for a common cause. Citizen participation will be a priority for the Administration, and the internet will play an important role in that. One significant addition to WhiteHouse.gov reflects a campaign promise from the President: we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it.

We'd also like to hear from you -- what sort of things would you find valuable from WhiteHouse.gov? If you have an idea, use this form to let us know. Like the transition website and the campaign's before that, this online community will continue to be a work in progress as we develop new features and content for you. So thanks in advance for your patience and for your feedback.

Later today, we’ll put up the video and the full text of President Obama’s Inaugural Address. There will also be slideshows of the Inaugural events, the Obamas’ move into the White House, and President Obama’s first days in office.

Freeholder-Elect Amy Mallet: Goal Is To Have Transparency , Oversight, and Full Accountability

The following is a letter to Monmouth County residents from Freeholder-elect Amy Mallet:

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the voters of Monmouth County who put their confidence in my candidacy for Freeholder. We saw a record number of voters turning out to make their voices heard. This dramatic election changed the course of history in our nation and in our county. As a result of this election, we now have a Democratic majority on the Board of Chosen Freeholders for the first time in 23 years. I appreciate the time that all voters gave in expressing their concerns about the future direction of our county. Please rest assured that I take all suggestions and concerns very seriously.

These are challenging times requiring restraint and thoughtful strategy to achieve our goals. Each of our 53 municipalities has unique challenges, and I look forward to working with all of them. Our community has so much potential if we structure our priorities in a sensible way. I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, bringing fresh, new ideas to the table. Our diverse county has so much to offer residents from beachfronts to river banks and from urban areas to farmland. We will be discussing ideas which will set our county apart as a model for counties across the state and country.

Under the new democratic leadership, we are going to have serious conversations about environmental plans which will improve our quality of life and provide new job opportunities while saving taxpayer dollars. Our budget will be reviewed department by department as we seek sustainable cost-saving measures. Contracts will be reviewed carefully to be sure we are fiscally responsible to the people of Monmouth County. My goal is to have our county government functioning with transparency and oversight, with full accountability to the taxpayers.

It is my hope that new voters who came out this year to make history will be inspired to continue making their voices heard in all future elections. As I travel throughout the county, it is with a humble gratitude for the opportunity to serve you, and an unwavering commitment to enhance the lives of the people of Monmouth County.

Amy A. Mallet
Monmouth County
Freeholder-Elect

Walsh and Grenafege Complete Walking Campaign and Have a Message for Middletown Voters

Yesterday marked end of the walking the districts in Middletown for Democratic Candidates for Township Committee, Patricia Walsh and Jim Grenafege.

Since September, Walsh,Grenafege and many of their democratic friends and volunteers walked through the township knocking on doors and answering questions from concerned citizens. In all, well over 5,000 doors where knocked on by Pat Walsh, Jim Grenafege and their supporters.

The show of local support from the citizens of Middletown to the team of Walsh and Grenafege has been outstanding. Many of the voices that have been heard from have expressed their displeasure at the seemingly lack of concern coming from Town Hall and the republican majority.

People have expressed their concerns on a wide range of issues from leaf and brush pick-up dates to the need for more police officers in town. A recent rash of brake-ins and vandalized cars, along with the need to spray for mosquitoes throughout district 17 was a big topic of discussion during the walk through the neighborhoods of that district.  

Transparency and the end to partisan bickering by Mayor Scharfenberger and his republican controlled committee were also big topics on the campaign trail throughout the township. 

When the walking was over yesterday, I got Pat Walsh and Jim Grenafege together and asked them what they wanted  most to say to the people of Middletown. 

The following video is what they had to say.