Freeholders Poised To Approve $45 Million Emergency Appropriation For Sandy Debris Removal
County is fronting the money, will be reimbursed by FEMA, Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. says
The Ocean County Board of Freeholders are slated to approve a $45 million emergency appropriation at the March 6 board meeting to help front the costs for Superstorm Sandy debris removal in municipalities.
"So far, so good," Bartlett said at the pre-board meeting on Tuesday. "We can indirectly borrow from certain county accounts. We will be able to complete the entire thing by self-financing upfront."
The county will eventually be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the participating municipalities, Bartlett said.
"We will get it all back," Bartlett said. "The money will be coming back. It's good news we can afford to do it. It's bad news we had to do it. It's a way to protect our financial interests to do it this way."
"This is the only time in my memory we have done an emergency appropriation," said Bartlett, who has served on the board since 1980.
The appropriation will be the third since Superstorm Sandy roared into Ocean County on Oct. 29. The county appropriated $10 million in a separate account to pay for debris removal along county rights-of-ways and to clean up Ocean County Park in Lakewood, which lost more than 1,000 trees, Bartlett said.
The county has already fronted $50 million to pay for debris removal in municipalities who signed up for the shared service agreement.
The money will be used to pay Ashbritt - a Florida-based debris removal firm - and the monitoring firm that oversaw Superstorm Sandy debris removal from municipal right-of-ways it towns that signed on for shared services.
Every truck that picked up debris had an independent monitor on board to oversee the pickup and amount of debris picked up on an individual run. The debris was then taken to local transfer stations, where a monitor signed off on the total cubic yardage. The debris was separated by category - cement, asphalt and brick; wood and garbage; and white goods like refrigerators and metals, Bartlett has said.
Anything that could be recycled was. Wood and garbage was trucked to the Ocean County Landfill in Manchester Township, where the tipping fees are $81.21 a ton, Bartlett said.
The $45 million emergency appropriation on tap for next week will only be used for the costs of municipal debris removal, Bartlett said today.
Bartlett said he was tired of reading news accounts that said Colts Neck and other towns had handled debris removal cheaper, without using Ashbritt. But many of those towns were smaller and had less damage than some Ocean County towns, he said.
"Colts Neck is in the middle of Monmouth County," he said. "Go over to Seaside Heights. Give me a break."
Bartlett also said he was still "infuriated" by some who say that the Ocean County freeholder board was pressured into going with Ashbritt by Ocean County Republican party chief George R. Gilmore. Gilmore is a lobbyist for Ashbritt.
Not true, he said.
Gov. Chris Christie wanted to meet with representatives of the Ocean and Monmouth County freeholder boards several days after Sandy struck on Oct. 29, Bartlett said.
"He told us the state had Ashbritt and we could make use of it if we wanted," he said.
Ocean County signed on with Florida-based AshBritt in mid-November. Under the shared services agreement, towns that signed on with the county used AshBritt for debris removal, with the county footing the bill upfront and seeking reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
Municipalities could opt in to a shared service agreement with the county for debris removal, or handle the debris removal on their own. Eventually, 19 towns signed up for the shared services.
The vast majority of debris is "out" in the towns that participated, but the total cost of removal has yet to be determined, Bartlett said.
"When there is a final closeout, probably within two weeks, we will have those numbers," he said.
Scott Neuman
2:10 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
everytime Bartlett's infuriated about something, he is usually wrong.
proud
2:19 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Perhaps, Bartlett was infuriated because he read the front page of the Asbury Park Press this morning.
O'Brien
6:36 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Nj Towns, Schools, Politicians is corrupt...after all it is the Soprano State.
Jim Leone
9:13 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
This is what our community gets. They get what they voted for. You can't have incumbents in office too long because they monopolize, learn all the loopholes, and become too powerful to question or debate. Voters get what they deserve. No one takes voting seriously anymore. It's a popularity contest like survivor.
Jim Leone
9:19 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
When in political office too long , inappropriate business relationships develop, and personal favors become more important than public opinion or what is best for the community. NJ politicians and unions are no different than the mob. Citizens should wake up.
O'Leary
7:22 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Jim Leone...I so agree with you on your views....down right the truth.;;How do stop the monopoly in the schools...You don't get to vote, especially in all these small towns. They just get in based on all their family and friends... Then they pay all the favors back by giving all their kids special treatment. You are out numbered. Very wrong and frustrating all the way around.
Bob
2:25 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
why just use Colt Neck..compare all towns and all are as clean as those that used AshBritt but saved 75%. So why did they need Gilmore who is also attorney for many of the towns and your mentor (boss)? No company just throws away money for no good reason.
Tommy
2:30 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Audit ! Audit ! Audit ! INDEPENDENT AUDIT !!!
Bob
2:39 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
US Prosecuter!
JHill
3:15 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Does he think we are idiots? Gilmore gets PAID to use his influence to win contracts for the company he represents. That is why AshBritt pays him.
By the way, these Gilmore "Republicans" are worse than the tax and spend Democrats. They love spending OUR money.
Want to bet once we get reimbursed 45 millions by FEMA that they turn around and spend it on their next pet project??
I bet this 45 million they are borrowing will be on the books for the next 25 years.
-Bartlett also said he was still "infuriated" by some who say that the Ocean County freeholder board was pressured into going with Ashbritt by Ocean County Republican party chief George R. Gilmore. Gilmore is a lobbyist for Ashbritt.-
Peter M. Clausen III
3:28 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
I paid $2000 to remove my own debris, which the flood insurance did not cover. I put two pieces of debris out for local pick up and received an official warning for puttting debris out too early. This is the beginning folks.
Peter M. Clausen III
3:33 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
down in Texas, school children must wear arab clothing to learn about their culture and are taught that the holocaust was ethnic cleansing. FACT. this is the beginning folks! Our government is bowing to the arab brotherhood and running our lives. to many free loaders and too much govt spending. we are in trouble!
O'Brien
6:41 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Well in Nj the school children get ripped off...It is not about the kids or have best interest at heart for all the kids. It is more political in the school then in the towns, they only help, see or push their own kids and the heck with all the rest of the kids...That is why most of the NJ school is in trouble and it is not only the Abbott districts either...The schools has some shady practices and heck of a lot of cheating going on.
Robert Yates
9:08 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
@PMCIII: hopefully you are joking when you assert that the Arab brotherhood poses a considerable threat to the US. Last time I check, we are the ones that are invading Arab countries, not the other way around. Perhaps if we minded our own business, they would not be so keen on careening planes into sky scrapers.
DefenderDude
4:36 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Bartlett is a crook like the rest of them. Apparently the citizens of Ocean County are ok with that. These clowns gain the seats every election.. By the way, where is the report on Kellys fatal car accident?.
Bob
5:48 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Where is Freeholder Kelly daughter who worked as assistant tax collector robbed $40,000 from little egg harbor slap on wrist. US Prosecutor Christie would have had her in jail for 10 years. Governor Christie's AG gives Gilmore friend Freeholder Kelly's daughter 4th degree with no jail time and didn't even pay back the full amount stolen upon slap on wrist. Absolutely no influence Gilmore had on having AshBritt hired
O'Brien
6:44 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Any one who gets in the same type of trouble in Ocean County should demand they want the same deal as Kelly's daughter or else they will sue the County and State of NJ...special treatment should not be allowed.
KC
8:23 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Soprano state? Sorry O'Brien but to me it looks like its you Irish who are as thick as thieves.
proud
5:57 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
@KC, I'm uncertain how this discussion turned into a game of racist finger pointing, but I'm confident that Mr. Rittaco would appreciate your support of his ethnic background. Drop him a line.
brick strong
6:28 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
@ J.Hill Right now I don't trust either side they are both looking out to protect there election year votes.Did you watch the news folks in Ortley Beach homes were worth before storm $ 300,000.00 now worth $30,000.00 and the town of toms river wants them to raise there homes at $75,000.00 to raise..These people are getting killed and there will be a lot of empty home or vacant lots soon...
hoop
10:19 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Apparently this is part of a larger plan not only in Ortley beach but Point Beach,Boro Brick ETC.This makes it more affordable for land grabs for eventual Condo builds in these communities.
Exit82
6:56 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
If Gilmore asked Bartlett to jump, Bartlett would say how hi, but let's screw some taxpayers first.
http://blogs.app.com/politicspatrol/2009/04/13/gaming-pension-system-not-limited-to-one-party/
shorecorruption
7:27 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
The Government might hold back over $2 billion for sandy victims.Hold off on paying the garbage man..
Lincoln Osiris
7:45 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Gilmore = republican party boss of Ocean County and retained legal counsel for AshBritt
Bartlett = republican Ocean County freeholder who voted to hire AshBritt
Christie = republican governor of NJ who voted to hire AshBritt
19 towns = republican mayors/council that voted to hire AshBritt
So you see there is absolutely no connection between AshBritt and these politicians whatsoever. Purely coincidental at best. Bartlett is right to be infuriated - to insinuate the hiring was politically motivated is slanderous. Besides - who cares what AshBritt charged? They did a great job and the freeholders are paying for it with other peoples money!
Mr. ?
10:29 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Gilmore = counsel for Little Egg municipal = kellys daughter working for L.Egg tax assessors office? Right?
Lincoln Osiris
12:08 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Mr. ? - ding.ding. ding, you win todays prize for your astute observations. Thank you for playing " Who is corrupt in Ocean County 2013 Edition" !
Mr. ?
12:30 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Thanks L.Osris.! I win, I win, I win! Is there a prize? Money I hope? So I can pay those taxes? I like to play as well as those "pay to players" except unlike them, I feel like I keep losing at the game! Duh, I know, cause its THEIR game.
Robert Yates
9:10 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Why does the county have an extra 45 million dollars that they can tap? Shouldn't that have been returned to the taxpayers.
proud
9:19 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
@Robert Yates, Ocean County taxpayers will see that 45 million returned to them at about the same time Lacey taxpayers see the eight million pocketed by the school district for the solar project. On the other hand, the district DID deliver two years of zero increase budgets.
Robert Yates
9:28 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Yup: I hear you. It is really starting to look like the vast majority of these clowns are useless and corrupt. What exactly is government good at? And why do the people tolerate this nonsense?
Fred
3:03 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Why not ask the local guys who worked for Ashbritt what they were paid and then subtract that number from what Ashbritt was paid and that would tell you what their gross profit was. The state of NJ and the Feds allow 10% profit.
O'Leary
8:06 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
@Robert Yate..A lot of people tolerate this nonsense because they all get special treatment, contracts, money, jobs etc...just like everything else. Look at the corrupt schools...not all these kids who get scholarships really deserve them...They are getting them because who they know or who pushed for them or who is relating to them...Who is support them...connect the dots... Who is going to say anything if it is free college and a way out of for their kids.