Thursday, May 23, 2013
Pennsylvania senator who stopped vote criticized; Menendez says he will introduce insurance rate bill
The Brick Township council this week unanimously supported a resolution urging the federal government to put off flood insurance rate hikes. Brick residents in flood zones face insurance rates of up to $31,000 per year if they do not raise their homes since the federal government's subsidization of the National Flood Insurance Program was eliminated by an act of congress last year. Last week, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) blocked a measure that would have delayed the rate hikes, during which time a study could be conducted on insurance affordability and grant funding to help people raise homes could be obtained, if necessary. Toomey said at the time that his aim is to make the insurance program more financially sound, though the resolution …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Shouting match erupts at meeting; mayor could have final say on future benefits
Brick Councilman John Ducey was ready when fellow Councilman Domenick Brando put forth a proposal to eliminate council members' salaries and health benefits at Tuesday night's meeting of the governing body. What resulted was an all-out argument between council members, who accused each other of being liars and taking advantage of their positions in township government for personal gain. "In light of what's going on, since Sandy, and in light of some promises that were made in the election a couple years ago, people's feet need to be held to the fire," said Brando, suggesting that three Democrats on the council went back on campaign promises not to take taxpayer health benefits if elected. Brando held up a campaign poster from the Democrats…
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Brando to propose ordinance eliminating benefits, pay for council members
Brick Township Council members would receive no taxpayer-funded pay, stipends or health benefits under an ordinance Councilman Domenick Brando says he will propose at the Feb. 19 council meeting. The ordinance, which Brando will place on the agenda for a first reading, will eliminate pay and benefits for current and future council members. Currently, council members are paid an $8,000 annual stipend, and are eligible to receive full employee health benefits or a waiver stipend if they opt out of the benefits program. The council president makes an additional $1,000 in salary, for a total of $9,000. "I think it's the right thing to do for our taxpayers," said Brando. "We'd be like the Board of Education, we'd be doing it totally voluntarily…
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Up for a vote will be adoption of FEMA advisory maps
The Brick Township council will consider a number of measures related to Superstorm Sandy cleanup at its meeting Tuesday night, as well as an ordinance to adopt the Federal Emergency Management Agency's advisory base flood elevation (ABFE) maps, which have already been adopted by the state. Though Gov. Chris Christie announced that the state as a whole would adopt the ABFE maps last month, individual municipalities must also adopt the maps, or they forfeit potential hazard mitigation grants which will aid residents in elevating their homes, Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis said. The ABFE maps have been the subject of controversy, as many residents have made the case that they are not appropriately zoned and, thus, subject to unnecessary expense …
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
No change in control of the governing body
The Brick Township Council will reorganize Tuesday night with all of the same members as 2012. As no members' terms expired at the end of 2012, there were no council elections held in November, meaning the same seven members of the governing body will return for another year. Control of the council will remain in the hands of the Democrats, who have a 4-3 majority over Republicans. The council will begin the meeting with an invocation, then elect a president and vice president for 2013. In 2012, Councilman John Ducey served as president and Councilman Bob Moore served as vice president. A member of the council will also be appointed to serve on the planning board for the year. In 2012, Councilwoman Susan Lydecker served in this role. The …
Monday, January 7, 2013
Fozman, Moore join others who accept benefits package
Two additional members of the Brick Township Council will receive taxpayer-funded health benefits in 2013, Brick Patch has confirmed. Council members Jim Fozman and Bob Moore, both entering their second year serving on the council, have notified the township’s administration that they will participate in Brick’s employee health insurance plan this year, an Open Public Records Act request filed by Brick Patch showed. Neither of the two council members, both Democrats, took benefits in 2012. Both said in the midst of the 2011 council campaign that they would not accept benefits if they came to be elected. “My circumstances in life have changed,” said Fozman, who declined to elaborate on what those circumstances were. “I didn't take them for…
Friday, November 9, 2012
Announcement made Thursday
Brick Township has given notice that the township council will meet this Tuesday, Nov. 13. The meeting will take place at 3 p.m. at the municipal complex on Chambers Bridge Road. An agenda for the meeting has not yet been posted. The announcement of the meeting was made Thursday afternoon.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Rift between administration and council may be growing
Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis' administration will now bar township employees from attending meetings of small committees of the township council. In a letter to township council members this week, Business Administrator Scott Pezarras said the mayor has decided township employees should not attend the committee meetings of three council members, and questions about township business should be submitted in writing. "I can't ask the council president any questions in public because he refuses to answer," said Acropolis. "What I decided to do was to have everything put in writing. If the council has a question about a project being done, put them in an e-mail and we'll answer them for you." Council President John Ducey said Thursday that the …
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Positions will be eliminated, created under proposal
The Brick Township council is set to vote Tuesday night on two ordinances that will eliminate several positions in township government and create three other positions in a move that will restructure some of the upper management of township affairs. The move has created controversy in township political circles, where council Democrats have said the move is designed to save taxpayers more than $400,000 per year, while some opponents have quietly questioned whether the plan is underpinned by partisan politics. A majority of council members voted at the governing body's Sept. 10 meeting to pass the ordinance, despite warnings from the township attorney not to do so. The ordinances were not drafted by the regular township attorney, Council …
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Warning from attorney as ordinance intending on cutting costs moves forward
The introduction of two ordinances that would eliminate several positions in municipal government, create some new positions and restructure several departments proved controversial Monday night, starting with a warning from the township attorney. The ordinances, which Council President John Ducey said were not drafted by the regular township attorney, would eliminate eight positions within township government and create three new ones. Not all of the eight positions are currently filled, Ducey said. In addition to the eight positions to be cut, which include those currently held by Deputy Business Administrator Juan Bellu and Recreation Department Head Dave Francese, the departments of Recreation as well as Community Development and Land …
knarfie
7:51 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013
Wow. Finally all of our troubles are over. Good going council and Mayor. We are in such good hands. more ›