How did Gov. Chris Christie’s administration come up with its policies and protocols for handling Ebola? To get the answer, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey asked to see emails and other policy communications from top officials in the N.J. Department of Health. Those requests were denied or otherwise rebuffed, the group said in… Read the rest of this entry »
OCEANPORT —Developers looking to open a restaurant and bar at the Fort Monmouth marina in Oceanport have been cited for expanding the building without obtaining state environmental permits. The violation notice from the state Department of Environmental Protection says the developers, Asbury Park Development Partners LLC, expanded the former boathouse at the marina by 1,750 square… Read the rest of this entry »
The 11th and 13th district legislators representing much of Monmouth County including the communities host Fort Monmouth sent a letter to Department of Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Valez Esq. this afternoon asking for the legal and practical justification for quarantining individuals that may have been exposed to the Ebola virus at Fort Monmouth at a time when New Jersey is marketing the property as a place for businesses to grow, create jobs and to serve as an area for new housing opportunities for people who have not been exposed to Ebola.
The letter signed by State Senators Joseph Kyrillos and Jennifer Beck and Assembly Members Amy Handlin, Declan O’Scanlon, Mary Pat Angelini and Caroline Casagrande was printed on Kyrillos’s letterhead. The letter can be viewed here.
Posted: February 3rd, 2015 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Ebola, FMERA, Fort Monmouth | Tags: Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon, Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, Department of Human Services, DHS, Ebola Quarantine, FMERA, Fort Monmoth, Senator Jennifer Beck, Senator Joe Kyrillos | 2 Comments »Freeholder Lillian Burry and Mayors Michael Mahon (Oceanport), Gerry Turning (Tinton Falls) and Dennis Connelly (Eatontown) issued the following statement this afternoon regarding the Ebola quarantine facilities at Fort Monmouth. Burry and the mayors are members of the board of the Fort Monmouth Revitalization Agency (FMERA).
“As the only members of the FMERA board who are elected to office, we wish to clarify some of the recent articles on the proposal to house a quarantine facility at Fort Monmouth for those that are exposed to Ebola while outside the United States. Only those that returned to the U.S. through New Jersey and have no place to reside will potentially be placed in this facility. The articles further state that the Department of Human Services has a 6-month lease with FMERA to use the property which began on January 1st. The elected officials further stated that at no time did they ever vote on or approve such a lease. This lease was imposed on FMERA by the executive branch and was not vetted at a public meeting or voted on by the entire Board. The lease was actually signed by the Attorney General and was not supported by the Board as a whole.
Posted: February 2nd, 2015 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Ebola, Fort Monmouth | Tags: Eatontown, Ebola, Ebola Quarantine, Fort Monmouth, Freeholder Lillian Burry, Mayor Dennis Connelly, Mayor Gerry Turning, Mayor Michael Mahon, Monmouth County, Oceanport, Tinton Falls | 3 Comments »A top Christie Administration official told the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Agency (FMERA) that they had no choice but to allocate 14 2 story living units in the Suneagles Golf Course area of the fort, located in Eatontown, for use as quarantine housing for travelers returning from West Africa who may have been exposed to Ebola, according to an official familiar with the situation who asked not to be named in this story.
Bruce Steadman, Executive Director of FMERA, and some members for the FMERA board resisted the Ebola quarantine facility being located at Fort Monmouth when they were approached by NJ Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Jennifer Valez Esq. last fall. Michele Brown, then Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority , informed Steadman that the quarantine facility was a fait accompli, according to the source.
Posted: February 2nd, 2015 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Christie Administration, Earthquake, Ebola, FMERA, Fort Monmouth, Monmouth County | Tags: Dennis Connelly, Department of Human Services, DHS, Eatontown, Ebola, Ebola Quarantine, EDA, FMERA, Fort Monmouth, Fort Monmouth Economic Redevitalization Authority, Jennifer Velez, Michele Brown, NJ Economic Development Authority, NJ EDA | 6 Comments »By Lillian G. Burry, Monmouth County Freeholder Director
Monmouth County Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry
Amidst a summer awash in bad news, there is a very good news story I’m pleased to share regarding the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth; a topic I am asked about frequently. Since the fort was closed by the U.S. Army in 2005, I have been a member of both public-private agencies, led by the state, that first planned, and is now executing plans to transform the fort into a hub of recreation, commerce, technology, innovation, education, residential and retail use. Tangible results emerged last year and continue to increase this year. More are on the near horizon, bringing jobs, ratables and opportunities for the public to enjoy new open spaces and recreational options within the borders of Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls.
As the county’s representative, first on the Fort Monmouth Economic Redevelopment Planning Authority (FMERPA) and currently on the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA), I identified certain facilities and spaces for county use early on. Last year, the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering took over, refurbished and is now utilizing the fort’s former motor pool, bringing critical services including snow and storm damage removal closer to that region. The county Park System now runs the former teen center and pool, a beautiful facility. Programs initiated there last year have been well-attended and growing. This year, we opened the pool for classes. The reception and attendance have been outstanding. We hope to increase programs at the pool next summer. That’s just the beginning…
Posted: August 22nd, 2014 | Author: admin | Filed under: Fort Monmouth, Lillian Burry, Monmouth County, Monmouth County Board of Freeholders | Tags: Eatontown, FMERA, Fort Monmouth, Fort Monmouth Economic Redevelopment Authority, Freeholder Director Lillian Burry, Lillian G. Burry, Monmouth County, Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, Oceanport, Tinton Falls | 5 Comments »
As Sandy housing aid deadline nears, lawmakers request extension (via NJ.com)
Roughly 1,000 New Jersey households still displaced because of Hurricane Sandy rely on the federal government to help pay for temporary housing. But that program is scheduled to end on April 30. So U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker announced…
Former Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Puts His Money Where His Mouth Is
Victor V. Scudiery, the Monmouth County businessman and former 23 year Chairman of the Monmouth County Democrats, is backing up his endorsement of Newark Mayor Cory Booker in the August 13 Special U.S. Senate Primary with an aggressive negative endorsement of Congressman Frank Pallone.
Scudiery is launching a personally financed campaign this morning designed to weaken Pallone’s support in his 6th Congressional district home base of Monmouth and Middlesex Counties. Scudiery’s efforts are independent of and without the prior knowledge of the Booker for Senate campaign.
The $45,000 campaign includes a mailing to 75,000 likely Democratic primary voters, print ads in local weekly newspapers and a web based ad campaign on local websites.
“I might even spend more by the time the 13th (the August 13th primary) comes around,” Scudiery said this morning.
“He’s all about himself, not for the people,” Scudiery said of the congressman whose tenure coincided with his own marathon as party chairman, “When I brought him to events, non-political events, like for senior citizens, Italian-Americans or small businesses, people would always say, ‘Frank, you never got back to me, I need your help,’ He’s been an embarrassment. He rarely followed through. When he did follow through, it was usually with excuses, not results.”
Posted: August 1st, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: 2013 Election, 2014 U.S. Senate race, Cory Booker, Fort Monmouth, Frank Pallone, Hurricane Sandy, Jersey Shore, Middlesex County Democrats, Monmouth County, Monmouth Democrats, Pallone, Primary Election, Senate Special Election, U. S. Senate Races, Vic Scudiery, Victor V Scudiery | Tags: Cory Booker, Frank Pallone, Special Senate Primary, Vic Scudiery, Victor V Scudiery | 21 Comments »
No news. Empty newsstands stored in the Asbury Park Press’s empty parking lot in Neptune.
This morning the Asbury Park Press Neptune Nudniks have an article about something that might be happening and that might cause something else that’s bad to happen.
Two of the three mayors on the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority may be breaking confidentiality rules — and possibly jeopardizing millions of dollars in redevelopment deals — to keep their governing bodies up to date on property negotiations affecting their towns. (Emphasis added)
In a nutshell, the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) is the entity responsible for redeveloping the fort that Congressmen Frank Pallone and Rush Holt let get away. The authority is governed by a 13 member board. 6 of the board members are representives of the State government. 1 is a Monmouth County Freeholder, 3 are “public members.” The final three are the mayors of the communities that host the fort, Oceanport, Tinton Falls and Eatontown.
Here’s where APP reporter Bill Bowman got a basic fact wrong:
A state authority under the umbrella of the state Department of Community Affairs, FMERA is the sole body that seeks out potential buyers and lessors and negotiates and approves contracts for the property.
FMERA is not under the umbrella of the state Department of Community Affairs. It is an independent authority staffed by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
Posted: July 17th, 2013 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Asbury Park Press, FMERA, Fort Monmouth, Neptune Nudniks | Tags: Asbury Park Press, Bill Bowman, Bruce Steadman, Eatontown, FMERA, Fort Monmouth, Michael Mahon, Micheal Skudera, Middletown Library, Neptune Nudniks, Oceanport, Susan O'Neal, Tinton Falls | 3 Comments »
Assembly Republican Budget Officer Declan O’Scanlon, commended the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for its commitment to Monmouth County’s efforts to rebuild after Superstorm Sandy and redevelop Fort Monmouth.
“We were knocked down by Sandy and the State has been there from the beginning offering a helping hand to get businesses and families back on their feet,” O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth, said. “From providing temporary housing units for families to providing grants and loans to businesses that suffered damage, the authority has been absolutely committed to our region and intends to place staff in our communities – potentially at Fort Monmouth – to ensure easy access to grants and assistance for business owners.”
Posted: April 23rd, 2013 | Author: admin | Filed under: Declan O'Scanlon, Economy, EDA, Fort Monmouth, Hurricane Sandy, Monmouth County, Press Release, Superstorm Sandy | Tags: Declan O'Scanlon, Fort Monmouth, Michele Brown, NJ Economic Development Authority, Press Release, Superstorm Sandy | 8 Comments »© Copyright 2024 | MoreMonmouthMusings | All Rights Reserved