I can live with that ordinance. Someone on here made a very good observation, that the mayor donating his salary back to the Town still allows him to use his full salary for pension purposes. Donating his salary would just be a smoke and mirrors trick, he is really interested in his pension. Steve is the poster boy for what is wrong with NJ pensions, working part time for years, hardly paying into the system, receiving a political appointment to a high paying job and then retiring to a juicy pension for the rest of his life... I hope you're proud Steve...

Just resign and solve the problem. You are finished anyway. If you feel that strongly about it, return the money you took for the last two years before you knew you were no longer wanted.

I might have missed it but what was the final outcome of paid health benefits? Are they taking it or not?

They claimed when they ran that they were not but that seems to have changed.

Mr Ducey it is the opinion of many in the town that you are grandstanding as well. Many are still concerned with the wording of the Resolution and how it will be enforced. Are they going to request proof from the other employer as to the number of hours a newly elected Mayor receives? What about a self employed individual or an individual with control over the hours they work on their job. Can they work 30 - 34 hours a week at their business or other job and then Collect the $52,000. If the new council majority is sincere on the intent of this Resolution they should have the salary set at one amount and move on.

I think that all this talk and wasted time about the Mayor's salary or the Council's salary and benefits could be put to sleep if anyone who seeks public office is there for the right reason. Do you seek elected office because you need a job or a salary? If so you aren't there for the taxpayers and you should seek employment elsewhere. Elected office is and should be a volunteer position because you want to do for the taxpayers of Brick Township. I do feel that Mr. Ducey is doing what is right for the Dems and not the Town unlike the thinking of Mr, Moore and Mr. Fosman. I do applaud everyone for voting in favor of the Township's current professionals.

The mayors latest ploy is at every meeting he comes up with a new threat either against the tax payers or the newly elected T.C.Last night it was if you don't let me be rude,arrogant,and interrupt whenever I want I will boycott your meeting and have my own at the same time with Scott and Jean.Hope you book a very small room because that's all you will need.

Full Name: Susan Lydecker

Current Age: 32

If elected or re-elected to council, will you choose to receive taxpayer-funded health benefits from your elected position? Why or why not?

No. I will not take the taxpayer-funded health benefits. I am looking to save Brick and its residents money in any way possible.

Full Name: James "Jim" Fozman

Current Age: 57

If elected or re-elected to council, will you choose to receive taxpayer-funded health benefits from your elected position? Why or why not?

If elected to Brick Council, I will not take taxpayer funded medical benefits. I have a private medical plan through my company and I am trying to save Brick taxpayers money, not spend it.

Full Name: Robert "Bobby" Moore

Current Age: 44

If elected or re-elected to council, will you choose to receive taxpayer-funded health benefits from your elected position? Why or why not?

I will not accept the tax-payer funded health care benefits if elected to Council. It is my goal to save our residents money any way possible and this is one way I can do that

Full Name: John G. Ducey

Current Age: 41

If elected or re-elected to council, will you choose to receive taxpayer-funded health benefits from your elected position? Why or why not?

A change in law has occurred. Chapter 2 P.L. 2010, New Jersey State Law, no longer affords health benefits to newly elected officials. I would be a newly elected official.

Guess what...The same statement made by Councilwomen Lydecker was also made by her three running mates. Both on election flyers mailed to residences and on Brick Patch's Profile of candidates running for office. They all said 'THEY WOULD NOT TAKE TAXPAYERS-FUNDED HEALTH BENEFITS' if elected. It's in black and white for everyone to see. Well you know how things quickly change once you get in office. Let's see how they vote if they issue was placed on the Council's agenda.

so a lawyer uses a loophole and avoids answering the actual question to feather his own bed......what a surprise

plus he must be an awful lawyer as he didnt even understand the llaw

Fair, ok maybe I do not have a fancy law degree and not a expert on legal wording. Mr Ducys words sure as heck looked like he was not taking the benefits to us lesser folks. Ever person I spoke with, and we voted for him. Understood he was not going to take the benefits. Come on , why did he just not tell it straight up? That just shows us he is a big a phony as the rest. I am disgusted with him as are most of the others I spoke to today.

If Mr. Ducey takes the benefit we can show our unpleasure when next years elections come around by not voting for canditates he supports. He didn't play by the rules when he was voted in.

and the clown is the ring leader of the circus... what a surprise he just happens to be a lawyer... Brick Taxpayers you elected him!

Yes, we can all say we were duped by Pres. Ducey, but we can also say that no one did their homework. If we looked at what he was citing we would have found out that that Brick was not in the state program and someone (republican's on the ballot) could have called him out of it...Ducey is to blame but can't take all the blame, only if we looked at what he was talking about.

Daniel Nee,
By prefacing your factual statement, "to be fair" makes you sound like a partisan party. I certainly hope that is not the case. I find the Patch to be very informative and very time efficient.

This is absolute craparama. Mr Ducey in my opinion should have included his legal mumbo jumbo THEN said however, I will be taking the benefits from the township. Then this liar would have at least looked half was decent. At least he should have said that he would take them, come on this is bull.

First of all kudo's to the three that did refuse the health benefits.They plain and simple said they would not take them and stuck by that. Unlike Ducey, who doubletalked in legalese, to make sure the layman had no clue. He should be recalled just for the reason he did not speak plain and simple. He is same old , same old. I am sure his mentor is Starkey the nemisis of Gilmore. He lied, plain and simple. He will never get elected again.

Set the mayor's salary at a fixed amount and e done with it. Who is to determine what a "full time" job is? The mayor's gang did not lose because of salary or benefits issue.
They lost for the same reason the other three and the mayor will lose. People were fed up with all the "jobs", arrogance, and the worst mayor the town has ever had in recollection. This is all smoke and mirrors by a losing group. The new people did not get elected because they were so impressive, but because the voters wanted this gang out.

So it looks like Ducey landed in a dukie pile with his taking benefits. I wonder if the other three stooges will take the money for not taking benefits? I knew he was crisscrossing his words when he used the legal bulloney. He thinks he may have fooled us, but he will never get our vote again.

Our governing body needs to introduce and pass a clear odinance that would reduce compensation for the position of Mayor and Council and end all other benefits entirely. AS CITIZENS, I hope we get to review all the proposals. Maybe the proposals could be listed on patch (six proposals if memory serves.) for the public to review. Just a suggestion.

The tweaked version of the ordinance which passed first reading is flawed on so many levels.

One additional fact it was said at the meeting that Mr Ducey's father or father in law use to be a partner at Mr Starkey's law firm?? Interesting it appears we know who is working behind the scenes here now don't we?

John c
You mention Starkey as if no one is smart is smart enough to realize Gilmore is the grand puppeteer of Ocean County. Don't insult people with your inane comments.

I don't deny Starkey is not a force for the Dems , but why do you criticize him for doing the same thing Gilmore does, but on a much larger scale?

Ask Toth and Brando. They are no longer straddling it, they are over.

Duped by Ducey, Duplicit Ducey. Makes me feel as if my vote meant nothing. It doesn't feel good. I took the time to read the information on the newly elected candidates; and I can tell you, I didn't see this coming.

As mentioned earlier,This ordnance is all wrong and really has no teeth. Plain and simple.........the tax payers are concerned with all double dippers in the public coffers.
The ordnance should read " the Mayoral position is part time a, and there for the salary of $$$$ is a part time salary, and is not eligible for pension and/or medical benefits, or the stipend for those non-benefits.) Lets stop playing games and take care of the Township's business and "US TAX PAYERS"

As mentioned earlier,This ordnance is all wrong and really has no teeth. Plain and simple.........the tax payers are concerned with all double dippers in the public coffers.
The ordnance should read " the Mayoral position is part time a, and there for the salary of $$$$ is a part time salary, and is not eligible for pension and/or medical benefits, or the stipend for those non-benefits.) Lets stop playing games and take care of the Township's business and "US TAX PAYERS"

If the Mayor receives any salary........and signs it all back to the township except $1.00,
1. The township pays into the pension system for his entire salary.
2. He gets the complete pension credit for the entire salary.
3. He gets charged taxes on the full amount and then claims a large deduction for sighing back all but one dollar of the salary to the Township.

Typical of Steve...all smoke n mirrors BS, Wheres the fork?
Pension wise it probably wouldn't matter if Steve retires within 3 years of the salary change, ( or within 1 year if he is a military Veteran). The pension is paid for the highest year salary in his last 3 years, less he is a Veteran, then it's his last year.

Keep it simple. It's a part time job. Scarpelli feathered his nest with his all Dem council to give himself a 400% raise. Even with that he didn"t have enough as history proved. Set it at $12,000-$15,000 and let it be.

This ordinance, as drafted, should be voted down.
Keep it SIMPLE. Politicians always want to complicate matters, public servants would keep it SIMPLE. I echo the sentiment from numerous other Bloggers, Set it at a fixed number. Clearly, $15,000 would be sufficient. Again, when I voted for the newly elected Council members, I thought this is what they had in mind.