Borough strategizes to attract funds for field lighting
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — Borough officials are back to the drawing board for a plan on how to get lighting for one of the town’s parks after an application for Monmouth County Open Space grant funds was rejected.
The Borough Council took up the topic at the May 18 workshop meeting where the possibility of adding lights to two football fields and the parking lot of 37- acre Liberty Park II located on West Park Avenue was discussed.
Councilman Gary Baldwin said he recently met with Pop Warner as well as borough officials in order to come up with a plan.
“Our objective was to sit down with the Pop Warner president and vice president and sort of game-plan where we need to go,” he said. “What we really came to a consensus on is that everyone should go back and gather information, and again we would meet on the subject and make a determination as to what we can and should do.”
Field lighting became a controversial issue in Tinton Falls in 2009 when Pop Warner parents and officials complained at a council meeting when the original grant proposal did not contain a plan for lighting.
The application was then revised to include the lighting, but was ultimately rejected by the county.
Tinton Falls Engineer David Marks, T&M Associates, said that different types of lighting for the field were considered.
“We looked at a couple of alternatives,” he said. “We evaluated the park, we evaluated our options available for lighting the field as well as the parking lot. We looked at a couple of alternatives for types of lighting.”
Marks said solar-powered lighting was considered, but it isn’t yet cost effective.
“We looked at solar powered light fixtures,” he said. “At this point in time, the technology isn’t there to make it a viable option.
“Maintenance costs are too high right now, batteries need to be replaced too often,” he added. “Right now the technology isn’t there; in a couple of years the discussion might be quite different.”
Marks went on to detail what he felt was the best option.
“Another alternative would be to install conventional parking lot lighting and potentially put in some sort of solar ray on the building,” he said. “I think at this point the best alternative for the parking lot would be to install an LED fixture similar to what we have at the Sycamore Avenue Soccer Complex.
“At this point in time, it is the most energy efficient and puts out the cleanest light.”
Marks said that the Pop Warner representatives came to the meeting prepared with estimates for how much the lighting would cost.
“We put together cost estimates, the total project costs, with some level of contingences, was about $370,000,” he said.
Baldwin explained that there is little hope for grant money.
“It would be quite likely that if we were to resubmit, I’m told it wouldn’t go anywhere but downhill,” he said. “For a one-sport function, it just doesn’t show enough use of the field to make the county go ‘Yeah, that’s a good project.’ ” We really are back to square one.”
Marks also explained some of the disadvantages of the application.
“The current project was a little top isolated,” he said. “If we only proposed the lighting, we really wouldn’t have an opportunity to be competitive in this program.
“I guess as economic times get worse, competition is going to get tougher. The grant sources are going to get tougher; I think [the county] funds are going to drop.
“When I met with the county, they said Liberty II is definitely a fundable park, but the particular project we put together didn’t strike with enough broad strokes to cover.”
Marks did say that if the council wanted to try for the grant, he would put together a proposal.
“The Monmouth County Open Space grant was a matching grant to a max of $250,000,” he said. “Those applications are due in September, so obviously if we wanted to put this project in that grant cycle, then this project won’t happen for quite a while.”
Marks said that to make the application more attractive, the borough must look toward other uses for the field.
“We have to talk about additional uses,” he said. “Whatever we do would have to be in a different season.”
Councilman Andy Mayer agreed.
“It would be helpful to show that we are going to get more bang for our buck,” he said.
Councilman Scott Larkin asked whether it would be possible to convert the field to turf.
“If we looked into a turf field where we could put multiple lines and play multiple sports, might that be more willing to work by the county?” he asked.
Marks agreed that it would be more attractive to the county, but it would probably be too expensive.
“I don’t see why that wouldn’t help our chances, but off the top of my head, a footballsized turf field is a million dollars,” he said. “Keep in mind that the most you’ll get out of the county is $250,000.
“You are starting to outpace what they can manage, but they would certainly support that use. ” Councilman Duane Morrill said that parking might be most important to the field.
“If anyone went down to the Pop Warner game on a Saturday or Sunday they’d know that there is not really much space to put any other kind of activity there,” he said. “Parking is a nightmare.”
Morrill and Baldwin both said that the picturewith the park should become clearer in the coming weeks.
“Open space is setting up a priority list, and they are trying to get that to us before our June 1 meeting,” Morrill said.
“There probably isn’t a whole lot of time left to do much for this playing year. We will try to accelerate it as best as we can for the sake of the children,” Baldwin said.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Defamation suit targets campaign flier
Defamation suit targets campaign flier
Suit seeks campaign records, unspecified monetary damages
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Less than two weeks after Councilman Brian Unger and Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider faced off for the mayor’s seat, the two will be heading to court in a defamation lawsuit brought by Schneider.
In the days after his May 11 election victory over Unger, Schneider alluded to a possible defamation lawsuit against Unger over controversial campaign fliers.
On May 21, Schneider’s attorney, Vincent P. Manning, confirmed that a defamation suit was filed that day in state Superior Court in Freehold naming Unger, his campaign consultant Pat Politano and the Unger Change Team as defendants.
The suit targets a campaign flier sent out in the days before the election by the Unger campaign.
According to the two-count complaint, “On or about May 5 and May 6, the defendants made statements and produced, copied and distributed written material to third parties of and concerning Adam Schneider which communicated to and was understood by them that Adam Schneider had been bribed and that he in his capacity as an attorney … and as mayor of the City of Long Branch accepted the payment of money and other goods for services with corrupt intent to allow such payments to influence his actions, votes or opinions.”
The complaint states the allegations were communicated “with actual knowledge that the statements were false or with reckless disregard of their truth or falsity, thereby causing the plaintiff to sustain damages.”
In the second count, the complaint charges the defendants “engaged in a civil conspiracy to defame the plaintiff in order to obtain the benefits of public office.”
The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Unger could not be reached for comment for this article.
Manning described the mailer sent out by the Unger campaign that led to his drafting a letter on May 9 demanding an apology and retraction and a halt to further allegations from Unger and Politano.
According to Manning, of Manning, Caliendo and Thomson, Freehold, neither Unger nor Politano issued an apology.
“[The flier] states clearly in black and white, ‘Mayor Schneider bribed,’ ” Manning said in the interview. “That is a very serious allegation to make about somebody, particularly a public official.
“The only recourse Mayor Schneider has is to file a lawsuit against the people responsible and take the case to trial,” he added. “Put it in the hands of a jury to make a decision.”
Manning had previously addressed the allegations made in the campaign materials, which he said connected Schneider to an alleged bribe claim made by state’s witness and fallen local real estate tycoon Solomon Dwek during the trial of an Ocean County public official.
“Maybe it was taken out of context; either way, I think Mr. Unger should have done some due diligence to discover whether this is the kind of guy they want to rely on,” Manning said previously.
“They are relying on Solomon Dwek to say whether Mayor Schneider took a bribe; that is a weak foundation.”
Manning explained last week in an interview that using the Unger Change Team and the unnamed John Doe and ABC entities provides the option of adding more defendants after further investigation.
“Usually people form some sort of corporate entity in order to act, and I haven’t completed our investigation into it, but I would assume that the Unger Change Team was incorporated somehow,” he said. “The fictitiously named John Doe and ABC allow us to amend the complaint down the road if we can identify other people who are responsible.”
Manning said that Unger’s running mates currently aren’t being named.
“I don’t know if the people that were running with Unger have any responsibility to this,” he said.
According to the complaint, the defendants have 35 days to respond, or the court may enter a judgment against them. Depositions are scheduled for June 6.
The suit is requesting that Unger provide his records from the election.
“All books, records and documents in your possession, custody or control, created, maintained or used by you in 2010 for the Office of Mayor of the City of Long Branch, including but not limited to checkbooks, bank statements, ledgers, memoranda, correspondence, receipts and campaign literature,” the complaint states.
Manning said that there is no dollar amount currently attached to the suit.
“In New Jersey, it is not permissible to put a dollar amount in the complaint,” he said. “It is unspecified money damages, and as you move down the road, you try to negotiate the settlement.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Suit seeks campaign records, unspecified monetary damages
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Less than two weeks after Councilman Brian Unger and Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider faced off for the mayor’s seat, the two will be heading to court in a defamation lawsuit brought by Schneider.
In the days after his May 11 election victory over Unger, Schneider alluded to a possible defamation lawsuit against Unger over controversial campaign fliers.
On May 21, Schneider’s attorney, Vincent P. Manning, confirmed that a defamation suit was filed that day in state Superior Court in Freehold naming Unger, his campaign consultant Pat Politano and the Unger Change Team as defendants.
The suit targets a campaign flier sent out in the days before the election by the Unger campaign.
According to the two-count complaint, “On or about May 5 and May 6, the defendants made statements and produced, copied and distributed written material to third parties of and concerning Adam Schneider which communicated to and was understood by them that Adam Schneider had been bribed and that he in his capacity as an attorney … and as mayor of the City of Long Branch accepted the payment of money and other goods for services with corrupt intent to allow such payments to influence his actions, votes or opinions.”
The complaint states the allegations were communicated “with actual knowledge that the statements were false or with reckless disregard of their truth or falsity, thereby causing the plaintiff to sustain damages.”
In the second count, the complaint charges the defendants “engaged in a civil conspiracy to defame the plaintiff in order to obtain the benefits of public office.”
The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Unger could not be reached for comment for this article.
Manning described the mailer sent out by the Unger campaign that led to his drafting a letter on May 9 demanding an apology and retraction and a halt to further allegations from Unger and Politano.
According to Manning, of Manning, Caliendo and Thomson, Freehold, neither Unger nor Politano issued an apology.
“[The flier] states clearly in black and white, ‘Mayor Schneider bribed,’ ” Manning said in the interview. “That is a very serious allegation to make about somebody, particularly a public official.
“The only recourse Mayor Schneider has is to file a lawsuit against the people responsible and take the case to trial,” he added. “Put it in the hands of a jury to make a decision.”
Manning had previously addressed the allegations made in the campaign materials, which he said connected Schneider to an alleged bribe claim made by state’s witness and fallen local real estate tycoon Solomon Dwek during the trial of an Ocean County public official.
“Maybe it was taken out of context; either way, I think Mr. Unger should have done some due diligence to discover whether this is the kind of guy they want to rely on,” Manning said previously.
“They are relying on Solomon Dwek to say whether Mayor Schneider took a bribe; that is a weak foundation.”
Manning explained last week in an interview that using the Unger Change Team and the unnamed John Doe and ABC entities provides the option of adding more defendants after further investigation.
“Usually people form some sort of corporate entity in order to act, and I haven’t completed our investigation into it, but I would assume that the Unger Change Team was incorporated somehow,” he said. “The fictitiously named John Doe and ABC allow us to amend the complaint down the road if we can identify other people who are responsible.”
Manning said that Unger’s running mates currently aren’t being named.
“I don’t know if the people that were running with Unger have any responsibility to this,” he said.
According to the complaint, the defendants have 35 days to respond, or the court may enter a judgment against them. Depositions are scheduled for June 6.
The suit is requesting that Unger provide his records from the election.
“All books, records and documents in your possession, custody or control, created, maintained or used by you in 2010 for the Office of Mayor of the City of Long Branch, including but not limited to checkbooks, bank statements, ledgers, memoranda, correspondence, receipts and campaign literature,” the complaint states.
Manning said that there is no dollar amount currently attached to the suit.
“In New Jersey, it is not permissible to put a dollar amount in the complaint,” he said. “It is unspecified money damages, and as you move down the road, you try to negotiate the settlement.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
City seeks state funds for site remediation
City seeks state funds for site remediation
Pax plans mixed use development for site
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — City officials have applied for state funding for an environmental study on a property in the Broadway Arts redevelopment zone.
The City Council voted 4-0 at the May 12 meeting to approve a resolution reaffirming the property located on the corner of Belmont Avenue and Third Avenue as a redevelopment zone. Councilman David Brown was absent for the vote.
Business Administrator Howard Woolley Jr. said the city has a developer’s agreement with Pax Construction, which owns the property, and that the city must do an environmental study before the property changes hands.
“There was a tank in the ground when we were conveying it for Pax about two years ago,” he said. “Part of the agreement is that we had to do an environmental study on it.
“We found out we had an oil tank in the ground there,” he added. “When we took the oil tank out, we found out there was a slight amount of contamination.”
Woolley explained that the city is looking to apply for funding from the state to help with the remediation of the site.
“We are applying to the state for their hazardous discharge site remediation fund to get funding to finish the study and to do any necessary cleanup,” he said. “They made funds available, so we don’t have to use any city money.
“In order to get that, you have to have the resolution. It’s a requirement for applying for the funds.”
Woolley gave some history of the property.
“It used to be a parking lot and a small office,” he said. “It actually is in an area of redevelopment since 1996, but they wanted this specific resolution passed.”
The property sits in the Broadway Corridor zone, and Woolley said a recent court decision leaves the status of the zone unclear.
Last month the state Appellate Court ruled that because of recent landmark court decisions, the redevelopment ordinances in the Broadway Arts zone are invalid, and the city now has the option to make its case that the zone meets the tougher standards found to be necessary by the courts.
Woolley explained what Pax plans to do on the property.
“They want to build commercial space with residential above it,” he said. “We approved it, I want to say back in 2008.
“Part of our developer designation agreement with them is to convey the property before they buy it from us.”
Woolley said the city doesn’t expect much of a problem clearing the site.
“These things can go from a $20,000 or $30,000 project to a $200,000,” he added. “You never know.”
He gave a timeline for the study, which is to be done by Birdsall Engineering.
“Once we get the go-ahead, it will probably be completed within 45 days,” he said. “Hopefully we will get going on it in the next two or three weeks.”
Pax Construction and the city reached a developer’s agreement in 2008 on a proposed plan for 22 live/work units to be constructed on the property.
The project also included a 52-space parking garage, a restaurant, six stores, a rooftop café, a dance studio and an art gallery.
Principals in Pax Construction are the Pereira family, who are also partners in the Broadway Arts Center redevelopment project in the downtown Broadway redevelopment area.
Pax plans mixed use development for site
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — City officials have applied for state funding for an environmental study on a property in the Broadway Arts redevelopment zone.
The City Council voted 4-0 at the May 12 meeting to approve a resolution reaffirming the property located on the corner of Belmont Avenue and Third Avenue as a redevelopment zone. Councilman David Brown was absent for the vote.
Business Administrator Howard Woolley Jr. said the city has a developer’s agreement with Pax Construction, which owns the property, and that the city must do an environmental study before the property changes hands.
“There was a tank in the ground when we were conveying it for Pax about two years ago,” he said. “Part of the agreement is that we had to do an environmental study on it.
“We found out we had an oil tank in the ground there,” he added. “When we took the oil tank out, we found out there was a slight amount of contamination.”
Woolley explained that the city is looking to apply for funding from the state to help with the remediation of the site.
“We are applying to the state for their hazardous discharge site remediation fund to get funding to finish the study and to do any necessary cleanup,” he said. “They made funds available, so we don’t have to use any city money.
“In order to get that, you have to have the resolution. It’s a requirement for applying for the funds.”
Woolley gave some history of the property.
“It used to be a parking lot and a small office,” he said. “It actually is in an area of redevelopment since 1996, but they wanted this specific resolution passed.”
The property sits in the Broadway Corridor zone, and Woolley said a recent court decision leaves the status of the zone unclear.
Last month the state Appellate Court ruled that because of recent landmark court decisions, the redevelopment ordinances in the Broadway Arts zone are invalid, and the city now has the option to make its case that the zone meets the tougher standards found to be necessary by the courts.
Woolley explained what Pax plans to do on the property.
“They want to build commercial space with residential above it,” he said. “We approved it, I want to say back in 2008.
“Part of our developer designation agreement with them is to convey the property before they buy it from us.”
Woolley said the city doesn’t expect much of a problem clearing the site.
“These things can go from a $20,000 or $30,000 project to a $200,000,” he added. “You never know.”
He gave a timeline for the study, which is to be done by Birdsall Engineering.
“Once we get the go-ahead, it will probably be completed within 45 days,” he said. “Hopefully we will get going on it in the next two or three weeks.”
Pax Construction and the city reached a developer’s agreement in 2008 on a proposed plan for 22 live/work units to be constructed on the property.
The project also included a 52-space parking garage, a restaurant, six stores, a rooftop café, a dance studio and an art gallery.
Principals in Pax Construction are the Pereira family, who are also partners in the Broadway Arts Center redevelopment project in the downtown Broadway redevelopment area.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Schneider talks future, reflects on campaign
Schneider talks future, reflects on campaign
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Newly re-elected, six-term Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said last week that his administration’s main focus for the next four years will be making the pier and ferry terminal proposed for the oceanfront a reality.
Mayor Adam Schneider Mayor Adam Schneider “I want to get the pier built,” Schneider said. “The biggest goal is to get the design finished and the project funded. That has the biggest impact on the town.”
According to the unofficial election results, Schneider received 2,487 votes in the May 11 election, soundly defeating rival Councilman Brian Unger with 1,617 votes and financial adviser Robert Krebs with 459 votes.
With the election behind him, Schneider is looking to the future.
He said another important focus for the city would be whether the state government makes any changes that will impact the way municipalities do business.
“The second thing is to work with Trenton; we don’t know what’s coming from Trenton yet,” he said. “We lost a lot of money in state aid, and I anticipate that is going to be the way things work from here on out.
“What rules is the state going to change in how cities are going to be run, and will they make cities more efficient and more cost-effective?” he added.
Schneider acknowledged that he is unsure whether this will be his last term.
“I’m not going to say this is it,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m going to feel like four years from now.
“Right now I’m still on the rather ecstatic side.”
In the week leading up to the election, testimony by federal witness Solomon Dwek in a corruption trial included the allegation that he used a middleman to bribe officials in Long Branch, including the mayor and members of council, whom he did not name.
The Unger campaign used the testimony as campaign fodder, which Schneider said made the victory sweeter.
“It was in one way the most rewarding,” he said. “The most disgusting attack ever leveled on me came last week, and not only didn’t the voters not believe it, they resoundingly supported me.”
His sixth term will be somewhat different for Schneider because longtime council members David Brown, Michael DeStefano and Anthony Giordano opted not to run. Taking their place on Schneider’s ticket are Joy Bastelli, Kate Billings and Michael Sirriani, along with current Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli, who won re-election.
Schneider’s fifth running mate, Al Menkin, was defeated by just 11 votes, losing to former Councilman John Pallone.
Schneider acknowledged that he expects a learning curve for his rookie members of council.
“I look forward to working with the new running mates, and I’m going to miss Anthony, Dave and Mike,” he said. “They also aren’t going anywhere; they just aren’t going to be councilmen anymore.
“There is certainly going to be a learning curve.”
Schneider admitted that he generally doesn’t look forward to campaigns, but is competitive.
“Campaigns are always very much a roller coaster,” he said. “I’m glad it’s over.
“I dread the campaign, and I don’t look forward to it,” he added. “When I’m in the middle of it, I’m very good at it.”
Schneider said he feels a little different coming out of this campaign compared to how he has felt after some previous campaigns.
“I think I’m going to recover from this one fairly quickly,” he said. “I’ve come out of campaigns where I was incredibly burned out.
“I don’t feel that way right now,” he added. “I had fun this campaign.”
Schneider also looked back at his previous four years as mayor.
“Manahassett Creek Park was a substantial issue,” he said. “Four years ago people didn’t think it was going to happen.
“You go down there any particular night and there are 300 or 400 people,” he added. “If you are involved in any sport in the city, you are there, from young kids to grownups.
“Four years ago, Pier Village wasn’t open and running,” he continued. “We didn’t have the summer concert series down there until like 2006. All these different things hit.”
The election results were a big topic at the May 12 City Council meeting.“ I would like to congratulate all the people who ran for office,” Michelle Bobrow said during the public comment portion. “I hope we will have more open government, more communication, more of being able to have respect from our elected officials by eye contact and communication.”
Council candidate Harold “Pudgy” Cooper said he was disappointed with the low voter turnout.
“Let me congratulate the winners of yesterday’s election and let me scold the general populous of this city for being so damn lazy that we refuse to come out and exercise our rights to vote,” Cooper said loudly. “In a city of 14,000 voters, we have 4,500 turn out. It’s
ridiculous, people.”
Diana Multare, a member of Long Branch Citizens for Good Government, promised that the group would be monitoring the new administration.
“We fully intend to keep your feet to the fire, just like we’ve done in the past,” she said.A
t the end of the meeting, Unger looked back at his four years on council.
“It’s been a pleasure serving this City Council,” he said. “I enjoyed working with the entire council.
“I think you have an excellent new council coming in,” he added.
I’d like to have seen our team win, but I think the city’s in good hands.”
Unger admitted that there were some mistakes but some successes as well.
“There are some things that I wish I did better, there are some things I wish I didn’t do at all,” he said. “I am proud of the things I did do, like promoting eminent domain legislation, I got the beach fees reduced, I have been pushing for cable broadcast of our council meetings, and I still hope to see an historic preservation commission.”
Giordano also spoke confidently of the future of the city under the new administration.
“I am very confident in their abilities. I am very confident they will lead the city in the right direction,” he said. “I think we are in good hands the next four years.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Newly re-elected, six-term Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said last week that his administration’s main focus for the next four years will be making the pier and ferry terminal proposed for the oceanfront a reality.
Mayor Adam Schneider Mayor Adam Schneider “I want to get the pier built,” Schneider said. “The biggest goal is to get the design finished and the project funded. That has the biggest impact on the town.”
According to the unofficial election results, Schneider received 2,487 votes in the May 11 election, soundly defeating rival Councilman Brian Unger with 1,617 votes and financial adviser Robert Krebs with 459 votes.
With the election behind him, Schneider is looking to the future.
He said another important focus for the city would be whether the state government makes any changes that will impact the way municipalities do business.
“The second thing is to work with Trenton; we don’t know what’s coming from Trenton yet,” he said. “We lost a lot of money in state aid, and I anticipate that is going to be the way things work from here on out.
“What rules is the state going to change in how cities are going to be run, and will they make cities more efficient and more cost-effective?” he added.
Schneider acknowledged that he is unsure whether this will be his last term.
“I’m not going to say this is it,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m going to feel like four years from now.
“Right now I’m still on the rather ecstatic side.”
In the week leading up to the election, testimony by federal witness Solomon Dwek in a corruption trial included the allegation that he used a middleman to bribe officials in Long Branch, including the mayor and members of council, whom he did not name.
The Unger campaign used the testimony as campaign fodder, which Schneider said made the victory sweeter.
“It was in one way the most rewarding,” he said. “The most disgusting attack ever leveled on me came last week, and not only didn’t the voters not believe it, they resoundingly supported me.”
His sixth term will be somewhat different for Schneider because longtime council members David Brown, Michael DeStefano and Anthony Giordano opted not to run. Taking their place on Schneider’s ticket are Joy Bastelli, Kate Billings and Michael Sirriani, along with current Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli, who won re-election.
Schneider’s fifth running mate, Al Menkin, was defeated by just 11 votes, losing to former Councilman John Pallone.
Schneider acknowledged that he expects a learning curve for his rookie members of council.
“I look forward to working with the new running mates, and I’m going to miss Anthony, Dave and Mike,” he said. “They also aren’t going anywhere; they just aren’t going to be councilmen anymore.
“There is certainly going to be a learning curve.”
Schneider admitted that he generally doesn’t look forward to campaigns, but is competitive.
“Campaigns are always very much a roller coaster,” he said. “I’m glad it’s over.
“I dread the campaign, and I don’t look forward to it,” he added. “When I’m in the middle of it, I’m very good at it.”
Schneider said he feels a little different coming out of this campaign compared to how he has felt after some previous campaigns.
“I think I’m going to recover from this one fairly quickly,” he said. “I’ve come out of campaigns where I was incredibly burned out.
“I don’t feel that way right now,” he added. “I had fun this campaign.”
Schneider also looked back at his previous four years as mayor.
“Manahassett Creek Park was a substantial issue,” he said. “Four years ago people didn’t think it was going to happen.
“You go down there any particular night and there are 300 or 400 people,” he added. “If you are involved in any sport in the city, you are there, from young kids to grownups.
“Four years ago, Pier Village wasn’t open and running,” he continued. “We didn’t have the summer concert series down there until like 2006. All these different things hit.”
The election results were a big topic at the May 12 City Council meeting.“ I would like to congratulate all the people who ran for office,” Michelle Bobrow said during the public comment portion. “I hope we will have more open government, more communication, more of being able to have respect from our elected officials by eye contact and communication.”
Council candidate Harold “Pudgy” Cooper said he was disappointed with the low voter turnout.
“Let me congratulate the winners of yesterday’s election and let me scold the general populous of this city for being so damn lazy that we refuse to come out and exercise our rights to vote,” Cooper said loudly. “In a city of 14,000 voters, we have 4,500 turn out. It’s
ridiculous, people.”
Diana Multare, a member of Long Branch Citizens for Good Government, promised that the group would be monitoring the new administration.
“We fully intend to keep your feet to the fire, just like we’ve done in the past,” she said.A
t the end of the meeting, Unger looked back at his four years on council.
“It’s been a pleasure serving this City Council,” he said. “I enjoyed working with the entire council.
“I think you have an excellent new council coming in,” he added.
I’d like to have seen our team win, but I think the city’s in good hands.”
Unger admitted that there were some mistakes but some successes as well.
“There are some things that I wish I did better, there are some things I wish I didn’t do at all,” he said. “I am proud of the things I did do, like promoting eminent domain legislation, I got the beach fees reduced, I have been pushing for cable broadcast of our council meetings, and I still hope to see an historic preservation commission.”
Giordano also spoke confidently of the future of the city under the new administration.
“I am very confident in their abilities. I am very confident they will lead the city in the right direction,” he said. “I think we are in good hands the next four years.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
L.B. gears up for beach season
L.B. gears up for beach season
Beach fees remain flat for 2010 season
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — With Memorial Day approaching, Long Branch officials are getting ready for beach season.
In the latest step, the City Council voted 4-0 at the May 12 meeting to set the beach fees for the 2010 season. Councilman David Brown was absent for the vote.
According to the resolution approved, a daily beach badge for persons between the ages of 18 and 61 is $5 and a seasonal badge is $35. Beach admission for children under 17 and senior adults over 62 will remain free.
Long Branch Director of Finance Ronald Mehlhorn Sr. said that fees remain flat from last year, which was a record-breaking year for beach revenues.
“Just short of a $1 million [in revenues], like $990,000 and change,” Mehlhorn said. “That is more than ever; that is the highest revenue we’ve ever had.”
Mehlhorn said that one of the factors for the high revenues may have been the poor economy and the good weather.
“Because of the economy, people are staying home, and perfect weather — everything added to those figures,” he said.
Mehlhorn said that beach revenues are not separated in the budget.
“It goes into the general fund for taxes,” he said.
Even though the revenues came in high, Mehlhorn said that state regulations don’t allow the municipality to turn much of a profit from beach fees.
“You are not allowed to make a profit overall, over a couple of years,” he said. “At some point you might be able to make a little bit more than what you spend, but it’s averaged out over a couple of years.
“If you are making a profit, you would have to adjust the fees,” he added. “You’re not allowed to make a profit off the beach: it has to be a break even or lose.”
Mehlhorn gave some of the expenses that balance out the beach revenues.
“We spend $420,000 on salaries alone, we have operating expenses, and the Public Works Department picks up garbage over there,” he said.
Mehlhorn said that if revenues remain high, then they would have to make some changes to the beach.
“Over a three- or four-year period, there is never going to be any kind of profit unless we continue to make a million or more,” he said. “Then we’d have to assess it and adjust it accordingly.
“Either the expenses would have to come up, you’d have to do something more for the beach operation, or you reduce the beach badge surplus,” he added. “It can be close, but I’m talking about people making millions; they are not talking about a couple of dollars.”
At the meeting, the council also passed three resolutions authorizing manpower and equipment to rake the beaches for the Ocean Cove Condominiums, the Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis Club and the public beach in Monmouth Beach.
Mehlhorn explained that there isn’t much revenue that comes out of that work.
“That is just a courtesy,” he said. “It is supposed to be a break-even kind of thing. We don’t make much money, but we cover our costs.
“We charge $85 an hour, and that’s enough to pay for the guy that’s driving it and the gas that’s used and the wear and tear on the machine,” he said. “I think that revenue is less than $10,000 for the year.”
With the success of the beach, Recreation Supervisor Shannon Bruno said last week that hiring lifeguards is not going to be a problem.
“They find us, we don’t find them,” she said. “Between to part time and full time, we have about 75 lifeguards.
“We have returning about 60, and then we hire another 15 or 16,” she added. “I’m not sure exactly how many [applications] we got, but it’s a stack.”
Bruno also said the city has a contract with NJ Transit that provides a convenience to some patrons traveling to Long Branch via train.
“We have a contract with New Jersey Transit where if you are coming down by train, you can buy your beach ticket on the train,” she said.
Long Branch has 15 beaches: Seaview Avenue, Great Lawn, Madison Avenue, Laird Street, Chelsea Avenue, Melrose Terrace, Morris Avenue, Pavilion Avenue, North Bath Avenue, South Bath Avenue, Matilda Terrace, Cottage Place, West End, Brighton Avenue, and New Court.
Bruno said the Chelsea Avenue Beach is generally the most successful.
“The Chelsea beach, which is inside of Pier Village, is usually one of the biggest revenue beaches,” she said.
Beach season runs from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Beach fees remain flat for 2010 season
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — With Memorial Day approaching, Long Branch officials are getting ready for beach season.
In the latest step, the City Council voted 4-0 at the May 12 meeting to set the beach fees for the 2010 season. Councilman David Brown was absent for the vote.
According to the resolution approved, a daily beach badge for persons between the ages of 18 and 61 is $5 and a seasonal badge is $35. Beach admission for children under 17 and senior adults over 62 will remain free.
Long Branch Director of Finance Ronald Mehlhorn Sr. said that fees remain flat from last year, which was a record-breaking year for beach revenues.
“Just short of a $1 million [in revenues], like $990,000 and change,” Mehlhorn said. “That is more than ever; that is the highest revenue we’ve ever had.”
Mehlhorn said that one of the factors for the high revenues may have been the poor economy and the good weather.
“Because of the economy, people are staying home, and perfect weather — everything added to those figures,” he said.
Mehlhorn said that beach revenues are not separated in the budget.
“It goes into the general fund for taxes,” he said.
Even though the revenues came in high, Mehlhorn said that state regulations don’t allow the municipality to turn much of a profit from beach fees.
“You are not allowed to make a profit overall, over a couple of years,” he said. “At some point you might be able to make a little bit more than what you spend, but it’s averaged out over a couple of years.
“If you are making a profit, you would have to adjust the fees,” he added. “You’re not allowed to make a profit off the beach: it has to be a break even or lose.”
Mehlhorn gave some of the expenses that balance out the beach revenues.
“We spend $420,000 on salaries alone, we have operating expenses, and the Public Works Department picks up garbage over there,” he said.
Mehlhorn said that if revenues remain high, then they would have to make some changes to the beach.
“Over a three- or four-year period, there is never going to be any kind of profit unless we continue to make a million or more,” he said. “Then we’d have to assess it and adjust it accordingly.
“Either the expenses would have to come up, you’d have to do something more for the beach operation, or you reduce the beach badge surplus,” he added. “It can be close, but I’m talking about people making millions; they are not talking about a couple of dollars.”
At the meeting, the council also passed three resolutions authorizing manpower and equipment to rake the beaches for the Ocean Cove Condominiums, the Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis Club and the public beach in Monmouth Beach.
Mehlhorn explained that there isn’t much revenue that comes out of that work.
“That is just a courtesy,” he said. “It is supposed to be a break-even kind of thing. We don’t make much money, but we cover our costs.
“We charge $85 an hour, and that’s enough to pay for the guy that’s driving it and the gas that’s used and the wear and tear on the machine,” he said. “I think that revenue is less than $10,000 for the year.”
With the success of the beach, Recreation Supervisor Shannon Bruno said last week that hiring lifeguards is not going to be a problem.
“They find us, we don’t find them,” she said. “Between to part time and full time, we have about 75 lifeguards.
“We have returning about 60, and then we hire another 15 or 16,” she added. “I’m not sure exactly how many [applications] we got, but it’s a stack.”
Bruno also said the city has a contract with NJ Transit that provides a convenience to some patrons traveling to Long Branch via train.
“We have a contract with New Jersey Transit where if you are coming down by train, you can buy your beach ticket on the train,” she said.
Long Branch has 15 beaches: Seaview Avenue, Great Lawn, Madison Avenue, Laird Street, Chelsea Avenue, Melrose Terrace, Morris Avenue, Pavilion Avenue, North Bath Avenue, South Bath Avenue, Matilda Terrace, Cottage Place, West End, Brighton Avenue, and New Court.
Bruno said the Chelsea Avenue Beach is generally the most successful.
“The Chelsea beach, which is inside of Pier Village, is usually one of the biggest revenue beaches,” she said.
Beach season runs from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Pallone stumps for financial reform
Pallone stumps for financial reform
Red Bank officials, businesses support banking overhaul
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
With a financial reform bill moving closer to becoming a reality, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) held a rally to promote the reform in the heart of the Red Bank business district on Monday.
Red Bank Councilman Ed Zipprich (l-r) and Mayor Pasquale Menna join Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. and Leslie Schlesinger, of NJ Citizen Action, to advocate for financial reform legislation. JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Red Bank Councilman Ed Zipprich (l-r) and Mayor Pasquale Menna join Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. and Leslie Schlesinger, of NJ Citizen Action, to advocate for financial reform legislation. JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Local politicians, business owners and reform supporters attended the May 17 rally held in front of the Broadway Diner on Monmouth Street, where Pallone warned that they do not want another financial meltdown.
“The consequences for communities like this could have been dire,” he said at the event, billed as a “Main Street to Wall Street Reform Effort.”
“There was the bank bailout and the economic recovery package, and all these things made it so it didn’t get worse.
Tom Fishkin, owner of Readie’s Fine Foods in Red Bank, and Nancy Adams, executive director of Red Bank RiverCenter, discuss the importance of the proposed reforms for small businesses. Tom Fishkin, owner of Readie’s Fine Foods in Red Bank, and Nancy Adams, executive director of Red Bank RiverCenter, discuss the importance of the proposed reforms for small businesses. “We don’t want to repeat it,” he added. “There is always the danger of sliding back, so we want to place reforms and restrictions on the financial sector so we don’t have a repeat of what happened a year and a half ago.”
The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009, or HR 4173, was passed by the House last December, with Pallone voting in favor. A similar bill is currently before the Senate and is expected to be voted on soon.
According to a press release from Pallone’s legislative office, the reform bill would end bailouts, protect retirement funds, protect consumers and inject transparency and accountability into the financial system.
It would achieve those goals by creating a Consumer Financial ProtectionAgency, curtailing “too big to fail” financial firms, introducing new regulations to curb risky financial practices, and putting an end to predatory lending practices.
Pallone said there are steps in the bill to protect consumers from unfair practices.
“We tried to look at problems in the financial sector so it doesn’t get worse and protect the consumers so we don’t have the predatory lending,” he said. “The biggest issue is unless you are dealing with stocks and bonds, you’re not really aware of how your money’s being spent.”
He also said that he’d like to ensure that one company’s misfortune does not spread to others.
“What we are saying is that we don’t want these large concentrations in the market and we are not going to bail
out companies
again, we are just going to prevent the damage from spreading to other companies.”
Pallone went on to say that there has been legislation passed recently designed to help small businesses.
“These bills have been designed to provide financial incentives for small businesses,” he said.
One such provision, he said, is that employerswho hire unemployed people will pay reduced payroll tax.
“The other is trying to provide tax incentives for new businesses,” he said. “A third one is trying to entice businesses to expand through tax incentives.”
Pallone stressed the importance of small businesses in an economic recovery.
“We believe the way to create more jobs is to create more jobs in small business,” he said. “The real way to create jobs is to provide incentives for small businesses.”
Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna agreed that businesses are important to the health of the borough.
“We at the local level are looking at our ordinances to make them more business friendly and actually put people to work and to be able to effectively move forward into the 21st century,” he said. “In the past, people have tried to create a chasm between the business community and the residents, and that is just stupid.
“The business community represents 44 percent of our taxes, and that is a net tax,” he added. “They deserve our respect and assistance.”
Nancy Adams, executive director of Red Bank River- Center, the alliance that manages the downtown district, agreed that the government should be assisting small businesses.
“There are so little tools available to them,” she said. “What is really needed are some tools for some small businesses.
“The banks have not really been increasing their lending.”
Adams said that she has seen more people around Red Bank but it hasn’t necessarily translated into more business.
“We are seeing increasing foot traffic, but unfortunately those feet aren’t attached to people with money like they used to be,” she said. “We need those small business owners to keep their business going.”
One Red Bank small business owner explained that all the businesses in Red Bank are somewhat related.
“All the businesses in town feed each other,” Tom Fishkin, owner of Readie’s Fine Foods, said. “There are less people everywhere, there are less people engaging in business transactions.
“There are less people walking around doing business-to-business transactions,” he added.
Leslie Schlesinger, organizer with New Jersey Citizen Action, a statewide citizen watchdog coalition, said that this is a critical moment for financial reform.
“This is our chance to get financial reform done,” she said. “We passed it in the House in December, and right now the final debate on amendments is in the Senate.”
Schlesinger was critical of the amendments
added to the bill.
“The devil is in the detail in all the little amendment s that are coming along,” she said. “Wall Street is spending $1.4 million a day to lobby senators to vote on certain
amendments.
“There is so much pressure from the Wall Street lobbyists to water down this bill.”
Schlesinger said that Wall Street is unhappy with the bill, but Pallone argued that this would be best for them as well.
“I would argue that in the long run, another financial collapse isn’t good for Wall Street,” he said. “They obviously don’t see it that way because they want to do whatever they want without any regulations.”
Schlesinger also wanted to dispel rumors that reform would hurt businesses.
“I think there is this machine working that financial reform is not good for business,” she said. “That simply is not the case.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Red Bank officials, businesses support banking overhaul
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
With a financial reform bill moving closer to becoming a reality, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) held a rally to promote the reform in the heart of the Red Bank business district on Monday.
Red Bank Councilman Ed Zipprich (l-r) and Mayor Pasquale Menna join Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. and Leslie Schlesinger, of NJ Citizen Action, to advocate for financial reform legislation. JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Red Bank Councilman Ed Zipprich (l-r) and Mayor Pasquale Menna join Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. and Leslie Schlesinger, of NJ Citizen Action, to advocate for financial reform legislation. JACQUELINE HLAVENKA Local politicians, business owners and reform supporters attended the May 17 rally held in front of the Broadway Diner on Monmouth Street, where Pallone warned that they do not want another financial meltdown.
“The consequences for communities like this could have been dire,” he said at the event, billed as a “Main Street to Wall Street Reform Effort.”
“There was the bank bailout and the economic recovery package, and all these things made it so it didn’t get worse.
Tom Fishkin, owner of Readie’s Fine Foods in Red Bank, and Nancy Adams, executive director of Red Bank RiverCenter, discuss the importance of the proposed reforms for small businesses. Tom Fishkin, owner of Readie’s Fine Foods in Red Bank, and Nancy Adams, executive director of Red Bank RiverCenter, discuss the importance of the proposed reforms for small businesses. “We don’t want to repeat it,” he added. “There is always the danger of sliding back, so we want to place reforms and restrictions on the financial sector so we don’t have a repeat of what happened a year and a half ago.”
The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009, or HR 4173, was passed by the House last December, with Pallone voting in favor. A similar bill is currently before the Senate and is expected to be voted on soon.
According to a press release from Pallone’s legislative office, the reform bill would end bailouts, protect retirement funds, protect consumers and inject transparency and accountability into the financial system.
It would achieve those goals by creating a Consumer Financial ProtectionAgency, curtailing “too big to fail” financial firms, introducing new regulations to curb risky financial practices, and putting an end to predatory lending practices.
Pallone said there are steps in the bill to protect consumers from unfair practices.
“We tried to look at problems in the financial sector so it doesn’t get worse and protect the consumers so we don’t have the predatory lending,” he said. “The biggest issue is unless you are dealing with stocks and bonds, you’re not really aware of how your money’s being spent.”
He also said that he’d like to ensure that one company’s misfortune does not spread to others.
“What we are saying is that we don’t want these large concentrations in the market and we are not going to bail
out companies
again, we are just going to prevent the damage from spreading to other companies.”
Pallone went on to say that there has been legislation passed recently designed to help small businesses.
“These bills have been designed to provide financial incentives for small businesses,” he said.
One such provision, he said, is that employerswho hire unemployed people will pay reduced payroll tax.
“The other is trying to provide tax incentives for new businesses,” he said. “A third one is trying to entice businesses to expand through tax incentives.”
Pallone stressed the importance of small businesses in an economic recovery.
“We believe the way to create more jobs is to create more jobs in small business,” he said. “The real way to create jobs is to provide incentives for small businesses.”
Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna agreed that businesses are important to the health of the borough.
“We at the local level are looking at our ordinances to make them more business friendly and actually put people to work and to be able to effectively move forward into the 21st century,” he said. “In the past, people have tried to create a chasm between the business community and the residents, and that is just stupid.
“The business community represents 44 percent of our taxes, and that is a net tax,” he added. “They deserve our respect and assistance.”
Nancy Adams, executive director of Red Bank River- Center, the alliance that manages the downtown district, agreed that the government should be assisting small businesses.
“There are so little tools available to them,” she said. “What is really needed are some tools for some small businesses.
“The banks have not really been increasing their lending.”
Adams said that she has seen more people around Red Bank but it hasn’t necessarily translated into more business.
“We are seeing increasing foot traffic, but unfortunately those feet aren’t attached to people with money like they used to be,” she said. “We need those small business owners to keep their business going.”
One Red Bank small business owner explained that all the businesses in Red Bank are somewhat related.
“All the businesses in town feed each other,” Tom Fishkin, owner of Readie’s Fine Foods, said. “There are less people everywhere, there are less people engaging in business transactions.
“There are less people walking around doing business-to-business transactions,” he added.
Leslie Schlesinger, organizer with New Jersey Citizen Action, a statewide citizen watchdog coalition, said that this is a critical moment for financial reform.
“This is our chance to get financial reform done,” she said. “We passed it in the House in December, and right now the final debate on amendments is in the Senate.”
Schlesinger was critical of the amendments
added to the bill.
“The devil is in the detail in all the little amendment s that are coming along,” she said. “Wall Street is spending $1.4 million a day to lobby senators to vote on certain
amendments.
“There is so much pressure from the Wall Street lobbyists to water down this bill.”
Schlesinger said that Wall Street is unhappy with the bill, but Pallone argued that this would be best for them as well.
“I would argue that in the long run, another financial collapse isn’t good for Wall Street,” he said. “They obviously don’t see it that way because they want to do whatever they want without any regulations.”
Schlesinger also wanted to dispel rumors that reform would hurt businesses.
“I think there is this machine working that financial reform is not good for business,” she said. “That simply is not the case.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Friday, June 18, 2010
T.F. police chief segues to boro adminstrator
T.F. police chief segues to boro administrator
Retired in April, Turning takes on new role
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Former Police Chief Gerald Turning Sr. places his hand on the Bible held by his wife, Barbara, as he is sworn in as the borough’s new business administrator. KENNY WALTER Former Police Chief Gerald Turning Sr. places his hand on the Bible held by his wife, Barbara, as he is sworn in as the borough’s new business administrator. KENNY WALTER TINTON FALLS — Just a month into his retirement, former Tinton Falls Police Chief Gerry Turning Sr. has been appointed to a new position with the borough.
Turning will take over as borough administrator after the council unanimously passed a resolution approving his appointment at the May 4 meeting.
“This man is a man we’ve known for a long time,” Mayor Michael Skudera said. “He’s been with the borough for many years, and he has the institutional knowledge, the experience and the education.
“He will serve the borough well and improve Tinton Falls and make it an even better place to live.”
Councilman Gary Baldwin echoed Skudera’s comments about Turning.
“He’s been a loyal borough employee for nearly three decades and managed, in my opinion, the best police force in the state,” he said. “Gerry told me he can do this job, and I know he will do the job.”
Turning, who has a degree in public administration, spent 11 years as police chief and announced his retirement in February effective April 1.
Turning addressed the council and those in attendance at the meeting after the appointment, publicly thanking the borough for his appointment.
“I’d like to thank Mayor Skudera for my nomination,” he said. “I appreciate it, my wife appreciates it, and my family appreciates it.
“I’d like to thank the council for your support. Politics is a strange thing in Tinton Falls, as it is everywhere else; I really welcome your support. I will be here to answer your questions.”
Baldwin said he is confident that Turning will be an asset.
“He stated that he will cut expenses and increase the productivity in the borough’s departments, and I believe he can do that,” he said. “He knows the residents, he knows our problems, and he knows our strengths.
“I am most happy to give him my vote,” he added.
Turning said he hopes to focus on what will likely be a difficult budget.
“I look forward to working with the borough of Tinton Falls,” he said. “We are in a current budget problem in Tinton Falls, just like every other municipality.
“The mayor and I recognize that, and the gentleman to my right [Finance Director Stephen Pfeffer] recognizes that.
“I think we can work together very well to make Tinton Falls one of the best places on the planet to live. I live here, my children live here, and there is nothing I want to do more than just that.”
Turning joined the Tinton Falls Police Department in 1981, and both he and Baldwin joked about their own physical changes during their years with the borough.
“I’ve seen him here as way far back as when I had hair,” Baldwin said. “I know he’s been to every council meeting that I’ve been to, and I’ve been here quite a number of years.”
Turning responded in kind.
“I’m not going to talk about Mr. Baldwin’s hair, but mine was a different color then too,” Turning answered.
The administrator position became open in December when former Administrator W. Bryan Dempsey announced he would be leaving to take the same position in the borough of Spring Lake.
Director of Public Works John Bucciero volunteered to act as interim administrator while a replacement was sought.
Before appointing Turning, Skudera thanked Bucciero.
“I just want to take the time to publicly thank John Bucciero for the work he did as acting administrator and public works director,” he said. “Just the role of administrator is a job itself, and doing both roles and, mind you, volunteering for this role, John did a fantastic job.
“I couldn’t ask for a better person to do both jobs, and I want to thank you for your time and effort in making Tinton Falls a better place.”
Baldwin also thanked Bucciero.
“I can only echo those comments,” he said. “John has been a remarkably helping person.
“He never fails; when I call or email, I get an immediate answer with follow-up,” he added. “There is nothing more precious than that when you are trying to chase down an answer for a resident.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Retired in April, Turning takes on new role
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Former Police Chief Gerald Turning Sr. places his hand on the Bible held by his wife, Barbara, as he is sworn in as the borough’s new business administrator. KENNY WALTER Former Police Chief Gerald Turning Sr. places his hand on the Bible held by his wife, Barbara, as he is sworn in as the borough’s new business administrator. KENNY WALTER TINTON FALLS — Just a month into his retirement, former Tinton Falls Police Chief Gerry Turning Sr. has been appointed to a new position with the borough.
Turning will take over as borough administrator after the council unanimously passed a resolution approving his appointment at the May 4 meeting.
“This man is a man we’ve known for a long time,” Mayor Michael Skudera said. “He’s been with the borough for many years, and he has the institutional knowledge, the experience and the education.
“He will serve the borough well and improve Tinton Falls and make it an even better place to live.”
Councilman Gary Baldwin echoed Skudera’s comments about Turning.
“He’s been a loyal borough employee for nearly three decades and managed, in my opinion, the best police force in the state,” he said. “Gerry told me he can do this job, and I know he will do the job.”
Turning, who has a degree in public administration, spent 11 years as police chief and announced his retirement in February effective April 1.
Turning addressed the council and those in attendance at the meeting after the appointment, publicly thanking the borough for his appointment.
“I’d like to thank Mayor Skudera for my nomination,” he said. “I appreciate it, my wife appreciates it, and my family appreciates it.
“I’d like to thank the council for your support. Politics is a strange thing in Tinton Falls, as it is everywhere else; I really welcome your support. I will be here to answer your questions.”
Baldwin said he is confident that Turning will be an asset.
“He stated that he will cut expenses and increase the productivity in the borough’s departments, and I believe he can do that,” he said. “He knows the residents, he knows our problems, and he knows our strengths.
“I am most happy to give him my vote,” he added.
Turning said he hopes to focus on what will likely be a difficult budget.
“I look forward to working with the borough of Tinton Falls,” he said. “We are in a current budget problem in Tinton Falls, just like every other municipality.
“The mayor and I recognize that, and the gentleman to my right [Finance Director Stephen Pfeffer] recognizes that.
“I think we can work together very well to make Tinton Falls one of the best places on the planet to live. I live here, my children live here, and there is nothing I want to do more than just that.”
Turning joined the Tinton Falls Police Department in 1981, and both he and Baldwin joked about their own physical changes during their years with the borough.
“I’ve seen him here as way far back as when I had hair,” Baldwin said. “I know he’s been to every council meeting that I’ve been to, and I’ve been here quite a number of years.”
Turning responded in kind.
“I’m not going to talk about Mr. Baldwin’s hair, but mine was a different color then too,” Turning answered.
The administrator position became open in December when former Administrator W. Bryan Dempsey announced he would be leaving to take the same position in the borough of Spring Lake.
Director of Public Works John Bucciero volunteered to act as interim administrator while a replacement was sought.
Before appointing Turning, Skudera thanked Bucciero.
“I just want to take the time to publicly thank John Bucciero for the work he did as acting administrator and public works director,” he said. “Just the role of administrator is a job itself, and doing both roles and, mind you, volunteering for this role, John did a fantastic job.
“I couldn’t ask for a better person to do both jobs, and I want to thank you for your time and effort in making Tinton Falls a better place.”
Baldwin also thanked Bucciero.
“I can only echo those comments,” he said. “John has been a remarkably helping person.
“He never fails; when I call or email, I get an immediate answer with follow-up,” he added. “There is nothing more precious than that when you are trying to chase down an answer for a resident.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Grassroots group at odds with city of Long Branch over community garden
Grassroots group at odds with city of Long Branch over community garden
Jones: There will continue to be a garden at the site
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
After a contentious press conference last week, a local grassroots group announced they will be withdrawing support from Long Branch’s Seventh Avenue Community Garden.
Protestors hold up pictures of vegetables in front of the site of the Long Branch Community Garden on Seventh Avenue on May 3. Protestors hold up pictures of vegetables in front of the site of the Long Branch Community Garden on Seventh Avenue on May 3. The press conference was held at the garden on Seventh Avenue between Park Place and East Columbus Place on May 3, where members of the grassroots group InCahoots were protesting the city’s construction of a building at the garden site and locking the gate to the garden.
“Lisa [Bagwell] and I showed up to go into the garden to find out that the locks have changed and our key didn’t work,” InCahoots member Steve Treason said.
Jacob Jones, director of the Office of Community and Economic Development, attended the press conference and said that despite the construction, there will still be a garden at the site.
Building under construction at the site of the Long Branch Community Garden Building under construction at the site of the Long Branch Community Garden “There was no area taken from the garden,” he said. “We very much intend to have a garden.
“No one needs to panic, there will be a garden here.”
Jones explained that there is going to be an auxiliary building on site that will include a meeting room and storage space. There will also be a parking lot.
Jones said that the construction project has been in the works for sometime and everyone was aware of it.
“Everybody knew this, it is not new,” he said. “This is funded with federal dollars [Housing and Urban Development] and they’ve approved it.
“This has been in the works for three years; we’ve finally been able to get this building.”
Treason claimed that the line of communication between him and the city was not open.
“We didn’t discuss the plans, we had no idea there was going to be a parking lot,” he said.
Jones refuted Treason’s statement, saying that the parking lot would not affect the garden.
“That has nothing to do with the garden, Steve,” he said. “It just won’t be an exclusive community garden because we will have other people using the building.”
In a press release, InCahoots member Michael Marks announced that the group’s relationship with Long Branch is over.
“It is not clear to us why this happened,” Marks said. “We thought we had a collaboration with the city, but new decisions about use of this land have been made without including us or residents or members of the community.
“We acknowledge their power to do that, but we will not support people or organizations who operate like this. We’ll continue our discussions for community gardens with Asbury Park, but our relationship with Long Branch is over.”
Jones also gave some history of the garden in Long Branch.
“We’ve done these gardens for over 14 years,” he said. “Last year we decided to do this with InCahoots, which worked out fine, but we ran this garden without anybody else’s help besides job bank and volunteers.”
Marks gave some history of the group’s agreement with the city.
“This started in December 2008 with a proposal to the city of Long Branch,” he said. “After about four months of negotiations, we reached an agreement with the city to develop this as a community garden.
“Long Branch contributed the property and part of the agreement was a payment of about $4,000 a year from Long Branch to Lisa Bagwell to manage the garden. InCahoots paid an additional $6,000 to Bagwell.
“In addition, Long Branch provided some manpower in that they cut the grass every week, they tilled the soil, and they provided seeds, plants and tools.”
Marks said that the partnership with the city worked out well for everybody.
“Steve [Treason] worked out a nice partnership with the city where everyone was happy,” he said. “We calculated that several hundred people visited the site last year.
“We calculated that 4,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables was produced last year, 3,000 pounds of which was delivered to various community organizations.”
Some of the organizations Marks listed include Long Branch Senior Housing Centers, Long Branch Housing Authority buildings, food pantries, clients from the Long BranchConcordance and City Hall.
Treason agreed that the garden was a success.
“We can all agree that last year was a fantastic garden year,” he said.
Marks was critical of Jones’s treatment of InCahoots.
“So why did you enter into an agreement?” he said. “We only asked to be met equally. What kind of partnership is this? So you don’t need us and that is not the kind of relationship we want to have.”
Jones explained that he entered into an agreement with InCahoots because he felt they could benefit the garden.
“I have interest in running my garden, so if somebody is interested in helping me out, I will listen,” Jones said. “I didn’t ask Steve for any money and I don’t need any money now.
“I don’t need InCahoots’funds to do this. If you want to still work with us that’s fine, but if you don’t, we will still do this garden.
“We never entered into a partnership, I never knew Steve spent a single dime.”
Jones: There will continue to be a garden at the site
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
After a contentious press conference last week, a local grassroots group announced they will be withdrawing support from Long Branch’s Seventh Avenue Community Garden.
Protestors hold up pictures of vegetables in front of the site of the Long Branch Community Garden on Seventh Avenue on May 3. Protestors hold up pictures of vegetables in front of the site of the Long Branch Community Garden on Seventh Avenue on May 3. The press conference was held at the garden on Seventh Avenue between Park Place and East Columbus Place on May 3, where members of the grassroots group InCahoots were protesting the city’s construction of a building at the garden site and locking the gate to the garden.
“Lisa [Bagwell] and I showed up to go into the garden to find out that the locks have changed and our key didn’t work,” InCahoots member Steve Treason said.
Jacob Jones, director of the Office of Community and Economic Development, attended the press conference and said that despite the construction, there will still be a garden at the site.
Building under construction at the site of the Long Branch Community Garden Building under construction at the site of the Long Branch Community Garden “There was no area taken from the garden,” he said. “We very much intend to have a garden.
“No one needs to panic, there will be a garden here.”
Jones explained that there is going to be an auxiliary building on site that will include a meeting room and storage space. There will also be a parking lot.
Jones said that the construction project has been in the works for sometime and everyone was aware of it.
“Everybody knew this, it is not new,” he said. “This is funded with federal dollars [Housing and Urban Development] and they’ve approved it.
“This has been in the works for three years; we’ve finally been able to get this building.”
Treason claimed that the line of communication between him and the city was not open.
“We didn’t discuss the plans, we had no idea there was going to be a parking lot,” he said.
Jones refuted Treason’s statement, saying that the parking lot would not affect the garden.
“That has nothing to do with the garden, Steve,” he said. “It just won’t be an exclusive community garden because we will have other people using the building.”
In a press release, InCahoots member Michael Marks announced that the group’s relationship with Long Branch is over.
“It is not clear to us why this happened,” Marks said. “We thought we had a collaboration with the city, but new decisions about use of this land have been made without including us or residents or members of the community.
“We acknowledge their power to do that, but we will not support people or organizations who operate like this. We’ll continue our discussions for community gardens with Asbury Park, but our relationship with Long Branch is over.”
Jones also gave some history of the garden in Long Branch.
“We’ve done these gardens for over 14 years,” he said. “Last year we decided to do this with InCahoots, which worked out fine, but we ran this garden without anybody else’s help besides job bank and volunteers.”
Marks gave some history of the group’s agreement with the city.
“This started in December 2008 with a proposal to the city of Long Branch,” he said. “After about four months of negotiations, we reached an agreement with the city to develop this as a community garden.
“Long Branch contributed the property and part of the agreement was a payment of about $4,000 a year from Long Branch to Lisa Bagwell to manage the garden. InCahoots paid an additional $6,000 to Bagwell.
“In addition, Long Branch provided some manpower in that they cut the grass every week, they tilled the soil, and they provided seeds, plants and tools.”
Marks said that the partnership with the city worked out well for everybody.
“Steve [Treason] worked out a nice partnership with the city where everyone was happy,” he said. “We calculated that several hundred people visited the site last year.
“We calculated that 4,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables was produced last year, 3,000 pounds of which was delivered to various community organizations.”
Some of the organizations Marks listed include Long Branch Senior Housing Centers, Long Branch Housing Authority buildings, food pantries, clients from the Long BranchConcordance and City Hall.
Treason agreed that the garden was a success.
“We can all agree that last year was a fantastic garden year,” he said.
Marks was critical of Jones’s treatment of InCahoots.
“So why did you enter into an agreement?” he said. “We only asked to be met equally. What kind of partnership is this? So you don’t need us and that is not the kind of relationship we want to have.”
Jones explained that he entered into an agreement with InCahoots because he felt they could benefit the garden.
“I have interest in running my garden, so if somebody is interested in helping me out, I will listen,” Jones said. “I didn’t ask Steve for any money and I don’t need any money now.
“I don’t need InCahoots’funds to do this. If you want to still work with us that’s fine, but if you don’t, we will still do this garden.
“We never entered into a partnership, I never knew Steve spent a single dime.”
Sending towns trim defeated MRHS budget by $50K
Sending towns trim defeated MRHS budget by $50K
BY KENNY WALTER AND ANDREW DAVISON Staff Writer
EATONTOWN — Two of the three municipalities that send students to the Monmouth Regional School District have recommended that cuts be made to the district’s defeated $25.6 million budget.
The borough councils of both Eatontown and Tinton Falls approved resolutions recommending $50,000 in cuts to the regional school district budget.
The Tinton Falls Borough Council passed with a 3-0 vote at the May 4 meeting approving the $50,000 recommendation in cuts to the budget. Council President Duane Morrill was absent for the vote, and Councilman Scott Larkin abstained from the vote because he is employed by the district.
Tinton Falls Councilman Gary Baldwin said he represented the council in a meeting with district officials and representatives from the other two sending towns of Eatontown and Shrewsbury Township.
The regional school district budget failed in both Eatontown and Shrewsbury but was passed by voters in Tinton Falls.
Baldwin said that because the budget passed in Tinton Falls, he approached the meeting with a different mindset.
“Our residents voted to approve the Monmouth Regional budget, and our position on it is that if our residents approve it, that means they support it,” he said. “I went there with no agenda other than to understand why Eatontown wouldn’t approve it.”
Baldwin said he largely stayed out of the negotiations on what and how much to cut the budget.
“We left it between the school board and Eatontown officials to decide what a fair compromisewould be,” he said. “The compromise, after the back and forth, ended up at $50,000.
“I acted as a moderator in all that, asking that Eatontown not be responsible for telling the board where to cut, although they did quite an extensive audit on the budget and were well versed on the budget. But it is truly the school board decision where to make the cuts.”
Eatontown officials also met last week in a workshop meeting to discuss the budget.
Borough Administrator George Jackson said he corresponded with Eatontown District Superintendent Barbara Struble and Monmouth County Superintendent Carole Morris, and all agreed that the council could not further reduce the tax levy.
“It is beyond the scope of the power of the governing body, despite the defeated tax levy, to make any changes or amendments or recommend any, because the local school’s tax levy was at the required minimum by statute,” Jackson said.
The council must now pass a resolution certifying the budget before May 19. Jackson indicated the resolution would be presented at the May 12 regular meeting.
Last week Jackson met with representatives from the Monmouth Regional Board of Education, Superintendent Charles Ford Jr., Business Administrator Maria Parry, members of the Tinton Falls governing body, auditor Robert Oliwa of Oliwa & Co., Freehold, and others to reduce the Monmouth Regional tax levy.
Jackson said Oliwa initially suggested a $105,000 cut, but after further discussion, all parties agreed that $50,000 was sufficient.
Oliwa recommended cutting this amount from money budgeted for employee health benefits. He said this line item had increased by $364,000 from last year.
A resolution recommending this reduction will also be prepared for the May 12 regular meeting.
The Board of Education must abide by the dollar amount passed by the council but does not have to cut from the recommended line items.
The budget calls for an $18.7 million tax levy and failed by just 55 votes.
To offset a decrease in state aid and the increase in health benefits costs, the district’s original budget called for cutting five position and cuts to student activities and supplies.
BY KENNY WALTER AND ANDREW DAVISON Staff Writer
EATONTOWN — Two of the three municipalities that send students to the Monmouth Regional School District have recommended that cuts be made to the district’s defeated $25.6 million budget.
The borough councils of both Eatontown and Tinton Falls approved resolutions recommending $50,000 in cuts to the regional school district budget.
The Tinton Falls Borough Council passed with a 3-0 vote at the May 4 meeting approving the $50,000 recommendation in cuts to the budget. Council President Duane Morrill was absent for the vote, and Councilman Scott Larkin abstained from the vote because he is employed by the district.
Tinton Falls Councilman Gary Baldwin said he represented the council in a meeting with district officials and representatives from the other two sending towns of Eatontown and Shrewsbury Township.
The regional school district budget failed in both Eatontown and Shrewsbury but was passed by voters in Tinton Falls.
Baldwin said that because the budget passed in Tinton Falls, he approached the meeting with a different mindset.
“Our residents voted to approve the Monmouth Regional budget, and our position on it is that if our residents approve it, that means they support it,” he said. “I went there with no agenda other than to understand why Eatontown wouldn’t approve it.”
Baldwin said he largely stayed out of the negotiations on what and how much to cut the budget.
“We left it between the school board and Eatontown officials to decide what a fair compromisewould be,” he said. “The compromise, after the back and forth, ended up at $50,000.
“I acted as a moderator in all that, asking that Eatontown not be responsible for telling the board where to cut, although they did quite an extensive audit on the budget and were well versed on the budget. But it is truly the school board decision where to make the cuts.”
Eatontown officials also met last week in a workshop meeting to discuss the budget.
Borough Administrator George Jackson said he corresponded with Eatontown District Superintendent Barbara Struble and Monmouth County Superintendent Carole Morris, and all agreed that the council could not further reduce the tax levy.
“It is beyond the scope of the power of the governing body, despite the defeated tax levy, to make any changes or amendments or recommend any, because the local school’s tax levy was at the required minimum by statute,” Jackson said.
The council must now pass a resolution certifying the budget before May 19. Jackson indicated the resolution would be presented at the May 12 regular meeting.
Last week Jackson met with representatives from the Monmouth Regional Board of Education, Superintendent Charles Ford Jr., Business Administrator Maria Parry, members of the Tinton Falls governing body, auditor Robert Oliwa of Oliwa & Co., Freehold, and others to reduce the Monmouth Regional tax levy.
Jackson said Oliwa initially suggested a $105,000 cut, but after further discussion, all parties agreed that $50,000 was sufficient.
Oliwa recommended cutting this amount from money budgeted for employee health benefits. He said this line item had increased by $364,000 from last year.
A resolution recommending this reduction will also be prepared for the May 12 regular meeting.
The Board of Education must abide by the dollar amount passed by the council but does not have to cut from the recommended line items.
The budget calls for an $18.7 million tax levy and failed by just 55 votes.
To offset a decrease in state aid and the increase in health benefits costs, the district’s original budget called for cutting five position and cuts to student activities and supplies.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Controversy precedes mayoral election
Controversy precedes mayoral election
BY KENNY WALTER
LONG BRANCH — The days before Tuesday’s mayoral election were intense, even for the last few days of a political campaign.
Charges were traded, apologies were demanded before a single ballot was cast, and the uproar was touched off by testimony by federal witness and disgraced local real estate tycoon Solomon Dwek who threw a curveball into the final days of the three-way race for mayor.
According to media reports, Dwek told a jury last week in the U.S. Attorney’s Office corruption case against former Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt (R-9th District) that he (Dwek) used a middleman to bribe officials, including the mayor of Long Branch and some council members.
Based on that testimony, mayoral candidate Councilman Brian Unger connected Mayor Adam Schneider to the allegations, leading Schneider to threaten legal action.
“I issued a letter yesterday [May 9],” Vincent Manning, the attorney representing Schneider, said Monday. “The letter simply asks them [the Unger campaign] to issue a public apology and a retraction to Adam Schneider for alleging that he accepted a bribe and to stop making such accusations in the future.
“That kind of language can result in a civil lawsuit that can have substantial damages attached to it,” he added. “It is sort of like a pre-suit warning.”
Manning, of Manning, Caliendo and Thomson, Freehold, said neither Unger nor his campaign consultant Pat Politano had issued an apology yet.
“Nobody called me to say tell Mayor Schneider we are sorry,” he said. “As far as I know, they have not apologized and have not indicated they will stop making the accusations.”
In an interview Unger said the letter was meaningless.
“It’s all nonsense,” he said, “all of it — acts of desperation, silly and meaningless.
“They are desperate to hold on to power,” he added. “It is a meaningless document, that has no meaning or factual basis in law. It is not worth the paper it’s printed on.”
Manning said whether the complaint moves forward to state court is Schneider’s decision, but there is basis for the complaint.
“There is a good faith basis for filing a lawsuit for civil damages,” he said. “It’s not my call; that’s his call.
“All I can do is alert them that this is inflammatory and serves as the basis for a civil lawsuit.”
Manning described the mailer Unger sent out that led to him drafting the letter.
“It states clearly in black and white ‘Mayor Schneider bribed,’ ” he said. “That is a very serious allegation to make about somebody, particularly a public official.
“The only recourse Mayor Schneider has is to file a lawsuit against the people responsible and take the case to trial,” he added. “Put it in the hands of a jury to make a decision.”
Manning addressed the allegations Dwek made.
“If Solomon Dwek lied under oath, then that’s perjury,” he said. “I know Solomon Dwek, and I don’t think Solomon Dwek has told the truth.
“It wouldn’t be inconsistent with his past behavior to lie,” he added. “Maybe it was taken out of context; either way I think Mr. Unger should have done some due diligence to discover whether this is the kind of guy they want to rely on.
“They are relying on Solomon Dwek to say whether Mayor Schneider took a bribe; that is a weak foundation,” he added.
In light of the controversy surrounding Dwek’s testimony and the May 11 election, City Attorney James Aaron said he had requested written confirmation from U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman that there is no investigation under way in Long Branch.
“I’m looking for the United States Attorney’s Office to confirm that there is no active investigation of the city of Long Branch or the mayor based upon any testimony of Mr. Solomon Dwek,” he said.
As of Monday afternoon, Aaron said he had no response from Fishman’s office. He added that he has had no indication that there is an active investigation in Long Branch.
“We know of no investigation because no subpoenas have been issued, no documents have been issued, no people have been subpoenaed, no records have been subpoenaed, which is how federal investigations start,” he said. “I am looking for written confirmation of what we know are the facts.”
The controversy led mayoral candidate Bob Krebs to seek federal monitors for the election.
“I have indicated that I may want federal monitors there,” Krebs said the day before the election. “I just want to make sure everything is on the up and up, and that is why I think they should have monitors there.”
Krebs said the negative campaign between Schneider and Unger had hurt the city.
“The truth is eventually going to come out one way or another,” he said. “These two sides are throwing mud at each other, and I think that is distorting the campaign. I am the only one talking about this issue.”
Rebekah Carmichael, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, said late Monday there would be no comment on the requests by Aaron and Krebs.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
BY KENNY WALTER
LONG BRANCH — The days before Tuesday’s mayoral election were intense, even for the last few days of a political campaign.
Charges were traded, apologies were demanded before a single ballot was cast, and the uproar was touched off by testimony by federal witness and disgraced local real estate tycoon Solomon Dwek who threw a curveball into the final days of the three-way race for mayor.
According to media reports, Dwek told a jury last week in the U.S. Attorney’s Office corruption case against former Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt (R-9th District) that he (Dwek) used a middleman to bribe officials, including the mayor of Long Branch and some council members.
Based on that testimony, mayoral candidate Councilman Brian Unger connected Mayor Adam Schneider to the allegations, leading Schneider to threaten legal action.
“I issued a letter yesterday [May 9],” Vincent Manning, the attorney representing Schneider, said Monday. “The letter simply asks them [the Unger campaign] to issue a public apology and a retraction to Adam Schneider for alleging that he accepted a bribe and to stop making such accusations in the future.
“That kind of language can result in a civil lawsuit that can have substantial damages attached to it,” he added. “It is sort of like a pre-suit warning.”
Manning, of Manning, Caliendo and Thomson, Freehold, said neither Unger nor his campaign consultant Pat Politano had issued an apology yet.
“Nobody called me to say tell Mayor Schneider we are sorry,” he said. “As far as I know, they have not apologized and have not indicated they will stop making the accusations.”
In an interview Unger said the letter was meaningless.
“It’s all nonsense,” he said, “all of it — acts of desperation, silly and meaningless.
“They are desperate to hold on to power,” he added. “It is a meaningless document, that has no meaning or factual basis in law. It is not worth the paper it’s printed on.”
Manning said whether the complaint moves forward to state court is Schneider’s decision, but there is basis for the complaint.
“There is a good faith basis for filing a lawsuit for civil damages,” he said. “It’s not my call; that’s his call.
“All I can do is alert them that this is inflammatory and serves as the basis for a civil lawsuit.”
Manning described the mailer Unger sent out that led to him drafting the letter.
“It states clearly in black and white ‘Mayor Schneider bribed,’ ” he said. “That is a very serious allegation to make about somebody, particularly a public official.
“The only recourse Mayor Schneider has is to file a lawsuit against the people responsible and take the case to trial,” he added. “Put it in the hands of a jury to make a decision.”
Manning addressed the allegations Dwek made.
“If Solomon Dwek lied under oath, then that’s perjury,” he said. “I know Solomon Dwek, and I don’t think Solomon Dwek has told the truth.
“It wouldn’t be inconsistent with his past behavior to lie,” he added. “Maybe it was taken out of context; either way I think Mr. Unger should have done some due diligence to discover whether this is the kind of guy they want to rely on.
“They are relying on Solomon Dwek to say whether Mayor Schneider took a bribe; that is a weak foundation,” he added.
In light of the controversy surrounding Dwek’s testimony and the May 11 election, City Attorney James Aaron said he had requested written confirmation from U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman that there is no investigation under way in Long Branch.
“I’m looking for the United States Attorney’s Office to confirm that there is no active investigation of the city of Long Branch or the mayor based upon any testimony of Mr. Solomon Dwek,” he said.
As of Monday afternoon, Aaron said he had no response from Fishman’s office. He added that he has had no indication that there is an active investigation in Long Branch.
“We know of no investigation because no subpoenas have been issued, no documents have been issued, no people have been subpoenaed, no records have been subpoenaed, which is how federal investigations start,” he said. “I am looking for written confirmation of what we know are the facts.”
The controversy led mayoral candidate Bob Krebs to seek federal monitors for the election.
“I have indicated that I may want federal monitors there,” Krebs said the day before the election. “I just want to make sure everything is on the up and up, and that is why I think they should have monitors there.”
Krebs said the negative campaign between Schneider and Unger had hurt the city.
“The truth is eventually going to come out one way or another,” he said. “These two sides are throwing mud at each other, and I think that is distorting the campaign. I am the only one talking about this issue.”
Rebekah Carmichael, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, said late Monday there would be no comment on the requests by Aaron and Krebs.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Council approves Pier Village III
Council approves Pier Village III
Hotel, retail, residential units on the drawing board
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Applied Development Corp. President David Barry explains features of the proposed Pier Village phase III beachfront development to the Long Branch City Council on April 27. KENNY WALTER Applied Development Corp. President David Barry explains features of the proposed Pier Village phase III beachfront development to the Long Branch City Council on April 27. KENNY WALTER LONG BRANCH — Developers presented a plan for a mixed-use hotel/residential/ retail complex in the city’s Pier Village III redevelopment zone last week.
The City Council gave the project the go-ahead at the April 27 workshop meeting, with the council voting unanimously in favor of a resolution approving the development.
The developers must now apply to the Planning Board for the necessary approvals for the project, which will be located on 7 acres of land bound by Melrose Terrace to the north, Morris Avenue to the south, Ocean Avenue to the east and Ocean Boulevard to the west.
Landscape Architect Tom Bauer, of Melillio and Bauer, explained that one of the components of the plan is to repair and expand the boardwalk.
“It is in great need of repair, and it will expanded, enlarged and rebuilt as part of this proposal,” he said.
Bauer said the proposed project will contain four buildings: a building with a parking structure, a hotel, a one-story retail complex with residences above, and a onestory retail complex with other activities on the rooftop.
“The building will have a green roof, basically a wildflower garden on top, and all the benefits that come with having a green roof,” he said. “Rooftop access could be additional retail, it could be rooftop dining — it is to be determined.”
Bauer also said that some creative construction would create the illusion that the hotel is on an island surrounded by the other buildings.
“We’ve created an island where the hotel will be constructed,” he said. “It is a 72- room hotel.
“It is the focal point of everyone driving southbound, as well as everyone driving northbound.”
David Barry, president of Applied Development Corp., explained some of the benefits to the city that the project will create.
“The expansion of the boardwalk, additional beach access, 45,000 square feet of additional retail,” he said. “We are also going to finalize improvements to Ocean Boulevard on the western side of Pier Village.
“We will bring additional jobs to the area and … we are very confident that this will be another great addition to Pier Village.”
“We’d like to expand the hotel component of pier village by adding another hotel,” he added. “We are committed to making this phase of Pier Village the best phase yet.”
Greg Russo, senior vice president of Applied, said that once the project is completed, there will be numerous permanent jobs created.
“We estimate around 400 to 500 permanent jobs between the retail, the hotel and the residential,” he said.
Barry and Bauer said the project will include a family component, including a carousel and family-oriented retail.
“It is not going to be amusement focused, but there will be a couple of things in that direction so we can broaden the experience,” Barry said.
“The greatest component of this project is that there are tremendous public amenities,” Bauer said. “The emphasis has to do with a family aspect.”
Bauer reflected on the group’s history of working with the city.
“It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since we presented the first phase and five years since we presented the second,” he said. “It is a dramatic and dynamic landscape that exists here, and we will continue it.”
Bauer said that the majority of rooms in the hotel will have views of the ocean, and much of the dinning and retail components will be right on the boardwalk.
“You have the look and feel of shopping and dinning on the boardwalk,” he said.R
usso said the developer is still readying estimates on how much the project will cost, but he doesn’t expect financing to be much of a problem.
“Financing will be available; the question is, what will the terms be,” he said.
At the council meeting, resident Vincent Lepore asked city attorney James Aaron whether the development could proceed in light of a recent court decision that ruled the blight designation underlying the city’s redevelopment plan is invalid.
In an interview Monday, Aaron said the decision would have no effect on the project.
Applied has already constructed a $100 million mixed-use project in the first phase of the Pier Village redevelopment zone.
The first phase was constructed on a 10-acre tract on the waterfront stretching from Laird Street to Melrose Terrace.
The second phase included approximately 240 units in four buildings on a tract of land on Ocean Boulevard, to the west of the first phase of the project.
The mixed-use second phase contained 5,000 square feet of retail space and 189 public parking spaces along the oceanfront.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Hotel, retail, residential units on the drawing board
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Applied Development Corp. President David Barry explains features of the proposed Pier Village phase III beachfront development to the Long Branch City Council on April 27. KENNY WALTER Applied Development Corp. President David Barry explains features of the proposed Pier Village phase III beachfront development to the Long Branch City Council on April 27. KENNY WALTER LONG BRANCH — Developers presented a plan for a mixed-use hotel/residential/ retail complex in the city’s Pier Village III redevelopment zone last week.
The City Council gave the project the go-ahead at the April 27 workshop meeting, with the council voting unanimously in favor of a resolution approving the development.
The developers must now apply to the Planning Board for the necessary approvals for the project, which will be located on 7 acres of land bound by Melrose Terrace to the north, Morris Avenue to the south, Ocean Avenue to the east and Ocean Boulevard to the west.
Landscape Architect Tom Bauer, of Melillio and Bauer, explained that one of the components of the plan is to repair and expand the boardwalk.
“It is in great need of repair, and it will expanded, enlarged and rebuilt as part of this proposal,” he said.
Bauer said the proposed project will contain four buildings: a building with a parking structure, a hotel, a one-story retail complex with residences above, and a onestory retail complex with other activities on the rooftop.
“The building will have a green roof, basically a wildflower garden on top, and all the benefits that come with having a green roof,” he said. “Rooftop access could be additional retail, it could be rooftop dining — it is to be determined.”
Bauer also said that some creative construction would create the illusion that the hotel is on an island surrounded by the other buildings.
“We’ve created an island where the hotel will be constructed,” he said. “It is a 72- room hotel.
“It is the focal point of everyone driving southbound, as well as everyone driving northbound.”
David Barry, president of Applied Development Corp., explained some of the benefits to the city that the project will create.
“The expansion of the boardwalk, additional beach access, 45,000 square feet of additional retail,” he said. “We are also going to finalize improvements to Ocean Boulevard on the western side of Pier Village.
“We will bring additional jobs to the area and … we are very confident that this will be another great addition to Pier Village.”
“We’d like to expand the hotel component of pier village by adding another hotel,” he added. “We are committed to making this phase of Pier Village the best phase yet.”
Greg Russo, senior vice president of Applied, said that once the project is completed, there will be numerous permanent jobs created.
“We estimate around 400 to 500 permanent jobs between the retail, the hotel and the residential,” he said.
Barry and Bauer said the project will include a family component, including a carousel and family-oriented retail.
“It is not going to be amusement focused, but there will be a couple of things in that direction so we can broaden the experience,” Barry said.
“The greatest component of this project is that there are tremendous public amenities,” Bauer said. “The emphasis has to do with a family aspect.”
Bauer reflected on the group’s history of working with the city.
“It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since we presented the first phase and five years since we presented the second,” he said. “It is a dramatic and dynamic landscape that exists here, and we will continue it.”
Bauer said that the majority of rooms in the hotel will have views of the ocean, and much of the dinning and retail components will be right on the boardwalk.
“You have the look and feel of shopping and dinning on the boardwalk,” he said.R
usso said the developer is still readying estimates on how much the project will cost, but he doesn’t expect financing to be much of a problem.
“Financing will be available; the question is, what will the terms be,” he said.
At the council meeting, resident Vincent Lepore asked city attorney James Aaron whether the development could proceed in light of a recent court decision that ruled the blight designation underlying the city’s redevelopment plan is invalid.
In an interview Monday, Aaron said the decision would have no effect on the project.
Applied has already constructed a $100 million mixed-use project in the first phase of the Pier Village redevelopment zone.
The first phase was constructed on a 10-acre tract on the waterfront stretching from Laird Street to Melrose Terrace.
The second phase included approximately 240 units in four buildings on a tract of land on Ocean Boulevard, to the west of the first phase of the project.
The mixed-use second phase contained 5,000 square feet of retail space and 189 public parking spaces along the oceanfront.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Cafeteria workers await labor board findings
Cafeteria workers await labor board findings
Sodexo workers rally for salary, benefits increases
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Sodexo employees and supporters rally at Slocum Park in Long Branch on April 15 for better job benefits. Sodexo employees and supporters rally at Slocum Park in Long Branch on April 15 for better job benefits. School cafeteria workers rallied recently for better job benefits, but a representative of the company they work for said last week the rally was a union organizers’ tactic.
A spokeswoman for Sodexo said last week that the investigation was a tactic by SEIU (Service Employees International Union).
“An unfair labor practice [complaint] has been filed, and as always we will fully cooperate with the National Labor Relations Board’s investigation,” said Monica Zimmer, spokeswoman for Sodexo Inc., a provider of food and facilities management services.
“It is a typical SEIU tactic to file an unfair labor practice claim against the target of its union organizing campaign, which happens to be Sodexo. This is a typical thing they do to gain attention,” Zimmer said.
Sodexo employees across the state meet at Slocum Park in Long Branch on April 15 to rally for better job benefits. Sodexo employees across the state meet at Slocum Park in Long Branch on April 15 to rally for better job benefits. Citing poor wages, escalating health care costs and lack of respect, cafeteria workers gathered April 15 at Slocum Park on Broadway.
With the help of Local 32BJ of the SEIU, the workers have filed a complaint with the NLRB.
Matt Painter, assistant communications director of Local 32BJ of the SEIU, described some of the conditions he said workers deal with.
“What they are looking for is wages that they are able to support their family on, affordable health insurance, and the respect that they deserve,” Painter said. “The workers can make as little as $8 an hour, which is hard to support a family on.
“The cost of health insurance can be as much as $240 a month.”
Painter went on to say that the workers, who provide food service in the school district cafeterias, have been unfairly questioned by their employer.
“By law, employers aren’t allowed to interrogate workers about their support of a union and what they are doing to organize for better jobs,” he said.
Painter explained that the investigation might not be resolved for a few months.
“The board investigates, and it might go to an administrative law judge,” he said. “Unfortunately, it might take a few months for that to happen.”
According to Zimmer, SEIU has filed 15 complaints against Sodexo, but there have not been any findings resulting from any of them.
“As of yet, there have been no findings against Sodexo,” she said. “Just because they file a claim doesn’t mean we’ve been found guilty of anything.”
She also said that Sodexo isn’t the only company targeted.
“The SEIU has filed over 2,000 such claims in the past two years,” she said.
Some 57 Sodexo employees work in Long Branch schools, and representatives from Irvington, South Orange and New Orleans were at the rally.
“Sodexo is a multinational company, but somebody has to stand up against them because otherwise they are going to pay everyone the minimum wage,” rally organizer Margarita Alonzo said.
Alonzo said she was incensed by Sodexo placing an ad in a North Jersey newspaper defending their company.
“They spent that money on an ad; they should be giving that money to you,” she said.
She also said that in order to change the labor practices, the workers must act.
“We can’t do this without support,” she said. “We can’t do this by standing by ourselves. We have to reach out to people and get as much support as possible.”
Amid chants of “Yes we can,” SEIU New Jersey Area Director Kevin Brown criticized Sodexo’s labor practices.
“This is the struggle for justice for people who work for the 22nd largest company in the world,” he said. “Sodexo has 120,000 employees in the United States of America, and maybe 5,000 of them are in a union.
“What do people get when they work for this huge multinational company?” he asked. “Do you get a fair wage? Do you get health care for your family?”
Two Long Branch workers spoke about their work conditions.
“I love the kids, I love my job, but we want better conditions,” Griselda Monroy said.
“I need more money, more benefits, more respect,” Maribel Hernandez, who spoke through a translator, said. “We are here for a lot of different reasons, but the main reason is to get better benefits and better wages.
“More respect for my co-workers and I,” she added. “We just need better treatment.”
The cafeteria workers had some political backing as well, with letters written in their support from Freeholders Amy Mallet and John D’Amico, and appearances at the rally by Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider and council candidate Raul Pacheco.
“You deserve to be treated fairly, you deserve to be treated reasonably, and you deserve to be treated with basic human rights,” Schneider said. “That means a wage, health insurance you can afford, and it means you can’t be fired for trying to organize.”
“Don’t be afraid and come out,” Pacheco said. “You need health care, so don’t be afraid and leave the fear at home.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Sodexo workers rally for salary, benefits increases
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Sodexo employees and supporters rally at Slocum Park in Long Branch on April 15 for better job benefits. Sodexo employees and supporters rally at Slocum Park in Long Branch on April 15 for better job benefits. School cafeteria workers rallied recently for better job benefits, but a representative of the company they work for said last week the rally was a union organizers’ tactic.
A spokeswoman for Sodexo said last week that the investigation was a tactic by SEIU (Service Employees International Union).
“An unfair labor practice [complaint] has been filed, and as always we will fully cooperate with the National Labor Relations Board’s investigation,” said Monica Zimmer, spokeswoman for Sodexo Inc., a provider of food and facilities management services.
“It is a typical SEIU tactic to file an unfair labor practice claim against the target of its union organizing campaign, which happens to be Sodexo. This is a typical thing they do to gain attention,” Zimmer said.
Sodexo employees across the state meet at Slocum Park in Long Branch on April 15 to rally for better job benefits. Sodexo employees across the state meet at Slocum Park in Long Branch on April 15 to rally for better job benefits. Citing poor wages, escalating health care costs and lack of respect, cafeteria workers gathered April 15 at Slocum Park on Broadway.
With the help of Local 32BJ of the SEIU, the workers have filed a complaint with the NLRB.
Matt Painter, assistant communications director of Local 32BJ of the SEIU, described some of the conditions he said workers deal with.
“What they are looking for is wages that they are able to support their family on, affordable health insurance, and the respect that they deserve,” Painter said. “The workers can make as little as $8 an hour, which is hard to support a family on.
“The cost of health insurance can be as much as $240 a month.”
Painter went on to say that the workers, who provide food service in the school district cafeterias, have been unfairly questioned by their employer.
“By law, employers aren’t allowed to interrogate workers about their support of a union and what they are doing to organize for better jobs,” he said.
Painter explained that the investigation might not be resolved for a few months.
“The board investigates, and it might go to an administrative law judge,” he said. “Unfortunately, it might take a few months for that to happen.”
According to Zimmer, SEIU has filed 15 complaints against Sodexo, but there have not been any findings resulting from any of them.
“As of yet, there have been no findings against Sodexo,” she said. “Just because they file a claim doesn’t mean we’ve been found guilty of anything.”
She also said that Sodexo isn’t the only company targeted.
“The SEIU has filed over 2,000 such claims in the past two years,” she said.
Some 57 Sodexo employees work in Long Branch schools, and representatives from Irvington, South Orange and New Orleans were at the rally.
“Sodexo is a multinational company, but somebody has to stand up against them because otherwise they are going to pay everyone the minimum wage,” rally organizer Margarita Alonzo said.
Alonzo said she was incensed by Sodexo placing an ad in a North Jersey newspaper defending their company.
“They spent that money on an ad; they should be giving that money to you,” she said.
She also said that in order to change the labor practices, the workers must act.
“We can’t do this without support,” she said. “We can’t do this by standing by ourselves. We have to reach out to people and get as much support as possible.”
Amid chants of “Yes we can,” SEIU New Jersey Area Director Kevin Brown criticized Sodexo’s labor practices.
“This is the struggle for justice for people who work for the 22nd largest company in the world,” he said. “Sodexo has 120,000 employees in the United States of America, and maybe 5,000 of them are in a union.
“What do people get when they work for this huge multinational company?” he asked. “Do you get a fair wage? Do you get health care for your family?”
Two Long Branch workers spoke about their work conditions.
“I love the kids, I love my job, but we want better conditions,” Griselda Monroy said.
“I need more money, more benefits, more respect,” Maribel Hernandez, who spoke through a translator, said. “We are here for a lot of different reasons, but the main reason is to get better benefits and better wages.
“More respect for my co-workers and I,” she added. “We just need better treatment.”
The cafeteria workers had some political backing as well, with letters written in their support from Freeholders Amy Mallet and John D’Amico, and appearances at the rally by Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider and council candidate Raul Pacheco.
“You deserve to be treated fairly, you deserve to be treated reasonably, and you deserve to be treated with basic human rights,” Schneider said. “That means a wage, health insurance you can afford, and it means you can’t be fired for trying to organize.”
“Don’t be afraid and come out,” Pacheco said. “You need health care, so don’t be afraid and leave the fear at home.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Development common theme in L.B. debate
Development common theme in L.B. debate
Mayoral candidates differ over city’s future growth
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Taxes, redevelopment and recreation issues in Long Branch came to the forefront last week as all three mayoral candidates made their case to run the city.
Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider (center) is flanked by challengers Robert Krebs (l) and Councilman Brian Unger during a mayoral debate on April 27. KENNY WALTER Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider (center) is flanked by challengers Robert Krebs (l) and Councilman Brian Unger during a mayoral debate on April 27. KENNY WALTER The mayoral debate, held April 27 at Long Branch Middle School and co-sponsored by the Link News and the Long Branch NAACP, featured five-term Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider, current Councilman Brian Unger and financial adviser Robert Krebs.
Each expounded his vision for the future of the city, including how they view the stalled Broadway Arts district.
“The Broadway Arts project is at a standstill, but that doesn’t mean the revitalization of the city should stop,” Schneider said. “The economy has caused us harm.
“West of Ocean Avenue was never going to move forward until the oceanfront was revitalized,” he added. “There are theaters, restaurants and housing, and I still think the idea is sound. This is a financially viable town.”
However, Unger took a different approach on how the development in the zone should be done.
“The project needs to be redesigned from the ground up,” priority in the city to revitalize the arts district; it’s an eyesore.
“Asbury Park has done a wonderful job block by block, store by store, building a community.”
Krebs suggested that the best move for the city would be to let the market dictate development.
“You cannot get financing if you are in these zones,” he said. “I intend to restore all six zones into a free market system and let nature take its course.”
Krebs also said the best way to balance the budget is by opening it up to the public.
“I intend to open the books to the public,” he said. “You are going to see the budget on the Internet.
“When we open the books to everyone, we are going to see where it is being wasted and where it isn’t being wasted,” he added. “There will be no tax increases after we cut all the fat.”
Schneider said the city has implemented a hiring freeze in reaction to the poor economy.
“We have kept taxes relatively intact,” he said. “We have frozen spending, and about a year ago I stopped hiring people.
“We figured out how to do the same job with less people. Whether or not we are going to be able to avoid layoffs a year from now, I frankly don’t know.
“Promises that we are going to be able to avoid hiring and not lay people off, I find empty. We don’t waste your money, we are very cautious with your money.”
Unger said he would like to implement cuts across the board.
“I would change some budget priorities in City Hall,” he said. “I don’t want to spend millions of dollars on law firms.
“I’d like to see us cut legal spending. I want to go department by department and cut 10 percent of all discretionary non-personnel items.”
The trio also discussed how to improve the city’s recreation services.
“I want to create a new position: director of sports, recreation and youth development,” Unger said. “I’m going to find a very dynamic, young person and we are going to get out there and make a difference on this gang issue.”
Schneider defended his choice for director of recreation.
“I have a very exciting young man who has run the recreation department the last 16 years, a man by the name of Carl Jennings,” he said. “Carl does a great job. He reaches out to all segments of this community.”
Krebs credited Schneider for improving the city parks.
“They have built some very nice parks in the city, and the city should be commended for that,” he said.
Krebs went on to suggest that the city should be giving financial advice to some of the residents, particularly seniors and teenagers.
“I think we should institute programs where the seniors come down to City Hall and we can help them out with financing, help them out with their lifestyle,” he said. “I’d like to have teenagers come in and learn finance.”
Krebs, who lives in Beachfront South, explained that he has some plans for his neighborhood.
“I’d like to see Beachfront South built up with condominiums,” he said. “I want to see more ratables.”
Unger said he’d like to see some different projects be taken up in the neighborhood.
“I have great ideas for Beachfront South, and it is going to involve retail and it is going to involve things the community can actually use,” he said. “We are going to have local retail that fishermen, surfers and beachgoers and regular people that live in Long Branch can use.
“I want to see miniature golf, I want to see a mini-water park, and I want to see restaurants owned by local people. I want to see a surf shop.”
Krebs refuted Unger’s project, saying there wouldn’t be enough parking, and Schneider said the zone should remain residential.
“The fact is where Mr. Krebs lives is almost exclusively a residential neighborhood and you cannot put a commercial zone in the middle of it,” Schneider said.
Another polarizing issue in Long Branch for the three candidates is the projected pier and ferry project.
“One of the things I plan to work on the next four years is a pier,” Schneider said. “It will take a lot of work, but it is work I am looking forward to.
“The fact is, Long Branch is and will be a transportation hub.”
Krebs questioned the economics of the pier.
“We can’t afford the pier, because who is going to give us the money?” he said. “The federal government is not going to give us the money to do it. I like the idea of the pier, but who is going to pay for it?”
Unger also questioned the financial viability of the pier.
“The pier cannot fall on the shoulders of the taxpayers; they simply can’t afford it,” he said.
Unger went on to say that he wants to pay more attention to neighborhoods outside of the oceanfront area.
“Pier Village is nice, but the bulk of our residents live west of it,” he said. “They want attention paid to their neighborhoods.”
Krebs said his main goal is to implement a tax abatement plan, running the city like a corporation.
“My primary goal is to freeze taxes for four years,” he said. “I have the background to do it, and I certainly intend to do it.
“I think it can be implemented by taking over my abatement plan. I want to run Long Branch like a corporation.
“I’m going to run the corporation, but you are going to be the shareholders. The council is going to be the board of directors, and you are going see the annual reports every year.”
Unger and Krebs also grilled Schneider on his use of eminent domain, but Schneider said that it would no longer be used.
“Eminent domain may never be used again in the city,” he said. “Court decisions have made that clear. It is no longer a viable policy economically, politically or legally. I think it is over in the city.”
The 20 candidates for City Council were set to debate the issues on May 3. Voters will go to the polls on May 11.
Mayoral candidates differ over city’s future growth
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Taxes, redevelopment and recreation issues in Long Branch came to the forefront last week as all three mayoral candidates made their case to run the city.
Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider (center) is flanked by challengers Robert Krebs (l) and Councilman Brian Unger during a mayoral debate on April 27. KENNY WALTER Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider (center) is flanked by challengers Robert Krebs (l) and Councilman Brian Unger during a mayoral debate on April 27. KENNY WALTER The mayoral debate, held April 27 at Long Branch Middle School and co-sponsored by the Link News and the Long Branch NAACP, featured five-term Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider, current Councilman Brian Unger and financial adviser Robert Krebs.
Each expounded his vision for the future of the city, including how they view the stalled Broadway Arts district.
“The Broadway Arts project is at a standstill, but that doesn’t mean the revitalization of the city should stop,” Schneider said. “The economy has caused us harm.
“West of Ocean Avenue was never going to move forward until the oceanfront was revitalized,” he added. “There are theaters, restaurants and housing, and I still think the idea is sound. This is a financially viable town.”
However, Unger took a different approach on how the development in the zone should be done.
“The project needs to be redesigned from the ground up,” priority in the city to revitalize the arts district; it’s an eyesore.
“Asbury Park has done a wonderful job block by block, store by store, building a community.”
Krebs suggested that the best move for the city would be to let the market dictate development.
“You cannot get financing if you are in these zones,” he said. “I intend to restore all six zones into a free market system and let nature take its course.”
Krebs also said the best way to balance the budget is by opening it up to the public.
“I intend to open the books to the public,” he said. “You are going to see the budget on the Internet.
“When we open the books to everyone, we are going to see where it is being wasted and where it isn’t being wasted,” he added. “There will be no tax increases after we cut all the fat.”
Schneider said the city has implemented a hiring freeze in reaction to the poor economy.
“We have kept taxes relatively intact,” he said. “We have frozen spending, and about a year ago I stopped hiring people.
“We figured out how to do the same job with less people. Whether or not we are going to be able to avoid layoffs a year from now, I frankly don’t know.
“Promises that we are going to be able to avoid hiring and not lay people off, I find empty. We don’t waste your money, we are very cautious with your money.”
Unger said he would like to implement cuts across the board.
“I would change some budget priorities in City Hall,” he said. “I don’t want to spend millions of dollars on law firms.
“I’d like to see us cut legal spending. I want to go department by department and cut 10 percent of all discretionary non-personnel items.”
The trio also discussed how to improve the city’s recreation services.
“I want to create a new position: director of sports, recreation and youth development,” Unger said. “I’m going to find a very dynamic, young person and we are going to get out there and make a difference on this gang issue.”
Schneider defended his choice for director of recreation.
“I have a very exciting young man who has run the recreation department the last 16 years, a man by the name of Carl Jennings,” he said. “Carl does a great job. He reaches out to all segments of this community.”
Krebs credited Schneider for improving the city parks.
“They have built some very nice parks in the city, and the city should be commended for that,” he said.
Krebs went on to suggest that the city should be giving financial advice to some of the residents, particularly seniors and teenagers.
“I think we should institute programs where the seniors come down to City Hall and we can help them out with financing, help them out with their lifestyle,” he said. “I’d like to have teenagers come in and learn finance.”
Krebs, who lives in Beachfront South, explained that he has some plans for his neighborhood.
“I’d like to see Beachfront South built up with condominiums,” he said. “I want to see more ratables.”
Unger said he’d like to see some different projects be taken up in the neighborhood.
“I have great ideas for Beachfront South, and it is going to involve retail and it is going to involve things the community can actually use,” he said. “We are going to have local retail that fishermen, surfers and beachgoers and regular people that live in Long Branch can use.
“I want to see miniature golf, I want to see a mini-water park, and I want to see restaurants owned by local people. I want to see a surf shop.”
Krebs refuted Unger’s project, saying there wouldn’t be enough parking, and Schneider said the zone should remain residential.
“The fact is where Mr. Krebs lives is almost exclusively a residential neighborhood and you cannot put a commercial zone in the middle of it,” Schneider said.
Another polarizing issue in Long Branch for the three candidates is the projected pier and ferry project.
“One of the things I plan to work on the next four years is a pier,” Schneider said. “It will take a lot of work, but it is work I am looking forward to.
“The fact is, Long Branch is and will be a transportation hub.”
Krebs questioned the economics of the pier.
“We can’t afford the pier, because who is going to give us the money?” he said. “The federal government is not going to give us the money to do it. I like the idea of the pier, but who is going to pay for it?”
Unger also questioned the financial viability of the pier.
“The pier cannot fall on the shoulders of the taxpayers; they simply can’t afford it,” he said.
Unger went on to say that he wants to pay more attention to neighborhoods outside of the oceanfront area.
“Pier Village is nice, but the bulk of our residents live west of it,” he said. “They want attention paid to their neighborhoods.”
Krebs said his main goal is to implement a tax abatement plan, running the city like a corporation.
“My primary goal is to freeze taxes for four years,” he said. “I have the background to do it, and I certainly intend to do it.
“I think it can be implemented by taking over my abatement plan. I want to run Long Branch like a corporation.
“I’m going to run the corporation, but you are going to be the shareholders. The council is going to be the board of directors, and you are going see the annual reports every year.”
Unger and Krebs also grilled Schneider on his use of eminent domain, but Schneider said that it would no longer be used.
“Eminent domain may never be used again in the city,” he said. “Court decisions have made that clear. It is no longer a viable policy economically, politically or legally. I think it is over in the city.”
The 20 candidates for City Council were set to debate the issues on May 3. Voters will go to the polls on May 11.
Crowded field of council candidates debate issues
Crowded field of council candidates debate issues
Recreation, taxes, crime
BY KENNY WALTER
LONG BRANCH — A week before voters would decide the outcome of the municipal election, 18 of the 20 candidates for City Council took the stage last week.
The May 3 debate, which was co-sponsored by the Long Branch NAACP and the Link News, presented the Candidates Joseph Wayne (l-r), David Pizzo and Raul Pacheco discuss their stand on issues in Long Branch s during the May 3 council debate.Candidates Joseph Wayne (l-r), David Pizzo and Raul Pacheco discuss their stand on issues in Long Branch s during the May 3 council debate.candidates in groups of four or five, fielding questions on city issues such as development, gang activity and taxes.
The first issue the candidates addressed involved the city’s current plan to construct a pier with ferry service on the oceanfront.
“The pier is an important part of our history,” Joy Bastelli said. “I’d want to make sure there is a fishing part of that pier.”
Bastelli, who is running on a ticket with incumbent Mayor Adam Schneider, said she would like to see the pier be affordable and would like to continue with plans for the ferry, even though many candidates were critical of it.
“I want to be sure that there is affordable entertainment year-round,” she said. “And also I am very interested in the ferry service that we have proposed. That I believe will revitalize our town.”
Independent candidate Donald Riley was one of the candidates in favor of the pier but against the idea of bringing in a ferry.
“I am definitely concerned with having the pier rebuilt,” he said. “I do think having the pier built for the ferry is something that is a little bit too much for Long Branch.
“We have an oceanfront here with waves; we don’t have a place to accommodate a ferry.”
Riley went on to suggest that the ferry should be voted on in a public referendum.
Long Branch Council candidates Donald Riley (l-r), Michael Bland and John Freda answer questions from the audience during the May 3 debate held at the Long Branch Middle School.Long Branch Council candidates Donald Riley (l-r), Michael Bland and John Freda answer questions from the audience during the May 3 debate held at the Long Branch Middle School.
Development throughout the city was a big issue for the candidates, with independent candidate Michael Bland suggesting that the city create a new plan.
“We have to find a plan that works,” he said. “We need to find a way to bring businesses back into Long Branch,” he added. “We have to find a way to put our community first and not tourists.”
John Pallone, a former council member, suggested that development must start with the business districts.
“I think the first priority should be to revitalize all the commercial districts in the city,” he said.
Pallone also suggested the city needs to secure an outside funding source in order to consider the ferry.
“The pier is a part of our history; the problem is this ferry service,” he said. “The funds that would probably become available federally would come from transportation. It can’t be on the backs of the taxpayers of the city.”
John Freda, who is running on mayoral candidate Bob Krebs’ ticket, criticized the current administration’s way of doing business.
“I would rid the city of its illegal use of eminent domain and redevelopment zones forever,” he said. “The city doesn’t need a $100 million pier when we are already $50 million in debt.”
Another major topic was the budget.
The only incumbent running for re-election said there are a lot of misconceptions about this spending plan.
“I have gone through the budget line by line,” Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli said. “I hear everyone say cut, but the bottom line is, it takes a lot of small cuts to make one big cut.
“I look at every line and make sure each department has what it needs,” she added. “No departments have gotten any increases, and when you say cut, you are talking about people, jobs and services.”
However, candidate Diane Zuchnik, who is running with mayoral candidate Brian Unger, criticized spending by the Schneider administration.
“We have a bloated, overspending mentality in City Hall,” she said. “We have to find a better way of doing this. We didn’t do enough to get grants from the state or federal government.”
Candidate Jackeline Biddle Shuler, running independently, said the city needs to approach the budget differently.
“I propose looking at how we do things,” she said. “We need to find ways to make things more efficient.”
Kate Billings, also running with Schneider, suggested that the city should look into more shared services.
“We need to start doing more shared services,” she said. “We need to find better ways to bring our costs down.”
Recreation was a big topic at the mayoral debate a week earlier and it remained a hot issue for the council candidates.
“This city is going to have to come together and find constructive ways to give our youth a chance,” said Harold “Pudgy” Cooper, another independent candidate.
“We don’t have a bowling alley anymore, we don’t have a movie theater anymore. “Go to Asbury, go to Red Bank and come back to Long Branch and tell me what we have.”
Joe Mauriello, running with Unger, suggested that the city’s youth and seniors participate together.
“Why can’t we take the youth of today and let them intermingle with our senior citizens?” he said. “Let them tell about the old school, the old stories. “I am a firm believer in learn by example. Why can’t they learn from our senior citizens?”
Mauriello also suggested that the city should look at programs other than sports for children.
“Why can’t we get the kids who don’t want to play sports into cooking or arts and crafts?” he asked.
Al Menkin, running on the Schneider ticket, is heavily involved in city youth sports and said the current programs are working.
“We are catching the youth right when they want to learn the most, at 5 and 6,” he said. “These sports do build a foundation for them.
“I see a park for these kids to go play football, to go play baseball,” he added. “I go to Manahassett Creek Park and I see kids out there from sun up to sundown.”
Cooper remained critical of the city’s recreation programs, as well as the time it took to build Manahassett Creek Park.
“I think we need all types of recreation, we need things oriented toward our females,” he said. “Why should it take 10 years to get a football field?”
David Brown II, who is running on a ticket with Pallone, said that recreation should return to the kind there was when he was a kid.
“In the ’80s we had open gymnasiums in the public schools,” he said. “I would create a recreation committee that would help us find other ways.
“There has to be [something] for all ages,” he added.
A big issue for candidates, including Unger’s running mate, Sharon Wise, was how to ensure public safety.
“I think our police officers do a terrific job,” she said. “I would support increased use of foot patrols.”
Wise is running on a ticket with John Gregory, who would like to see more community gardens.
“You have community gardens in urban environments and people come out of their houses to [get together] at the garden,” Gregory said. “We have spots designated for community gardens throughout the city and they are being under utilized.
“When people are involved in community gardens, they take pride in their neighborhood.”
Joseph Wayne, running with Krebs, said violence and the gang problem in the city have largely been ignored.
“If you ignore a problem, it won’t go away,” he said. “We need to get citizens involved, we need to get the schools involved and we need to get cops involved.
“We need to form a pro-active program. Having a police presence in the community definitely would help.”
Dave Pizzo, who is also running with Krebs, piggybacked on Wayne’s ideas.
“I believe we should have more cameras in public areas and more foot patrol around business areas,” he said.
Raul Pacheco, an independent candidate, said as a councilman he would take a more hands-on approach.
“I believe we have one of the best police departments in the area,” he said. “We need to continue to support the police officers.
“Have them go out and get rid of the violence and get rid of the gangs. As city councilman, I will not sit through meeting after meeting after meeting; I will be out on the street with my police department.”
Kent Thornton, who is running on the Unger ticket, and Michael Sirianni, running on the Schneider ticket, were not present at the debate.
The nonpartisan municipal election will be held on Tuesday, May 11.
Contact Kenny Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com
Recreation, taxes, crime
BY KENNY WALTER
LONG BRANCH — A week before voters would decide the outcome of the municipal election, 18 of the 20 candidates for City Council took the stage last week.
The May 3 debate, which was co-sponsored by the Long Branch NAACP and the Link News, presented the Candidates Joseph Wayne (l-r), David Pizzo and Raul Pacheco discuss their stand on issues in Long Branch s during the May 3 council debate.Candidates Joseph Wayne (l-r), David Pizzo and Raul Pacheco discuss their stand on issues in Long Branch s during the May 3 council debate.candidates in groups of four or five, fielding questions on city issues such as development, gang activity and taxes.
The first issue the candidates addressed involved the city’s current plan to construct a pier with ferry service on the oceanfront.
“The pier is an important part of our history,” Joy Bastelli said. “I’d want to make sure there is a fishing part of that pier.”
Bastelli, who is running on a ticket with incumbent Mayor Adam Schneider, said she would like to see the pier be affordable and would like to continue with plans for the ferry, even though many candidates were critical of it.
“I want to be sure that there is affordable entertainment year-round,” she said. “And also I am very interested in the ferry service that we have proposed. That I believe will revitalize our town.”
Independent candidate Donald Riley was one of the candidates in favor of the pier but against the idea of bringing in a ferry.
“I am definitely concerned with having the pier rebuilt,” he said. “I do think having the pier built for the ferry is something that is a little bit too much for Long Branch.
“We have an oceanfront here with waves; we don’t have a place to accommodate a ferry.”
Riley went on to suggest that the ferry should be voted on in a public referendum.
Long Branch Council candidates Donald Riley (l-r), Michael Bland and John Freda answer questions from the audience during the May 3 debate held at the Long Branch Middle School.Long Branch Council candidates Donald Riley (l-r), Michael Bland and John Freda answer questions from the audience during the May 3 debate held at the Long Branch Middle School.
Development throughout the city was a big issue for the candidates, with independent candidate Michael Bland suggesting that the city create a new plan.
“We have to find a plan that works,” he said. “We need to find a way to bring businesses back into Long Branch,” he added. “We have to find a way to put our community first and not tourists.”
John Pallone, a former council member, suggested that development must start with the business districts.
“I think the first priority should be to revitalize all the commercial districts in the city,” he said.
Pallone also suggested the city needs to secure an outside funding source in order to consider the ferry.
“The pier is a part of our history; the problem is this ferry service,” he said. “The funds that would probably become available federally would come from transportation. It can’t be on the backs of the taxpayers of the city.”
John Freda, who is running on mayoral candidate Bob Krebs’ ticket, criticized the current administration’s way of doing business.
“I would rid the city of its illegal use of eminent domain and redevelopment zones forever,” he said. “The city doesn’t need a $100 million pier when we are already $50 million in debt.”
Another major topic was the budget.
The only incumbent running for re-election said there are a lot of misconceptions about this spending plan.
“I have gone through the budget line by line,” Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli said. “I hear everyone say cut, but the bottom line is, it takes a lot of small cuts to make one big cut.
“I look at every line and make sure each department has what it needs,” she added. “No departments have gotten any increases, and when you say cut, you are talking about people, jobs and services.”
However, candidate Diane Zuchnik, who is running with mayoral candidate Brian Unger, criticized spending by the Schneider administration.
“We have a bloated, overspending mentality in City Hall,” she said. “We have to find a better way of doing this. We didn’t do enough to get grants from the state or federal government.”
Candidate Jackeline Biddle Shuler, running independently, said the city needs to approach the budget differently.
“I propose looking at how we do things,” she said. “We need to find ways to make things more efficient.”
Kate Billings, also running with Schneider, suggested that the city should look into more shared services.
“We need to start doing more shared services,” she said. “We need to find better ways to bring our costs down.”
Recreation was a big topic at the mayoral debate a week earlier and it remained a hot issue for the council candidates.
“This city is going to have to come together and find constructive ways to give our youth a chance,” said Harold “Pudgy” Cooper, another independent candidate.
“We don’t have a bowling alley anymore, we don’t have a movie theater anymore. “Go to Asbury, go to Red Bank and come back to Long Branch and tell me what we have.”
Joe Mauriello, running with Unger, suggested that the city’s youth and seniors participate together.
“Why can’t we take the youth of today and let them intermingle with our senior citizens?” he said. “Let them tell about the old school, the old stories. “I am a firm believer in learn by example. Why can’t they learn from our senior citizens?”
Mauriello also suggested that the city should look at programs other than sports for children.
“Why can’t we get the kids who don’t want to play sports into cooking or arts and crafts?” he asked.
Al Menkin, running on the Schneider ticket, is heavily involved in city youth sports and said the current programs are working.
“We are catching the youth right when they want to learn the most, at 5 and 6,” he said. “These sports do build a foundation for them.
“I see a park for these kids to go play football, to go play baseball,” he added. “I go to Manahassett Creek Park and I see kids out there from sun up to sundown.”
Cooper remained critical of the city’s recreation programs, as well as the time it took to build Manahassett Creek Park.
“I think we need all types of recreation, we need things oriented toward our females,” he said. “Why should it take 10 years to get a football field?”
David Brown II, who is running on a ticket with Pallone, said that recreation should return to the kind there was when he was a kid.
“In the ’80s we had open gymnasiums in the public schools,” he said. “I would create a recreation committee that would help us find other ways.
“There has to be [something] for all ages,” he added.
A big issue for candidates, including Unger’s running mate, Sharon Wise, was how to ensure public safety.
“I think our police officers do a terrific job,” she said. “I would support increased use of foot patrols.”
Wise is running on a ticket with John Gregory, who would like to see more community gardens.
“You have community gardens in urban environments and people come out of their houses to [get together] at the garden,” Gregory said. “We have spots designated for community gardens throughout the city and they are being under utilized.
“When people are involved in community gardens, they take pride in their neighborhood.”
Joseph Wayne, running with Krebs, said violence and the gang problem in the city have largely been ignored.
“If you ignore a problem, it won’t go away,” he said. “We need to get citizens involved, we need to get the schools involved and we need to get cops involved.
“We need to form a pro-active program. Having a police presence in the community definitely would help.”
Dave Pizzo, who is also running with Krebs, piggybacked on Wayne’s ideas.
“I believe we should have more cameras in public areas and more foot patrol around business areas,” he said.
Raul Pacheco, an independent candidate, said as a councilman he would take a more hands-on approach.
“I believe we have one of the best police departments in the area,” he said. “We need to continue to support the police officers.
“Have them go out and get rid of the violence and get rid of the gangs. As city councilman, I will not sit through meeting after meeting after meeting; I will be out on the street with my police department.”
Kent Thornton, who is running on the Unger ticket, and Michael Sirianni, running on the Schneider ticket, were not present at the debate.
The nonpartisan municipal election will be held on Tuesday, May 11.
Contact Kenny Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com
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