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.
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