Middletown Committeeman Patrick Short has decided to once again seek a three-year term on the governing body. According to MiddletownMike.blogspot.com, Short made his final decision to stand for re-election recently. For more information, go to: http://middletownmike.blogspot.com/2009/04/short-to-seek-re-election-to-middletown.html.
The Middletown Committee meeting last night adopted a new resolution involving COAH. There was some discussion about the language of the resolution, and comment was made by Committeeman Patrick Short that there may be some drama going on in statements about this issue being made in some corners, in general.
Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger is convinced that complying with COAH (a.k.a. the law) will have a result that is something like a meteorite hitting Middletown. I suppose that leaves the township with two alternatives: Either notify Bruce Willis and a maverick group of wildcatters or obey the law. Since Bruce Willis is busy, I suppose that leaves obeying the law.
Will COAH compliance mean the 'gloom and doom' that is being portrayed by the administration? Some say it will and others say it won't.
Compliance with COAH is dramatic in the township because, for over two decades, the township has put off its obligations or used RCAs to remove its obligations. Not so long ago the governor signed legislation that wiped out RCAs. Long story short: The township's poor planning is catching up with it.
Be sure to pick up a copy of The Courier this week for more news about COAH.
The Fourth of July is always a special time in the area. Last night, the Red Bank fireworks display was incredible, as usual. Traffic was what traffic is in Red Bank for the fireworks. But it was a great family event.
Dr. Andrew Walsh and his wife, school board member and Democratic candidate for Township Committee Patricia Walsh, hosted their annual fireworks party at their River Plaza home, which brought out scores of people. Some of those that attended the event included Middletown Committeeman Patrick Short and his family, Holmdel Committeeman Larry Fink and his family, Middletown Committeeman Sean Byrnes and his family, Middletown Democratic Chairman Joseph Caliendo and his family, as well as Bayshore Young Dems Chairman Matthew Morehead and his family, among others.
It was a very big event with great food and a lot of spirit. Click on the headline to go to the APP for a story about area-wide events.
It has long been a criticism I have had of the Middletown Committee's GOP majority that decisions are made by this majority without any allowance for discussion from Democrats elected to the governing body. It should be the citizenry of Middletown that decides who has input into government. According to Deputy Mayor Pamela Brightbill, at last night's committee meeting, conversation and input with regard to matters of business at Town Hall amounts to a luxury where it involves Democrats offering input -- something that happens 'when there is time.'
The fact that the deputy mayor is so polarized that she does not even entertain the idea of genuine debate, and denotes that basically everything must go along party lines where voting is concerned, is preposterous. No community needs this kind of leadership. Bipartisanship is a requirement of government. If a Democrat cannot communicate to a Republican, or vice cersa, then how can anything get done?
The voters made the choice of putting committeemen Patrick Short and Sean Byrnes on the governing body, and it is disrespectful to them, not to mention governmentally unorthodox, for a deputy mayor to rail against the presence of other party people providing input in the context of what should have been a work session.
Courier Staff Writer Melissa L. Gaffney has done an outstanding job bringing coverage of the Middletown Committee. She has a very complete post on her blog, Sable Minded. Click on the headline to go there for more information.
Middletown Democrat for Township Committee Patricia Walsh issued a Thursday press release saying she intends to propose to the Middeltown Committee an ordinance that would disallow elected officials on the governing body from holding contracts with the township or the county.
Mrs. Walsh said she hopes the Middletown Committee takes this issue under advisement as one way to restore the faith that voters should have in their elected officials. Mrs. Walsh was joined in this call by her running mate, Mr. James Grenafege.
Mrs. Walsh credited this idea to Middletown Committeeman Patrick Short, who inspired it. Committeeman Short is a long-time opponent of elected officials holding contracts with the municipality where they hold office. Mr. Short is also a well-known opponent of dual-office holding.
Mrs. Walsh said it would be a good idea for the committee to memorialize the prohibition against committee people holding contracts with an ordinance.
The APP has a story in it today about overtime expenditures in Middletown. First off, the Middletown Police Dept. is a great organization and has a demonstrated tradition of excellence in service to the community.
Yet, regardless of where there is unnecessary expense, it is in the interest of the citizenry to curb waste. If unnecessary overtime is being spent, then it should be ceased.
Committeeman Patrick Short has raised a question about some overtime hours, during one occasion on Super Bowl day, when some officers called out sick and needed to be replaced for their shifts.
Any argument about saving money is a good one. Taxpayers are being ground up by government, which seems to live in the wallets of residents. Too often there is unnecessary expense and great arrogance when government is called to talk about poor spending habits.
APP Staff Writer Kevin Penton wrote, in my opinion, a very strong story about this subject. Click on the headline to go there.
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