As my children have been growing up, there has always been one “smart little you know what” in the group who thought he/she had everything all figured out and attempted to share his newly gleaned knowledge of what democracy means.
Most parents have encountered this scenario usually around the sixth or seventh grade. “It’s a free country you know, I have rights, and I have freedom of speech”. My response usually went something like, “Yes it is a free county, and yes you have rights, however, they end at that door, in here it is Mommy & Daddy Land, a benevolent dictatorship, and guess who is in charge.”
Being extremely fortunate that all five boys and two girls got the message at the time of this initial exercise, we haven’t had any repeat performances. Actually, that was also about the same time that they learned about diplomacy and to their credit wisely choose that alternative route to express future opinions. These early civics lessons came flooding back to my mind last Thursday after attending a meeting of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
The freeholders were slated to vote on accepting the county budget, totaling $409 million, so it is understandable that this meeting would attract a number of county residents who felt the need to speak out on the budget.
Residents are allowed to address the board at certain points during the meetings prior to when votes are taken regarding ordinances and resolutions. Questions are frowned upon, although grudgingly answered. At the end of the meeting a time is provided when attendees are allowed to address the board by way of “comments only” on any topic they care to discuss.
Residents are limited to five minutes each. A green, yellow and red light system is used to control the session, and I have noticed that the lights are generally in play when “certain” individuals approach the podium. When the yellow light goes on the speaker is alerted that their allotted time is almost up, reminding me of the old TV game show “Beat-the-Clock”. Should the red become lit the speaker is told, “Thank you, your time is up”. Refusal to leave the podium can lead to ejection, which has taken place. There are also restrictions regarding content and language.
One would think that this is a great opportunity to get what is on one’s mind off one’s chest by making a comment or two about the budget, no-bid contracts or hiring practices. However, just mentioning the word nepotism in relation to county government elicits a stern warning from the county counsel that the speaker is getting “dangerously close to crossing the line.”
Attending these meetings for three years now has made me acutely aware that those who offer kudos can go on forever well past the allotted five minutes. While it seems that those who speak of their disappointment in the freeholders performance are “crossing the line” this could translate into: “You are out of order and had better sit down before we throw you out for criticizing us."
In his closing comments during last Thursday’s public meeting, Freeholder Chester Holmes reminded residents in the audience that “Our chairman here has his attorney sitting next to him. You need to ask yourselves do you have your attorney sitting next to you? You should keep that in mind when you cross the line while addressing this board."
So much for freedom of speech, freedom to posses a differing opinion and thinking that we are participating in the democratic process here in Union County.
I have given great consideration to doing just as Freeholder Holmes has suggested and perhaps I'll be flanked by my attorney the next time I go to the next meeting as it appears that one must leave one’s Constitutional rights outside like children when we cross the threshold into “Freehholder Land."
June 11, 2006
The Freeholders Are Just Eating it Up
There is one thing that the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders does really well. They eat.
Entering the Freeholder meeting room just prior to meetings I have detected the aromas of tomato sauce, pickles and Cantonese cuisine.
Checking into these expenses proved to be quite interesting. The county check register provided the answer not only to “what are they eating in there” but what it cost all of us as well.
On average there are two regular freeholder meetings each month and two agenda planning meetings as well, or roughly 32 meetings each year plus committee meetings and budget hearings. Refreshments are served prior to all of the meetings with the tabs running $260 to $350 a pop.
The 2005 check register clearly contained 19 entries indicating “refreshments for F/H mtg” with establishments such as Costa’s Ristorante, the Red Parrot Café, Napoli Deli and Michelino’s Pizzeria providing the fare of the day. These 19 meetings cost taxpayers close to $6000, and let’s not forget the check entries that just say meeting but not F/H.
But that’s not all, the Red Parrot catered refreshments for a budget hearing, at $325, the Napoli Deli for $835 for who knows what and during the ‘05 Topoff drills, one group dined at Costa’s for a total of $500.
There is no doubt that our freeholder board likes to put out a healthy spread evidenced by a $1239.56 check for food at the Musicfest in ’05. So far this year they have spent $7,655 on meeting “refreshments." this figure does not include special events or the county coffee services, bagel runs for breakfast meetings or luncheons including “assorted wraps” from Leon’s Catering Service which run in the neighborhood of $400 to $500.
Having been around awhile I do realize that there are usually some perks that come with power, but this is just a bit much. Haven’t these people ever heard of brown bagging it, or better yet, eating at home? There are times when a meeting will run long and in the private sector, the boss occasionally kicks in for dinner for every one usually from the corner sandwich shop.
But it is doubtful that the residents of Union County intend for their hard earned tax dollars to be used to feed the masses on the 6th floor. I say the masses because on agenda nights the department heads are seen coming and going from the private diner party as well.
An on-the-ball county resident recently pointed out that in view of the fact that this is a single political party board and that all nine of the freeholders are generally in attendance as well as the department directors and that they are dining together just prior to the meetings, it stands to reason that they could find themselves discussing what was on the agenda or other matters that are being considered.
Could this activity then be considered a meeting of this governing body, as a quorum is present, and would this than be a violation of the Open Public Meetings Act?
I cannot answer those questions, however I do know that too much money is being spent on these dinners. I also think that the freeholders should be climbing on the “cut the unnecessary expenses" band wagon by starting with themselves and reining in these catering costs.
Entering the Freeholder meeting room just prior to meetings I have detected the aromas of tomato sauce, pickles and Cantonese cuisine.
Checking into these expenses proved to be quite interesting. The county check register provided the answer not only to “what are they eating in there” but what it cost all of us as well.
On average there are two regular freeholder meetings each month and two agenda planning meetings as well, or roughly 32 meetings each year plus committee meetings and budget hearings. Refreshments are served prior to all of the meetings with the tabs running $260 to $350 a pop.
The 2005 check register clearly contained 19 entries indicating “refreshments for F/H mtg” with establishments such as Costa’s Ristorante, the Red Parrot Café, Napoli Deli and Michelino’s Pizzeria providing the fare of the day. These 19 meetings cost taxpayers close to $6000, and let’s not forget the check entries that just say meeting but not F/H.
But that’s not all, the Red Parrot catered refreshments for a budget hearing, at $325, the Napoli Deli for $835 for who knows what and during the ‘05 Topoff drills, one group dined at Costa’s for a total of $500.
There is no doubt that our freeholder board likes to put out a healthy spread evidenced by a $1239.56 check for food at the Musicfest in ’05. So far this year they have spent $7,655 on meeting “refreshments." this figure does not include special events or the county coffee services, bagel runs for breakfast meetings or luncheons including “assorted wraps” from Leon’s Catering Service which run in the neighborhood of $400 to $500.
Having been around awhile I do realize that there are usually some perks that come with power, but this is just a bit much. Haven’t these people ever heard of brown bagging it, or better yet, eating at home? There are times when a meeting will run long and in the private sector, the boss occasionally kicks in for dinner for every one usually from the corner sandwich shop.
But it is doubtful that the residents of Union County intend for their hard earned tax dollars to be used to feed the masses on the 6th floor. I say the masses because on agenda nights the department heads are seen coming and going from the private diner party as well.
An on-the-ball county resident recently pointed out that in view of the fact that this is a single political party board and that all nine of the freeholders are generally in attendance as well as the department directors and that they are dining together just prior to the meetings, it stands to reason that they could find themselves discussing what was on the agenda or other matters that are being considered.
Could this activity then be considered a meeting of this governing body, as a quorum is present, and would this than be a violation of the Open Public Meetings Act?
I cannot answer those questions, however I do know that too much money is being spent on these dinners. I also think that the freeholders should be climbing on the “cut the unnecessary expenses" band wagon by starting with themselves and reining in these catering costs.
June 09, 2006
Freeholder Threatens Residents with Arrest at Public Meeting
In his closing comments during last night's public meeting, Freeholder Chester Holmes reminded residents in the audience that “Our chairman here has his attorney sitting next to him. You need to ask yourselves do you have your attorney sitting next to you? You should keep that in mind when you cross the line while addressing this board”.
Dear Freeholder Holmes:
I will pick up brochures outlining the First Amendment when next I visit the NJACLU and will pass them on to the board for reference. In light of the fact that there is a resident, Toy Ling Washington of Hillside, who is alleging she is being harassed by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office because of her political efforts against the Democrat machine there…and In light of the fact that an ex-girlfriend of Assemblyman Joseph Cryan was arrested using 19 officers from the Prosecutor’s Office for the crime of putting a note in his car……I find your threats to be credible. I am perfectly aware that the County of Union, with your absolute power and infinite connections in the State of New Jersey can do just about anything you’d like to a citizen who dares speak out against you.
Bring it Chester. You’re not shutting me up. We have soldiers sacrificing their lives to bring democracy to the Middle East. I am proud to join them, in this very small way, to ensure New Jersey remains free from tyranny.
Sincerely,
Tina M. Renna
President
Union County Watchdog Association, Inc.
www.unioncountywatchdog.org
cc:
US Attorney General's Office
NJ Attorney General's Office
NJ American Civil Liberties Union
The County of Union passed a whopping budget last night. There were reporters from 2 weekly newspapers there and they won’t report on this until next Thursday. The Star-Ledger was not only absent, but today they ran what was obviously a statement from the county’s Public Information office which was inaccurate and misleading. It should have had the disclaimer above it THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT PIAD FOR BY THE UNION COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE.
There were about ten residents that spoke on the budget and items on the agenda. I believe that is a record number. Needless to say, none were happy about it. I will attempt to document it here. I didn’t plan on covering this meeting so I did not take notes. If you would like to correct me and add to this record please send the info and I will update this blog. In light of the Star-Ledger’s outrageous disregard for the enlightenment of their readership I felt I needed to try, and will do my best to give a voice to the citizens that took the time to come out and denounce actions of a governing body that is out of control, and the major media – The Star-Ledger wasn’t there and worse – they ran a propaganda piece for the government. Too bad the Ledger doesn’t have meetings where the public can tell them off. I’d gladly get arrested for crossing the line there.
Elizabeth Cox of Summit:
She had read through the county employee list on the Union County Watchdog Associations website and found many instances where the county was not following civil servant’s rules. There were employees making more money than employees who had a higher title. When the freeholders next give themselves a raise they should consider these hard working employees.
Tina Renna:
The Union County Watchdog Association came up with a top 10 list of things taxpayers can do without. The county public information department complained to editors that our claim that you spent over 7-million dollars on phone services in 2005 was inaccurate. D’Elia’s number – which I didn’t see any documentation for – was more like 1-million dollars.
At first I thought it was the usual PI Department strategy to discredit me. Tina Renna get’s her numbers wrong bashing – but then I thought better of it. I realized that we had put a considerable amount of time and energy into this research, which was conducted by using the 2005 check registry, and it is quite possible that you have no clue that you spent 7-million dollars on phone services in 2005 spread over 18 vendors. It will be a priority for the Watchdog Association to analyze your purchasing habits this year and we will of course share all our findings with the public.
I find it absurd that the public has to purchase your Audit, which will cost about $40.00. To claim that this document is not available digitally is a lie. If you don’t have it digitally it is because you are requesting that your auditor not give it to you in that form so you don’t have to release it that way. I would encourage you to put this information on your website like many open government bodies do today and demand that your auditing firm produce this document in electronic form. If they don’t you can simply scan it as the Union County Watchdog Association is going to do it for you. We will purchase your audit, scan it and put in on our website along with your minutes, budget, and vouchers because people need to keep an eye on you. We can no longer afford your back room politics.
Bruce Paterson spoke: Bruce brought up the fact that Senator Raymond Lesniak used the word Corrupt in his article referring to another governing body in the taxpayer funded newsletter “The Union County Directions”. He also reminded the board that they used similar disrespectful language in their last publication in relation to the President of the United States of America. Mr. Paterson asked the board to reconsider their rules for conduct during their own meeting as whenever he referred to the board being corrupt they gavel him and threaten him with removal. This is clearly a double standard.
Pat Quatrocci of Garwood spoke: Part one:
I intend to make this short. To say I was disappointed with this budget would be an understatement. Being well aware that the boards hands are tied when it comes to certain increases which are just facts of life and agreeably make up a large part of the increased tax levy on the residents, I still fail to see how this budget can go forward to approval.
In my own way, I have been urging the board for the last 3 years to reign in frivolous spending, though some items may on first blush appear to be minor in nature when taken in full context they cumulatively become 10’s of thousands of dollars. Even a novice reviewing the paid bills could detect many areas that they would nip, tuck and consolidate.
I ardently believe that the best interests of the hard working residents of Union County will not be well served by this budget and request that you return to the drawing board revaluate it, and make some cuts. So I ask that this evening you vote No on the budget.
Comments on anything:
As I am sure you recall a couple of weeks ago I asked that this board to take a position on the governors proposed tax increases, including the sales tax increase, I have to say that again I was not disappointed as this board did exactly as I had expected, Nothing. I honestly don't know why I expected more for the hard working taxpayers of Union County.
Chairman Mirabella’s reply as I walked away from the podium:
" Hey Pat,.... I thought you were running for freeholder NOT Governor!"
A man from Roselle Park spoke: On the budget
A woman from Plainfield spoke: On the dilapidated condition of a county park their
Mayor Diorio of Roselle Park: Asked the board to study a heavily trafficked street which was a public safety concern.
A woman from Roselle Park: Asked the board the same.
(I myself live on Walnut Avenue in Cranford and know that residents have had the same safety concerns and have spoken with – and perhaps met – with freeholder B.J. Kowalski on this – Kowalski did not mention the Cranford concerns during last nights meeting which leads me to believe she could care less about Walnut Avenue and the people who contacted her wasted their time.)
Tina Renna: I mentioned earlier that the UCWA released a top 10 list and I don’t have time to mention the entire list but I would like to bring up county nepotism. The Union County Watchdog Association inputted all Democrat municipal chairs and Democrat elected officials and blended it in with the Union County Employee list in which showed that 542 county employees have the same surnames of elected democrat officials. We can’t say for sure that your all related but we can say we have no idea of knowing how many people are on their that don’t share the same surname such as in-laws and cousins – gumadas(sp) (At this point I was told I was crossing the line – meaning I was being disrespectful and could be stopped – even forcibly from speaking – Apparently you can talk about their mother-in-laws and cousins on the payroll but leave their gumadas out of it – they don’t want you picking on them) Employees are making a lot more money today than they were just 5 years ago. And this is an embarrassment to the taxpayers as is this taxpayer funded newsletter. ELEC complaints last year, that are still pending, didn’t keep you from using tax dollars for your campaigning. Although I will admit I enjoyed this one very much especially Senator Raymond lesniak’s piece in which he rants "There must be nepotism policies put in place in the Elizabeth Board of Ed Immediately!!!"
This paper’s finances go through the Union County Alliance which claims it is exempt from the OPRA. We are challenging that with the State’s Government records counsel. The public needs to know if politicians relatives are making money off of this publication that is funded by tax dollars. For instance, I have print bills which show while Assemblywoman Linda Stender was a sitting freeholder her husbands print shop was given this job and overcharged $20,000 more than the next lowest bidder. She did this 2 times. With the fiances going through the Alliance the public has no idea who is getting their money - it’s the perfect crime.
I see Stender changed her title about the same time she announced her run for Congress – She no longer gets paid to supervise volunteers who are selflessly working for free. She is now the fund Raiser and Foundation Director – a new position @ $70,000.
During the budget hearings it was announced that Runnells will be running a ½ million in the red this year. Yet that didn’t keep you from putting the county manager’s mother-in-law on the payroll. She makes $40,000 to be Linda Stender’s assistant. That’s $110,000 for fund raiser employees that haven’t raised one dollar to date.
Isn’t having an assemblywoman and a mother-in-law, who is a relative of Senator Raymond Lesniak, on the payroll @ $110,00 plus benefits a bit nefarious? Who are they going to fund raise from? Vendors another form of pay-to-lay and political shenanigans? Something not covered by ELEC laws?
Willie Sutton is one of the most infamous criminals of the 20th Century, best known for daring robberies in the 1920s and 1930s and as a master of disguise. When asked why he robbed banks, Sutton quickly responded, "Because that's where the money is."
Tina Renna: Resolution 2006-568 was regarding increasing some liability insurance.
With all of the recent employee law suits stemming from nepotism and harassment costing millions of dollars in the last few years – especially the Finelli case which the legal fees along will be about 2.5 million dollars - I asked if they could take note of my question and write a letter back informing me of how exactly liability insurance works. The county had to sue their insurance companies in order to have some coverage of the Fanelli suit because it wasn’t reported properly. How much does a 4 million dollar legal settlement actually cost the taxpayers? Is it like car insurance? If you total your car does your insurance premium go up – like getting points on your license? Etc.
(I eagerly await their response. But will not hold my breath.)
Frank Prather of Vauxhall: He said everyone in Union County received this newspaper – in which he held up the UC Directions – and Freeholder Mirabella eagerly answered that question with a resounding yes. Prather then told the board that no-one in Vauxhall received it – in which Mirabella looked concerned and made note of that complaint and will look into it immediately.
Prather than mentioned the Battle of Springfield and that Vauxhall was involved in that battle and would like to see a sign erected honoring the people of color who sacrificed and fought in that war. Freeholder Holmes mumbled something about it and Freeholder Debra Scanlon, who is from Union, had absolutely nothing to say.
There was much more. I didn’t plan on covering this meeting……I just wanted to document that citizens took the time to come out and denounce actions of a governing body that is out of control and the major media – The Star-Ledger wasn’t there and worse – they ran a propaganda piece for the government.
Dear Freeholder Holmes:
I will pick up brochures outlining the First Amendment when next I visit the NJACLU and will pass them on to the board for reference. In light of the fact that there is a resident, Toy Ling Washington of Hillside, who is alleging she is being harassed by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office because of her political efforts against the Democrat machine there…and In light of the fact that an ex-girlfriend of Assemblyman Joseph Cryan was arrested using 19 officers from the Prosecutor’s Office for the crime of putting a note in his car……I find your threats to be credible. I am perfectly aware that the County of Union, with your absolute power and infinite connections in the State of New Jersey can do just about anything you’d like to a citizen who dares speak out against you.
Bring it Chester. You’re not shutting me up. We have soldiers sacrificing their lives to bring democracy to the Middle East. I am proud to join them, in this very small way, to ensure New Jersey remains free from tyranny.
Sincerely,
Tina M. Renna
President
Union County Watchdog Association, Inc.
www.unioncountywatchdog.org
cc:
US Attorney General's Office
NJ Attorney General's Office
NJ American Civil Liberties Union
The County of Union passed a whopping budget last night. There were reporters from 2 weekly newspapers there and they won’t report on this until next Thursday. The Star-Ledger was not only absent, but today they ran what was obviously a statement from the county’s Public Information office which was inaccurate and misleading. It should have had the disclaimer above it THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT PIAD FOR BY THE UNION COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE.
There were about ten residents that spoke on the budget and items on the agenda. I believe that is a record number. Needless to say, none were happy about it. I will attempt to document it here. I didn’t plan on covering this meeting so I did not take notes. If you would like to correct me and add to this record please send the info and I will update this blog. In light of the Star-Ledger’s outrageous disregard for the enlightenment of their readership I felt I needed to try, and will do my best to give a voice to the citizens that took the time to come out and denounce actions of a governing body that is out of control, and the major media – The Star-Ledger wasn’t there and worse – they ran a propaganda piece for the government. Too bad the Ledger doesn’t have meetings where the public can tell them off. I’d gladly get arrested for crossing the line there.
Elizabeth Cox of Summit:
She had read through the county employee list on the Union County Watchdog Associations website and found many instances where the county was not following civil servant’s rules. There were employees making more money than employees who had a higher title. When the freeholders next give themselves a raise they should consider these hard working employees.
Tina Renna:
The Union County Watchdog Association came up with a top 10 list of things taxpayers can do without. The county public information department complained to editors that our claim that you spent over 7-million dollars on phone services in 2005 was inaccurate. D’Elia’s number – which I didn’t see any documentation for – was more like 1-million dollars.
At first I thought it was the usual PI Department strategy to discredit me. Tina Renna get’s her numbers wrong bashing – but then I thought better of it. I realized that we had put a considerable amount of time and energy into this research, which was conducted by using the 2005 check registry, and it is quite possible that you have no clue that you spent 7-million dollars on phone services in 2005 spread over 18 vendors. It will be a priority for the Watchdog Association to analyze your purchasing habits this year and we will of course share all our findings with the public.
I find it absurd that the public has to purchase your Audit, which will cost about $40.00. To claim that this document is not available digitally is a lie. If you don’t have it digitally it is because you are requesting that your auditor not give it to you in that form so you don’t have to release it that way. I would encourage you to put this information on your website like many open government bodies do today and demand that your auditing firm produce this document in electronic form. If they don’t you can simply scan it as the Union County Watchdog Association is going to do it for you. We will purchase your audit, scan it and put in on our website along with your minutes, budget, and vouchers because people need to keep an eye on you. We can no longer afford your back room politics.
Bruce Paterson spoke: Bruce brought up the fact that Senator Raymond Lesniak used the word Corrupt in his article referring to another governing body in the taxpayer funded newsletter “The Union County Directions”. He also reminded the board that they used similar disrespectful language in their last publication in relation to the President of the United States of America. Mr. Paterson asked the board to reconsider their rules for conduct during their own meeting as whenever he referred to the board being corrupt they gavel him and threaten him with removal. This is clearly a double standard.
Pat Quatrocci of Garwood spoke: Part one:
I intend to make this short. To say I was disappointed with this budget would be an understatement. Being well aware that the boards hands are tied when it comes to certain increases which are just facts of life and agreeably make up a large part of the increased tax levy on the residents, I still fail to see how this budget can go forward to approval.
In my own way, I have been urging the board for the last 3 years to reign in frivolous spending, though some items may on first blush appear to be minor in nature when taken in full context they cumulatively become 10’s of thousands of dollars. Even a novice reviewing the paid bills could detect many areas that they would nip, tuck and consolidate.
I ardently believe that the best interests of the hard working residents of Union County will not be well served by this budget and request that you return to the drawing board revaluate it, and make some cuts. So I ask that this evening you vote No on the budget.
Comments on anything:
As I am sure you recall a couple of weeks ago I asked that this board to take a position on the governors proposed tax increases, including the sales tax increase, I have to say that again I was not disappointed as this board did exactly as I had expected, Nothing. I honestly don't know why I expected more for the hard working taxpayers of Union County.
Chairman Mirabella’s reply as I walked away from the podium:
" Hey Pat,.... I thought you were running for freeholder NOT Governor!"
A man from Roselle Park spoke: On the budget
A woman from Plainfield spoke: On the dilapidated condition of a county park their
Mayor Diorio of Roselle Park: Asked the board to study a heavily trafficked street which was a public safety concern.
A woman from Roselle Park: Asked the board the same.
(I myself live on Walnut Avenue in Cranford and know that residents have had the same safety concerns and have spoken with – and perhaps met – with freeholder B.J. Kowalski on this – Kowalski did not mention the Cranford concerns during last nights meeting which leads me to believe she could care less about Walnut Avenue and the people who contacted her wasted their time.)
Tina Renna: I mentioned earlier that the UCWA released a top 10 list and I don’t have time to mention the entire list but I would like to bring up county nepotism. The Union County Watchdog Association inputted all Democrat municipal chairs and Democrat elected officials and blended it in with the Union County Employee list in which showed that 542 county employees have the same surnames of elected democrat officials. We can’t say for sure that your all related but we can say we have no idea of knowing how many people are on their that don’t share the same surname such as in-laws and cousins – gumadas(sp) (At this point I was told I was crossing the line – meaning I was being disrespectful and could be stopped – even forcibly from speaking – Apparently you can talk about their mother-in-laws and cousins on the payroll but leave their gumadas out of it – they don’t want you picking on them) Employees are making a lot more money today than they were just 5 years ago. And this is an embarrassment to the taxpayers as is this taxpayer funded newsletter. ELEC complaints last year, that are still pending, didn’t keep you from using tax dollars for your campaigning. Although I will admit I enjoyed this one very much especially Senator Raymond lesniak’s piece in which he rants "There must be nepotism policies put in place in the Elizabeth Board of Ed Immediately!!!"
This paper’s finances go through the Union County Alliance which claims it is exempt from the OPRA. We are challenging that with the State’s Government records counsel. The public needs to know if politicians relatives are making money off of this publication that is funded by tax dollars. For instance, I have print bills which show while Assemblywoman Linda Stender was a sitting freeholder her husbands print shop was given this job and overcharged $20,000 more than the next lowest bidder. She did this 2 times. With the fiances going through the Alliance the public has no idea who is getting their money - it’s the perfect crime.
I see Stender changed her title about the same time she announced her run for Congress – She no longer gets paid to supervise volunteers who are selflessly working for free. She is now the fund Raiser and Foundation Director – a new position @ $70,000.
During the budget hearings it was announced that Runnells will be running a ½ million in the red this year. Yet that didn’t keep you from putting the county manager’s mother-in-law on the payroll. She makes $40,000 to be Linda Stender’s assistant. That’s $110,000 for fund raiser employees that haven’t raised one dollar to date.
Isn’t having an assemblywoman and a mother-in-law, who is a relative of Senator Raymond Lesniak, on the payroll @ $110,00 plus benefits a bit nefarious? Who are they going to fund raise from? Vendors another form of pay-to-lay and political shenanigans? Something not covered by ELEC laws?
Willie Sutton is one of the most infamous criminals of the 20th Century, best known for daring robberies in the 1920s and 1930s and as a master of disguise. When asked why he robbed banks, Sutton quickly responded, "Because that's where the money is."
Tina Renna: Resolution 2006-568 was regarding increasing some liability insurance.
With all of the recent employee law suits stemming from nepotism and harassment costing millions of dollars in the last few years – especially the Finelli case which the legal fees along will be about 2.5 million dollars - I asked if they could take note of my question and write a letter back informing me of how exactly liability insurance works. The county had to sue their insurance companies in order to have some coverage of the Fanelli suit because it wasn’t reported properly. How much does a 4 million dollar legal settlement actually cost the taxpayers? Is it like car insurance? If you total your car does your insurance premium go up – like getting points on your license? Etc.
(I eagerly await their response. But will not hold my breath.)
Frank Prather of Vauxhall: He said everyone in Union County received this newspaper – in which he held up the UC Directions – and Freeholder Mirabella eagerly answered that question with a resounding yes. Prather then told the board that no-one in Vauxhall received it – in which Mirabella looked concerned and made note of that complaint and will look into it immediately.
Prather than mentioned the Battle of Springfield and that Vauxhall was involved in that battle and would like to see a sign erected honoring the people of color who sacrificed and fought in that war. Freeholder Holmes mumbled something about it and Freeholder Debra Scanlon, who is from Union, had absolutely nothing to say.
There was much more. I didn’t plan on covering this meeting……I just wanted to document that citizens took the time to come out and denounce actions of a governing body that is out of control and the major media – The Star-Ledger wasn’t there and worse – they ran a propaganda piece for the government.
June 05, 2006
Read this closely and you'll hear slap happy polka music playing
The Union County Directions ‘Newsletter’ hit the mailboxes just in time for the Primary Election Day which is tomorrow. It’s the usual promotion of freeholders who are up for re-election on line B with a comic section on page 3 featuring Senator Raymond Lesniak ranting against the Elizabeth Board of Education. The one budget in Elizabeth that he doesn't have his greedy fingers on. While reading his article I could have sworn I heard Polka music being played on an accordion.
What makes Lesniak an authority on this subject I suppose is the fact that Lesniak was recently appointed by Senate President Richard Codey to serve on the Legislature’s Joint Committee of the Public Schools. It was just last year that the county of Union under the direction of Lesniak’s nephew, the appointed county manager, hired Richard Codey’s brother and padded his pension quite nicely.
Lesniak leads off his moral tirade, which is humorous considering the author and his partners in politics including a very close relationship with James McGreevey who is quite possibly the most corrupt and unethical governor in New Jersey history, by telling us ……“Willie Sutton being one of the most infamous criminals of the 20th Century, best known for daring robberies in the 1920’s and 1930’s and as a master of disguise. When asked why the robbed banks, Sutton quickly responded, “Because that’s where the money is.” The State of New Jersey today needs to curtail waste and mismanagement of its resources and the place to start is where most of the money goes – to fund public education.”
I’ve noticed this trend in New Jersey. It’s a public relations theme that’s been picked up from the cooked up need for a property tax convention. The unsavory political types insist a convention is the only way to curtail property taxes because the schools are out of control. Not the municipalities – which Democrats run most of in New Jersey, and not the County of Union which is the true New Jersey poster child for waste and mismanagement – and corruption - where Senator Lesniak’s nephew is the appointed county manager and all 9 freeholders are hand picked by Lesniak and Charlotte DeFalippo - who is also on the Union County Payroll with a salary of $132,910.
Lesniak goes on to rant about …..
1) School board members having relative(s) hired by the Board after they were elected.
542 Union County Employees have the same surnames as elected Democrat Officials. There is even a Lesniak on the list. We can't say for sure that all of these people are releated but we can say we have no way of knowing how many in-laws and cousins - people who have different surnames than elected officials are on the payroll. And just recently a Union County Employee, who was supported by the Lesniak Democrat machine, was elected to the Elizabeth School Board.
2) New Superintendent of schools permits his confidential secretary, and other employees to work on fundraising activities during school work hours, using school equipment and facilities, for the election campaign of Board members.
I guess nobody told Uncle Ray that the Union County Directions newsletter, the very paper he is photographed in along with this article, was produced by the county Public Information Department right down the hall from his nephew, the Union County Manager’s, office and that the postage and printing is paid for with tax dollars.
Lesniak goes on to state that nepotism policies must be made mandatory in Elizabeth schools. He’s concerned with school children being shortchanged by board members who look out for themselves and not for them.
Now can you hear that Slap Happy Polka music playing?
Also on the county payroll along with his nephew being the appointed Union County Manager, is an Alec Lesniak; the county manager’s mother-in-law who is Assemblywoman Linda Stender’s assistant; the county manager’s wife, who used to work in Senator Raymond Lesniak's Legislative office, recently left county employee for public employment in the town of Berkeley Heights; the county manager’s ex-wife and his mother (Lesniak’s sister) are on the Kean University Payroll; and there are two other nephews who are the county manager’s brothers also on public payrolls.
What Lesniak doesn’t tell every postal patron that received this publication, which was paid for with tax dollars, is that he himself made his fortune by billing poor school districts for legal work. In January 2006, according to then Hillside Board Member Sergio Bichao, “three years ago Mr. Lesniak’s firm billed our school board three times as much as was spent on legal fees prior to hiring him and after we fired him when I won a seat on the board.”
Lesniak is so concerned about the ‘poor’ school children why doesn’t he offer his services to poor districts pro bono instead of over billing them and getting rich?
Here are highlights of a New York Times article published in January 2006, about Lesniak who blasphemously calls himself a born again Christian:
Days before his announcement, Mr. McGreevey sought out Senator Lesniak and confided that he was gay - an admission the governor made to the senator even before he told his wife, Mr. Lesniak later recalled. And it was the counsel of Mr. Lesniak, a born-again Christian and a friend from Mr. McGreevey's days as the mayor of Woodbridge, upon which the governor relied while weighing whether to leave office....
In many instances, the contracts awarded to Mr. Lesniak's firm came after the senator or his allies offered campaign contributions or other political support to local officials who decide who will get the work, a fact that Mr. Lesniak acknowledges...
"I don't deny that," Mr. Lesniak said of connections between his support and contracts for his firm. "People say, 'You raise money for people who get elected and then they hire your law firm.' I go, 'Shocking, isn't it?' Are you supposed to hire people who donated to your opponent?"
By Mr. Lesniak's estimates, government work accounted for as much as a quarter of his firm's business in recent years. Currently, he said, it accounts for about 10 percent...
During the 1990's, when Mr. McGreevey was the mayor of Woodbridge, Weiner Lesniak collected more than $5 million in fees from the municipality. At the same time, the firm contributed about $41,800 to Mr. McGreevey's campaigns, according to public records....
"I operate within the law totally and exclusively," he said. "But I'm not going to unilaterally disarm myself or the people that I support."
A bachelor bon vivant who dispenses advice with the enthusiasm of a self-help guru, Mr. Lesniak, 59, cuts a distinctive figure in the Senate, with his gravelly baritone and his eagerness to seize the spotlight....
After leaving the Army in the late 1960's, he played accordion in a polka band, Jolly Rich and the Polka Stars, to help pay his way through Rutgers.
A framed copy of one of their albums, "Polkas With a Kick," is on a wall in his office. "Can you pick me out?" he asked, pointing to a band photo on the back cover. "It isn't easy." As if trying to read a born-again, polka-playing political boss would be.
* * *
May 31, 2006
Top 10 list of things taxpayers can do without
On June 8 the Union County freeholders will be adopting a budget which will once again raise property taxes without quitting spending more money. In the past freeholders have ominously threatened “If you want us to cut spending, then tell us where we should cut, senior services, safety services?”
Here’s the Union County Watchdog Association’s top 10 list of things freeholders can cut in 2006 and residents won’t miss a bit.
1) Pay to play – adopt a resolution banning it
Countless dollars could be saved if ‘extraordinary and unspecifiable service contracts’ were sent out to bid instead of being given to campaign contributors.
2) Pension padding – adopt a resolution banning it
In 2005 the county hired Gov. Richard Codey’s brother. Although they could have had Robert Codey for free with the state picking up his salary, Union County supplemented his pay by $46,731 putting his total salary at $140,000. This boosted his pension to about $33,000 dollars more than what he would have been eligible for had he retired a year earlier. After working a short time in the prosecutor’s office, Codey retired at the age of 55 with an annual pension of $98,000, automatic annual cost of living adjustments and health insurance throughout his retirement.
3) County vehicles – sell them.
There are approximately 163 employees with 24-hour car privileges with gas, insurance and maintenance provided by taxpayers. There are very few county employees that need a car to get them to work in an emergency. The county manager isn’t one of them. George Devanney is not certified in any emergency management techniques. There is no good reason why he and most other county workers can't drive their own vehicles to and from work, during lunch time and especially after hours.
4) Gas pumps – close them
The county spent approximately $182,000 on gas in 2005. The county claim’s that there is no paper trail for a citizen to inquire about employee’s individual gas consumption. With taxpayers paying about $3.00 a gallon for their own gas, the county needs to adopt a system where gas fill-ups can be accounted for - or better yet - stop the perk.
5) Blackberry’s
Most executives in major corporations aren’t given blackberry’s at company expense. In 2005 the taxpayers paid $61,656.42 for county ‘public servants’ to have this gadget.
6) Cell Phones and Pagers – hang them up
In 2005 over 7-million tax dollars were spent on Union County phone services. Divide that by 2,981 county employees and it comes to $2,349.86 per employee. Privileges are clearly being abused with $249,346.92 being spent for employee cell phones and $25,578.00 on pagers.
7) Home Internet Service – unplug it
In 2005 $60,469.11 was spent on internet service. Many county employees have their home internet service paid for by the taxpayers.
8) Creative consulting services
The county has been awarding the same $72,000 annual contract for creative consulting services for at least nine years, as well as paid millions of dollars for the actual work which was produced in the form of marketing pieces and commercials which are released mostly during the campaign season (see #9). MediaSquared, Inc. also does work for the Union County Democratic Committee for freeholder campaigns. We have to wonder if the freeholders are getting their campaign work produced at a reduced fee by this firm because the taxpayers are paying them $6,000 a month for undocumented consulting work.
9) Mailings and commercials at election time
Freeholders spent over $375,000 on mailings and commercials in 2005. Most featured freeholders who were up for reelection and resulted in ELEC complaints which are still pending. As if this wasn’t humiliation enough for taxpayers the freeholders continued this practice into 2006.
10) Raises & nepotism & cronyism – oh my!
In 2000, 868 employees made over $50,000. Today that number has almost doubled to 1,530 employees. In 2000, 29 employees made over $100,000. Today that number has almost tripled to 74. We find it to be no small coincidence that there are 542 employees who have the same surnames as elected Democrat officials. We can’t say for sure that all these people are related, but we can say for sure that we have no way of knowing how many cousins, in-laws, etc. with different surnames are on the payroll. An example of this is the appointed county manager, George Devanney. He is the nephew of State Senator Raymond Lesniak. Devanney’s mother-in-law is on the county payroll. All three have different surnames.
Here’s the Union County Watchdog Association’s top 10 list of things freeholders can cut in 2006 and residents won’t miss a bit.
1) Pay to play – adopt a resolution banning it
Countless dollars could be saved if ‘extraordinary and unspecifiable service contracts’ were sent out to bid instead of being given to campaign contributors.
2) Pension padding – adopt a resolution banning it
In 2005 the county hired Gov. Richard Codey’s brother. Although they could have had Robert Codey for free with the state picking up his salary, Union County supplemented his pay by $46,731 putting his total salary at $140,000. This boosted his pension to about $33,000 dollars more than what he would have been eligible for had he retired a year earlier. After working a short time in the prosecutor’s office, Codey retired at the age of 55 with an annual pension of $98,000, automatic annual cost of living adjustments and health insurance throughout his retirement.
3) County vehicles – sell them.
There are approximately 163 employees with 24-hour car privileges with gas, insurance and maintenance provided by taxpayers. There are very few county employees that need a car to get them to work in an emergency. The county manager isn’t one of them. George Devanney is not certified in any emergency management techniques. There is no good reason why he and most other county workers can't drive their own vehicles to and from work, during lunch time and especially after hours.
4) Gas pumps – close them
The county spent approximately $182,000 on gas in 2005. The county claim’s that there is no paper trail for a citizen to inquire about employee’s individual gas consumption. With taxpayers paying about $3.00 a gallon for their own gas, the county needs to adopt a system where gas fill-ups can be accounted for - or better yet - stop the perk.
5) Blackberry’s
Most executives in major corporations aren’t given blackberry’s at company expense. In 2005 the taxpayers paid $61,656.42 for county ‘public servants’ to have this gadget.
6) Cell Phones and Pagers – hang them up
In 2005 over 7-million tax dollars were spent on Union County phone services. Divide that by 2,981 county employees and it comes to $2,349.86 per employee. Privileges are clearly being abused with $249,346.92 being spent for employee cell phones and $25,578.00 on pagers.
7) Home Internet Service – unplug it
In 2005 $60,469.11 was spent on internet service. Many county employees have their home internet service paid for by the taxpayers.
8) Creative consulting services
The county has been awarding the same $72,000 annual contract for creative consulting services for at least nine years, as well as paid millions of dollars for the actual work which was produced in the form of marketing pieces and commercials which are released mostly during the campaign season (see #9). MediaSquared, Inc. also does work for the Union County Democratic Committee for freeholder campaigns. We have to wonder if the freeholders are getting their campaign work produced at a reduced fee by this firm because the taxpayers are paying them $6,000 a month for undocumented consulting work.
9) Mailings and commercials at election time
Freeholders spent over $375,000 on mailings and commercials in 2005. Most featured freeholders who were up for reelection and resulted in ELEC complaints which are still pending. As if this wasn’t humiliation enough for taxpayers the freeholders continued this practice into 2006.
10) Raises & nepotism & cronyism – oh my!
In 2000, 868 employees made over $50,000. Today that number has almost doubled to 1,530 employees. In 2000, 29 employees made over $100,000. Today that number has almost tripled to 74. We find it to be no small coincidence that there are 542 employees who have the same surnames as elected Democrat officials. We can’t say for sure that all these people are related, but we can say for sure that we have no way of knowing how many cousins, in-laws, etc. with different surnames are on the payroll. An example of this is the appointed county manager, George Devanney. He is the nephew of State Senator Raymond Lesniak. Devanney’s mother-in-law is on the county payroll. All three have different surnames.
May 27, 2006
“Walk the Walk and not just Talk the Talk”
The Number 1 issue in last years gubernatorial campaign was property taxes, and according to the director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute the lack of any forth coming relief is a key factor in our governor’s slumping approval ratings. It seems that eighty-four percent of voters polled said that property tax reform proposals during last year’s campaign season proved to be “more talk than action.”
New Jersey residents have been pushed to the limit of their pocketbook’s endurance and in some cases are considering selling their homes and moving out of state to escape the highest property taxes in the county.
Though I try not to give too much credence to polls, there was one earlier this year that bears paying attention to. A Quinnipiac University poll’s results released in January of this year showed that some 92 percent of New Jersey voters say that state is facing a serious budget problem this year and a majority say they would rather cut services than raise taxes to reduce the projected budget deficit. It would seem that folks would rather be able to stay in the old homestead with less help and interference from government, this makes sense, but is anybody listening?
Here in Union County our Board Chosen of Freeholders is getting ready to approve this year’s budget of over $410 million, which will increase the tax levy on real estate owned by the residents to 50% since the year 2000. I came to the realization reviewing county spending over the years that part of the problem is that county government is attempting to be all things to all people. What has gotten lost somewhere along the line is the purpose that county government is meant to serve, and that is to ensure the health, welfare and safety of the residents.
Somehow they have managed to insinuate themselves into our lives in areas that quite honestly they do not need to be and we are paying for it dearly.
A starting point to manage revenues would be to seriously consider Zero Based Budgeting, a system that simply provides for necessary services first and the frills later, much like one would do at home. Providing a means to see where the money is actually going would probably be an eye opener to those who insist that there is no wasteful spending on the part of county government. For example, telecommunications has been brought to light this week as the Freeholders enter into an agreement to provide internet service between county offices via a fiber optic network. I can only hope that this maneuver will save some money as the total cost of telecommunications to include cell phones, pagers, Blackberrys and telephone service was over $7 million in 2005, or an average of $2,349 per employee. Looks like someone went over their minutes.
I challenge the tax payers to look around and think hard about just what do they get from a county government which spends over $1million dollars a day? Where does all the money go? Your tax dollars are being wasted on high salaries for administrators, that there are too many chiefs getting cars, cell phones and Blackberrys and that is taking away from fulfilling the needs of the residents such as making much needed and timely repairs to county roads, thus ensuring your safety. It is time that these Freeholders start to “walk the walk and not just talk the talk”.
New Jersey residents have been pushed to the limit of their pocketbook’s endurance and in some cases are considering selling their homes and moving out of state to escape the highest property taxes in the county.
Though I try not to give too much credence to polls, there was one earlier this year that bears paying attention to. A Quinnipiac University poll’s results released in January of this year showed that some 92 percent of New Jersey voters say that state is facing a serious budget problem this year and a majority say they would rather cut services than raise taxes to reduce the projected budget deficit. It would seem that folks would rather be able to stay in the old homestead with less help and interference from government, this makes sense, but is anybody listening?
Here in Union County our Board Chosen of Freeholders is getting ready to approve this year’s budget of over $410 million, which will increase the tax levy on real estate owned by the residents to 50% since the year 2000. I came to the realization reviewing county spending over the years that part of the problem is that county government is attempting to be all things to all people. What has gotten lost somewhere along the line is the purpose that county government is meant to serve, and that is to ensure the health, welfare and safety of the residents.
Somehow they have managed to insinuate themselves into our lives in areas that quite honestly they do not need to be and we are paying for it dearly.
A starting point to manage revenues would be to seriously consider Zero Based Budgeting, a system that simply provides for necessary services first and the frills later, much like one would do at home. Providing a means to see where the money is actually going would probably be an eye opener to those who insist that there is no wasteful spending on the part of county government. For example, telecommunications has been brought to light this week as the Freeholders enter into an agreement to provide internet service between county offices via a fiber optic network. I can only hope that this maneuver will save some money as the total cost of telecommunications to include cell phones, pagers, Blackberrys and telephone service was over $7 million in 2005, or an average of $2,349 per employee. Looks like someone went over their minutes.
I challenge the tax payers to look around and think hard about just what do they get from a county government which spends over $1million dollars a day? Where does all the money go? Your tax dollars are being wasted on high salaries for administrators, that there are too many chiefs getting cars, cell phones and Blackberrys and that is taking away from fulfilling the needs of the residents such as making much needed and timely repairs to county roads, thus ensuring your safety. It is time that these Freeholders start to “walk the walk and not just talk the talk”.
May 25, 2006
Everyone and their mothers'-in-law are on the county payroll
Rubbing the nepotism in our faces
During the Union County budget hearings recently it was announced that county run Runnells Specialized Hospital is expected to run a half million dollars in the red this year. This didn’t keep the all-Democrat controlled freeholder board from adding the county manager’s mother-in-law to the Runnells payroll with a salary of $40,430 in the new year.
Glenna Bowen is the new Assistant to the Foundation Director. Assemblywoman Linda Stender is the Foundation Director with a salary of $72,858 up from $66,083 in 2005 when her title was Director of Volunteer Services. Stender is now running for Congress where as I’d presume getting paid to supervise people who are working for free doesn’t look as good on the campaign trail as being a Foundation Director.
Tina Renna
President
Union County Watchdog Association, Inc.
http://www.unioncountynj.org/news/0604easter.htm
2006
Bowen
Glenna
Clerk/ Asst To Foundation Director
40,430
HOSPITAL
Stender
Linda
Fund Raiser / Foundation Dir
72,858
HOSPITAL
2005
Press release totals as of May 1, 2006: Mirabella, Scanlon and Holmes are up for reelection.
Number of Releases; Number of Photo Captions
Mirabella: 5; 33
Scanlon: 1: 23
Holmes: 4; 18
Proctor: 2; 1
Devanney: 3; 0
Kowalski: 25; 26
Froelich: 1; 12
Rajoppi: 2; 1
Lacort: 0; 1
Estrada: 2; 4
Sullivan: 1; 3
Map: 0; 3
Ward: 0; 5
Stender: 0; 1
Press release totals as of October 1, 2005: Freeholders Proctor, Estrada, Ward and
County Clerk Rajoppi are up for reelection.
Number of Releases; Number of Photo Captions
Rojappi: 47; 21
Proctor: 69; 38
Estrada: 7; 29
Ward: 6; 20
Sullivan: 15; 8
Mirabella: 14; 28
Mapp: 9; 4
Holmes: 16; 23
Scanlon: 3; 14
Kowalski: 31; 39
Devanney: 1
During the Union County budget hearings recently it was announced that county run Runnells Specialized Hospital is expected to run a half million dollars in the red this year. This didn’t keep the all-Democrat controlled freeholder board from adding the county manager’s mother-in-law to the Runnells payroll with a salary of $40,430 in the new year.
Glenna Bowen is the new Assistant to the Foundation Director. Assemblywoman Linda Stender is the Foundation Director with a salary of $72,858 up from $66,083 in 2005 when her title was Director of Volunteer Services. Stender is now running for Congress where as I’d presume getting paid to supervise people who are working for free doesn’t look as good on the campaign trail as being a Foundation Director.
Tina Renna
President
Union County Watchdog Association, Inc.
http://www.unioncountynj.org/news/0604easter.htm
2006
Bowen
Glenna
Clerk/ Asst To Foundation Director
40,430
HOSPITAL
Stender
Linda
Fund Raiser / Foundation Dir
72,858
HOSPITAL
2005
Press release totals as of May 1, 2006: Mirabella, Scanlon and Holmes are up for reelection.
Number of Releases; Number of Photo Captions
Mirabella: 5; 33
Scanlon: 1: 23
Holmes: 4; 18
Proctor: 2; 1
Devanney: 3; 0
Kowalski: 25; 26
Froelich: 1; 12
Rajoppi: 2; 1
Lacort: 0; 1
Estrada: 2; 4
Sullivan: 1; 3
Map: 0; 3
Ward: 0; 5
Stender: 0; 1
Press release totals as of October 1, 2005: Freeholders Proctor, Estrada, Ward and
County Clerk Rajoppi are up for reelection.
Number of Releases; Number of Photo Captions
Rojappi: 47; 21
Proctor: 69; 38
Estrada: 7; 29
Ward: 6; 20
Sullivan: 15; 8
Mirabella: 14; 28
Mapp: 9; 4
Holmes: 16; 23
Scanlon: 3; 14
Kowalski: 31; 39
Devanney: 1
May 21, 2006
$100 Million Dollar Man
During a pre Election Day interview with the Westfield Leader in October of 2000, then UC Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella was quoted as saying “We are looking at ways to control the budget and keep costs down.” At that time the County budget was a tad over $300 million. Within the next few weeks the UC Board of Chosen Freeholders is expected to approve a budget which is a tad over $400 million. Freeholder Mirabella, now Chairman of the board, can truly be referred to as Union County’s very own “$100 Million Dollar Man”.
Taxes increased 50% since Y2K
The all Democratic Freeholder board will argue that under their guidance taxes have not increased 50% since the year 2000, for anyone can see that the budget has increased only 33.3%. Well let’s get real here, there is a difference between the words taxes and budget and herein lies the truth. County government arrives at a figure that they say is necessary to run the county, which includes payroll (this year making up a whooping 39% of the budget), insurance, building maintenance costs, debt service (loan payments), county cars, utilities, concerts in the park etc, etc.
The issue now becomes, “How are we going to pay for all of this?”
The answer is anticipated revenues which is made up of monies the county takes in through fees charged to use the parks or play a round of golf, grant monies received from the state and federal governments, income from investments and of course the tax levied on real estate appearing on the back of your tax bill and paid through your municipality. The county will also throw in some of its own money that it has sitting around in the surplus, which is by the way rapidly dwindling.
In the year 2000 after evaluating the anticipated revenues versus the proposed spending it was determined that the tax payers would have to kick-in $151 million thru the tax levy. Now, in 2006 it has been determined that the tax levied directly on the residents must be $226.6 million, an increase of $75.6 million clearly a 50% increase over 2000.
"Fun with numbers"
The figures do not lie; county taxes have increased 50% in 6 years. The Freeholders can have fun with numbers and spin the story all they want but 50% is still 50% and 50% in 6 years is unacceptable.
When comparing the 2005 budget to the 2006 budget nothing has changed, they appear to have started with what was spent last year and just added on more, than put out a press release in January that there would be cuts and every department would have to reduce expenditures.
WELL?????
Well, what happened? What was cut? Where is the belt tightening? We have been waiting since the year 2000 for the Board of Freeholders to control the budget and keep costs down, they have failed miserably.
It is time for the residents of Union County to send a message to the “$100 Million Dollar Man” that they do not have “Bionic” wallets.
Taxes increased 50% since Y2K
The all Democratic Freeholder board will argue that under their guidance taxes have not increased 50% since the year 2000, for anyone can see that the budget has increased only 33.3%. Well let’s get real here, there is a difference between the words taxes and budget and herein lies the truth. County government arrives at a figure that they say is necessary to run the county, which includes payroll (this year making up a whooping 39% of the budget), insurance, building maintenance costs, debt service (loan payments), county cars, utilities, concerts in the park etc, etc.
The issue now becomes, “How are we going to pay for all of this?”
The answer is anticipated revenues which is made up of monies the county takes in through fees charged to use the parks or play a round of golf, grant monies received from the state and federal governments, income from investments and of course the tax levied on real estate appearing on the back of your tax bill and paid through your municipality. The county will also throw in some of its own money that it has sitting around in the surplus, which is by the way rapidly dwindling.
In the year 2000 after evaluating the anticipated revenues versus the proposed spending it was determined that the tax payers would have to kick-in $151 million thru the tax levy. Now, in 2006 it has been determined that the tax levied directly on the residents must be $226.6 million, an increase of $75.6 million clearly a 50% increase over 2000.
"Fun with numbers"
The figures do not lie; county taxes have increased 50% in 6 years. The Freeholders can have fun with numbers and spin the story all they want but 50% is still 50% and 50% in 6 years is unacceptable.
When comparing the 2005 budget to the 2006 budget nothing has changed, they appear to have started with what was spent last year and just added on more, than put out a press release in January that there would be cuts and every department would have to reduce expenditures.
WELL?????
Well, what happened? What was cut? Where is the belt tightening? We have been waiting since the year 2000 for the Board of Freeholders to control the budget and keep costs down, they have failed miserably.
It is time for the residents of Union County to send a message to the “$100 Million Dollar Man” that they do not have “Bionic” wallets.
May 20, 2006
County employee harassment will cost upwards of 2.5 million $$
A law suit against the County of Union which was brought by a former decorated Union County sheriff’s officer is about to be settled. The legal bills alone, stemming from this arrogant and petty case of employee harassment, will cost a total of $2,463,753.82.
Virginia Fanelli's lawyer is applying for $,1523,452.34 ($1,487,078.80 for fees and $36,373.54 in cost and disbursements). The county will be paying her $1,340,000 ($500K now an $70K a year for 7 years, subject to reduction if she gets disability) PLUS $6K a year for her individual health care until plaintiff is eligible for retirement health coverage or other group health insurance.
As for the County's legal fees – We’ll wait a few months for all the bills to be submitted and then we’ll get the adding machine tape out! All the usual gang of county pay to play attorney’s made out big time. To view preliminary settlement document click here. To view county resolutions pertaining to this case click here.
Fanelli's suit was tied to one brought by sheriff's officer James MacDonald. This suit was settled in 2001 for $70,000. The county attorney’s fees alone for this were approximately $128,000. The Union County Watchdog Association has filed several OPRA requests and is waiting for documents that will show MacDonald’s legal fees and settlement.
The county sued their insurance company because they refused to cover this claim. Apparently the county didn’t report it properly. The UCWA is also waiting for documents that would show the attorney’s fees stemming from what appears to have been a pathetic attempt at a cover-up.
.
The county managed to keep this out of the press since 2001, since then the legal bill meter has been tick, tick, ticking out of the public view….Maybe, just maybe, if the media had kept some light on this the county would have stopped harassing Fanelli and settled this case before the legal bills mounted to over (3) THREE MILLION DOLLARS.
It’s a shame that Fanelli didn’t get a bigger settlement. She deserved that and more for what these arrogant bastards did to her.
Virginia Fanelli is still listed on the county payroll with a salary of $67,700. William Malcolm currently has a salary of $77,960. James MacDonald is no longer employed by the County of Union. Sheriff Ralph Froehlich, who is the longest serving law enforcement official in the U.S., still enjoys a stellar reputation.
By MARYANN SPOTO
STAR-LEDGER STAFF
December 12, 2001
A highly decorated Union County sheriff's officer who was once considered a rising star in the department is suing five of her bosses over her involvement in a colleague's lawsuit against the office.
Touted by Sheriff Ralph Froehlich as one of his department's outstanding officers, Virginia Fanelli went from the fast track of moving up the ranks to being the victim of a campaign to fire her, according to the lawsuit she filed last month.
Named as defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed in Superior Court in Elizabeth, are Froehlich, Undersheriff William Malcolm Sr., Lt. Anna Buckley and Capts. Vincent DiTrolio and Barry Migliore.
Fanelli, a 14-year veteran of the sheriff's office, claims the effort to oust her was the result of her refusal to back her bosses' allegations against a fellow officer who was accused in 1998 of falsifying an overtime report.
County officials, however, insist their actions against the former detective came from her failure to follow department rules.
Fanelli's suit is tied to one brought by sheriff's officer James MacDonald, who was charged with falsifying a report that showed he was working overtime when he was actually at Fanelli's house in Roselle Park on June 7, 1998.
During the investigation, Fanelli insisted that MacDonald showed up at her house after he had finished his overtime duty. She supplied MacDonald's attorney with a copy of a credit card receipt indicating she was not even home at the time Malcolm alleged MacDonald was visiting her, according to court papers.
According to the lawsuit, DiTrolio told Fanelli not to give the information to MacDonald's attorney. It also claims that DiTrolio, Malcolm, Migliore and Buckley, a good friend of Fanelli's, tried to get her to change her statement. The suit, filed by attorney Bruce P. McMoran of Tinton Falls, alleged that when Fanelli refused, her superiors had employees concoct stories that she was having an affair with MacDonald.
"They pulled out all the stops here," McMoran said. "In our view, they expected her to support the statements they made about MacDonald, and when she didn't do that, they went after her. She knows what the truth was and told them up front from the first day. Nevertheless, they went forward with the action."
According to court papers, Fanelli was barred from going into the administrative area of the sheriff's office. She was demoted from her job as a detective who had worked undercover narcotics investigations to an officer who provided security at the front doors of the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Her service weapon was confiscated and she was ordered to undergo psychological counseling, the court papers said.
Initially, she was charged with conduct unbecoming a public employee, insubordination and neglect of duty for filing a false report. She eventually pleaded guilty to conduct unbecoming and received a 30-day suspension in return for the rest of the charges being dropped. She did not admit to filing a false report.
However, the rest of the charges were not dropped, her attorney said. In July, she was charged with similar offenses. The outcome of her disciplinary hearing is pending. She has been out on medical leave since around October, McMoran said.
Froehlich said there was no campaign to oust her. He said she violated the rules and regulations of his office by failing to inform him that she was providing information to MacDonald's attorney.
"Our rules and regulations specify certain procedures that an officer's supposed to go through," Froehlich said. "She did not do that."
He declined to discuss details of the case, but said he has worked hard to be fair with all his employees.
"I have a reputation with the men and women in uniform and civilians that will withstand any of these allegations," he said. "I do the best I can to see that everyone is treated fairly and impartially."
He initially was named as a defendant in MacDonald's suit but the allegations were dismissed against him. In May, MacDonald accepted a $70,000 settlement after a jury found Malcolm defamed him by bringing those allegations. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ MaryAnn Spoto covers the Union County Courthouse. She can be reached at mspoto@starledger.com or (908) 527- 4011.
Virginia Fanelli's lawyer is applying for $,1523,452.34 ($1,487,078.80 for fees and $36,373.54 in cost and disbursements). The county will be paying her $1,340,000 ($500K now an $70K a year for 7 years, subject to reduction if she gets disability) PLUS $6K a year for her individual health care until plaintiff is eligible for retirement health coverage or other group health insurance.
As for the County's legal fees – We’ll wait a few months for all the bills to be submitted and then we’ll get the adding machine tape out! All the usual gang of county pay to play attorney’s made out big time. To view preliminary settlement document click here. To view county resolutions pertaining to this case click here.
Fanelli's suit was tied to one brought by sheriff's officer James MacDonald. This suit was settled in 2001 for $70,000. The county attorney’s fees alone for this were approximately $128,000. The Union County Watchdog Association has filed several OPRA requests and is waiting for documents that will show MacDonald’s legal fees and settlement.
The county sued their insurance company because they refused to cover this claim. Apparently the county didn’t report it properly. The UCWA is also waiting for documents that would show the attorney’s fees stemming from what appears to have been a pathetic attempt at a cover-up.
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The county managed to keep this out of the press since 2001, since then the legal bill meter has been tick, tick, ticking out of the public view….Maybe, just maybe, if the media had kept some light on this the county would have stopped harassing Fanelli and settled this case before the legal bills mounted to over (3) THREE MILLION DOLLARS.
It’s a shame that Fanelli didn’t get a bigger settlement. She deserved that and more for what these arrogant bastards did to her.
Virginia Fanelli is still listed on the county payroll with a salary of $67,700. William Malcolm currently has a salary of $77,960. James MacDonald is no longer employed by the County of Union. Sheriff Ralph Froehlich, who is the longest serving law enforcement official in the U.S., still enjoys a stellar reputation.
By MARYANN SPOTO
STAR-LEDGER STAFF
December 12, 2001
A highly decorated Union County sheriff's officer who was once considered a rising star in the department is suing five of her bosses over her involvement in a colleague's lawsuit against the office.
Touted by Sheriff Ralph Froehlich as one of his department's outstanding officers, Virginia Fanelli went from the fast track of moving up the ranks to being the victim of a campaign to fire her, according to the lawsuit she filed last month.
Named as defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed in Superior Court in Elizabeth, are Froehlich, Undersheriff William Malcolm Sr., Lt. Anna Buckley and Capts. Vincent DiTrolio and Barry Migliore.
Fanelli, a 14-year veteran of the sheriff's office, claims the effort to oust her was the result of her refusal to back her bosses' allegations against a fellow officer who was accused in 1998 of falsifying an overtime report.
County officials, however, insist their actions against the former detective came from her failure to follow department rules.
Fanelli's suit is tied to one brought by sheriff's officer James MacDonald, who was charged with falsifying a report that showed he was working overtime when he was actually at Fanelli's house in Roselle Park on June 7, 1998.
During the investigation, Fanelli insisted that MacDonald showed up at her house after he had finished his overtime duty. She supplied MacDonald's attorney with a copy of a credit card receipt indicating she was not even home at the time Malcolm alleged MacDonald was visiting her, according to court papers.
According to the lawsuit, DiTrolio told Fanelli not to give the information to MacDonald's attorney. It also claims that DiTrolio, Malcolm, Migliore and Buckley, a good friend of Fanelli's, tried to get her to change her statement. The suit, filed by attorney Bruce P. McMoran of Tinton Falls, alleged that when Fanelli refused, her superiors had employees concoct stories that she was having an affair with MacDonald.
"They pulled out all the stops here," McMoran said. "In our view, they expected her to support the statements they made about MacDonald, and when she didn't do that, they went after her. She knows what the truth was and told them up front from the first day. Nevertheless, they went forward with the action."
According to court papers, Fanelli was barred from going into the administrative area of the sheriff's office. She was demoted from her job as a detective who had worked undercover narcotics investigations to an officer who provided security at the front doors of the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth. Her service weapon was confiscated and she was ordered to undergo psychological counseling, the court papers said.
Initially, she was charged with conduct unbecoming a public employee, insubordination and neglect of duty for filing a false report. She eventually pleaded guilty to conduct unbecoming and received a 30-day suspension in return for the rest of the charges being dropped. She did not admit to filing a false report.
However, the rest of the charges were not dropped, her attorney said. In July, she was charged with similar offenses. The outcome of her disciplinary hearing is pending. She has been out on medical leave since around October, McMoran said.
Froehlich said there was no campaign to oust her. He said she violated the rules and regulations of his office by failing to inform him that she was providing information to MacDonald's attorney.
"Our rules and regulations specify certain procedures that an officer's supposed to go through," Froehlich said. "She did not do that."
He declined to discuss details of the case, but said he has worked hard to be fair with all his employees.
"I have a reputation with the men and women in uniform and civilians that will withstand any of these allegations," he said. "I do the best I can to see that everyone is treated fairly and impartially."
He initially was named as a defendant in MacDonald's suit but the allegations were dismissed against him. In May, MacDonald accepted a $70,000 settlement after a jury found Malcolm defamed him by bringing those allegations. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ MaryAnn Spoto covers the Union County Courthouse. She can be reached at mspoto@starledger.com or (908) 527- 4011.
May 18, 2006
Union County gets another pass in the press
Press coverage this week of the contaminated soil dumped in a Union County owned quarry fails to answer any questions that would be important to the health and safety of the community. As usual the reporter wrote what the county spokesperson tells him as if he's a reliable source. Whenever a serious issue arises the County Manager or the Freeholders never go on record and never answer questions. Their response this time, as always, is to tell the press to “refer all questions to county spokesman Sebastian D’Elia". The only problem with the press contacting D’Elia is that he’s a paid employee who answers to the freeholders not the taxpayers who pay his salary.
In this case, as always, D’Elia hands the reporter a prepared written statement which is vague and does not offer any useful information. For example the article states that “engineers contend the soil does not pose an imminent health threat.” What engineers? What is the level of contamination found? Is the F.B.I. investigating? The D.E.P.? If not than why? Why can’t the reporter ask questions of the director in charge of overseeing the site? Why can’t the reporter ask the County Manager or the Freeholders? They’re given Blackberry’s and cell phones at taxpayers expense why can’t they be reached to be held accountable?
Reporters must be more diligent in dealing with our county officials. There are very few New Jersey politicians that can be trusted. None of them are Union County freeholders. Information is the only thing that can keep people healthy and safe. People need the facts and names of experts and officials to be held accountable for those facts, not unsubstantiated opinions of a county spokesperson whose allegiance is to politicians.
D’Elia’s quote in the article made absolutely no sense, “Its contamination level is comparable to dirt taken from an excavated home heating oil tank.” Really? Oh O.K. Mr. D’Elia we should believe you just like we should believe that you didn’t harass those women.
In this case, as always, D’Elia hands the reporter a prepared written statement which is vague and does not offer any useful information. For example the article states that “engineers contend the soil does not pose an imminent health threat.” What engineers? What is the level of contamination found? Is the F.B.I. investigating? The D.E.P.? If not than why? Why can’t the reporter ask questions of the director in charge of overseeing the site? Why can’t the reporter ask the County Manager or the Freeholders? They’re given Blackberry’s and cell phones at taxpayers expense why can’t they be reached to be held accountable?
Reporters must be more diligent in dealing with our county officials. There are very few New Jersey politicians that can be trusted. None of them are Union County freeholders. Information is the only thing that can keep people healthy and safe. People need the facts and names of experts and officials to be held accountable for those facts, not unsubstantiated opinions of a county spokesperson whose allegiance is to politicians.
D’Elia’s quote in the article made absolutely no sense, “Its contamination level is comparable to dirt taken from an excavated home heating oil tank.” Really? Oh O.K. Mr. D’Elia we should believe you just like we should believe that you didn’t harass those women.
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