'Grantsman' Position Returns in Brick
Position was originally not funded in township's 2012 budget
The Grantsman position will return to Brick Township government following a recent vote by the township council.
The position – the occupant of which is tasked with obtaining grant money for the township, some of which is already distributed to local nonprofit organizations – was initially not funded in the township council's 2012 operating budget.
But discussions since the passage of that budget led the governing body to approve a $50,000 contract with Bruno Associates, Inc., the business that had previously served in the same role.
Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis had been a vocal opponent of cutting the grantsman position during the period of time when the township council was crafting the operating budget, saying the position yielded hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in grants provided to the township, and sometimes local organizations through funding the township received on their behalf.
Initially, the council had proposed using township employees to obtain grant funding instead of paying a grantsman, but Council President John Ducey has said Acropolis would not allow township employees to assume that role.
The contract between the township and Bruno is for one year, which began Oct. 1, 2012. It was approved unanimously by the governing body at its Sept. 25 meeting.
JHill
10:37 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I am curious to know how many $$ they have brought in over the past few years that they have been under cotract. (Not including $$ we would have received anyway -school state aid etc)
Is that info available anywhere?
Daniel Nee
11:24 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I'm pretty sure we had some of that info in previous articles. The position has always "paid for itself" in that sense, to the best of my knowledge. It's a mix of money that the position has always brought in, between private/public grant funding that goes specifically to the township, as well as grants that pass through the township and are given to organizations around town.
JHill
2:40 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Thanks for the info Daniel and keep up the good work!
Citizens for a Better Brick
11:45 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
There's one thing that you can count on in Brick ... the sun coming up and the Brunno Group getting appointed during EVERY democratic administration. There goes 50K out the door, when employees of Brick should be doing the job.
I know about Grantsmanship and it's a simple matter of scanning the federal and state announcements. Once grants are identified, Brick employees could put together the application package. I believe we have very well qualified staff members who could gather the information required and respond to the grant application requirements.
I see the comment made by Ducey stating that Acropolis would not allow employees to work on grant application. I find that strange. Why not use your resources? I think that Ducey's statement needs a good news reporter follow up. The Patch should request Ducey to provide his resopurce of that statement and also ask Acroplois about that too.
What about asking for volunteers from the community to assist in obtaining grant information. I'm positive that there are plenty of well qualified residents who would love to participate and assist the town in getting grants. Last I checked we hve over 75K residents. There must be a handfulk that would help.
What a WASTE of 50K.
Let's get real here.
JHill
2:43 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Why don't YOU donate your time to this position instead of posting on a message board and thinking you are making a difference.
Citizens for a Better Brick
3:03 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I have volunteered already, but you wouldn't know that.
So, lets have this forum as a way to agree that volunteering for Brick will save all of us tax dollars.
I'm in, are you? If so, let's meet at the Brick complex this Tuesday at 10am at the reception desk.
I'll gladly pass the word around, as I have friends that would like to help Brick AT NO CHARGE.
JHill
7:19 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
I volunteer as well, I coach 3 of my kids teams.
I'd love to meet you but unfortunately I will be at work to pay all my property taxes so the mayor can pay all his friends/families.