Three vote to censure fellow public officials Action revolves around Manalapan legal matter

BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

MANALAPAN — Township Committee members Anthony Gennaro and Susan Cohen were publicly censured by their fellow municipal officials during a meeting on Nov. 12. A resolution that passed by a 3-1 vote castigated Gennaro and Cohen for actions they took in a matter of civil litigation that Manalapan has brought against attorney Stuart Moskovitz in regard to actions Moskovitz took when he served as Manalapan's township attorney in 2005.
The case of Manalapan v. Moskovitz is continuing in state Superior Court. Although Manalapan is represented by legal counsel in the matter, Gennaro and Cohen — without notifying the counsel — submitted certifications to Judge Dennis O'Brien this past summer. O'Brien, who is presiding in the case, rejected the certifications. Cohen and Gennaro have said the township's legal counsel was not responsive to inquiries they had about the litigation.
Moskovitz later resubmitted both certifications as part of a brief he filed with the court. At the end of the Nov. 12 committee meeting, Committeeman Andrew Lucas proposed the resolution of censure against Cohen and Gennaro. The resolution was supported by Lucas, Mayor Michelle Roth and Committeeman Richard Klauber. Gennaro voted no. Cohen was not present at the meeting, having been released from a hospital that day following a 48-hour stay. Klauber said he was "very troubled" by the action taken by Gennaro and Cohen to submit material to the court without notifying any township official or professional.

"I expect more as a resident of this town and more of them as members of this governing body," he said. "Whatever your reason, you released confidential information. It was a breach of your ethical obligations, whatever your reasons."
Klauber said asking for Cohen and Gennaro to resign from office might be going too far, but said he felt the public censure was appropriate.

Roth observed that there had been a previous instance when Gennaro had chosen to disregard that a document disseminated to the governing body had been marked confidential and had nonetheless made information from the document public.
In defending that action, Gennaro said it was a matter regarding the township's budget and said he had only read aloud a particular excerpt and not the entire document.
Regarding Manalapan's ongoing litigation against Moskovitz, Gennaro said, "I never challenged the merits of the case, it was the mechanics of the case." Gennaro's reaction to the censure was, "You people do what you want." Cohen later said she had no regrets about submitting a document to the judge. She said she had sent the same information in the form of a letter to a judge who had previously been hearing the Manalapan v. Moskovitz case.

Cohen said it was her understanding that the first judge had only rejected her letter because she had not sent it by certified mail. She said she did not think there was anything wrong in resubmitting the information in the form of the certification she said she hand-delivered to O'Brien.
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Manalapan Republicans calling for positive committee campaign

This was reported in today's APP and reported by Alesha Williams Boyd

MANALAPAN — The GOP candidates for Township Committee have challenged their Democratic opponents to limit campaign spending to $5,000 per candidate and limit the signs they post to 250 per campaign.

But the Democrats say they plan to follow state and municipal guidelines — not their opponents' — in a "clean and fact-driven campaign."

"In this economy, never has it been more important to use money efficiently and make the most of every dollar. We're prepared to show the residents of Manalapan that we can do more with less. That's what's needed on the Township Committee," said Republican Ryan D. Green, who is seeking a committee seat in the November election with running mate William Garcia.

The Republican candidates say they're also challenging their opponents not to accept contributions from special interest groups and political action committees and to run a "positive, issues-based campaign."

But the Democratic candidates, Mayor Michelle Roth and running mate Donald Holland, say they already initiated a meeting in August with their opponents to discuss debates and keeping the campaign clean.

"We are pleased to see that the Republicans have agreed with our request for a clean and fact-driven campaign for Township Committee, free of any mud slinging," Roth said. "We intend to make sure the voters are well informed before Election Day utilizing town-wide mailers, walking door-to-door and publicly debating our opponents."

Regarding limiting spending, Roth said she and Holland aren't planning to comply with Green and Garcia's demands, adding "one mailer with postage and printing is over $5,000." Roth said she spent roughly $17,000 on her last political campaign in 2005.

"As always, we will abide by the state regulations concerning campaign spending and contributions," Roth said.

But Green and Garcia said state regulations, which allow the contributions, don't go far enough.

"We need to limit the power of special interest groups in political campaigns in Manalapan, and campaign spending limits are the best way to accomplish that," Garcia said.

"We just wanted to keep the air clear right from the start," Green said. "We just don't want to see third parties having too much say in what happens in Manalapan."

Campaign signs became the focus of another conflict down party lines in December when the Township Committee's Democrats, including Roth, voted against adopting an ordinance that would limit the signs. Republican Committeeman Andrew Lucas then said the signs caused "sight pollution" in town, but Roth said she was concerned the ordinance could violate First Amendment rights.

Green said he wouldn't comment on Roth and Holland's decision not to meet their challenge, but that he and Garcia planned to comply with the limits they set for themselves.

"People are tired of seeing a sign at every turn come the fall political season. Limiting campaign signs is a responsible way to consider the residents of Manalapan," Green said.

Manalapan: GOP PRIMARY JUNE 3 - ***VOTE COLUMN 1***

Candidates vie for GOP nomination

Manalapan Republican County Committee
has nominated Ryan Green and William Garcia

...there's a reason why...

****** ON JUNE 3rd - VOTE COLUMN 1 ******

From left to right: Kalman, Steven, Ryan, William

BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

Four residents are continuing their campaign to secure the Manalapan Republican Party nomination in the June 3 primary and earn a place on the November general election ballot.

Two three-year terms on the Manalapan Township Committee will be up for grabs in the November general election.

The Manalapan Republican County Committee has nominated Ryan Green andWilliam Garcia to run for seats on the committee. They are being challenged in the primary by Kalman Budai and Steven Johnson.

The Manalapan Democratic County Committee has nominated Township Committeewoman Michelle Roth, who is serving as Manalapan's mayor this year, and Donald Holland to run for seats on the committee. Roth and Holland are unchallenged in the primary.

Individuals who are eligible to vote in the June 3 Republican primary are those people who are already registered as a Republican, or any unaffiliated individual who shows up at the polls on Election Day and registers as a Republican, according to Municipal Clerk Rose Ann Weeden.

Weeden said that after the primary election, people who switched from unaffiliated to Republican in order to vote in the primary may reregister as unaffiliated.

Polls will be open between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. June 3 at the municipality's regular polling places.

Green, 28, is a 20-year resident of Manalapan. He is a school social worker with the Perth Amboy School District in Middlesex County. Green is a member of the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education. If he wins the June 3 primary and is eventually elected to the Township Committee in November, he will have to resign from the school board.

Garcia, 42, is a project manager for a major financial institution in New York City. He has lived in Manalapan for two years.

Budai, 50, has been a resident of Manalapan for 12 years. He is the owner of a ceramic tile company. Prior to that he was a dispatcher for the Suburban Transit Bus Company.

Johnson, 54, is employed in the office automation business, He has been a Manalapan resident for 11 years. He said that in the past he has been responsible for managing a staff of 50 people and a business operating budget of $30 million.

•••

Budai and Johnson, who sought the Republican County Committee nomination but did not receive it, said they decided to mount a primary challenge and run for the Township Committee because Green and Garcia are, in their words, candidates "in name only." They said neither man was a registered Republican until February.

Green and Garcia responded to that broadside.

According to Green, who grew up in Manalapan and was re-elected to a second term on the school board in April, he had always kept his political registration as unaffiliated because he felt doing so would "leave the politics out of the school board, where I don't believe they belong."

However, Green said he has always been a Republican "philosophically" - a term Garcia also embraced when told that was how Green had put it - and has always voted Republican.

Speaking about his voting record on the school board, Green said, "I think my voting record as a fiscal conservative while on the board speaks to my Republican mind-set."

Garcia said when he moved to Manalapan from Queens, N.Y., in 2006, he registered as a Republican when he registered his motor vehicles and took care of other tasks. At least, he said he thought he had done so. He said it was not until he was looking into voting in the upcoming presidential election that he found out his voting registration had not been properly filed and he was listed in his voter affiliation as unaffiliated.

Garcia said he has been a registered Republican since he was 18. He said he explained all this to the selection committee at the time of his interview "and they were OK with it once it was explained."

•••

All four men who are running for a seat on the public body that governs Manalapan were asked to name something they like about the community.

Garcia said it was the "good schools and spaciousness" that hooked him when he was looking for a New Jersey community to move his family into; that and the fact his wife had family in the area made it a marriage of suburban ideals and commuter convenience, given Manalapan's proximity to Wall Street via public transportation.

Green said that given the fact that he grew up in Manalapan, he thought it would be almost impossible to instantly come up with a particular observation. Then he recounted something that happened in the past few weeks that reminded him how much he loves living in Manalapan and is looking forward to raising a family here.

He said shortly after moving into the home in the Yorktowne development where he now resides, there was a knock on the door. Green, who will be married in June, said he almost could not believe it, but "it was a neighbor from the block with an apple pie who just wanted to say 'welcome to the neighborhood.' It's people like that who remind you what a great place Manalapan is to live."

Johnson also mentioned the people who make up the community, but said there are other things he likes aboutManalapan.

"I like that we have Monmouth Battlefield State Park. I like that we have a fourtime championship cheerleading squad and I like that we have the western branch of theMonmouth County Library."

Budai, who has been a member of several committees and boards, including the Manalapan Recreation Advisory Board, said some of the highlights of Manalapan are manifested in its recreation center and programs.

"Manalapan's ball fields are state-ofthe art and the best in the county, if not the state," he said, while also alluding to what he called the spirit of the community and its residents, particularly those who volunteer for municipal boards and committees.

"We have the best volunteers and our police department is second to none. It's just the spirit of the community; it's everybody from the youngsters to the seniors," Budai said.

•••

Budai said he believes his experience as a business owner would serve him well as an elected official. He said his previous employment with Suburban Transit would give him an understanding of issues facing commuters and transportation companies.

Speaking about municipal finances, Budai said he would examine each municipal department to look at the staffing levels and the efficiency of the department with an eye on trimming costs.

Johnson said he would concentrate on finalizing plans for The Village at Manalapan, a 500,000-square-foot retail-commercial complex planned for the intersection of Millhurst Road and Route 33. The project received preliminary approval from the Planning Board more than a year ago but has never gotten off the ground for a variety of reasons.

"We should be concentrating on getting these ratables instead of spending a million bucks on a sports field," Johnson said, alluding to the construction of an $800,000 artificial turf playing field of which he has been critical.

Garcia said his professional expertise would serve him well in reviewing a municipal budget "to see where our money is being spent and how we could make operations more efficient."

However, said Garcia, "I would never advocate cuts that would adversely affect our safety and services."

He said he would focus attention on the types of service contracts the township has on all of its equipment in an effort to see if there can be consolidation and savings.

"It is the little things that add up," he said.

•••

All four candidates were asked why they should be the person Republicans choose on June 3 to run for a seat on the Township Committee in November.

"First and foremost, I am a husband and a father involved in community activities. I am one of my neighbors. I am not a politician," Garcia said. "Bill Garcia was born a Republican and a fiscal conservative. My blood is Republican and I want smaller government."

Green said his experience on the Manalapan Englishtown school board gives him a leg up because of that unique perspective and because the school district has been working with Manalapan to develop a shared services agreement. Green said he has been involved with the development of that agreement.

"I have the right experience at the right time," he said, adding that one area he would examine as a member of the Township Committee would be the administration salaries for Manalapan's summer recreation program, which he said have been increased for 2008.

Speaking about himself and Budai, Johnson said, "We are experienced, hardworking people dedicated to the town. That is who should be running in the general election."

Budai said if he is elected to the Township Committee, he will not take municipal health benefits. He estimated that decision would save taxpayers between $15,000 and $17,000 per year.

Johnson also decried taxpayers paying for health benefits for the members of the governing body. He said Township Committee members should get their health insurance through their place of employment and not expect the taxpayers to pay for health benefits for what is basically a part-time job.
-----------

Remember - vote for the True Republicans -
the ones selected by the nominating committee.
************ VOTE COLUMN 1 ********************

Republicans will have primary in Manalapan

News Transcript - BY KATHY BARATTA and MARK ROSMAN

There will be a Republican primary in Manalapan in June as four candidates seek the nod to run for two seats on the Township Committee in the November general election.

As previously announced, Ryan Green and William Garcia were nominated by the Manalapan Republican Party to run for a pair of three-year terms. They will run under the banner of the Monmouth County Republican Organization.

On April 7, which was the deadline for candidates associated with a party to file to run, Kalman “Butch” Budai Jr. and Steven Johnson filed paperwork with the Township Clerk’s Office to run under the banner of Manalapan Republicans.

The decision by Budai and Johnson to run for the committee appears to confirm behind-the-scenes maneuvers that have been taking place in Manalapan over the past week and signals a split in the Manalapan Republican Party.

Budai and Johnson were unsuccessful in their bids two weeks ago to secure the nomination of the Manalapan Republican Party to run for the Township Committee.

Municipal Clerk Rose Ann Weeden said Budai and Johnson stated their desire to have their own line on the ballot, and said they also filed candidates to seek seats on the Manalapan Republican County Committee.

The county committee is made up of residents from each voting district in the municipality and helps to select individuals to run for office.

Neither Budai nor Johnson returned messages left by the News Transcript over the weekend of April 5-6. The News Transcript was calling to ask if they were planning to force a showdown among Republican voters in the June primary.

Several Republicans confirmed to the News Transcript over the weekend that they had been approached by individuals who asked them to start a breakaway faction of Republicans.

Richard Frenkiel and his wife, Maizie, said they were solicited for membership in the new organization, but declined to join.

Richard Frenkiel is a former member of the Township Committee who served as mayor during his term of office. Both are members of the Manalapan Republican County Committee.

Maizie Frenkiel said her decision not to leave the regular Republican organization was an easy one because not only was the Manalapan Republican Party’s strength being jeopardized, she also felt the matter spoke to the loyalty of Manalapan’s registered Republicans.

“I hate to see the party split. It’s never a good thing to split the party. I understand there have been disagreements, but I wish they (reform Republican candidates) would simply run in a primary rather than starting a new party,” she said.

“I was approached to join (the Manalapan Reform Republican Party) by another (regular Republican) county committee person and I refused. I have been a member of the regular Republican Party for 30 years and a county committee person for just as long. I didn’t think it was appropriate to switch. I told them it’s a matter of loyalty,” she said.

Richard Frenkiel offered his thoughts on the idea of forming a new Republican faction, saying, “If people formed a new party every time there was a disagreement there wouldn’t be a party.”

Manalapan resident and political gadfly Rhoda Chodosh, who is a regular attendee at Township Committee meetings, has been aManalapan Republican County Committee member for two years. Chodosh said she was approached by a member of the county committee in an effort to get her to join the reform faction.

She said she refused the offer, saying her reason for doing so was also about party loyalty.

“I’m staying where I am because I want strong Republicans in Manalapan. Being on the county committee is not only about the municipal level. It’s more than just the one - I look at the whole, the greater good of the party.”

Manalapan Republican Party Chairman Stephen McEnery said, “The Republican Party is made up of individuals who want to work toward making Manalapan a better place for their families.Whenever a splinter group forms, chaos develops and family focus disappears. Friends and neighbors start to distrust each other and sometimes become enemies. It has happened in Howell,Marlboro,Wall and other towns that have lost their focus.When two parties debate on issues it’s about beliefs. When a party splits it’s not about beliefs, it’s about ego.

“Ego exists through all levels of politics, but when it becomes just about ego with little regard for the township, the residents need to reject that behavior. When people such as Butch Budai, who was the low vote-getter at our convention, uses his position as a party boss to bring people together for him, it’s called a gang, not a party.

“The Republican County Committee in Manalapan had an election for candidates and some people lost. Such is life. But this is not Steve McEnery’s party, it’s simply the Republican Party of Manalapan. It was here long before I was elected chairman and it will be here long after I’m gone.”

Howell: Republicans may be unopposed

Two former Republican Planning Board members were the only ones who filed to run for mayor and a seat on the Township Council Monday; although an independent councilman indicated that he may still enter the race for mayor in June.

Republican Russell F. Bohlin of Belmar Boulevard filed to run as mayor to replace current Republican Mayor Joseph DiBella, who chose not to seek re-election. Republican Paul Schneider, a former Planning Board chairman, filed to run for the Township Council for the seat currently held by GOP Councilwoman Cynthia Schomaker, who also is not running for re-election.

No Democrats or independents filed to run for either post. Three of the four council seats in Howell are currently held by independents.

Bohlin said he believes he can bring a fresh perspective to the challenges facing the township. "I know I can make a difference," the 55-year-old said of his decision to run for mayor.

Bohlin, who first drew public attention in 2005 for leading a challenge on behalf of 61 neighbors against a residential developer, recently championed an opposition to the rezoning of a mobile home park.

"I constantly advocated to minimize the impact of development proposals on neighboring residents and the community as a whole," Bohlin said of his time on the Planning Board.

While he currently has no opponents in the November election, that could change. Independent Councilman Robert Walsh, who served as deputy mayor last year, said he has not made a decision as to whether or not he will run for mayor but that he will decide before the June primary.

Schneider also will run uncontested in the Republican primary for the open council seat. Appointed to a number of township panels and commissions dating back to the late 1950s, Schneider said that now that he has retired from his job as director of a pharmaceutical chain, he can devote what he calls the necessary time needed to sit on the township's governing body.

"I consider this position on council as more time consuming," said Schneider, who served on the township's now defunct Board of Health from 1958 to 1985, helped to establish the township's Shade Tree Commission in 1967 and was also a member of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, the township's Mobile Home Rent Control Board and Environmental Commission, as well as professional associations.

No Democrats filed for either the mayor or council position before the Monday deadline, although a nominee could emerge through write-in votes.

"We had a few prospective candidates, but at the end of the day no one wanted to run," said Democratic Club President Steven Morlino.

Lawmakers contemple Moving School Elections From April to November

TRENTON — In an effort to reduce costs and increase voter participation, state lawmakers Thursday discussed moving school board elections from April to the general election in November.

The Senate Education Committee held discussions Thursday with education groups about consolidating election days, as well as eliminate the requirement that voters decide school tax levies, except for separate questions if the growth cap is exceeded.

Extra elections cost citizens money that could be saved to reduce property taxes or better spent on education, said Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Mercer, the committee chairwoman and sponsor of a bill that would enact such changes.

"Every time we turn around, we're having another election that is costing people money," said Turner.

Turner also said moving the elections to November would allow more voters to have a say in school board elections, since participation is significantly higher.

CONTINUE HERE

NJ at its best: Housing Authority chief Mary Jo Grauso gets bonus after serving suspension...

LAKEWOOD — Five months after returning from a 60-day unpaid suspension for giving no-bid contracts to a boyfriend, Housing Authority chief Mary Jo Grauso was awarded a $4,000 bonus Tuesday on top of the standard 3 percent (you godda love it!)

Authority commissioners defended the raise and bonus, which totaled about $7,000, as a reward well-earned by a director whose misstep, while severe, should be put in the context of an otherwise accomplished career. Grauso's base salary is now $109,545 annually.

"We are a very high-performing agency that has succeeded in many areas we've never ventured into before, and it's because of the leadership we've had," Audrey Wise, authority chairwoman, said Wednesday. "How many times are we going to make her pay for her indiscretion?"

Still, the bonus, given after a performance evaluation, struck some as inappropriate, especially in light of the agency's history of controversy. Grauso's predecessor, Meir N. Hertz, stepped down as executive director six years ago following charges of income tax invasion, to which he pleaded guilty.

"Overall, Mary Jo has done a good job over the years, but she made a serious lapse in judgment and it sends the wrong message to now award her with a bonus," Mayor Raymond Coles said.

Township Committeeman Charles Cunliffe said he was surprised Grauso maintained her position after the violation, and was "shocked" to learn of the raise. The Township Committee appoints six of the seven commissioners but has no further control over the authority. The seventh member is appointed by the governor and is currently vacant.

One dissenting vote

In May, Grauso was suspended without pay for allowing her then-boyfriend, James Castaldo, and his Toms River construction company to continue refurbishing housing units managed by the authority after the cost of the work surpassed the $21,000 threshold after which competitive bids must be sought. Grauso, who served her 60-day suspension intermittently, returned to her authority post full-time in October.

Five commissioners voted unanimously Dec. 21 to approve the bonus. On Tuesday, the board put the bonus into effect, retroactive to Oct. 1. Marta Harrison, who was absent at the December meeting, was the only commissioner to cast a dissenting vote Tuesday.

"The violations leading up to the suspension were serious, and when taking them into account, overall a merit-based raise was inappropriate," Harrison said.

In the coming weeks, the Inspector General's Office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which funds much of the authority's operations, will also be investigating Grauso's actions, according to Coles, who said he spoke with a HUD official.

Rene Febles, the inspector general's special agent in charge in Newark, said he could not confirm or deny an investigation.

Grauso could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Manalapan: Mayor Michelle Roth updates on the Woodward Road Project

Road work is now estimated to be completed by the end of July

Mayor Michelle Roth provided an update at the Feb. 13 Township Committee meeting regarding the ongoing improvements to Woodward Road. According to Roth, because of recent favorable weather conditions the project is currently ahead of schedule.

Officials had stated in recent weeks that improvements on Woodward Road would keep the portion of the street that lies between Millhurst and Daum roads closed until the end of August.

Last week Roth said the work may be completed by the end of July.

The mayor said there had been some concern about keeping the schedule due to an "unforeseen utility conflict, but we were able to resolve that very quickly."

She said it is important for the builder, Hovnanian, and the township to complete the Woodward Road improvements as quickly as possible. Hovnanian is making the improvements in conjunction with the development of housing along Woodward Road.

According to Roth, there has been a threshold established on the number of building permits that will be issued until the road work is completed. The schedule will also affect the issuance of certificates of occupancy on completed construction.

Another planned road improvement project, this one at the intersection of Iron Ore and High Bridge roads, is not moving as quickly, but that does not mean the project has been halted, according to township engineer Greg Valesi.

Valesi said he has met with residents who will be affected by the road project in order to hear their concerns.

According to Valesi, the planned road improvements require Manalapan to acquire about 10 feet of frontage from some Iron Ore Road and High Bridge Road residents in order to make the needed improvements.

"It looks like it will be a minimal amount of land we'll need to acquire on both of those roads," he said.

However, the township may need to acquire more than 10 feet on what is referred to as Little Mount Vernon Road in order to make the intersection improvements at Iron Ore and High Bridge roads, he said.

According to Valesi, residents of Little Mount Vernon Road voiced concern because the potential exists for Manalapan to have to acquire more than 10 feet on their properties.

Valesi said he will examine the possibility of revising the conceptual sketches in an attempt to mitigate the residents' concerns.

The planned improvements to the intersection that is just outside of Englishtown where Mount Vernon, Iron Ore and High Bridge roads come together have been under discussion and in the planning stages for about five years. Coming from Route 33, the intersection is on a curve in Iron Ore Road and drivers must slow down and navigate a large hump to get onto High Bridge Road and head into Englishtown.

BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer News Transcript