Mallet slams Burry, “Club Monmouth” over Brookdale scandal
Burry on Mallet: “She’s a fraud, she a fraud, a fraud, fraud, fraud!”
Former Freeholder Amy Mallett, a Democrat, laid the blame for the Brookdale Community College scandal that lead to former college president Peter Burnham pleading to guilty to theft by deception and official misconduct earlier this week at the feet of the Monmouth GOP’s “cozy” relationship, “Club Monmouth” with the leadership of college.
In an OpEd piece published in The Asbury Park Press, Mallet took aim at Republican Freeholder Lillian Burry and her campaign treasurer, John Cantolupo who was the Brookdale Board of Trustees’ lawyer at the time Burnham’s lavish contract and spending irregularities were uncovered.
Mallet wrote:
Making matters worse, the attorney serving as general counsel for Brookdale and responsible for the president’s employment contract was John Cantalupo, who also served as Freeholder Lillian Burry’s campaign treasurer and was well known in Republican circles. Since I did not attend their events and fundraisers, I was initially unaware of the connections.
Burry had served as the freeholder board’s liaison to Brookdale, and voted numerous times as a member of the Board of School Estimate, creating a huge conflict of interest.
Her unwavering support of Burnham and the trustees only broke down under political pressure when she admitted in her words to “drinking the Kool-Aid.”
“She’s a fraud! A fraud, fraud, fraud,” said Burry when asked for comment on Mallet’s column, “she failed to mention that John D’Amico and Barbara McMarrow (former Democratic freeholders) were also on the School Board of Estimate approving those budgets while Burnham’s crimes were taking place. John D’Amico was a big supporter of Burnham.”
“We all got taken by Burnham,” Burry said, “especially and unfortunately the students.”
Mallet takes credit for uncovering the scandal:
Things began to unfold early last year when I made the unusual request of seeing the full line-item budget. I started on page one, the President’s Office, which included extraordinary expenses, sending up a red flag. I began seeking answers on how this all comes together, as I was not the freeholder liaison to Brookdale. I demanded to see the last 10 years’ minutes of the annual budget meetings, employment contracts and trustee meeting minutes (which were released after some resistance). After reviewing years of material, I was able to connect some of the dots.
Freeholder John Curley has also claimed credit for exposing Burnham’s crimes, calling himself a “whistle blower.” Curley first broke the Brookdale story on MMM in February of 2011.
“They’re tripping over themselves with their grandstanding, trying to get credit for something they had nothing to do with,” Burry said of Mallet and Curley, “County Administrator Teri O’Connor and Director of Finance Craig Marshall got the line by line budget from from Brookdale and Burnham’s contract was leaked to the press by a woman scorned.”
Responding to Mallet’s column and unaware of Burry’s comments, Curley said, “That’s bull. I met with Burnham and he wouldn’t give me the line by line budget. I then asked Teri O’Connor, the administrator and Craig Marshall, our CFO, to get it for me, which they did. Burnham’s contract was leaked to me and I gave it to Nina Rizzo from the Asbury Park Press.”
“I got the information out to the press and to the prosecutor,” Curley said.
When told of Burry’s comment, Curley said, “That’s unfortunate that Lillian said that. God bless her.”
Burry and Curley agree that Mallet misrepresented her own application to serve on the Brookdale Board. Mallet wrote:
I submitted my own resume to be considered for a seat on the Brookdale board of trustees, where there were recently two open seats. My background as a freeholder, combined with my inquiries on Brookdale, gave me a unique perspective and familiarity with the workings of the college.
The party-approved seats were filled, and the Republicans retain control by limiting access to those most loyal to their inner circle. There is now another open seat on the board of trustees. Rather than the common-sense approach of reaching out to recent applicants, the freeholders quietly issued a press release with a one-week application deadline. It was simply window dressing, since they most likely have their choice lined up.
“She was a freeholder when she applied and the rules are that we don’t appoint elected officials to the board,” said Burry, “applicants are screened by others before the Freeholder Board makes the appointments. Amy’s application never made it to the Freeholders because she was a sitting freeholder.
“There is a bi-partisan screening committee, Democrats and Republicans, who screen applicants for the Brookdale Board,” said Curley, “Amy didn’t make the cut.”
Burry said she was more disappointed than angry with Mallet. “I had really hoped she would go out with her held high, instead of wallowing in the gutter like she certainly is now. I think she’s being used by Vin Gopal (Monmouth County Democratic Chairman). If she really wants to make a difference, why isn’t she a candidate?
More from my site
The Politics Of The Brookdale Scandal
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John Curley Will Be Monmouth County Freeholder Director
Brookdale President Suspended
Burry and Curley tangle at Freeholders’ meeting
Unity or Strange Bedfellows in the Monmouth GOP?
Curley Walks Out On His Check
Lucas Farm Purchase Approved By Manalapan, Freeholders
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Apparently, everyone but you knows that Madame Burry calls the shots and NOTHING is done without her say so. I tell you , I really like Curly standing up to this witch. She’s been doing this for years and years. And yes, her lawyer and campaign treasurer was the one that gave all those goodies to Burnham. She can deny all she wants, but its a smokescreen, and you know it. How many times does a conflict of interest have to appear before someone takes notice….open spaces and Colts Neck Realty…Brookdale and her campaign treasurer…gimme a break.
They are all frauds and grandstanders. Every Freeholder who has served for the last 8 years (at least) must take responsibility for what happened at Brookdakle and every single person on that Brookdales Board who voted for Burnhams contract or approved his expenses should be forced to resign.
Everybody makes mistakes. What differentiates people is who owns up to them.
..and, so sad she got so roundly defeated- we call that “sour grapes,” in the business!.. what about the 3 years the VERY holier-than-thou, all-knowing former judge, “3-pension,” ol’ AlGore D’Amico served, without a whimper or question, on that Board, too, as the freeholder and dep.dir.??.. or, ol’ Amy herself for HER 3 years?..what a joke: let’s call a spade a spade, here: these Dems know they are broke, fighting, and will lose big-time again, on the county level, and it just pisses them and their fragile egos off, that they couldn’t cut it on the county side, even though they fired some 70 officers and appointed every Dem they could, the ONE year they were in charge!.. this is their usual, yearly, grab for free publicity they don’t earn, with the concurrence of that lib rag of an APP, for their meager, accomplishment-free candidates: and, under the worn-out “Obama-model”: ya got nothin’, so just trash the opposition!..as for Burry, she does a good job in her areas, and will be retiring in 2 yrs., so enough with all the personal jealousies and snipes: love her or hate her, she’s been a successful small businessperson, a dedicated officeholder,and cares deeply for the county and her parks and libraries, and is trying hard to help make the Fort property a decent, productive gem for the future in the county-so, give it up: with Burnham,(a lib, by the way),the guy, like many, got arrogant and took too much of a good gig, and will now be punished for doing so- now, let’s move on: what do you got to make things better going forward, Dems??.. oh, yeah, we know:criticize, tax, and spend some more- terrific- and, so predictable!!! ..
Burry is a vindictive woman who will step on anyone to get where and what she wants. Maybe you never had to deal with her, but I have. Curly has the guts to stand up to her, but no one other than he and Amy ever has. She would tell Clifton how to vote, and now she tells Rich. She has done all of her service, not out of the goodness of her heart, (if she even has one), but instead, for power. She still runs Colts Neck likes its her own private fiefdom. I hope she retires soon so that we can finally put the Monmouth ‘ol boys club to rest…well, for a time anyway, since Bennett is the Republican Chair for the county.
Holier Than Thou,
Attacking others that have nothing to do with the issue at hand, which is corruption, is kind of dumb and is easily seen through. Republican political alliances and corruption go back to Larsen and the other members of the Bid Rig Team — contenders for Olympic gold in the Corruption Event.
Ray O’Grady a former Monmouth County employee and former member Middletown Township Committee — another outstanding example of ethics and sunshine — also got official recognition for his corruption as well as an all expenses paid stay at a hotel choosen by the federal government, and it looks like Burnham is getting a similar deal. Maybe his deal will include blowing the whistle on other some of his teammates?
When Burry retires in two years, if she makes it, she will have her taxpayer supported pension and free health care to take with her. And, when she finally retires, Burray’s crowning acheivement will be that she removed one of the strongest pay-to-play ordinances from the books because there wasn’t any serious corruption happening in Monmouth County and because this particular ordinance was too complicated for campaign contributors to figure out a way to get around this taxpayer protecting piece of legislation.
I mean…she’s right.
the fact remains, there were 3 Dems there for a term each, who either served on the Brookdale Bd. of School Estimate while on the Board, and continually voted on all stipends to that institution, without question, and went to all the graduations, and complimented what is still arguably the best community college in NJ.. you can keep up your regurgitation of all the truly ancient history, and grab for a few op-eds or headlines, and wallow in your misery, ( or your fun remembrances of 8 people screwing up to shame the whole damn county),but, the GOP of today is doing well, and will win big again in 2012, because,folks, people LIKE living here, and like what this county IS, and HAS, and DOES-period!.. you got any NEW facts, issues, or problems, with anything going on, the Prosecutor’s office number is 732-431-7160, am sure they’ll be happy to handle it and put your fears to rest….and BTW, as a part-time office-holder, Burry’s pension, to which she had to contribute like anyone else, will certainly be nothing anyone could live on, so, hate her all you want, she did a good job for the public who elected her handily, MANY times!..
Freeholders do not get “free” healthcare..at least be accurate, on what you’re bitching about..
Keep It Up …,
OK, Freeholders do not get free health care, they get taxpayer funded health care with a minimal contribution on the Freeholders’ part, and the amount that they, including Burry, have contributed to taxpayer funded pensions is MINIMAL. The job is a public service position and is not meant to be compensated like it is a full-time position.
There were no Democrats on the Freeholder Board when Bid Rig happened — only Larsen’s Republicans. It was Democrat Mallet who discovered the corruption, and other illegal activity practiced by Burnham and approved by those choosen and appointed by Republicans. It seems that the Republicans are in the majority whenever illegal activity is discovered and someone ends up going to jail. I guess Burry and others still think that there is no need for an ethics committee? After the work that Curley did to support Mallet, you would think that he might now be more open to a committee that has some powere to investigate and prosecute ethics violations.
Keep It Up,
OK, Freeholders do not get free health care, they get taxpayer funded health care with a minimal contribution on the Freeholders’ part, and the amount that they, including Burry, have contributed to taxpayer funded pensions is MINIMAL. The job is a public service position and is not meant to be compensated like it is a full-time position.
There were no Democrats on the Freeholder Board when Bid Rig happened — only Larsen’s Republicans. It was Democrat Mallet who discovered the corruption, and other illegal activity practiced by Burnham and approved by those choosen and appointed by Republicans. It seems that the Republicans are in the majority whenever illegal activity is discovered and someone ends up going to jail. I guess Burry and others still think that there is no need for an ethics committee? After the work that Curley did to support Mallet, you would think that he might now be more open to a committee that has some powere to investigate and prosecute ethics violations.
Rick Ambrosia, no dems win in Colts Neck since Gloria Pamm so a bitter attack against Lillian Burry is your solution? Very mature.
And Pilgrim. Freeholders don’t get healthcare coverage from the county anymore. And it was Freeholder Burry who first proposed that.
Politics has nothing to do with it Ragweed…its personal. I don’t like her, don’t like how she operates, and I certainly don’t like all the conflicts of interest that she has.
Sorry Pilgrim,
But is was Burry and Clifton that lead the fight to eliminate taxpayer funded health care for Freeholders – they cant even get it if they pay for it. Sorry to ruin your argument with facts.