Acropolis Strikes Back Following TRMUA Criticism
Brick mayor defends against criticism from political foes, friends
Brick's mayor, after being dragged into the mudslinging of a mayoral race in a different town, has defended his record and has some tough words for Toms River mayoral candidate Paul Brush.
The controversy started last week at Toms River Township's Council meeting, where Brush called for the Toms River Municipal Utilities Authority to be dissolved. Brick Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis has been the executive director of that authority since last summer. Brush, Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher's opponent in Toms River's mayoral election this year, has been campaigning on a promise to dissolve the authority, which he has called a "patronage pit" for GOP politicians.
At the council meeting, Toms River Councilman Gregory McGuckin denounced Brush's move as a "campaign-year tactic" but added that it's something the township has been quietly investigating.
"It's old news," Acropolis said, of his job directing the Toms River MUA, at which he makes $93,000. "I've been the executive director for a year."
Compounding matters, John Ducey, a Democratic candidate in this year's Brick Township council election, called on Acropolis to resign from either his mayoral position, at which he makes $53,000, or the Toms River MUA job.
"Acropolis has abandoned his duties as mayor of Brick in favor of his higher-paying patronage job in Toms River," Ducey said in a statement to Brick Patch. "It's no surprise that our property taxes in Brick have gone up 24 percent in the last year alone, with our mayor constantly out of town."
But Acropolis said he puts in his hours in Brick.
"I'm there pretty much every single day," Acropolis said, explaining that, essentially, every elected official has a full-time job in addition to his elected office, and needs a primary source of income once a political stint is over.
"If someone was the manager of a ShopRite making, let's say, $70,000 a year, and became mayor, does somebody really expect that manager to leave that job, take the mayor's job at $50,000? What are you going to go back to?" Acropolis said. "Every single elected official has a primary source of income."
He also took aim at Brush's former stint as Toms River mayor, which ended in 2007.
"Other than changing the name from Dover to Toms River, I don't know what he did," said Acropolis.
As for Kelaher, Acropolis said, as he understands it, some quotes were "taken out of context" in the media.
Acropolis did say he would support the idea of regionalizing authorities such as the Toms River MUA, but not eliminating them and having municipal governments swallow them up.
But back in Brick, Ducey said Acropolis holding two jobs is just wrong.
"Acropolis should resign immediately," Ducey said. "Two full-time salaries for one politician, at a cost of $146,000 to taxpayers, is just wrong."
Acropolis is not up for re-election this year, but the majority of seats on Brick's governing body are up for grabs. Republicans currently control all seven seats. Ducey, along with running mates Susan Lydecker, Jim Fozman and Bob Moore – who also called for Acropolis' resignation – would all have to come out victorious in November to wrest control of the council from the Republicans.
The Brick Patch
Valentine's Shopping Guide
See the full guide!
Patch Picks
In This article
-
-
Toms River Township
33 Washington St, Toms River, NJ -
-
Shop Rite
860 Fischer Blvd, Toms River, NJ
Tattoo
3:41 pm on Monday, August 15, 2011
GRIP all of them.......i dont care if you think there is anyone who is doing a good job (which i highly doubt).......the message sent, is much more important than losing a few "good" politicians
GRIP GRIP GRIP GRIP GRIP...........get it memorized all in your heads NOW !
Joseph E. Haelig
9:30 pm on Monday, August 15, 2011
Does anyone know when, I need a date for an OPRA request, the resolution was passed changing Brick's mayor to a full-time job? Any help would be appreciated.
BW
9:33 pm on Monday, August 15, 2011
It was when Scarpelli was mayor, but dont know the year or date.
Spooner
10:43 pm on Monday, August 15, 2011
According to this article the ordinance was voted on in 2000 approving a $52,000 salary...
http://bulletin.gmnews.com/news/2006-04-27/Front_page/002.html
...hope this is of some help?
Jerseyclone
6:42 am on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
It is time we post a list of names, titles and salaries of family, friends and political payback jobs little Stevie Acrapolis' employment agency has found jobs for. Maybe even take to a taxpayer billboard.
taxed2much
7:36 am on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
ok for all the info you can all go to www.app.com/datauniverse they have all the info on all public employees and taxes and all public records it worth checking out
Sal Petoia
9:37 am on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Will Watcher is right... there was one election cycle in the 1980's where Brick First, a slate made up of both Republicans and Democrats, ran unopposed. So what does that have to do with non-partisan government? Anybody could have run if they so chose, and they wouldn't have needed the "blessing" from some party boss. Non-partisan government was successful in Brick for over twenty years. What did "partisan" government give us? A lot of partisan bickering and non-cooperation. If we went back to non-partisan it would open the door for many who are not interested in party affiliation, but who are interested in doing what's right for the community. While we are at it, let's consider term limits at the local level so that we get "fresh" thinkers every few years.
Lori Morrison
10:07 am on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
If I remember correctly, Andrew Ciecla and David Wolfe were part of that slate. When the Town went back to partisan government, they were on the Republican ticket. Party loyalty came first above everything else. As non-partisan, they all worked together.
Joseph Lamb
12:43 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The rumors that Steve might not run again or that council members have a fallen out with Steve are put out by the Acropolis team and is just meant to dissuade people from reality. There's no way they are giving up this gravy train. The cronyism, nepotism and conflict of interest didn't happen on its own. They planned and acted on it.
walt tupycia
6:05 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
there are 87 comments about the mayor mostly negative.How did he become mayor?
BW
6:06 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
He lied. Well thats a little harsh lets just say he spun the truth, until it wasnt the truth anymore.
Joseph Woolston Brick
11:19 pm on Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Don't know about the other voters, but I can tell you my story. I went to school with Acropolis, I knew his reputation and he wasn't well liked. So when time came to vote I was going to vote Democratic BUT I really didn't know the Democrat running that well, he wasn't a great speaker and a little befuddled, so at the last minute, I decided to go with what I know and I voted for Acropolis, as soon as I started back to my car, I had almost instant buyers remorse, I even said to myself aloud, what did you just do, I even wondered if I could go back and change or nullify my vote. But I just kept walking. It didn't take long to realize that I had made a HUGE mistake. Then came the Ice Palace debacle and you better believe I signed that petition, could you imagine where we would be right now if that has gone through? He blamed the opposition to it on all the Democrats in town, not realizing it was the people of the township that didn't want that dilapidated ice box. I then realized he was out of touch with reality. Then he turned Summerfest into Summercrap. Started charging for Windward Beach which went over like a lead balloon and nobody goes there anymore. Then lets mention the friend and family Crony Club that he formed, The Foodtown fiasco Then came the threats to services and all the lies and finally we all got the tax hikes. Bravo! I don't have buyers remorse anymore, I had total remorse!
walt tupycia
6:06 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
did you get your tax bills yet.
walt tupycia
6:06 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
sorry im talking about brick.
walt tupycia
6:25 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
the sky is falling in help? seniors need your votes.I will stop the world from coming to and end if you vote for me and the new referendum next year.Need more money.Next year i only want 20% over cap.Seniors you are the only smartest ones on this earth.Praise the lord.
walt tupycia
6:27 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
i will have early specials in all brick dinners.
BW
6:29 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
If you dont vote yes you will have to hire Tony Soprano to pick up your garbage
walt tupycia
6:31 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Help me make my sales goal next year.
Robert
7:27 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Remember at election time .....The Ice Palace (I'm sure they all hope that the Brick voters have forgotten thar suprise bestowed on us by our incumbants!)
BW
7:41 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
I often wonder, what happened to all those people lined up to buy the Ice Palace if we didnt.
Martin
6:05 pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Acrapolis is TRIPLE-dipping at taxpayers' expense: Ocean County MUA, Toms River MUA and Brick mayor.
Somebody tell the gov. -- who campaigned against such rip-offs. Maybe he'll embarrass Acrapolis into downgrading himself into merely a double-dipper!
BW
6:12 pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Martin, you forgot 1 he is ALSO a legislative aid to Senator Ceisla! I posted the link up there ^^^^.
Also just so EVERYONE KNOWS the town DOES NOT all public records to sites like DATA Universe. Information, such as the mayors salary, which pension system he is in is not list, because the town OMITS it from the public record. Do believe everything you read online, use multiple sources (they always slip up). Due dilligence is the key!
BW
10:03 am on Thursday, August 18, 2011
TimeforChange....he and his wife use her benefits from the Brick BOE, and he gets a stipend from the other jobs NOT to take benefits. So he receives approx another 8000-10,000 a year for not taking benefits.
walt tupycia
5:42 pm on Thursday, August 18, 2011
seniors please take you medication before you vote.You are responsible for the huge tax increas in brick.
Joe
7:35 pm on Thursday, August 18, 2011
Senior Stooges should not be allowed to vote. All day long they complain about paying taxes, but they're the reason for the tax increase. The political Hacks no where to go to find the sheeple. We should vote out every incumbent this November even if you have to hold your nose and vote for a democrat. This will make Acrapolis a lame duck. I think the Governor should investigate this Hack and make a public spectacle of him. He and his Republican stooges on the council campaigned as FISCAL CONSERVATIVES. Wait till you see your tax bills! LIARS!!!!!!!!!!
disgusted homeowner
7:46 pm on Thursday, August 18, 2011
Just opened my Brick tax bill. Nowhere on the bill or the STUPID letter with it does it mention the extension of the grace period, normally August 10th. Are we supposed to guess Mr. Mayor?????? The bill itself still reads Aug. 1. Duhhhhh???? Next time skip the stupid letter, there's nothing you have to say or write that i want to read except your letter of RESIGNATION as mayor of Brick!!!!!!!!!
BW
8:07 pm on Thursday, August 18, 2011
Discusted, the APP has an article, says extortion, err I mean tax payments due by Sept 9th.
Lori Morrison
8:40 pm on Thursday, August 18, 2011
Walt Tupycia and Joe, What do you have against Seniors? Did your parents abuse you as children? Many seniors have been living in Brick 50 years or more. They have a right to vote whether you agree with their choices or not. Before you blame seniors for the tax increase, get the information on the votes broken down by district.
califwino
9:47 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
Thanks Lori, I for one am a senior who voted AGAINST the tax increase and FOR the school budget. I think if you looked around town the signs For the tax increase were Not in the senior developments nor were the letters that were sent out. I sure could have had garbage p/u (which I would bet would have never happened) cheaper than my tax increase. So all you people can get over the senior kick and check with your neighbors.
disgusted homeowner
9:16 pm on Thursday, August 18, 2011
Since the mayor and I are VERY close in age, he must really have stamina to work 80 plus hours a week. But then again he does have substantially MORE gray hair than i do .!!!!!!
Concerned Brick Citizen
12:10 pm on Friday, August 19, 2011
Califwino - Unfortunately many of my neighbors can't vote. They own second homes here in Brick and have no say. Call it taxation without representation. Laws need to be changed. In fact my one neihbor is so upset the he has now switch his voting status to Brick The "Yes" would have never passed if these residents had a chance to cast a vote. A second homeowner should be able to have a say in local elections. Also if you remember the ballot at the polls was also laid out in a confusing manor. Many people thought they were voting for the other BOE issue. But it is very easy to blame the seniors. After all it was the Mayor who set you (the seniors) up and basically stated that your demographic group in the senior communities will want to vote yes. -- Call it pleasant persuasion.
1stcav
1:07 pm on Friday, August 19, 2011
I'm not fortunate enough to own two homes , but the laws have to be changed then, you pay full taxes in both towns ( cities ) then local issues ( maybe not State ) as you would be voting twice on them, should be done on a seperate slate.sort of like dual citizenship ..IE; Ireland & USA...ect ...Your thoughts please !!!!!! You gove in home town on state and both towns on local issues that effect you as a tax payer !!! No taxsation without representation !!!! Or sooooo they say..say it ain't sooooo !
1stcav
1:08 pm on Friday, August 19, 2011
You vote in home town ..Sorry, fingers not working to well this PM...
thanx4nothing
4:37 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
disgusted homeowner....christie tried to control it with the 2% tax cap...the idiots of brick voted to exceed that & continue to the aid the corruption. if they're not double dipping they abuse overtime & benefits. there is no such thing as honest politics.
Pat Clark
5:08 pm on Wednesday, September 14, 2011
@ thanx4nothing, I say AMEN to you!! I grew up in Brick my entire life & the Theives on Both sides have DESTROYED Bricktown! The TaxPayers/Voters of Brick are just a Bunch of ignorant SHEEP following Republicans or Democrates Blindly into voting for any Theif who smiles nice at them! It doesn't stop on the township side, they are just as crooked in stealing from us all in the schools too! I Really HATE to have to say this, but the Tax Payers are getting what they deserve for voting these people in & continuing to Vote YES on eveything they ask them to!
Jerseyclone
8:58 pm on Monday, September 5, 2011
Stevie is an arrogant political thief and should be put jail along the town hall political employees such as Juan, Pezarras, Mac Donald, Francese, Newman, the town council including the running chicken Mathews and etc., etc. Then Brick can start over. Maybe we should have a tax revolution. I am tired of the lies. money wasting by the twp, board of education and fire commissioners. We have to VOTE GRIP in November.
Pat Clark
5:14 pm on Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Why is it that the in this economy, everyone in the private sector is being asked to get no raise, take a pay cut & hike in insurance costs, or losing their jobs, But the Public Employees still want everything & they are getting it! Teacher getting raises in pay & benifits year after year, police & township employees getting pay raises & benifits year too! When & Where does it STOP? When the economy was doing Great, & they got some nice rasies, Good for them! But when the economy is horrible how do they expect everyone to afford huge tax increases year after year? They don't Care they Just Demand it & Expect that the SHEEP will keep voting to give it to them!
Joseph Woolston Brick
3:07 pm on Tuesday, September 27, 2011
This comment by the mayor says it all..."I'm there pretty much every single day," When your working a full time job, your not there pretty much every single day, YOU ARE THERE every single day!
Joseph Lamb
12:37 pm on Wednesday, September 28, 2011
This is a very important election. If all 4 of the Ducey team get elected, the council will control the overall budget, make commissioner appointments to the BTMUA and Housing Authority, make appointments to the Planning Board and Board of adjustment so the taxpayers will have an opposing view of the activity taking place and the council can prevent the December bond ordinances that will cost us.
Joseph Lamb
12:40 pm on Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Anyone want to bt that the $6.7 million that M&M owes for Foodtown shows up just in time for Stevie's reelection to keep the tax rate down in that year?
We could have used that $6.7 million this year.