They are way too high for the "type" of community---really, not a high class place on the whole----cannot compare to Manasquan!

Agree w/ Donniee's comment below. We get very few services for our taxes. Bulk trash pick-up and leaf pick-up are my big pet - peeves with Brick. I think the PD and the schools do a good job with the resources they have, but am tired of hearing how there aren't enough trucks for bulk and leaf removal. That is not just a Sandy issue. I do not blame the guys out there working, but administration. Now thankfully we haven't had snow. If we remain that fortunate couldn't we use those monies that would have gone to snow removal to buy another truck? Brick is not such a clean town. I was out there today picking up trash from all over my development. I lived in mid-town Manhattan and never saw the garbage I have seen here in twenty- seven years. Residents could also pitch in a little more I think. I just don't know what it is - a Piney mentality or what but I have never seen so much trash and leaves. When you get to the stage that you can't maintain a house you belong in an apartment or adult community. I am not talking major things but little things like taking the pails in - taking the phone book in (people have those sitting out for days in the rain and Yes they ARE home) Raking even just one small bag a day, choosing not to throw a toilet out and conveniently not call the township all kinds of weird stuff. Do people feel above it?

the taxes will always be high because, as long as public unions run the state. and the dirty politicians that are in their back pockets continue to money launder . they will suck the blood of all the home owners. Entitlement mentality is the destruction of this state. and now we have another 4 more years of socialist governing in Washington. Does not look good for America!!!

have you looked at your water bill lately?? disgrace and disgusting .

WM - back when services were decent that was true. When you factor in that there is no job base and no transit to get to a job base Brick is not such a bargain. It is ten dollar an hour land for working or you pay in gas, tolls and time doing the Parkway pooch run.

we use to get trash picked up twice a week, and paid less taxes then now. WTH

Agree!!

Chief

Do you want to do something for the community? With all your knowledge, why don't I let you put the Township's budget together this year and see how you fair. Or at the very least put in a resume to sit on the Citizen's Advisory committee. What do you say?

You must not have suffered any loss Chief because you would'nt be making such stupid statements. Pray for the storm? That must have been you. I didn't suffer a loss, but my 84yr old mother lost everything. Has life sucked that much for you that other people's pain gives you pleasure? Put people before party. As far as Scott Pezarras goes, he is worth every penny he is paid, but I am still waiting to hear from his office

Many, many more good, honest people would run for elected office if the elections were returned back to non-partisan. If you are too honest to join the crooked democrat or republican parties, then you have no chance of getting elected to office. When elections are non-par6tisan, you have 4,5,6, people running for mayor and at least 10 for the council. Many are independents and some are actually honest. Not the hand picked puppets of the party boss attorneys like Gilmore and Starkey choosing them.

Slippery Slope ain't dat da truth! A lot of these people haven't lived in Brick long enough to remember the non-partisan days, they're just used to the crap we've had for the last few years.

Mom, people are a little cranky too. The weather has been dreary and these articles are scaring the beezezus out of many. I dunno if you have eyes, but the town looks just plain fugly these days. Leaves, potholes and of course the dang hurricane mess. So many people are hurting and our resources which were never great are now understandably overburdened. A lot of people spend so many hours working and commuting they don't have the time other than contributing here. In my own case, I have given up on town politics and just do my own little personal beautification project picking up crap everywhere. Bags and bags of it. I never in a million years thought I would have to live this way but it is easier to be a one person clean up crew than to try to convince someone else this town is an eyesore. Remember the key word in judgemental is mental.

WMS TO THIS relatively low income retired taxpayer who evacuated with her 18 yr old cat on 28 Oct, you sound cranky.Your accusatory tone to M in B is unnecessary&contributes little to civilized discourse. I received some FEMA housing assistance&$250 from homeowners insurance for spoiled food,resulting from the power outage.I wait for insurance&borrow from Ruth&Esther having depleted accounts I have w/Peter Paul Luke&John. I've been renewed, time&again, by the kindness of strangers (of all girths, colors&varying degrees of education&financial means). A 2 ton oak(certified healthy by an arborist in Aug) fell on my brother,12 yr old nephew&sister in law's Union County house. They, like me, are displaced. Our respective primary houses are- for us- a significant investment..More than that, they are our havens, where we go for serenity.
We volunteer, support our public libraries, pick up trash, recycle&try not to curse the darkness, choosing to gaze at the stars when they're out. We are pleasant to neighbors&those we don't know whose paths cross ours.We hope to set an example of civility for our impressionable younger citizens&offspring(who often teach us more than we know). I drive a '04 Suburu that's paid for. I vote.I am not politically connected. I moved to Brick in '05,having sold my condo in Seaside Hts. Its appreciation in value during the 6 yrs I owned it is how it was possible for me to buy a modest, 3BR,1 bath house in a serene area. Do you rail against the weather too?

Actually, I do alot for my community-running a charity and volunteer work directly for Brick residents. And what I don't do is whine and cry on this site all day like the rest of you. What is it that you do for Brick WMS826?

Did someone delete my post? All I want to know is what Juan Bellu does for $150K per year. He got a $50K pay raise last year! If this one gets deleted too, I know who is doing it.

Denny

This has been answered numerous times under different threads.

How about one more time? I got a vague answer from a former Council member. Maybe I missed those other threads. Wasn't Bellu also a friend of Joe S? Apparently he is bipartisan. So what does he do? Why did he get a 50 thousand dollar pay raise last year? Fair enough? I anticipate your response.

DennyD

He is in charge of Land Use & Community Affairs, which consists of UCC inspections, code enforcement, engineering, zoning, planning board, and board of adjustment. I don't know if he was friend with Mayor Scarpelli. According to Twp records, he didn't receive a $50k raise in 2011. This is hopefully the last time I will be answering this question.

Scott how did Juan Bellu get get up to $148,000 a year it was stated in the media a while back that he was awarded a $50,000 raise by Mayor Acropolis.

Thank-you for your response. That looks like a no-show job. Very little of Brick is buildable anymore. Zoning? Planning, etc. Why are so many empty buildings littering Rt 88? Bellu gets paid to do nothing. I still think he got reciprocated 50K for getting the Brick Mayor a 95K job that he was totally unqualified for. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours'. Acropolis is done in November. He should move to TR. That's where his bread is buttered.

DennyD

You're kidding right? Just because a the Town is built out you stil have zoning, board of adjustment, redevelopment of site issues, engineering infrastructure projects, and code enforcement issues. With the effects of the storm that department will be one of the busiest depts over the next 3 years. Many ordinances nedd to be addressed and passed in order to successfully rebuild the Twp.

The statement about a do nothing job couldn't be further from the truth.

Obviously you don't know the roll that this department plays in the Twp.

Denny - Next time there's a three-hour-long planning board meeting I have to go to, you should come with me. Believe me, there's plenty of building going on in Brick, despite the poor economy.

Skip the "storm". I haven't seen Bellu weigh in on anything in Brick in YEARS. As far as a few 3 hour meetings are concerned, what else does this "dedicated Brick Official" do to get 150 THOUSAND a year? Maybe you're hearing footsteps Scott. If you sleep with dogs you wake up with their fleas.

Daniel - what happened to the road fix in Lake Riv???? I do not plan to go away. I have been patient - and it seems that is not going to be good enough. By the way, areas that got results way before our roads were considered to be repaired are now under water and are on the list AGAIN to be repaired or fixed. Time to look at the Lake and do something. What do you thinkk, Daniel?

Still Dan, where there is smoke there is fire. lol

@Lucy
It is eminent that imminent domain is not the way to settle your problem ....

Assessed not assed. That is a dangerous mix up. Your point however is otherwise taken. Also roads in North Cedarcroft were slated for repair about a decade ago. What happened to that? Can Mr. Pezzaras comment? BTW they look like the rocky road to Dublin, but far less scenic.

I have to agree with you Lucy, this towns taxes have done nothing but go up dramaticly, but the direction of this town is spiraling downward. Way before the storm I commented on how driving thru this town is disgusting now. Pull up to any intersection and count the pile of cigarette butts or the overgrown weeds. Drive down Mantaloking and see the overgrown brush on the sides of the road filled with litter, homes with fallen fences or garbage in their yards and they want to tax us like towns that hold their residents accountable for the quality of life in that town? And that was BEFORE the storm! The DPW got its wish by that huge tax increase to save their jobs, but they have done little to earn it since. I think it is time that the DPW hierarchy and the mayor are held accountable for the cleanliness of this town. Scarpelli might have taken a bribe or two, but the town was alot cleaner and safer back when the taxes were lower,imo. Why has that changed?

You said a mouthful there Resident.

CUT THE DAMN WASTE, EVERY AND I MEAN EVERY PUBLIC WORKER, CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR HEALTHCARE, PENSION, LIKE THE REAL WORLD DOES. THIS ALSO INCLUDES N J E A. IN FACT THEY ARE NO. ONE. TICK. AND THE COPS TOO. EVERYONE HAS TO CONTRIBUTE. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR THEIRS AND OUR OWN. WE JUST DON'T HAVE IT.

If I remember correctly, snow allocation funds are a "use it or lose it" rule by the state. I believe Twp's are not allowed to roll over or bank funds year to year due to state budget laws but this may have been changed in the last couple of years. This (I believe) has to do w/ funds Twp.'s receive from the state.

Something also leads me to believe that unused snow funds may however be able to be used as/transferred into an emergency type budget.

Gosh it is disheartening that so many of us feel this way. What happened to this town? It is such a shame, but that we all want out.

Cedarcroft too Ms. G. We were slated and dumped as well. Shout out to Lake Riviera friends. All they do is fill a few pot holes now and again. Our taxes are going somewhere but it sure isn't to the schools or the roads. Does that mean I should run for mayor? I don't think so. We are capable however of demanding some accountability.

Which part of the roads here in Lake Riviera are worse, the broken pavement and pot holes or the sink holes? When we walk after work I need a flashlight just to see the uneven pavement, let alone waving off oncoming cars since there are no sidewalks.
Dogwood got paved years ago, and the word was the project would continue throughout, which never happened. The kids with scooters and skateboards all go there, since it has a hill to it too.
The Crestwood Terrace / Sloping Hill Terrace sub division has nice roads and sidewalks. But that's a more uniformly middle class area, compared to most of the older State named streets.

where is all our tax money going. this entire country has turned into takers and very little makers.

what do you want me to do about it.....i have been trying to wake everyone up on the patch for 3 years now......its not working ......you are all stupid and deserve to have your money stolen.......

Pezzaras was wrong ......I didnt win, i give up.......i am joining the other side......

i now agree with Scott 2+2 = 5.........so find someone else who cares.....i think Kellys daughter should be allowed to steal $400,000 and get an increase in her pension

yes, mommy