Ryan Green makes Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad A Political Football

The Manalapan Township Committee unanimously approved an agreement with the Englistown-Manalapan First Aid Squad on December 11, 2013 that will permit the previously all volunteer squad that provides first aid and ambulance service for free to Manalapan residents to form an non-profit entity to would hire paid EMTs to supplement the declining ranks of volunteers and bill residents who use the services the amount that their health insurance companies would otherwise pay to private first aid and ambulance companies.

Township Committeeman Ryan Green joined his fellow Republican committee members in voting for the agreement with EMFSA, but then went public with a letter to the editor to the NewsTranscript  in which he criticized Mayor Susan Cohen and Deputy Mayor Jordan Maskowitz for failing to seek input from the public on what Green calls “a major change.”

Mayor Susan Cohen and Deputy Mayor Jordan Maskowitz made it very clear they have no interest in what the public thinks when it comes to this agreement. That is probably why the contract was approved at the last meeting of the year at almost 10 p.m. with no public explanation of the resolution.

In his letter, Green goes on to question the propriety of the EMFSA’s attorney, Stuart Moskovitz, being friendly with Cohen and characterizes himself as a “whistle blower” looking out for the taxpayers interests against the nefarious secrecy of his fellow members of the committee.

When the committee makes a decision of this magnitude, there is no question the public should be involved; especially in this case, when the EMFAS hires a well-known attorney who is a close friend of the mayor.

I became so concerned about what was going on with this contract that I contacted the state in November for guidance. Thankfully, the state provided important information that resulted in significant changes. One particular change in the contract prevents the township from being exposed to hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential liability costs. Another change limits the agreement to one year with the recommendation that a long-term contract be competitive and publicly bid.

Needless to say, I never thought I would have to be a “whistleblower” on the Township Committee, but in this case, I had to do what was right for the residents.

In a statement released by Manalapan Republican Chairman Steve McEnery, Deputy Mayor Maskowitz calls Green’s letter “ridiculous on its face” and is sour grapes over the fact that the Republican caucus did not select Green to be mayor in 2014.

“Mr. Green’s effort to paint himself as a “whistle-blower” is ridiculous on its face”, Mr. Maskowitz said, “the Township Committee directed the Township Administrator to send a copy of our proposed Agreement to the Department of Community Affairs for its review and comment. That was done before Mr. Green contacted the Department of Community Affairs.” “You can’t be a “whistle-blower” in a situation where the Township had already asked for review of the first aid agreement by the State agency which provides guidance and regulations to local government”, Mr. Maskowitz added. “As well I was surprised at Mr. Green’s comment that this was done at the last minute because he is well aware of meeting protocol and that New Business is placed on the end of the agenda.”

“his letter is, obviously nothing more than an angry reaction to finding out that none of his colleagues would support him in his quest to be the Mayor in 2014”.

Attorney Moskovitz slammed Green for playing politics with the first aid care of Manalapan residents during a phone interview with MMM.

“You couldn’t ask for a better deal for the taxpayers of Manalapan,” Moskovitz said of the agreement with EMFAS, “The fact that he is willing to jeopardize the first aid care of residents because he was not selected mayor, erases any doubt that Green is not qualified to be mayor.

“Green is not qualified to be mayor and he never will be qualified to be mayor because of his personality. He’s a narcissist.”

McEnery said that the Republican caucus selected Maskowitz in late December to be mayor in 2014, and that Green stormed out of the meeting while declaring, “this means war!”

Green is holding out hope of being elected mayor by his fellow Republicans tonight. “It’s not over until the vote is cast as far as I am concerned.” He noted that Cohen, who is also the Vice Chair of the Monmouth County Republican Organization, gave her word they she would support him for mayor in 2014 after she was selected mayor for a second consecutive year in 2013.  He provided MMM with an email from Cohen that included that promise.

McEnery said that Green has delusions of grandeur and dreams of higher office. “He thinks he’s going to be governor or something. He’s gotten worse and worse since he lost for Freeholder.”

Green was one of the candidates to replace Assemblyman Rob Clifton on the Freeholder Board at the Republican convention in January of 2012 that elected Serena DiMaso.

 

 

Posted: January 6th, 2014 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Manalapan | Tags: Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad, Jordan Maskowitz, Manalapan, Manalapan GOP, Rob Clifton, Ryan Green, Serena DiMaso, Steve McEnery, Stuart J. Moskovitz, Susan Cohen | 4 Comments »

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