Middletown Committee Ready To Replace Steve Massell Tonight With Scharfenberger Son-in-Law

At tonight's meeting of the Middeltown Township Committee, the long anticipated replacement for Steve Massell will be appointed to finish his unexpired term.

For those not familiar, Committeeman Steve Massell, a realtor by profession, accepted an appointment  as a Commissioner of the Monmouth County Tax Board a few months back, but didn't officially resign from the Township Committee until last month. His new job is a paid position and reeks of patronage and cronyism.


The Middletown Republican Executive Committee presented the names of Patricia Snell, Anthony (Tony) Perry and Chris Aveta to the Township Committee, for consideration to replace Steve Massell, at the meeting tonight.

Who are these people you ask?

Not much is known about Patricia Snell other than she is a local realtor who seems to be relatively new to Middletown. Voting records indicated that she's only lived in town since 2012.

People familiar with the Middletown Board of Education, will recognize the name of Chris Aveta. Aveta is a longtime friend of Tony Fiore and both moved from Carteret to Middletown around the same time. He served 1 term on the board of education before being voted off by residents. He then spent the next two election cycles trying to get reelected to no avail. He was seen by many to be divisive and counterproductive. He wasn't an advocate for the students, rather he was a proponent for cutting the school budget under the mantra of "taxpayers" first. Sound familiar?

Anthony Perry's  claim to fame according to his LinkedIn profile is that he is currently the Chief of Staff  of State Senator Joe Kyrillos as well as being a member of the Middletown Planning Board. Not listed on LinkedIn, but I believe it's so, he is also a member of the Middletown Library Board.

What I see however, as Tony Perry's biggest accomplishment and advantage that makes him the front runner in replacing Steve Massell as a member of the Township Committee, is that he married Gerry Scharfenberger's daughter! That's right, he is the son-in-law of current mayor, Gerry Scharfenberger.  
Talk about cronyism with a sprinkle of nepotism thrown in. It's truly outrageous. Should Scharfenberger to even vote on this? Isn't it a conflict he should abstain from? Seems a bit unethical if he doesn't.

It just goes to show you that the Republicans in Middletown have been unchecked and in charge for far too long here in town. To even consider this, is to spit in the face of residents and shows that they feel entitled to do whatever they want whenever they wish to do it.

Out of the three choices, I vote for Patricia Snell. Sometimes the less we know about a person the better.


Here is the Agenda for tonight's meeting.

ICYM: Middletown's Massell named to Monmouth tax board, will step down from township

It was reported this past week that Middletown Township Committeeman, Steve Massell, will need to step down from the committee to take a place on the Monmouth County Tax Board. Massell will be replacing Republican (and fellow Middletown resident) Kathy Cody Bjelka.

For Massell, who's a realtor by trade, stepping down from the Township Committee is no big deal, he had very little to contribute anyway. He never had an original thought to share with public and often just parroted what others on the dais would say while looking awkward doing it.  His role on the committee was basically that of a yes man.  During his 8+ years on the Committee, Massell served as Deputy-Mayor once but was never appointed Mayor by his fellow Committee members.

Why do you think that was?

I found the quote below from the article announcing his appointment to the tax board interesting because it basically states that he did have any accomplishments of his own that he could point to. His leading was mostly from behind.

..."Massell said it was an honor to serve Middletown, the town where he grew up. He said he was proud of the large efforts the board undertook — working to keep property taxes down and leading the community through superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene and several blizzards — and also relished the lighter duties, like marching in parades for the township's Little League teams.

"It was very humbling. It was a tough decision to make," he said of leaving the township post. "It was an overall great experience. I loved every minute of it."

Mansell's presence won't be missed on the Township Committee, he was just a bump on the dais anyway. Now however, the speculations can begin on who will be appointed to replace him until next years election. My bet would be someone from the Planning Board. We'll see soon enough.

April 4, 2015 Middletown Township Committee Meeting

At last week's April 4th Township Committee workshop meeting an ordinance was introduced to refinance $3.2M of the township debt, which now totals just above $70M. Among the resolutions approved was one to pay out over $75K to a retiring police officer and another that would approve the purchase of 3 DVRs for police surveillance.

Police Chief Weber attended this meeting to explain some of the reorganization taking place within the police department. He said that changes are in the process of being made that will produce more efficiencies on each shift.

Committeeman Fiore requested that commuter parking be monitored around bus stops along Rt. 36 because the commuter parking lots are not being utilized and suggested that street parking restrictions be implemented to direct commuters to park in the lots.

However, the real standout of the meeting happened to be Deputy Mayor Steve Massell who ran the meeting in the absence of Mayor Stephanie Murray. It seems that after several years as a member of the township committee, Massell still doesn't know how to manage a meeting. He bumbled his way through the meeting and seemed disconnected from the proceedings at times. Obviously this is not how our township committee people are supposed to conduct meetings.



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.

Letter: Middletown's Massell Family Connections

The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog:

Dear Editor,

Nepotism has long been a problem across New Jersey politics. But Middletown Township in Monmouth County has become one of the most glaring examples, due to the Massell family.

Stephen Massell is an elected member of the Township Council. The Township Council appointed his brother, Gerald Massell as Municipal Prosecutor. He has his law office at 222 Hwy 35, which is owned by their father, Jerry Massell (a retired Workman's Compensation Judge). Office space is rented in the same building to Richard Thompson, the Municipal Court Judge, also appointed by the Township Council. Stephen Massell’s wife, Emily Massell is employed as a secretary in her brother-in-law Gerald’s law office.

These are very clear conflicts of interest. The Massell family is getting rich off of politics and the Middletown Township Republican Party has enabled this personal enrichment at the expense of taxpayers.


Eric Hafner
Toms River

Murray Reappointed Mayor, Massell Deputy Mayor At Sparsely Attended Reorg Meeting.

I didn't attend Middletown's Reorganization day earlier this morning, I felt it was more important to get the outside Christmas decorations put away while there was a break in the weather and the temperature out was rather mild. Furthermore, the only real reason to go to one of these organizational meetings is to find out who would be appointed as Mayor & Deputy Mayor for the new year. Usually there isn't much drama that goes along with that, those that are up for reelection are chosen to fill these rolls.

This year was no different but I was very slightly surprised to hear that Stephanie Murray was reappointed Mayor over Steve Massell, who was appointed Deputy Mayor instead. After all, Massell is the lone candidate up for reelection this year. I suppose the reason behind Massell not being appointed Mayor is that he has very little charisma and seldom has an original thought or word to share from the dais at Township Committee meetings.  I hear Gerry Scharfenberger  made a comment after Massell was appointed deputy mayor to the effect that Massell is the only one on the Township Committee that no one in town seems to dislike.

Well, I would venture to say that's because  you can't dislike someone who's not confrontational and never speaks or voices an opinion - other than to agree with others on the dais.

I was also told that the Reorg meeting was parsley attended this year. In years past, the court room at Town Hall was always jammed packed and overflowing with volunteers (and their families) waiting to be sworn in for positions on various boards and commissions and numerous partisan spectators looking to show their loyalty and support for the status quo. This year for some reason, many did not show up.  I guess I'll have to wait to see the video that was taken of the day to see for myself just how empty the room was.

Maybe like myself, they just had other things that where more important or pressing to do than wasting 2 hours of my life at a meeting that we've all seemed to have been at before.



  

Video: LVGA Meet The Candidates Night

The Lincroft Village Green Association hosted a "Meet The Candidates" night this past Tuesday. The Candidates attending were for the offices of County Freeholder - John Curley, Bill Shea, Kevin Lavan and Serena DiMassa; County Clerk - Clair French and Michael Steinhorn; and Middletown Township Committee - Linda Baum and Steve Massell.

The event was moderated by the League of Woman Voters who selected questions that were submitted by the public.  It was an interesting night, a lot of very good ideas and information were exchanged between the candidates.

For those from Middletown -  I  being one - who came to hear what Linda Baum and Steve Massell had to say about moving our township forward walked away, I'm sure, more impressed with what Ms. Baum had to offer than Steve Massel, just watch the video to see what I mean.

Linda Baum was the more articulate candidate and showed a real command of the issues that she was passionate about, she spoke off the top of her head, without any notes. Massell on the other hand, was wooden and read directly from a "script".

If you want to quickly read a little bit more about what was said between Linda Baum and Steve Massell, Middletown Patch's Christina Johnson posted a nice little summary of what was said between the two.

But of course the best way to judge for yourself how each candidate did was to watch the video, in my opinion Linda Baum was much more impressive than Massell and deserving of residents vote.

Middletown Twp Committee Candidate Massell Says NO to Debate

by Linda Baum

The public has a right to hear the candidates discuss their plans to better our Township.


“Do you want a match race?!!” That battle cry from the movie Seabiscuit was used to flush out the competition to take part in a 2-horse race to see which horse was better. Finally, after a series of excuses, the competition acquiesced, and we all know the outcome.

When I hear that the local candidates in Red Bank and Manalapan have held debates, I wonder when it will happen in Middletown, the largest municipality in Monmouth County.

The sheer size of our town – 42 square miles and nearly 67,000 people – means that even the most dedicated candidate can’t visit every household and talk to every resident. That makes a one-on-one debate between the local candidates that much more important. If we can’t get to you, you should at least be given the opportunity to come to us to hear what we have to say so that you can make an informed decision on Election Day.

Earlier this month, the Chairman of Middletown’s Republican Party turned down my debate challenge, issued via letter from my own Party Chairman. The excuse given was that a debate was already scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 23rd, 7 p.m., at the Lincroft School.

However, the Lincroft event is not a one-on-one debate but rather a question and answer session for all local and county candidates – at least 8 people this year. That works out to just 10 or 15 minutes per candidate at most. And unlike a debate, there is no opportunity for any candidate to respond to comments made by another.

Further, residents who live in the northern parts of the Township might be more likely to attend, and would be better served, if a more centralized location were available.

During public comments at the end of the Oct. 15th Township Committee meeting, I again issued the debate challenge to Mr. Massell. He replied, “I’m happy to debate you, Ms. Baum…,” followed by a string of excuses why he wouldn’t.

Why couldn’t a debate have been held a couple of months ago, Massell wanted to know – that is, when no one was paying attention yet. That’s an odd comment since it’s common knowledge that debates are typically held close to an election.

Mr. Massell insisted this was all so secretive, referring to the Library meeting room being reserved ahead of him getting formal notice of the debate challenge. It was necessary to go ahead and reserve the room early because it was quickly booking up. The reservation could always be cancelled.

It is ridiculous to say the debate was a secret, especially coming from one of the two participants who would need to be there and therefore would HAVE to know about it.

In attempting to respond to each of these points, I was cut off from speaking, as usual. That is something they would not be able to do at a debate. Perhaps that’s the real reason they want to avoid it. Here’s the link to the 10/15 meeting video: http://archive.org/details/10-15-12TownshipCommitteeMeeting. Advance to time 90:50 (1:30:50) for the debate discussion. You may have some trouble hearing me because the public’s microphone wasn’t working that night. Intentional? You decide. There was nothing wrong with the microphones on the dais, of course.

A note about the Library room reservation. I filled out the reservation form myself on behalf of the Middletown Democratic Party. But again, the purpose was just to reserve the room. In order for the debate to have occurred, the Library required that it be jointly sponsored by both Parties. That was also a requirement of the League of Women Voters, which was asked to moderate. Had the challenge been accepted, joint sponsorship would have been established in advertising material.

The email that Mr. Massell refers to in the video was sent by the Library Director upon review of the room reservation regarding the need for joint sponsorship of the debate. Her email was received ahead of our letter being received. Regardless, notice was received and it should be obvious that the email and letter crossed in the mail, so to speak. It’s silly to be feigning such offense over it as reason not to participate in the debate.

Mr. Fiore states in the video that the debate was to be unmoderated. Not true at all. The moderator and the format were details to be worked out later, after the debate challenge was accepted. Since it wasn’t, how can the Republican Party know anything about how the debate would have been run?

If, like me, you feel that the public has a right to hear the issues and where the candidates stand on them from the candidates themselves – in lieu of nonsense from anonymous commenters or those on the dais – then you should demand a match race. There’s still time.

It may also interest you to know that Manalapan televised its debate on local cable access channels. There is no reason why we can’t do that in Middletown.

No Comparison

If anyone read the write-up on Linda Baum and Steve Massell yesterday in the Asbury Park Press, it was clear to see, there really isn't any comparison between the two candidates. Based on the answers given, Linda Baum is by far the better person to represent Middletown on the Township Committee.

"...If elected, Baum, 47, said she would like to focus on lowering property taxes and improving what she calls poor planning and government structure. She also promised to increase transparency, communication and opportunity for public participation. 

"I’ve spent hundreds of hours reviewing township documents and issues in recent years,” Baum said. “Like many others, I’ve been frustrated by the non-disclosure of information that is in the public interest and by limited opportunity to participate in local government....

She said the committee should dissolve the Middletown Township Sewerage Authority and consolidate its services with the township. This would save the township $1.1 million per year, Baum said. “Because the township is largely built out, a separate authority is no longer needed,” she said.

Other solutions for lowering property taxes include pre-approving engineering firms to competitively bid on contracts instead of assigning the work to one firm each year, and limiting health insurance eligibility to full-time, salaried employees, excluding part-timers, Baum said. She said these changes could save the township hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Baum said she would also like to see more transparency in Middletown government such as broadcasting Township Committee meetings on cable television and providing more detailed meeting materials online. Baum is a founding member of Middletown Open Government, a group that has researched funding for televised meetings."

Massell on the other hand, much like his appearances sitting on the dais, put very little thought into his answers relying on old, stocked and clique responses from the past  such as maintaining the quality of life in town and keeping taxes low. Much of what Massell said just so happened to be proposed in the past by Democrats Patrick Short and Sean Byrnes, during their time on the Township Committee a few years ago.

It's funny how their ideas were blown off then but has now been taken and corrupted by the very same people that ridiculed them in the past, as their own. It just goes to show you that the current Republicans that have been running Middletown into the ground for the past 30 years, are devoid of any real ideas of their own.

8-6-12 Middletown Township Committee Meeting

There was a Middletown Township Committee Workshop meeting last week. It was rather uneventful and as per the norm lately, lasted only 35 minute.

You'll notice while watching the video that Tony Fiore wasn't present during the meeting so the deputy mayor, Steve Massell, stepped up to the plate and presided over his very first township meeting. He seemed uncomfortable and awkward sitting at the head of the table running the meeting. I suppose that would be due to his having to express himself and utter more than just the two words "No Comment" during a typical meeting of the Township Committee.  You'll also notice that his grand entrance and buffoonery from the previous two committee meetings are missing.

Points of interest for this meeting would include an ordinance that was introduced to borrow $750K to purchase new radios for emergency responders and due to a change in the by-laws of the Library Board a member resigned causing the Township Committee to appoint a new member to the Library Board.

A few discussion items many also be of interest to residents which would include the discussion of the various public safety grants that the Township has received (DDEF Training Grant, DWI County Roadblock Grant, Federal Body Armor Grant), the bus stop (or lack there of) on Rt.36 and Avenue D and the purchasing of a fence and upgrade of sidewalks along Hubbard Avenue and Middletown-Lincroft Rd. 

The Public Comments portion of the meeting starts at the 23 minute mark of the video and of course shouldn't be missed. I always find this part of the meeting fascinating because it gives observers at the meetings or viewers of these videos insights into what is on the minds of citizens and what it is that residents are currently worried about as it pertains to Middletown.

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.

7-16-12 Township Committee Meeting: Buffoonery From The Dais Reigns

Here is the latest video of the Middletown Township Committee at work. It is of the July 16, 2012 meeting. The meeting lasted all of 41 minutes so again, it should be easy viewing.

The first thing that I need to point out about this meeting is the childish buffoonery displayed by Deputy Mayor Steve Massell and his colleagues on the dais. This is now the second meeting in a row where Massell has walked into the meeting late (you can witness him walking down the center isle as the Township Clerk is announcing the start of the meeting) playing to the camera. He gets to his seat on the dais (which at this point is not in the frame) just in time for the clerk to announce his name. He smiles, winks and wiggles his finger as if pointing and shooting a gun, announcing "Here" to the giggles of delight from all those in frame.

The other thing from this meeting that shouldn't be missed is the game of "Telephone" that was played between Township Attorney Brian Nelson and those on the dais in order to pass information down the line to Steve Massell during the Public Comments portion of the meeting.

Linda Baum, who is running against Massell in this years election was speaking in regard to the dredging of Shadow Lake and how the township was planning on paying the winning bidder of the dredging project; Was the winner of the bid to dredge Shadow Lake going to be paid upfront, in full, for the whole job prior to the job being complete? Or for just the dredging portion of the job then paid in full after the dredged spoils are carted off Stevenson Park after drying out for two years? Her concern was that the winning bid firm would be paid in full, upfront and then two years later would want more money to cart the spoils away.

At the 29:12 mark of the recording, two minutes into Ms. Baum's comments, Township Attorney Attorney Brian Nelson can be seen leaning over and whispering into the ear of mayor Tony Fiore, who then in turn leans to his right to whisper in the ear of Committeeman Settembrino. Settembrino can then been seen writing a note of some kind that Steve Massell stretches his neck for several seconds to read.  Steve Massell, then and only then, asks Ms. Baum if she was for or against the dredging project.

When she ignores Massell's question and stays on point by responding that she is only there to seek information, Brian Nelson, the attorney, jumps in to badger Ms. Baum over the questions she raised.

This whole exchange is one of the most unprofessional displays I've seen in a long time coming from the Township Committee and that's saying a lot!



I would like to congratulate Assistant Township Clerk Lauren Kirkman who received a commendation for her years of service to the Township. She recently passed the NY/NJ Bar Exam and will be leaving the employment of the township sometime in the near future. I wish her well.

And 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.

Quote Of The Day: "...I pledge to give 100% of me"

This quote warms my heart today:

"...I pledge to the people of Middletown, from Lincroft to Leonardo and Oak Hill to Chapel Hill, that you will get nothing less than 100 percent of me as your deputy mayor," Steve Massell said during his post swearing-in address at the township's annual reorganization meeting - Middletown-Patch

Does giving 100% effort mean Steve Massell, as acting Deputy Mayor of Middletown, will finally get all those "Welcome to Middletown" signs painted like he pledged to do 2 years ago when first elected? Or does it mean that he will not play on his iPad during meetings and pay attention to what's going on? More than likely, giving 100% effort means that he will finally have more to say at Township Committee meets other than "No Comment"

A Few Words About Middletown's Reorganization

Just a quick word about Sunday's Middletown Reorganization meeting being held at Town Hall @ noon.

Seeing how the Middletown Republicans have already "leaked" their intentions to reappoint Tony Fiore as Mayor and Steve Massell as Deputy Mayor, I have to wonder why?

Steve Massell is up for reelection this year and historically (thought not always the case recently) , the person on the Township Committee seeking reelection is appointed mayor, but I guess, seeing how Massell hasn't made more than a handful of public comments during his 2+ years of tenure on the Township Committee and often seems as if he doesn't want to be up there on the dais, and if you take into consideration the rumor that has been circulating for the past few months about how Massell doesn't intend to seek reelection anyway after his current term expires at the end of 2012, the Republicans couldn't appoint him mayor.

Why reappoint Tony Fiore as mayor than?

I suppose it must have more to due with Fiore's abrasive, arrogant and cocksure personality than the actual job he did representing the Township as the committee's mouthpiece.

Beside, who else could it be?

Gerry Scharfenberger? No, I don't think so. He is too much of a polarizing figure and is a lighting rod that has attracted too much controversy over the years. Governor Christie wouldn't want his favorite employee in the spotlight taking away any of the attention from himself while making a run to be either Mitt Romney's Vice -Presidential or possible his candidate for U.S. Attorney General.

Kevin Settembrino? After his snake-in-the-grass performance doing the Township Committee's dirty work of threatening the Middletown Library Board of Trustees to turn over nearly $500K of surplus and reserved funds or else the Middletown Library system would be over to the County and all the while pitting the Library Board against the Middletown Police, saying that if the funds weren't turned over the Middletown Library would be solely responsible for Police layoffs. Settembrino didn't make many friends in his first year on the Committee to say the least, but next year will be his year to shine as mayor.

And of course there is just no way Stephanie Murray could have been placed in either position in her very first year.

So Tony gets to be mayor again by default.

Also, I would like to thank all of those who will be appointed and reappointed to the various board and commission sponsored by the Township, most are volunteers and give of themselves freely to help out others and regardless of how partisan the process of their appointments are they deserve to be thanked.

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.

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