Here we go again!

Who is going to handle picking up the garbage. Maybe I missed something, but who will cover those 77 jobs. We voted to keep our own garbage p/u and add more police (which left us no choice at all since they combined the two). I also wonder everytime there is a layoff, it always takes place in public works, but never in the municipal bldg. itself or the police department.

I hope Juan "there are no emergencies in the foreseeable future" Bellu is one of them. I wonder how many friends and family members will be moved to other departments this time? How many in town hall got the notice? How many of the new cops hired will be getting the axe??

Stevie wouldnt know the truth if it jumped up and bite him in the A$$. LIES LIES and MORE LIES! Vote yes to raise your taxes by 24% and we will not cut trash and recycling. Steve just remember this, those people you stepped on on your way to the mayors office, are the same people who's feet you will see on your way down.

What a shame! What a stinking liar! Why cant he see the people are not complaining about the public works department, but the mayors high paying friends and "relatives".

Unbelievable!!!! The referendum was passed - no layoffs, services would continue.
I think the Mayor's actions are based on rage that his fellow Republicans were voted off the board. This is his was of getting back at the citizens of Brick.

This simply makes no sense! In the past the TWU members voted to "share in the sacrifice" and complied with Administration requests. More importantly, an overwhelming majority of citizens voted in support of the referendum with the understanding that the public works department would not be eliminated and garbage-pick-up services would be maintained. I know that I did as did a host of other citizens.

Again, maybe more facts will be forthcoming - but I am confused and disgusted by this recent turn of events. Although I agree that the dedicated employees are being treated unfairly it is DISINGENUOUS to compare them to the ABUSED puppies. One unjust action has nothing to do with the other!

I don't have to be psychic to see the future. The minute those 77 people are laid off and the Mayor tells us we have to find our own garbage collection. Is the day the petition for recall will be started. Mayor Acropolis wants to be fired, there is no other explanation for his actions. What I want to know is can we fire him and his four remaining "yes" men in town hall at the same time? If I was the mayor I would quit while I was ahead, leave the office in a state of grace instead of disgrace. The people of Brick are tired of this crap and I see a petition for recall being very successful. If the Mayor is repealing this tax hike to save his hide for the next election, forget about it. The people of Brick are sick and tired of all the shenanigans going on at town hall and we are NOT going to rehire Acropolis nor the remaining four cohorts either. The Mayor could put a thousand bucks in cold hard cash into my palm and I would still vote for anyone else but him. Enough is enough!

I'm a registered Republican and I think Mr. Acropolis is playing a dangerous game with the taxpayers of Brick. When he isn't re-elected he can look back on policies like this one as the cause!

Does anyone know how many workers are employed in the Public Works Department?

Len- I think a recall of Mayor Acrapolis should be initiated immediately. We don't need his services any longer. I voted yes to keep our cops and trash pickup only to be overtaxed and lied to by this piece of junk. GET RID OF THE REAL FAT!!! THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY PLAN......

Ita looking more and more like we need a recall petition !

I got the feathers if you have the tar, anyone!

And why the hell did we just purchase "slightly used" garbage tucks from another town if this was in the works... Talk about mismanagement... Answers please.

Denise... 40 year resident

I am so very confused. I thought we voted to allow the raise of the taxes to keep our services as they are. I guess our votes mean nothing to the man at the top. Maybe he is not thinking clearly from the exhaustion of working two full time jobs.

The only person who can answer that question is the Mayor himself. From the minute he was elected to office it has been his goal to eliminate public works. His fellow republicans were voted out for many other reasons than the referendum increase. Is he going to give me back my tax increase so I can pay the garbage haulers or do I have to take it to his house and dump it on his front lawn?

It is time for the Mayor to go. A recall should be started now. He has constantly lied to the residents and this layoff is nothing more than getting back at the residents for not electing his people. For him to now say that the majority who voted to raise taxes do not count and he is going to roll back their vote and now reduce taxes should be illegal. Mayor, do everyone a favor and resign immediately. And if the Republican County leaders had any respect for the residents, he would be fired as director of the Toms River Authority. He clearly does not deserve that job either.

WHY DID THEY PURCHASE AUTOMATED RECYCLING TRUCKS IF THEY NEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN??????????????

are you kidding me.. the police hire more cops and new ambulances purchased.. duplicate positions in town hall. these people we put in office should b the ones layed off.. how about the mayor & council take a pay cut. freeze police saleries as well as the rest of the town. make them all pay more for their health insurance. how many of the public works employees will be "transferred" to other positions in the town to avoid a lay off that have a political connection?

Sorry, i misspelled trucks in my last post. must have been "recall rage".......

HAHAHAHA told you fools last year , you were going to get played like a violin....i am actually schocked he didnt keep the 24% AND still fire you all

oh well, you deserve it

Do we really need 140 police officers making 140000 + life time medical benefits and pensions.

sounds like i've started something....

I wonder. Rumor has it Brando is no longer working at the MUA. Then we have this announcement today. We just bought 3 new trucks from Rumson. One cant help but wonder what Steve has up his sleeve.

Hey and why don't we get rid of the old Food town property And why did we need the Traders cove money pit ..This wouldn't be necessary if we had that money to put into the budget ..Pass that paper here I'll sign it ..Mayor needs to go asap...

When they give the tours of the department of public works..maybe they can give rides to different areas in town and the riders can pick up the crap ...Start by the mayors house ..

oh man, now we are going to have to listen again to a bunch of blowhards on another facebook page on how we should all be willing to lose our houses if we cant afford the property taxes, just to save their jobs......oh yeah and just read that the county taxes are going UP UP UP

why is it that everytime thier are a chance of layoffs in this time it is always in the public works dept? thier are plenty other ways to trim the costs of government mr. bus driver than eliminating jobs in the public works. last year you scared the poor people in brick to get your way to raise taxes- i do not think it will ever happen again. the mayor has never had the best interests of this town in his visions only his political aspirations and gains. remember when he said that he will never buy eqiuptment for a once in a lifetime storm? well welcome our two brand new four wheel drive ambulances to town. why did we need two of them? why even one? never had issues before or the need before. still not going to help in two feet of snow. how many of you realize that he added more police officers to the force after threatening to layoff 29 of them last year? the bus drivers message to the town appears to be believe what i say and don't look at what i do. it is time to take back our town and make it a town of pride,truth and sincerety once again.

well the Dems said they were against the 24% increase for helping taxpayers....so now the Mayor is making their job easy for them, unless they really didnt mean that ;)

Well, according to my mortgage payment, which went up due to the increase, the town has collected my money already, so they better keep collecting the trash. This neighborhood is going to get stinky if you don't.

Steve, you are such a lost cause. You should be removed from office immediately. Your political game playing is getting old and the entire town, except for some devout cult followers, are done with you. I certainly hope that you have nothing to hide that full investigation by the state would find. Best of luck to you.

Does this come as a surprise to anyone that he is again using these tactics

Acropolis is not a nice person. He can never be trusted and what he is doing is playing political games. Shame on him.

I feel sad for the people that got laid off. No two ways about it, that sucks.
My understanding is that Trader's Cove is somehow funded for a splash park and construction remains on schedule.
We've voted to increase taxes to cover the trash and supposedly needed Police services. How is it that we can pay for a park that we don't really need to develop and impact these families of the DPW like this?

I'm a bit confused. What is Mr. Acropolis' motive? Does he think rolling back taxes now after increasing them 24% and holding garbage and police over our heads last year is going to win the people's support? Is he delusional? This is obviously all politically motivated. He will never get this township's vote again for anything. Does the Council have to support this in order for the layoffs to occur? I really don't get this......Can someone help?

Remember these words "We should be good for the next 4-5 years". It didn't even make 1 year. Way to go Stevie. More people to the unemployment line and now the garbage will pile up. I say we put it all in front of his house.

Ok first off, if a recall was started today, it would take anywhere from 2-5 years to complete. Jim G. from 101.5 has said this numerous times. If the Mayor goes through with this, he should be reported to the State Attorney General and the Governor. Let them remove him, they would do it a lot quicker. To me this would be the same as commiting fraud ( you pay for something and told how it will work, then it doesn't work and what your told was a pure lie). He should be removed ASAP. If I were a PW employee and got laid off and no cops were laid off, I'd be suing him. I think a special Council meeting should be set up and allow the people to speak the whole night, and let them sit there and listen to what everyone has to say. When it comes to something like this (the people) who elected the official should be allowed to tell the Council what they want and they have to abide by the ruling of the People. It is our town, not theirs.

I have to come out of a self imposed exile for this;

Doesn't anyone read the APPress?! There is a huge write up on county garbage collection in todays paper on page B6.

http://www.app.com/article/20120215/NJNEWS/302150024/1070/NEWS02/Towns-see-savings-from-private-garbage-pickup

Don't know how your budget planning works but is Acropolis just doing this to try and make the newcomers on Council look incompetent because they are the ones that are going to now have to come up with a new budget with the 77 jobs back in?

What was that last Mayor's name? People thought he was a crook?

The tax increase that everyone voted for to keep all the cops etc..didnt go to upgrading equipment..keeping jobs etc .it hired 10 more cops which the town didnt even need..i love how the mayor basically put it on the residence that we wanted a "tax cut." this town is a discrace

I have a feeling that the story of what is going on here in Brick, may make major news outlets. I also feel when the rest of the residence in town find out what we who subscribe to Patch now know, that there will be such a uprising of anger, that there will be such a demand for Steve to resign, that he will have to. He might make appearances on TV or make statements in the press to explain his actions, but this time it will do no good. There is not one once of belief left in the good people of Brick. One more thing, supposedly those red light camera's have made SO much money, over a million bucks but we still can't save public works. WHERE IS THAT MONEY?

This is why I stopped being a member of the REGULAR REPUBLICAN PARTY OF BRICK 2 years ago. I say this coming with the first layoffs and his refusal to show his tax records. . I personally had enough! You should know who this is Steve. PH

What would of happen if it snowed like last year?

make goverment smaller-so why is it that all are public works workers? this is a way to say we need to privatize the garbage-a way to get his way. Mayor Acropolis you work for Toms River and Brick-why do you not make government smaller by giving up your job as mayor? you are double dipping- I hate to admit I voted for you when you first ran for mayor-never again.

Hey Steve how bout you take a pay decrease as mayor you can't work two full time jobs.You lied to the taxpayers of Brick, you should move to Toms River. We the people of Brick would save a lot of money. Are you sure you are not related to Obama.

I notice you only take care of the family plan.

We all know that if his boys were voted back in this would not be happening..Its now up to the Dems ( and the remaining republican council members who have a conscience ) to give the people what they voted for and put a stop to this Mayor who is destroying our town.. I am going to place a call to the Governors office and ask for an investigation.. I do remember him saying that it was alright to go outside the 2% cap to save services as long as the people were willing to pay the extra money for it.. The people have spoken Mayor, we want our services...

can we repeal this friggin jack ass?

Btw if the Mayor gets his way be prepared to pay at least $400-$500 a year to have you garbage collected by a private contractor and bulk pick up is extra...I believe Waste Management quoted me that price..

Daniel Nee, We realize you must be carefull what you say, but what do you think of this bazarre situation?

Bizarre.

It is a disgrace! The fact is certain that "overturning" the referendum vote will bring a shame and black cloud over Brick Township for years to come. The legacy will live on in infamy.

It is my belief that the people will not allow this to happen. The people voted "Yes" to save our services. Unfortunately politics always rears its ugly head but this time it has gone too far. Political chicanery at the people's expense - it's time to send the politicians a message - enough already!

It's going to cost us tax payers more money to have private pick-up then it would be to have our own DPW. Steve we voted to keep DPW. I am ashamed to say I have lived here 51 of 54 years of my life.

Let's get him impeached,I'm sure it can happen on the local level.

Lying? Haha ok Oscar or I mean Acroplis? They wouldnt even commit to a year contract that was just an estimate.. Bulk which they gave me a couch as an example is $75 extra in addition to household garbage. What about recycling and metal? Old Tv's or computers are also extra.. Your just one of the many who takes their services for granted.. Do your homework before you challange me..

If memory serves, a citizen at the Council Meeting asked me if she should send her bill directly to Mr. Joe Lamb if the referendum failed because of his continual misinformation and distortion of facts regarding the vote.

It has always been my position that we must abide by the majority of votes cast as is the democratic process. It is becoming all to burdensome to be the casualty of political postering, and the people have spoken and nothing can change that FACT.

What's the point of having a Referendum that cost the taxpayer more than $40,000 if it is going to be disregarded? I would urge our elected officials to reconsider the merits of this deleterious precedent to overturn the spirit of the citizens vote.

Garbage pick-up for less then $300 a house? Click your heels three times you're not in Brick anymore...You're right about one thing Oscar, it doesnt matter where you live or how big your house is, but the more garbage you have the more expensive it will be and thats a fact.

They have I think 8 new police officers graduating academy tomorrow 12/16. Guess he needed to pay there salaries and benefits for them

I ask the same question I asked last year, which one of King Steve's friends/family owns the sanitation company that will be allowed to pick up trash in the township? They will no doubt have to be approved by the township. Does Steve own or is he in the process of purchasing a sanitation company? He does have a bad attitude, so we know this is all a get back for the election, but he's also covering his a$$.

Millons spent on automated trucks,DPW injuries down.....Historically the profession of private waste management here in New Jersey has been Organized Crime inspired.Why tempt fate???. As far as laying off cops...stop and look around...read the crime blotter....Keep Brick safe

If the garbage/recycling pick up stops, I think we should all use Stevie boys property to dispose of our garbage!

He is a madman who will do almost anything to stay in power. How about firing his buddy who set him up in Toms River, Bellu. Seriously, it is really time to recall this maniac. He just could not handle his people getting defeated.

If you look back at the last couple of years, the only one who has prospered is Stevie himself. He won election to a 52K job, got himself hired at TRMUA at a 100K job (thanks Juan), his kids, brother, son in law all got TR or County jobs... he doesn't need us! he and his family are set! screw the hard working PW workers... This is a new low in Brick. Steve you should be ashamed of what you are doing.

Why was this story NOT in the Asbury Park Press? Don't Brick Homeowners
need to know what is happening?

Well folks, there are several things we all need to do. First, attend the next council meeting, flood the governor's office with phone calls, and call the Asbury Park Press.
As far as him being a one term mayor - he knew this when he put the Tax Referendum on the ballot. He knows there is no way he can be reelected so he is doing everything in his power to throw the Democratic council members under the bus.
As far as our Christie also being a Republican - Christie is not happy with Acropolis because he overrode him when he put the Tax Referendum on the ballot.
IT IS TIME FOR EVERY ONE OF US TO TAKE ACTION AND BE HEARD...

Please ignore grammatical error above I started to say "our" governor, then added Christie.

wow, look at all the sheep mad that that their property taxes might go down

well after all it is BRICKTUCKY

he's done more for dogs then he has done for the people of Brick.

Oscar, please explain your comment.

Well people all around said this whole thing was a ploy by our lovely mayor. Raise your taxes, but everything will be ok. Can't wait for Acropolis to be done "serving" Brick. He is a horror.

Oscar,

Do you know what happens when you assume? Taxes going down? lol

someone asked how many work in public works 77 which means the entire department got layoff notices. He wants to just close the entire publc works dept.

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!
We are being lied to and bamboozeled once again by Mayor Acropolis. I helped to vote this Mayor in, AND I REGRET IT EVERYDAY!
None of this makes sense - What gives the Mayor the right to claim he is "listening to the voters of Brick" in his political stunt to appear to be repealing the Tax Referendum (that he supported) by flat-out LIEING to Brick Citizens! The Referendum stated that passing it (along with it's 24% muni tax increase) would enable Brick to sustain its' Garbage collection (among other services), and now, just two months into 2012, Acropolis is pulling this stunt, and completely reneging on the referendum vote! We voted reluctantly to maintain our services! How can Acropolis get away with this!....He's trying to backpeddle (once he realized his fate was sealed after the Nov. election), at the expense of Brick Taxpayers yet again!!!
THIS NEEDS TO STOP!
The Mayor MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE for his FLAGRANT DISHONESTY to the PEOPLE OF BRICK TWP!
The time is now - IMPEACH ACROPOLIS!!! (for failure to uphold commitments and promises made to Brick Voters on the Tax Referendum!)
....and what about the $200k+ just spent recently on three sanitation trucks, discussed on, voted on, and passed by our Town Council???? This is Crazy!!!

Brick Taxpayers MUST UNITE - PLEASE Type - "IMPEACH ACROPOLIS NOW!" to show unity as Brick Taxpayers - WE NEED TRUTH - NOT MORE ONGOING LIES AND DECEIT from our Mayor - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ALREADY!!!

My parents moved to Brick in 1958 and I have never seen this town in such a mess

Oscar, Oscar, First of all I voted no for the Tax Referendum. This was a complete scare tactic on the part of the Mayor.... The poor people he convinced this was a good thing thought they were voting to save THE PRESENT POLICE FORCE. AND NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR PRIVATE GARBAGE PICKUP. Ocscar, never assume. Pigs will fly before we see a tax cut.

Here is the email listed for the mayor. Email him and demand he resign, get your friends family and neighbors to do the same!

mayor@twp.brick.nj.us

Well said, Brick Taxpayer.

i think Mayor didnt think you would all be foolish enough to raise muni taxes 24% on yourselves, so he figured he could "blame" the taxpayers when he got rid of DPW after the vote got turned down.....too bad for him, the taxpayers were too stupid to understand simple math and voted to INCREASE the their taxes.....so now he has no choice, as his puppet masters have decided that private garbage is the only way, but to go back and do the job himself, as he should of last year

Republican Mayor Liar = Democrtaic Council President Liar......See No Difference between Red or Blue......Wake up sheep

The 'Mayor King' strikes again! I hope none of this comes as a surprise...

We support our garbage and recycling services staying, last years referendum passed and we said YES to keep our police and other services! Where do we sign the Recall Brick Mayor petition?

You can thank the town seniors for letting this happen in the first place. I voted for private pick up and reduction of police. Time to string this guy up on a tree.

went past the mayors house this morning when heading to the gym. already had 2 bags of garbage on his lawn.

i sent my mail to the mayor...simply put "get out"

IMPEACH ACROPOLIS N O W!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rumor has it he is sunning in Florida

For those interested in recall info, look up the Optional Municipal Charter Law, NJ 4069A.

Gee,
Where is Art Sholty when we need divine intervention?

First a corrupt Mayor who resigned in disgrace and went to prison, and now a guy who is tearing this town apart. How long can the GOP back this guy? They can't be that stupid to let this insanity continue. Without a doubt. worst Mayor anyone can recall, (who did not end up in jail)

What a great idea....lets fire the people that actually do the job they are paid to do, we need public works we DON'T need Acropolis. Please Mayor, resign, make-up a reason, anything. (we would not want your ego to get hurt)

funny the last layoff 35 workers lost their jobs and at least 30 new employees were hired at town hall. So will 77 now be hired at town hall.

For Mickey: Apology accepted.

You can't have it both ways . . . .
Everyone complained and said the mayor bullied them into voting yes on the referendum. So the response was to vote in the democrats who said they were opposed to it. So now, you're getting exactly what you asked for - repeal of the increase and, as promised, elimination of the DPW.
Is the Mayor doing this out of spite? Of course he is . . . But ultimately, he's calling everyones bluff and saying "This is what you want? This is what you get."

I doubt he had any designs on being re-elected - and I guess this is what you call leaving a job on bad terms. But for anyone that ever fantasized about giving their boss the middle finger and a punch in the nose on the way out the door - you're seeing it now.

Another psychic prediction: The people of Brick will have to replace the phone system at town hall after the seniors in the villages find out about this. I can see them melting the switchboard to a big plastic blob and blowing out the switch room from all the calls.

If it is true that these layoffs will gut the DPW, then garbage collection is the least of our problems as private collectors can be hired. But what about snow removal, leaf collection, clearing blocked storm drains, cleaning up town parks, clearing debris from town streets after severe storms? Will we have to contract for all that? And, will we really see the reduction in our property tax commensurate with the loss of services? Probably not

Did everyone forget the point of the vote? Remember it was about our garbage and hiring on more police. I hate to say it but why just focus on the garbage and not the police hired as well as everything in that referendum. This is insane that the people that voted yes didn't even look into a private garbage collection service. Well I did I contacted one company and it was $17.50 per month and another 3. something for recycle. Remember those fibbing people down at the hall wrote $30-$40 per month. Well I know $17.50 and say $4 is not $30-$40. It all started then!
I am so done with this government bait and switch!

This will appear in asbury park press after a couple days....they are slow...if anyone thinks utilizing private collection of garbage is cheap you are wrong. i lived in towns with private garbage and it is more expensive, drivers have hands out at holidays too!!! plus you have limited recycling collection and no bulk pickup, leaf pick up, branch pickup, etc....get the picture. so if you want private pickup my suggestion by a nice new full size pickup and spend even more money!!!!!!!!!

What is the meaning of "Bricktucky"?

Sorry Frank, you are wrong. This has been addressed over and over. Please look at the APP article here http://www.app.com/article/20120215/NJNEWS/302150024/1070/NEWS02/Towns-see-savings-from-private-garbage-pickup

more bang for your buck with private pick-up.

These private haulers have out their rosary beads praying the lay offs happen sooner than later. Our township workers will most likely obtain employment with one of them. So now, we can still pay their salaries...just alot more! That makes sense...it will be more costly than keeping them right where they belong. On another topic, I am also from Jersey City...I am NO Bricktukian!

I don't live in Brick, but it's always interesting reading about the shananagans their politicians pull on the taxpayers. I thought the garbage and police cut threat they put out last year was pretty creative.

municipalities are finding savings in private garbage collection services. With no public wages, health insurance or pension contributions to place on budget books, some towns find private trash pickup as the better solution. Also no truck repair fees.

Jhill, when we went through this last year I made a few phone calls to get prices. EVERY company I called said the price depends on several factors. Those factors were number of pick ups per week, size and weight of cans, and how many other pick ups there were in your neighborhood. In others words how many people were using the same carter.

As for saving us money by doing this, I have a real nice bridge I want to talk to you about. A) it would not lower the taxes B) when you lay someone off and they collect unemployment, the employer is responsable for paying unemployment on each employee, to the state to cover the payments being made. These payments are on top of the payroll deduction. So we will not be saving money.

If you believe they are going to roll back the 24% you are crazy, they will find other ways to spend the money.

Kind of makes you wonder what Pt. Pleasant knew when they declined to "hire" Brick for their needs. I have a feeling this plan has been in the works for some time. Right Oscar?.... I mean Steve..... I mean Oscar

A start on how to recall a mayor
1 Find out about laws and regulations that govern recall in your city. You can find the details about how to proceed with a mayoral recall in your city's municipal code, which is available through most city agencies and public law libraries.
2 Start a movement. The only real chance you'll have at recalling a mayor is by getting a group of dedicated and determined people together to battle for the recall. Most recall and recall attempts begin with at least a few politicians who oppose the mayor. However, you can keep the movement apolitical by involving local social and community leaders instead of politicians.
3 Collect signatures for a petition. Each city has different requirements for the number of signatures needed to recall a mayor. Find out the number of signatures and the requirements related to signature authenticity and start a well organized signature drive to validate the petition. Make sure that each signature is authentic before you submit your petition to the city council.
4 Use the media to help. Local media is generally very hungry for politically interesting stories, such as mayoral recalls. Get your local media involved so you can spread the message about the recall and enlist others to help with the cause. Also, gaining media favor on the recall issue will help place pressure on city council members to approve the recall of the mayor.

I have a few questions regarding the laying off of 77 PW employees in town, if I am not mistaken when the referendum to allow the town to go above the 2% cap was presented to the town most if not all the contributors here were up in arms over it, which helped our new council people to be elected and the same council people ran on lowering the taxes in brick, am I right? So the mayor in his new budget is trying to give the people what they want LOWER TAXES and you all are once more up in arms. I personally want trash pickups to continue as well as the PD to continue their fine work, my taxes are too high. So where is the answer you blamed all the former council members well I agree that there were a couple that needed to be removed now the council is controlled by rookies who have already wasted taxpayers funds and blown grants that would have enhanced our town, one of the new members has also pushed to have road and park up grads done near his home which we the tax payers will pay for! Did I agree with the mayor and the old council part of the time but not all the time? Will I agree with the new council? Sometimes I will and sometimes I will not, as you people should you seem to have tunnel vision!

WHAT A SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He threatened if we didnt pass the new budget we would lose the public works department. We passed it and we still lose workers. It was all a bs ploy to get more money to pay our over paid police department. How come these guys average over $100K and not one of them lost their job? This town is messed up. Id rather have someone pick up my trash than write a parking ticket.

Want to see a political bloodbath? This mayor is so vulnerable, every Dem in Brick will want to run against him. I wonder if Joe Scarpelli is available? Go ahead and sneer. Any guesses on how the vote would go in an Acropolis-Scarpelli election?

What happens to the neighborhoods that have people who do not pay their bill for garbage removal. It can and will happen. I've seen it in other towns and businesses where I've worked. You don't pay, they don't pick up. In this economy, homeowners are still walking away from homes. I'm sure the last thing they care about is paying that bill. This is why I was opposed to private pick up. The tax increase to cover our pick up...I guess we will not get a credit? LOL

ok so tell me why when the public works dept lost their jobs townhall hired almost as many new employees, furthur more do you think public works might be targeted, parks has not been touched, or threatened ,or told ;oh well too bad if you lose your job.

LOOKS LIKE THE REAL TRASH ARE THE PEOPLE RUNNING BRICK!!!

Joseph W..dont be silly! Steve will hire the garbage fairy to take care of it!

you all really think Acrapolis is go to run for mayor again....wow you are really slow learners....you need to start playing chess and understand how to see a move coming 3 moves ahead of time.....the republicants will put someone "new" on the ticket to run against democRAT Ducey and then you will have to decide (and i am sure you will pick the wrong side again) are you going to give the entire town to the tax and spend union loving democRATS

the democRATS on council ran on LOWERING TAXES.....well this is doing just that for them, so why would they be against this ???????????????

It is my understanding that this layoff is not etched in stone. It must be voted on by the town council. Is this correct?

Denis The comments about our three job mayor would be cut by 50% if repeat writers were allowed only one posting. Now what are we going to do with all those used garbage trucks,if ACROPOLIS' plan gets carried out ? AN AUCTION maybe ?Watch the money and who bids for them. Joe Scarpelli, please come back !

I agree, the comments could be cut back. Apparently a couple writters like beating an issue that hasn't even materialized to death. Do they even know what they are yapping about. If so maybe they should run for office. Right W & W?

Why did we VOTE??? i say lets get everyone together this Sunday and lets go sit in front of the Mayors house and show him our disapproval. Since he doesnt listen to us when we vote, maybe he will listen to us in person.

why is he hiring more police officers and giving the police chief a raise,He is family. He just hired about 6 police officers for about 5 million with benifits.

i believe he is related to the police chief.

taxpayers took it up the a s s

the mayor is playing games he knows that people in brick are mentally challenged.They are so stupid people will vote to increase taxes on a a new referundum ore they will eliminate the police force raise taxes 100 million to keep the police force.

looks like a new referundum is comming seniors he will threaten you again about gabarge.bend over again..

If you didn't notice, the majority of voters last November decided they want LOWER taxes. Forget the referendum. The voters sent a clear message to the politically astute Mayor that their priority is LOWER taxes; not taxes the same as this year; not township garbage collection and not more police..LOWER taxes

The only way to lower taxes is to lower costs..which means changing the way the government operates. The means operating more efficiently (like paying less for garbage collection by outsourcing) and/or provide the community less services. provides.

Impossible to have lower taxes next year while not changing anything. Impossible.

If ANYONE thinks by doing away with PW and trash. leaf etc collection, you have not been paying attention the last 4 1/2 years. Your taxes are NOT going down. Steve has something up his sleeve, and the money he will supposedly be saving, will not go towards lower taxes, but some scheme he has up his sleeve.

He has been scamming us since he got elected, and will continue to scam us until we get him out of office. In high school he was the bullied, and now he is exacting his revenge for that bullying on on the residents of Brick, even though 99% of the residents didnt even know who he was or even lived here back in the 70's. Steve has delusions of grandure , he is on a power trip, he thinks he is king. Sometimes I actually feel sorry for him.

It's Little Steve took his toys and was told to leave town,he is the worst kind of polition.
I vote to start the recall, vote his lying, self serving haughty butt out of town, then we can get rid of Scott and Billue. Clean house( the town hall) of all their high paid friends and cronnies out. The Mayor ( who ever it may be) and the council should not get pensions and medical benifits. It's time for a clean sweep................

Will the people of Brick sit back and take it again?

Steve Acropolis is screwing us again. He threatened us before the last election with discontinuing our garbage and recycling pick-ups if we didn’t pass the budget over the 2% cap. Like trusting Lemmings we lowered our heads and voted for the raise. So what does our brilliant mayor do? He goes right along and cancels the pickups.
How good is his word? Not good at all.

But what should we do? Some say to remember it in November. I say why wait for November lets start a recall drive right now. We can’t allow Stevie boy to continue or we will not be able to live in Brick and when we realize it and try to sell our homes we will get cents on the dollar. No one will want them.

And as far as reducing the road department; have you looked at the roads in Lake Riviera? and sections of road that will pull the wheel out of drivers’ hands. Wouldn’t it be better to fill and repave the roads than building speed bumps/tables?

Granted I have lived in Brick for only 12 years but I have noticed the decline in almost every area since Mr. Acropolis took over. Please bring back Mayor Scarpelli and recall Steve Acropolis.

Charles J. Walton

I just sent an email to the NJ Office of the Attorney general. Maybe if we all bombard state offices, someone will look into this.

U.S. Attorney's Office
970 Broad Street, 7th Floor
Newark, NJ 07102

Main number: 973-645-2700
Hearing Impaired: 973-645-6227

General FAX: 973-645-2702
(please include a cover sheet with all faxes indicating the name, division, and unit, if available)

Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-292-6000

I wouldn't send a copy ..let it be a surprise ..like an early good bye gift..we van only pray for that to happen soon..

I f I'm not mistaken ..didn't the Governor and Steve have an issue months ago ???

I find very hard to believe that most people didn't see this coming, the King has talked out of both sides of his mouth since his council days. Shame on all the people who voted for him and the increase, I did neither. This is what you get when you make a deal with a political devil. Him and his friends and family club are laughing all the way to the bank. Hopefully when Mighty Mike Rittacco starts talking and the Federal Hill Risk Management Company cooperates with the Feds the King will be doing the perp walk. That is the only thing which will save Brick, if that doesn't happen the King will continue to decimate Brick and fleece the hard working taxpayers of this town. I find it amusing that all the people who knew him and his obnoxious bully attitude since high school still voted for him. The PIGS continue to feed from the trough.

forthekids yes they do.

we all should have realized the bus drivers character before he got elected in the beginning. remember a front page story concerning politicians running for office and having issues pertaining to unpaid taxes. guess who one of them was!!!!!

Hate to say this concerning last april's vote: I told you so!!!!!!!!

I meant services...

I have been thinking about the subject all day today, and the one question that I have is why DPW? Does Acropolis have family in the garbage business, did he try at one point and get the job of Director of PW and decided that if he was not qualified that no one should work in that department.

It just does not make sense, why PW and not any of the other Deptartments that we have in the town.

here is a patch article from april 2011....you can see who the posters who were proved correct ...... special mention goes out to poster C

http://brick.patch.com/articles/brick-1-of-3-towns-statewide-to-approve-cap-referendum

Because for some reason he hates the department. he has as much as told them so. He has never had a kind word for any of them. The ones he wants to keep he either transferred to parks or somewhere else. So he is playing with everyones lives.

Good now I don't have to tell you why people are leaving Brick. Liers, thiefs, and inhumane. These people at the top suck and you keep on believing what they say. Shame on you! I have been here 30 years. Pretty soon the only people that will be here are the police and higher ups thats where all the money is going. And to think that my son is in Afghanistan right now fighting for this country just cracks me up. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND THE PEOPLE OF SESAME STREET. (Bricktownship)

You can bet the mayor is sitting back laughing.. Look at the number of inputs and then see that it is only a small few flapping their lips making themselves feel good.
Is not going to do any good without a real recall or hopefully an inditement.
By the way - the SOB makes me sick.

yes he does, Iam sure he is laughing at all of us and the entire town

...kind of poetic justice: with Point candidate Rogers getting defeated. . .who if she had won, would have pushed through Brick shared garbage services.Thank the Boro's garbage champion, Bill Schroeder(Mayor), Councilman Leitner & Goss. . .and the Boro/Beach unions. . .

...and get rid of Acropolis!

Why were my comments with Acropolis' address deleted? It's public information, he's listed in the phone book. I can see deleting the one telling people to dump their trash on his lawn, but I don't think there's anything wrong with telling people to send him a copy of the letters they write to the attorneys and governors office.

The reason he is picking on PUBLIC WORKS is its a STEP FATHER issue... His step father Ed Cotton worked there and his mother was township COURT CLERK.. So you would think he would treat township workers better... BTW Juan Bellu IS NOT qualified to be either ABA or dept head..

Anthony, while I don't know who removed your comments, let me just say this. This is a business matter between the people of Brick and the Mayor, and should be conducted as such. Throwing garbage on the mayor's lawn or defacing his property or sending letters to his home is childish and stupid and will not get us anywhere. This business should be conducted very adult like and above board. If you don't like what the Mayor is doing, then you take it to town hall, attend meetings, call, email or write real letters, post on boards such as this and above all take it to the voting booth. But as far as defacing a man property just because you disagree with his politics is just not kosher, actions like that in the past has earned us the name Bricktucky from other towns. Stay cool, calm and objective. Going off half cocked never gets anything done.

When the referendum was presented and the scare tactics initiated, there were many of us on here pleading with people to see through the smoke and mirrors and to vote NO. That didn't happen. We also told people that Stevie has always had it out for the DPW and has tried at various time to get rid of them. Well, the referendum got passed, my tax bill went up $470 (not the $300 that we were told), the workers are not getting laid off and THERE IS NO MENTION OF REDUCING THE PROPERTY TAXES!
Many of us said that it was very apparent that once he got his way, he would still find a way to get rid of the DPW. Go back and read those posts to the articles from last year. He has done what many have predicted and IT IS NOT OVER! That you can rest assure. He has many more plans up his sleeve before he is done.

I like many of the other residents in Brick knew Acropolis was not to be trusted last year when we went to the polls to vote on the budget. Remember we voted in a budget that was never fully disclosed to the citizens of Brick. I am disgusted with this, as I have been since the day he took office. Many on here have commented we need to recall this mayor and I couldnt agree more. I contacted Kane in Your Corner from Channel 12 News to see if they will do an investigation into this. I suggest many of the others who have commented here do the same.

Hey Walt, Do you even live in Brick?

How about combining DPW with BTMUA? Now you can find some real fat to trim, right from the top!

Acropolis is making Brick the laughingstock of the state. The 61% tax increase in 4 years was probably the highest increase in the state.
Now he just spent $12 million capping a landfill that didn't need to be capped. He had the old council vote in December for a company to install $34 million in solar panels so no one would be able to get signatures over religious holidays to put the contract on the ballot. The contract is provided to a company that started doing business last year and has their office in an apartment building in Hoboken and they don't have the financial strength to take on a project this size so Brick is taking on the debt for them. It stinks.

Let Acropolis get rid of his buddy Bellu who gave him his plum job in Toms River and that will save 5 public works jobs. This Mayor is a disaster, how long can the GOP let him stay in here?

The PW layoff is part of the proposed budget, the new council ran their campaign on cutting taxes now they can make good on their pledge. With all the financial troubles we in Brick are having who failed to negotiate a sensible contract with the PD? The PD and the PW are the 800 pound gorillas in the room and now it’s time for the new council to step up and find a way to keep our trash pickup and cut our taxes!

If the DPW is laid off, who will call In sick when it snows?

For the few workers that called in sick for whatever reason there where many more that worked their butts off while you were home sleeping. This was round the clock without a break. Not only did they not get a thank you all the people did was complain and the mayor was at the top of the list. You try working under these hateful conditions. I do not work for the public works dept but I see the corruptness and how they are being targeted and it makes me sick,

The Mayor needs to get his ice skates sharpened, and then he needs to be sent to Siberia to help measure the rate of melting/evaporation of the Glaciers.

the garbage we need to get rid of is the mayor

i no two 2 people who work for dpw and they they have familes who are going too be devastated by what the mayor wants too due , he should be ashambed . both of these people have lived in brick all of there lives.

we have a democratic controlled council, so come on council, take mayor steve out to the woodshed.

I Think all we ask is the new council to stick to what they said they would do when elected..and get the Mayor out of office...Pass the petition around and he's gone !!!

Part of our problem is our partisan form of government under which candidates for office are usually picked by the respective parties. It is rare that a non-party person is on the ballot. If we went back to non-partisan government, there could be more participation by independents or party members who don't get the nod by party bosses. More choices could yield more representatives who are accountable to the people rather than the parties. And for all interested in a recall election, the petition format can be downloaded from a number of web sites. But be aware that collecting the required number of names is a lot of work. When we did the petition drive to put the Ice Palace purchase on the ballot, it took many hours and days to amass over 5000 names. On the brighter side, considering the mayor's
"popularity", people should be flocking to sign the petitions. There are other ways Acropolis might have handled the budget crisis without abolishing public works, but regrettably his vindictive nature took precedence. And, if a recall is successful, a new mayor will need to be elected. Let's hope that if things get that far, we choose wisely.

I would like to hear what the two ex council member's (m&j) have to say about the promises that were made by the elected new council member's and why we haven't had any changes which they promised ?...Why ????

Anyone who complains that they were tricked or bamboozled by this latest news only has themselves to blame. Did you really think this issue wouldn't come up again year after year when you voted to increase our taxes? Open your eyes! It's politics and we should never give any politician, Republican or Democrat, the green light to spend more of our money. It shows how backwards this town is when garbage pickup trumps our schools!

I think the "mayor should put his big boy pants on and take his punishment.

Are you effing kidding?!.... Why bother having a vote on a referendum? The People's Republic of Brick has a dictator that is no different than any other. We voted, we spoke and we were ignored!! What an incredible lack of leadership from a self serving nobody. He's unprofessional and irresponsible. But rest assured, he's smart enough to know that there is no one who can do anything about it.... That's why he did it. And apparently a town's vote is worthless too. I think I'll end with classless slug..... Thanks for nothing.

For anyone interested in Learning the truth about the EPA decisions regarding French's Landfill the following links will clear up any questions.

http://cfpub.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0200540

http://cfpub.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.CleanupActs&id=0200540

http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/bricktownship/bricktownship_proposedplan.pdf

Everyone should do what some of us already did. Write to The States Attorney Paul Fishman. Tell him what has been happening in town, and tell him you want an investigation, into Acropolis and the township of Brick. If he gets enough letters, maybe he will do something.

**Dawn how many more for sale signs have gone up in Brick in the last 2 months? I know there seem to be alot more in midstreams.

VERA to answer your question to Sal. Because non-partisan give MORE people in Brick a chance to run for office and also make them MORE accountable for their actions.

NO more R or D, no more a select few saying who can and can not run. No more appointing the same people over and over to different commisions an committees

NO PARTISAN MEANS TRUE CHANGE!

For Vera: First, I am no friend of Acropolis! Second, if you were around and involved in politics long enough and knew me, you would know that I have always been pro-non-partisan government. I chaired the original petition drive that gave us the non-partisan mayor council form of government back in 1966. I was an outspoken opponent of the change the Republicans made in 1988 that gave us partisan government. Non-partisan was recommended as a result of a charter study, which you may like to look up and read, because it was considered the best for Brick Township. The mayor's posturing for "non-partisan" is simply a ploy for him to remain in politics and has nothing to do with my position. Partisan politics is devisive. You above all should know how true that is. Further, making it easier for ALL who desire to serve in public office to enter the race should be embraced by all Brick citizens in the interest of gettng better people to represent us. Ask me another question!

Sal,

You are 100% correct. In 1988 it was the GOP who pushed for the two party system with the ploy to taxpayers that moving the election to November would save them money and the voters went for it. I still say you should run for Mayor.

If you listen closely to what the Mayor is proposing via "his" reruns on cannel 20, you will comprehend his intentions.

Cosmo:

You are wrong. Brick had a non-partisan government for over twenty years, and it worked fine. True, it was usually a Republican or a Democrat who got elected mostly because of the organizational support and the money, but the door was open for so many more people to run. At least voters had to THINK about the candidate since there was no party designation on the ballot or in campaign literature. We even had slates consisting of both Dems and Reps running together. People (voters) were given a much greater choice under non-partisan, but in the end it is the responsibility of the voters to learn who the candidates are and what they stand for. Much better than just votng "D" or "R" because of your political affiliation. Try it...maybe you'll lilke it.

And for Vera: I am pleased with the Democrat's success in the last election, but let's not forget that the voters didn't have much else to choose from. Most will tell you that the "win" was more of a vote against the Republicans than a vote for the Democrats. But now, the Democrats have a chance to prove themselves by standing for the people. It is not surprising that Acropolis is looking at non-partisan government, but it isn't because he really wants it.... it's an attempt to remain in power. If he really desired non-partisan, he could have had it put on the ballot when he was council president, or even as mayor when his "team" controlled everything. Let's be realistic about things!

Sal, approximately fifteen people have approached me regardidng going back to the non-partisan form of government because they have simply lost their faith in politicians. I have been hesitant because I would like to see the newly elected Council have a chance to act in our best interest.

However, if fabrication and mistruths are to be told, and folks on both side of the aisle try to pretend that they were not in support of the referendum and that it was not a bipartisan effort, I too will lose faith.

Nonpartisan form of government's time may have come. It is my belief that it is a disservice to the people of Brick to suggest that Mayor Acropolis would be a strong proponent of nonpartisan form of Government. Think about it - it would serve no purpose for him. Simply is a deflection from the issue at hand since the Mayor's popularity rate is nill.

Although very responsible citizens have all agreed to be obtain one hundred signatures respectively, I think that it would be more prudent to expect 50 signatures from each. It is my understanding that approximately seventeen hundred or ten percent of the votes cast in the last election would be required. If I am incorrect please let me know as you have previous experience on this matter. What is the timeframe that we would have to obtain the signatures? I would commit to gathering three hundred viable signatures should it become necessary. Food for thought.

frances: According to the way I interpret the Faulkner Act (Optional Municipal Charter Law) we would need 10 percent of the registered voters (as you indicate) since according to Wikipedia Brick has a population over 70,000. But what isn't clear is what constitutes the "number" of registered voters. Some have said that it is based on the number who voted in the last election, but I suspect that it would be based on the total number of registered voters… which would likely be a much higher number. If only 1,700 signatures are needed, that would be a "piece of cake". We collected over 5,000 when we petitioned to have the Ice Palace purchase placed on the ballot. But I am an engineer, not a lawyer. Maybe we have some legal types that read these comments who would be willing to offer some opinion.

Frances and Sal, it is my understanding that it is ten percent of those who voted in the election - approximately 1,700 signatures. However, you have both inspired me to google the Optional Municipal Charter Law and review it further. I would be willing to be a "district captain" and committ to securing a determined amount of signatures. Given that I need to channel my outrage in a productive manner, this seems like a good starting point!

In any event, it will send a message to the politicians that they must start representing our interests. Citizens need public servants to represent their needs, not their own. I am suspect of any individual candidate who won't introduce an ordinance which reduces the salary of Mayor and eliminates benefits. Status quo, it won't change unless we demand the change.

I don't think Acropolis gives acraporless about getting re-elected. He has already feathered his bed. Check out his 'boat' on Google earth. Public service has sure served HIM well. To bad he has no respect for the citizens of Brick. He certainly hasn't served us well!