"How about $20,000 a year for Mayor, $10,000 a year for Councilor, and no health or pension benefits for either?"

"Elected officials are temporary, part-time volunteers. If you are in it for the money or benefits, then do not run for office."

"Board of Education members, who have greater responsibilities than municipal officials, receive no compensation."

Let the Pissing Matches BEGIN!

Yes, Sean you are 100% correct about the BOE members. BOE members have much greater responsibilities since they are making decisions regarding our children's education. In addition, the bulk of our tax dollars go for education. (Well maybe not "education" per say, but to support the school budget.)

When will the Mayor be returng the $104,000 he has collected over the last 2 years? I'd like some of my taxes back after he pushed through his 24% increase.
Let me know when he shows up at town hall with a giant foam board check so I can take a picture.

I wasn't at the meeting and I realize we have to give this some time for discussion but I am a little disappointed by Ducey's plan. just cut the salary! Make it $15000 or $20000, but cut it. This nonsense about whether you have a tax payer funded job is ludicrous. So it's okay if you make $100,000 in the private sector and you're a part time mayor as opposed to being tax payer funded and part time?? This town needs a mayor dedicated to Brick, available to the public, not someone who is ther for the money

Well, let's see the 4 new council members stand up to their word. Personally I never believed any of them would live up to their word of turning down health care, in some why shape or form it would come out that they tried not to take the healthcare but it wasn't passed or it could not simply be refused...ie they were "stuck" with it.

I don't like siding w/ the mayor, but he does bring up excellent points and whether or not it is grandstanding I believe he has put the new members in an awkward position.

As far as his 2 jobs,well I can't ever remember a mayor of a town not holding a personal job or having a career of some sort outside of the responsibilities which are required as a mayor (or any local elected position).

As for the salary, I believe the $20k would be acceptable but if the mayor (or any council member) wants to reduce his/her salary or decline being paid that's their right, but once it's refused it cannot be reinstated until the next fiscal year.

Can you believe the mayor is accusing someone else of "looking out for himself" Look at his history of jobs for himself,family members and friends . He has all of his people lose their seats and now he has an ephinany

"He polled the four new council members on whether they would elect to receive health benefits through the township, but all four declined to answer. In their answers to a questionnaire from Brick Patch prior to the November election, all four said they would not take taxpayer-funded health benefits" Please do NOT tell me the new D council I voted for are already going to reneg on a campaign promise? If they lied about that deal then , well they just better not take the benefits as they stated they would NOT!.

a rather strange "no reply" from the council members after already stating they wouldn't take health benefits. hopefully they have a reason for no responding at this time. if not.....they'll be viewed "no better than what they replaced very early in their term.

"But Acropolis implied that Ducey might have been looking out for himself. Ducey receives public compensation on a contract basis as municipal prosecutor in several municipalities, but such contract work would not be covered under the proposed salary ordinance"

This was explained after the sickening flyer was sent out in Oct. Duecy is prosecutor in 1 town. He is per deum or on call in other towns, as are about 20 other lawyers on that same list. If he does not get called to work in one of those towns he doesnt get paid, unlike Acropolis who gets paid whether he shows up at townhall or not.

And now that the Dems are in office, their true colors are out!

"Me" . I find it odd the four new Dem council members were mum on the question about heath benny's. They campaigned on a promise that would would not take them. They said in Nov they would not, when questioned last night all four did not respond. Since you are a vilagent D backer on here, what say you?

I'm beginning to feel we have been duped. In a Brick Patch questionnaire from Brick Patch the 4 individuals said they would not accept tax-payer health benefit coverage, but now they all remain silent when asked if they will accept it. I certainly hope we are not stuck with another partisan group that cannot speak individually, but instead plays "simple simon says" when the head politician says what to do. If any of the 4 take the health benefit package on the backs of taxpayers then a major grass roots movement better happen and their recall should commence immediately - they were voted in to counter the policies we've seen ad nauseum the past terms.

these 4 better give up the health benefits as stated on the patch or they are should be thrown out immediately for fraud against the taxpayers.......

I would propose this, since I have no dog in the fight because I'm a tax payer first. All council members give up their right to health care. They even give up the stipend that comes along with it if they choose to give it back. If anyone (all those receiving $$ from Brick) having a spouse receiving health care must forfeit one plan because this is having the public pay out double for the same services. No stipends either. If one spouse dies or quits the other remaining one picks up the plan at no additional cost to taxpayers. Additionally I read Democratic campaign literature stating that the winners of this new administration will do exactly that if elected. This should be a shoe-in for all concerned.Seven council members times (X) $20,000 = $140,000 saved plus our Mayor gave up everything, $52,000 + $20,000= $72,000 for a grand total of $212,000. This should work if all truly are concerned for us taxpayers.

Hey, why aren't the 24/7 Dem Hack's on here today wondering why their newly elected Council members were mum on there promise not to take any benefits? I see one hack on here only responds by bringing up Acropolis problems. Ok, we know all about that. Now in Nov the new Dem council said there were not going to take any benefits, when questioned last night all four were mute. So, if they ran on that and lied, I say recall them now!

Addendum to prevoius comment.........................Council not to receive any salary but to be compensated $50.00 per meeting. Immediate salary savings will be $57,000 annually. Meeting compensation of $50.00 per to be figured at a later date depending attendance records of those who show up.

Let's be fair, everyone should be paid for their time. A part- time job should get a part time salary. No one that is part time gets health benifits or a pension. Stop playing games it takes away form the real bussiness of running our town.

Acropolis also called on council members to halve their salaries and eliminate taxpayer-funded health benefits for council members. (Council members earn $8,000 per year. The council presidents earns $9,000 per year.) He polled the four new council members on whether they would elect to receive health benefits through the township, but all four declined to answer. In their answers to a questionnaire from Brick Patch prior to the November election, all four said they would not take taxpayer-funded health benefits. Can anyone tell me why they could not repeat what they promised in November? Is this a joke or what?

thats BS Me......thats not what they said........the people didnt vote for these 4 people, they voted against the lies and the games.......and now u say these 4 are doing just that after only 1 meeting !!!!!!!!!!

no question acrapolis had a month to figure out his chess board and is 3 moves ahead of them right now , but they are going to make it much too easy it they fall into his traps......do what they said before they were elceted or they will be worthless and useless from the start

Regarding Acropolis calling on the Council to reduce their salaries...

A change to the Council's salaries is not comparable to changes in the Mayor's salary. The Mayor took the job as a full-time job at full-time pay of $52k. After becoming Mayor, he took ANOTHER full-time job. SO - the Mayor's salary should then be reduced to what it was as a part-time position: $15,000. Not a dollar, not zero.

The Mayor trying to bully the Council into reducing their pay shows his weak leadership and has nothing to do with why he is being called upon to reduce his. If my boss is overpaid for his job and his salary is adjusted, why should he ask me to take a pay cut too if I have had the appropriate pay all along? Would it save the company money if everyone in the company reduced their pay? Of course, but this is about appropriate rates of pay. I don't ask my company to cut my hours in half and pay me the same and if they don't pay me the same to start cutting other people's pay when they still do what they did all along.

I also want to add my favorite part of the evening. Acropolis' daughter, when shouting out from the back of the room, was told by Mrs. So-and-so to "shut up" and that she was "rude like her father!" Acropolis came true to rude form and in so many words told the woman to shut up and not to tell his daughter to shut up (he can tell someone to shut up, but they can't tell someone to shut up?). Later, when someone next to Mrs. So-and-so called out a comment, he yells out something to the effect "another comment from Mrs. So-and-so" only to be corrected (he didn't call out his daughter for making comments from the audience, why someone else?). Really Acropolis, trying to belittle people who make comments if you don't like them? Grow up, be a respectable leader and don't try to silence people you don't like - it's just a reflection of the bigger picture of dirty politics: attempt to silence the people who get in your way.

I think the main reason the Mayor is requesting that Councils’ salaries and benefits be decreased is because the newbie members don’t appear to be as financially well off as the current Council members. He wants to hit them in their personal pocketbooks. If you need the money and the benifits to make daily ends meet how can you give them up? I know I wouldn't and 99% who read this wouldn't either. This is a case where the rich get richer or remain rich and the "poorer" who may want to do to do something good for the Township and truly fight for the people really could use the current salary and benefits. – Greedy versus truly needy.

Some people really do need the money and benifits to survive. Having two full time government jobs, both with great salaries and benifits is the "real" issue here. -- It is wrong plain and simple.

Now Mr. Mayor in his pathetic attempt to justify his cheating the tax payers is requesting that the new members of Council who are not double dippers, to give up their part time justified pay. "I can do it and so can you". But they don't have that second full time salary they can afford to give up. -- I call it sour grapes.

There is a whole other class of people who can easily give up the salary and benifits and volunteer their time in office. Some can't. Everyone has different needs.

Art, you are wrong about taxes under Obama...as of last May, federal taxes as percent of GDP were at their lowest in 60 years. Fact.

Dominick Rappoccio,
The four new Democrat council members going back on their word. What a way to start a new year. Shame, shame, shame!!!

I am guessing the new council memebers may be waiting to engage our mayor on their own terms... thus the silence ?

I didn't see a place for this particular topic on last evening's agenda but I suppose that, given the tenor of last November's election rhetoric, it was inevitable that Mr. Acropolis would bring it up. I see nothing wrong with proposals and counter proposals being offered on this, or any topic affecting Township matters so long as they are not being used to bait and bash those members of the opposing party. In short, I expect that all the members of the Council and the Mayor to work together in a professional, objective manner. I'd also expect the aforementioned parties to read the comments of their constituents who have posted in this forum. I've read more measured, considered, fair, and respectful ideas in the responses to this article than those reported in the actual article

Already people are looking to come down upon them. Let them do there job they were elected for. We are in tough times. I agree with Concerned Brick Citizen. Did you people ever think that they may need the health benefits? Or even the extra salary. They have a lot to do in the next four years. They have to spend a lot of time away from there
families...Give them a break...There is a lot more serious stuff that we should be talking about. This is ridiculous!!!! I wish them well...Good Luck with the future for Brick....I believe they can make a difference.

Maybe I'm one of the few who actually attended the meeting last night, but I'm surprised no one commented on here about the council disallowing the public to comment before the vote was taken. It was quite extraordinary, actually. I've been attending council meetings for years, and I can't remember the last time the public wasn't permitted to be heard before a vote like this. It probably wouldn't have changed any minds, but some in attendance were pretty upset about it. I believe that's when Mrs. Fozman's wife turned and yelled at someone in the back of the room last night in a really nasty way. I'm not sure who the girl was (Acropolis's daughter, maybe?) but she was there asking if the public could comment before the vote or something, but they were already in the middle of taking the vote so they didn't let anyone talk at that time. If I was a Councilman (which, thank God I'm not!) and that was my wife talking to a young girl like that, I'd be pretty embarrassed. Looked like he was up there too.

I thought the Mayor was a guest at council meetings. I don't blame the new members for not playing into his hand and not commenting. It would be a major setback for them if they did renege on a campaign pledge and took the benefits,however..

The Mayor's salary needs to be reduced by ordinance. Otherwise (even if he voluntarily gives it back) it's still counts as pensionable income.

This is an embarrassment to the Brick community. Let's move onto business, leave the salaries alone, and look for a brighter future ahead. If people like the mayor want to donate the salary back to the Twp. Accept it. No ordinance is needed.

Steve, will all due respect, that young girl is a 30-something woman. Vera wasn't yelling at a child.

What a bunch of crap! Grow up!

Some one told me that I would need to attend council meetings to present my opinion about matters that I wanted to address in the township. To speak up and out. I AM SO GLAD I DO NOT ATTEND ANY MEETINGS! All of what I have read on this forum is not something I would like to be present for or waste my evening hours sitting around listening to other people yell or verbally abuse one another! I do have one question though, a writer mentioned the mayor is only invited to be "parsing". Exactly what is "parsing"? Forgive my ignorance as an educated person but I have never heard that term before.

For some reason I feel the uncontrollable urge to comment. First, I was not at the council meeting but from the sounds of things, it was a bit out of control. Our newly elected council needs to take control immediately, and I have no doubt they will. Mayor Acropolis should speak at the meetings only when spoken to. He is there as a guest as he used to remind former Mayor Scarpelli. Let's face it, Acropolis is under attack, as is his regime/empire. His back is against the wall, and those few in his corner left are slowly dwindling. I am positive our newly elected council will hold true to their campaign promise not to take the benefits. If not, that is an issue to take up later. Right now our town is the worst example of bi-partisanship in the state. On January 1, 2012, I was at the swearing in of our new council. Toth and Brando as well as the new four all wished each other well and vowed to work together. Not sure what Sangiovanni's take on stuff is b/c he wasn't there. So, the majority of our council vows to work together, so just do it. Don't feed into the Acropolis nonsense. The guy's a lame duck. His reign as almighty is over, and he's having difficulty accepting it. No more bullying Steve, just collect your 52 G's until your term expires, then just go away... It's obvious you could care less about Brick at this point so if you wouldn't mind resigning, I would appreciate it.

Hopefully everyone who was at the meeting and those posting comments tonight remember all of this at election time when Mayor Acropolis decides to run for re-election. Hopefully he doesn't. He has really changed over the years and it is quite sad. I thought he really wanted what was best for Brick Twp. At least that is what he said when he was first elected Mayor. I can't get over the change in him over the years. Quite disheartening to watch and to witness the way other Republicans treat new council members. Perhaps his family members should stay home from the meetings. There is no reason for them to be there. I have been to meetings and I haven't seen them there before. Why all of a sudden did they show up? And behave the way they did. Isn't his wife a teacher in the district? This is how she lets her daughter behave? The whole situation is very sad. It is time for Mayor Acropolis to move on.

Mr. Foster, I am glad you were there too. If only there were more concerned residents like us out there, maybe the inmates wouldn't be running the asylum. I, too, saw the past council members were present last night which I have to admit, I'm happy that they still want to be informed on township matters. And I strongly disagree with any sort of "heckling" of anyone, period. Republican or Democrat, it doesn't matter. Council members, as well as the residents in attendance, should be treated with respect. Sounds like that you weren't treated that way in the past, and neither were the people who were in attendance at last night's meeting when they were not allowed to speak and that one girl in particular being heckled by a councilman's wife. Just my humble opinion. I'll see you at next week's meeting!

Other than being against everything that the former council members stood for, does anyone actually know the specific platform of the new council members? I am unaware of any actual stand that they have taken on any issue and this chan oge of direction on the health benefits is very telling of their mindset. I think they have been caught in the position of saying eveything that they needed to to win the election and now have to act on it they and their handlers are changing their song and dance.

No member of the public or elected official, the Mayor included, should be prevented from speaking at a meeting of the town council no matter who they are:

The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum.

Stevenson, Adlai E.

John C,
As it was stated above at the town council meeting it is exactly what it sounds a meeting of the town council. The mayor and the citizens that are in attendance are guests to the meeting, they are supposed to speak when they are told to speak during the public portion of the meeting, not what was going on last night. The new council president needs to get a hold of the meetings.

I like what one of the posters said before about reminding the mayor he is a guest at the meeting just like he used to remind our old mayor. Words/actions from the past can come to haunt you in the future. Just like it might be with the 4 new members and the health benefits issue same goes with the mayor with his years of service to the town.

Our taxes are the main issue. How about rolling back our taxes by half. Even a 12% increase is too high! Remember 24%?

Saying anything you need to win an election? Welcome to America.

Jumping to a conclusion can make one look silly given a little time. That includes me, and the rest of you, too.

So, is the 24% tax increase going to be rolled back or do I need to put the for sale sign in front of my house. I can't afford to live in this "middle class" town I was raised in any longer.

I have a piece of campaign literature from the Democrat camp that clearly states in addition to the questioneer the Patch did in November. That if the four Dem council running for election won. They would not take healf benefits. It was clear and consise they would not. So tell me what all of this silence is all about? They said they would not, if they do they lied and they will hear about it at every council meeting going forward.

"ME" Since you seem to the biggest backer of the new four Democrat council members. I'll take you at your word. So you are saying it is a fact they are NOT going to take the benefits as promised in November?

"Me" whats all of the silence about, I'm only asking for one of them to log on here and confirm one of their campaign promises. A very simple question, only takes a couple of keystrokes, its either yes we took the benefits or no we did not take the benefits. Whats all of the suspense about? Its just us Brick taxpayers asking the question, not Steve or any other council member. Time to step up to the plate, communication was going to be very open wasn't it. First opportunity to communicate with the taxpayers, don't tell me its only one meeting. I'm sure the paperwork is completed regardless of their selection.

"ME" Yeah this new group will be different with backers like you. I voted for them and I just want a answer to a campaign promise and you respond with all of this garbage. I voted this way based upon their promises and it looks like we are starting off just where we began. No way Brick's future will change with this mentality of bringing up the past. Its very clear the Republicans screwed up big time. Now it just a question will the Democrats follow in line after just a couple of days? No way things will change if every response is recap of the past 3 years. Again why the silence??? Its time to step forward and be counted, did they keep their word or is it just the same old shell game. Its not rocket science and only requires their response to the taxpayers. I'm just looking for a sign things are different and I don't see one yet.... I DO NOT WANT TO SEE MORE OF MY TAX DOLLARS WASTED BECAUSE THESE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT TO REHASH THE PAST AND FEUD WITH THE OTHER SIDE. THEY PROMISED THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT WELL LETS SEE IT. THIS MAY SURPRISE YOU BUT THERE ARE TAXPAYERS IN THIS TOWN LOOKING FOR ACTION AND RESULTS, NOT A HISTORY LESSON.

Good luck...............happy new year

What garbage? What I post was ALL FACTS. Were you at the meeting? Did you hear Steve address the 3 R's about benefits? You agree it is ok for Steve to have 3 public jobs complete with pensions?

Your post was very sarcastic and I id not take it seriously because, after 1 meeting and Steve's grandstanding, you are ready to hang them out to dry.

As I stated before, the mayor is not allowed to speak at TC meetings unless asked to do so.

FACT IS, WE HAE TO GIVE THESE 4 MORE THEN 1 MEETING TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT. FACT STEVE BELIVES HE IS KING OF BRICK. FACT I AM AN R, ONE OF THE MANY WHO IS TIRED OF THE GAMES. FACT I WILL NOT JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS LIKE YOU.

total confusion

"ME" not looking for your play by play analysis of the meeting, give it up! Bottom line they ran on the promise no benefits, the paperwork is completed by now, the taxpayers want to know their selections. Simple straightforward question, are things different or not? The answer does not require several meetings or the Mayor's input or anyone else's input. Everyone knows where you stand on the past council, the question now is where are we going. Is this group different from day one or not???

ROLL BACK THE TAXES!!! and yes i realize i shouted, as should everyone else!

Acropolis is in a panic. Load up the council meetings with family and the few cronies he has left and try to be disruptive. Ducey has to take control of the meetings. Eject people who speak out of turn, including Acropolis. Excercise his right to control the meeting as he has the power to do.

Scott, oes he still not get pension credits from the TRMUA and with his state job as an "aide" to our senator? Yes It is public record and Steve did list that job on his financial disclosure.

And I hae one more question for you. Why when you go to public data bases like the APP ot the Star ledger, Steve's salary is not list? NONE of his public jobs are in the public data bases. What is he hiding?

Me

Any job that is incorporated into the PERS is pensionable, so yes his job in Toms River would be pensionable. As far as this other position, it depends on many other factors dictated in the pension law.

The APP data base is put together by the Press, I don't know where their info comes from, but any qualifying PERS job is reported to the Division of Pensions or Benefits.

Me

I can't speak for the DMUA, but the twp doesn't report anything because his salary doesn't qualify for PERS pension under the new law.

Even thought the new Dem council's number one fan poster "ME" will not discuss it. I heard today the new D council are going to take the heath benny's and therefore reneg on their number one promise not to!

if they take health benefits , there should be a recall and tax revolt AT ONCE !

mimi or should I say Mary. Attack all you want, you are making yourself look like the fool Steve is!

Have a nice day and God Bless (you need it)

I said it yesterday, the new council members only need to log on here and put all of this to rest. Its either "Yes I took the benefits" or "No I did not take the benefits". Its only about 25 keystrokes, not rocket science. Their silence is amazing! Less than one week into the new council and there are already questions regarding their integrity that they could easily to put to rest. 25 keystrokes to answer the Brick Taxpayers, Ladies and Gentlemen step up to your computers and answer! No need for a meeting!

The Rs made a fatal mistake by running such a nasty campaign. They outspent the Ds something like 9 to 1. They still got crushed by a bunch of nonames. Now they want to keep control of everything and demand all kinds of answers 6 days into the new regime. The way you guys are acting this R(since 1968) may never again vote for any R that aligns themselves with any of you sore loser aka cry babies. YOU LOST Now go back to the drawing board and start anew. Some of the Rs are "toxic". If you keep them around you are doomed. Get rid of the gutter politics. Most people are sick of that. Didn't the election show that? A few thousand here and there doesn't mean much when the taxpayers are looking at some rather shady multi million dollar projects. BTW What IS the DEAL with Food Town? We still have never been told the truth.

It seems the Acropolis Team really wants to make hay of benefits and salary for the mayor and council when the Acropolis Team wants to spend $3.6 million for Traders Cove. And the Acropolis Team thinks they can craft a 24% tax decrease? This financial path is illogical.
The benefits and salary issue is just political grandstanding to take the focus off the $3.6 million for Traders Cove and the Standard Alternative solar panel project for $23.5 million. Standard Alternative is just a company in paper only. I went to their address. It's a luxury apartment, not a commercial office building. Standard Alternative just registered with the state in April 2011. Standard Alternative doesn't have prior experience and are not financially capable of hndling a project this size.
Standard Alternative's finances are so deficient for this project that something else (company or whatever) is has to guaranty the project while Brick has to take on risk for the debt.
Anyone who thinks Brick should go through with this should have their head examined.

"Rumor has it that Wegman's is seriously looking at the old Foodtown site."

"Edgewood Properties/JSM/M&M has a Wegman's at their Marketplace on Route 70 in Cherry Hill and it is GREAT!"

Does anyone think that the Mayor would have agreed to one buck if the Rs all won re-election? This is a traveling clown show. Time to clean house. How gullible does the Mayor think the voters of Brick are? Geez

This grandstanding for $16,000 or whatever is to deflect attention from the real issues. The Acropolis Team took a heavy beating at the polls and this time around it is survival so they will do whatever is necessary to divert the focus of what's important.
Our taxes will now have to carry an additional $3 million for an addition to Traders Cove that was not in the original concept and won't pay for itself. Even the marina is not carrying it's own weight for the original $8.1 million.

I agree with Lori, reduce the position of mayor's salary to $15 or 20k and leave the councils salary where it is at now and eliminate all benefits and pension entirely. Politician's need to stop insulting our intelligence. If they want to reduce spending, here's a way to do it without impacting our services. Maybe it is time for a nonpartisan form of government.

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