Terrance Weldon, former Ocean Twp Mayor and Asbury Park City Manager Died Today
Terrance D. Weldon, 1948-2017
Terrance Weldon, the former Ocean Township Mayor and Asbury Park city manager who was a central figure in the Operation Bid Rig scandal, died today at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune, according to an entry on the website of the Buckley Funeral Home. Weldon was 68 years old.
On October 10, 2002, Weldon pleaded guilty to federal charges of accepting $60,000 in bribes from three developers between 1998 and 2001. He remained out of prison until January of 2008 while he cooperated with U.S. Attorney Chris Christie’s Operation Bid Rig into public corruption in Monmouth County. His cooperation led to the convictions of Howard Schoor, the principle of the Schoor DePalma engineering firm, and three other guilty pleas.
U.S. District Judge William H. Walls rejected pleas for leniency by both the U.S Attorney’s Office and Weldon’s attorney when sentencing Weldon to 58 months in federal prison and a $20,000 fine on August 27, 2007. New Jersey officials stripped Weldon of his $20,000 per year public pension in February of 2008.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Weldon had served as mayor of Ocean Township since 1991 and as city manager of Asbury Park from November 2000 until he was charged. Weldon, who was also a member of the Ocean Township Planning Board, admitted at his guilty plea that he took cash bribes for assisting three developers to secure zoning and subdivision approvals on three unrelated projects in Ocean Township.
Weldon admitted that in the late spring or early summer of 2001, he accepted $50,000 in cash from a Neptune developer who sought and ultimately received approval to build a 75- unit residential development in Ocean Township. Weldon confirmed that he voted in favor of approving this development as a member of the Ocean Township Council on three 3 separate occasions, including a crucial vote to rezone the property to allow the developer to build as many homes as possible.
Weldon admitted that he hid the $50,000 in his home. The cash was seized by the FBI during the execution of a court-authorized search warrant in January 2002.
Weldon also admitted receiving three separate payments ranging from between $2,000 and $3,000 each from a second developer in connection with a 328-unit residential development in Ocean Township. Weldon admitted that in connection with these payments, he assisted the second developer with applications to amend the site plan for the development in his role as a member of the Planning Board during 2001. Weldon also voted in favor of one of the site plan amendments.
Finally, Weldon admitted accepting a total of $5,000 in two separate payments from a third developer who, in 1998 and 1999, was building homes along Mark Place in Ocean Township.
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Deputy Mayor Acerra, Terrance Weldon “served Ocean Township honorably as our Mayor” WHAT A BUNCH OF CRAP. His name should never be mention again in this town. Your comment is a slap in the face to the residents of Ocean.
He never did anything that did not benefit himself. Let me refresh everyone’s memory. *“2002- Oct 10: Weldon admits to three counts of extortion spanning 1998 thru 2001; and, Weldon refuses to cooperate with FBI investigators. Sure it was only the tip of the iceberg, but it was enough to charge him with the crime. *https://waysidebfh.wordpress.com/2015/06/30/from-the-archives-the-ocean-township-asbury-park-new-jersey-blues/*
A far as the Deal Test Site now“Joe Palaia Park” it started long before Weldon. A lot of hard working previous Township employees and Officials work very hard on the “Test Site” and are never mentioned anywhere. Our town just treat its employees as employees and not for what they do to make our town so great.
Yes it is true the Senator was very instrumental in getting the “Deal Test Site”. But, now it seems you give Weldons get all the credit for something others started. It’s all about Weldon who was a convicted criminal and served time for it.
Senator Palaia was Weldons mentor, smells like payback. Ocean is the Optus of small town USA. You of all people being who you are know how things go in the town. It’s long overdue to make a clean sweep of all the Weldon cronies in Ocean.
I agree completely with the Deputy Mayor, a balanced look would have been more appropriate than an article listing every infraction hours after Terry died.
Art, you’re a class act POS. This follow up article is beyond disgusting. I thought the first one was horrendous. This one is a real beauty.
Obviously “Mr. Board” you’re too much of a coward to use your real name. It’s really a shame that you would leave such callus and insensitive remarks at a time like this. Even if this had affected you in any way do you really think this is the time to air your negative feelings towards him ?
Really? This just makes me sick. Why be so hurtful to his children and siblings? This just lacks any kind of class.
Jeez…I guess the author had no consideration for the family members of Mayor Weldon. OT residents are very familiar with the Bid Rig Scandal (lead by Mr. Perfect Chris Christie). This was not the proper time or forum to rehash all that. Not nice at all.
I find this article to be appalling and insensitive. This is a very inappropriate time to write something like this. Do you have a conscience?
How inappropriate is this article at such a fragile time in the lives of his family??? You should be ashamed of yourself…
My heartfelt condolences to his two wonderful children…
My apologies to art. I did not realize that the first comment from a mr. Board was a comment. I thought it was art writing a follow-up. So once again I apologize to him. His first article
My apologies to Art. I did not realize that the first comment from a Mr. Board the cowardly lion, was a comment. I thought it was Art writing a follow-up. So once again I apologize to him. His article is still a real Beauty. He should have enough sense and remove it.
that these types of articles will not continue, every time any of those rounded up by our fine governor, pass on to the great beyond? This is the problem when people, especially public officials, get arrogant, power- crazy, and make bad choices which ruin their own lives and careers, and tarnish their families. If nothing else, one would think and hope that the newer ” leaders” among us would not take e yes care to not wind up like thus, and many other people have. Look at several officials up north, just in the last week: more arrogant egos, getting themselves into similar trouble. More waste of taxpayer monies and public trust.,Yes, we all have sinned, but, when will we the public who vote, and the elected that serve, not hold all of us to a higher standard, to guard against similar such dumb choices, repeat offenses,and negative, life- altering problems???
If any of you have a heart, you will think of the Weldon Family & the loss they are suffering. I have been a friend of the family for many years & can say that they are one of the nicest families I have ever met. Yes, what Terry did was wrong but he paid his dues. People make mistakes ~ out of respect for his children & family, there is no need to speak poorly of him. It saddens me that the family may have to read this as they are grieving a very hurtful lost. Be kind
If any of you have a heart, you will think of the Weldon Family & the loss they are suffering. I have been a friend of the family for many years & can say that they are one of the nicest families I have ever met. Yes, what Terry did was wrong but he paid his dues. People make mistakes ~ out of respect for his children & family, there is no need to speak poorly of him. It saddens me that the family may have to read this as they are grieving a very hurtful lost. Be kind
This article is complete crap . People make mistakes but he also raised to phenomenal children did help out the community of ocean township but made a mistake and he paid for his mistake . Let’s not let that overshadow all the good things the man did his entire life there is a very short span of his life where he made a mistake but overall he did things right. He was a great family man and a dear friend of my family. I am personally offended by this article and I think it’s gross that anyone would write this in a time of grieving.
What i think is great is we have a council member calling a man a piece of shit for invoking his right to free press and free speech better known as our first amendment at the same time you were doing the same but one big but you are a council member who should be alittle worried about his image and not one facebook being a keyboard warrior saying somones a piece of shit when you in fact were not even sure that it was art who wrote the reply comment. All to be said and done im glad you aren’t representing my township as a board member id be quite embarresed you may be able to learn from the deputy mayor down there seems like he knows how to make a point and be respectfull about it
unfortunately, one’s mistakes,( especially one which was that highly publicized at the time,) follow us to the grave. Am sure everyone felt sorry for the man’s family ( all the families that got caught up in the huge “sting,”) and most feel sorry for them, now. The unvarnished truth is, people got/ get arrogant, begin to think they are entitled to more than their (fortunate) public salary and benefits, and make very unfortunate choices, for all. Also remember, that awful newspaper used public corruption to keep their sorry presses running for months, yes years, and they still lie in wait, for the next one to goof up. We will continue to see them splash bad news for revenue- kind of sounds like the social media trolls, too, doesn’t it? Our entire culture has coarsened, to the point of continuous, shameless exploitation, and addiction to “celebrity,” of any type- actually, the more bizarre and outrageous, the better. The entire episode, mindset, and behavior pattern, is tragic.
I enjoyed working with former Mayor Terry Weldon in the many years I covered Ocean Township for the Atlanticville newspaper. Many good memories. Always funny. Passion. Amazing with people. I was their too unknowingly at the meeting – the night – he made his big mistake as mayor. I have missed him and wished I had run into him in his more recent years. I remember an error I made as a journalist; the mayor called me in into his office and set me straight. Enjoyed the old “condemned” firehouse tour and his corner office (he job was Asbury Park Fire Chief). Loved him, flaws and all. Plan to be there tomarrow. ❤
What a shame it is for WHOEVER it is that wrote this article! They were More concerned with airing out Mr. Weldon’s one silly mistake than on the real Meaning of what the article was to tell, his passing! The article didn’t even mention who he was leaving behind, any of the Great things he helped accomplish or what a Wonderful Dad he was! It goes right into how he Accepted a bribe! Really??? What a Joke this author is! I’m truly Surprised he could even hold a job in journalism! Sheesh! I literally grew up on the very same street as Mr. Weldon, grew up with both his children & felt he was a Great role model for us kids! Even after I grew up & found out about What he really did, Who really cares! I mean seriously, Who really cares?! I realized what he did wasn’t right, but did he hurt anyone, NO! He took a simple bribe to pass a vote for a builder to get some land to build on in OT. Whoopdy Do! Give me a Break! He did his time & moved on, just like this fool who can’t write an article should do! Get over yourself to whoever it was writing this pathetic article because it did nothing respectable, just raised eyebrows to why You are still employeed anywhere! Can’t even write a simple obituary, writes a back-stabbing article instead! What a toolbag this author really is! All these comments are the same, stating what a Great Guy Mr. Weldon was! Why tarnish his passing w/ some nonsense article like this! To the Weldon family, I hope you can all stay strong in your beliefs, feel good about this Great Man & hold your heads high! Never listen to Judgement of Fools like this! God Bless Mr. Weldon & I truly hopes he RIP!
As a longtime resident of Ocean Township, I am familiar with Mr. Weldon and the Bid Rig Scandal as well as the ramifications that it had for our town government. While I am sure that Mr. Weldon (rest his soul) was a fine man in many ways and I feel for his family, his area of weakness was on the public record and, unfortunately, will be revisited at the time of his death because he was a public figure that engaged in illegal activities.
That being said, the tone and nature of articles written about a public figure can be disputed ad nauseum as the comments above reflect and the authors of such articles have the right to share the cold hard facts with the public as Mr. Gallagher did in his article above. Perhaps it may have been a harsh portrait of a man that many others saw in a vastly different way, but he did state the facts of the matter without any emotional content or fluff. Was that the right thing to do? I can’t judge.
However, I am taken aback that the Mayor’s appointed Councilman, John Napolitani, Sr., is commenting both here and on Facebook about what a POS the author of this article is and leaving comments that, in my opinion, are inappropriate for a person who is involved in my town’s government.
Mr. Napolitani, if you have something to say to the author of the article, valid or invalid, perhaps you should attempt to write a coherent letter that makes your case rather than calling someone a “POS” and trying to turn it around on the writer and shame him.
There are better ways to deal with anger, Sir, and getting other people all fired up in order to stroke your already inflated ego is not one of them. This latest incident does not give me confidence in your ability to make rational decisions about our town as a Council Member.