Middletown Has An Outbreak Of Cooperation

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden issues the Oath of Office to Middletown Mayor Tony Perry while Allannah Perry holds the Bible. Jan 6, 2019

A simmering political and legal battle between the Middletown Board of Education and the Middletown Township Committee was extinguished on Sunday morning when both boards tabled conflicting resolutions regarding the date of the annual Board of Education elections.

The Township Committee had a resolution on its agenda to move school elections to April.  The BoE scheduled a Special Meeting to pass a resolution to keep their elections on the annual general election ballot in November.

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Neptune City Democrats Schedule Special Meeting To End Local Government Shutdown

Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling, Neptune City Council President Pamela Renee and Renne’s family celebrate the Renee’s Oath of Office before the shutdown. January 1, 2019.  Photo via Neptune City Democrat’s facebook page

The Borough of Neptune City Council has scheduled a Special Meeting for Monday, January 7 at 7 p.m. to reverse a major snafu by the new Democrat controlled council.

Neptune City Democrats got off to an inauspicious start when they took control of the borough’s governing body for the first time in four decades on New Year’s Day.

Senator Vin Gopal issued the Oath of Office to new Councilman David Calhoun and Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling witnessed Councilwoman Pamela Renee oath to perform the Office of Council President to the best of her ability.  The Democrats then effectively shutdown Neptune City’s government by voting not to pay the borough’s bills, including payroll.

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Moving School Elections Back to April is in the Best Interest of Parents, Students and Taxpayers

By Tony Fiore, Deputy Mayor, Middletown, NJ

Middletown Deputy Mayor Tony Fiore

In 2012, the Middletown Township Committee voted on a resolution to be a part of what was an initial pilot program to move the local Board of Education Election from April to November.  The benefit of entering that program was that election costs could be saved for the Township while school budgets would not be subject to voter approval so long as they complied with the 2% cap.

After 6 years of election data, it has become clear the potential benefits of this change do not outweigh the unintended fiscal and political costs of continuing to elect Board of Education members during a partisan electoral cycle.

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Congressman Smith: Reports that he voted against the wall are inaccurate

In a phone interview with MMM this morning, Congressman Chris Smith, R-NJ 4, said that published reports by New Jersey Globe and SaveJersey claiming that he voted with Democrats to reopen the federal government without funding a wall for our southern border are incomplete and inaccurate.

“I am a strong supporter of securing our southern border, including the wall–I voted for $5.7 billion for the wall in December-– and have been throughout my career,” Smith said.  “The bill I voted for yesterday, H J Res 1, would fund the only Department of Homeland Security and only until February 9.”

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Middletown’s Millennial Mayor

Tony Perry

Tony Perry, 28, will become the youngest mayor in Middletown’s history when the Township Committee meets on Sunday to reorganize for 2019, according to an announcement by the Township.

Perry was elected to a three year term on the Township Committee last Election Day. He has been a member of the Committee since November of 2017 when he was appointed to fill the vacancy created when Steve Massell resigned upon taking office on the Monmouth County Tax Board.

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Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger’s remarks upon being sworn in

As prepared for delivery

Thank you everyone and happy New Year.  It is an absolute honor to be standing here as a part of this new and much improved Freeholder board.  My first year on the board has been not only a great learning experience but also very productive.  One of the initiatives I am most proud of is the Faith Based initiative we passed early last year.  This is designed to provide services and programs without tax dollars in partnership with houses of worship and other non-profit organizations.  It’s also a way to right size government which in my opinion, has taken on way too many of the roles of the private and non-profit sectors over the years.  Another initiative I have worked on this year on behalf of the board is the creation of affordable housing in the county through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity.  So far, two municipally-owned lots have been identified in Middletown and one sub-dividable lot in Highlands to be turned over to Habitat at no cost for the construction of up to 15 units.  Meetings with several other municipalities are being scheduled to inventory similar lots that can be redeveloped for affordable housing.  This is the way it should be done – without the heavy hand of government and some costly, environmentally devastating unfunded mandate foisted upon the taxpayers.

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Freeholder Sue Kiley’s remarks upon being sworn in

As prepared for delivery

First, my heartfelt thanks to Chairman Shaun Golden and Co-Chair, Christine Hanlon, for their hard work, direction,  and drive during the campaign to secure victory for Gerry and me.  And thank you to the current Monmouth County Freeholders, Director Tom Arnone, Lillian Burry, Pat Imprevaduto and my running mate, Gerry Sharfenberger for the work you are doing for our great County!

Most importantly, thank you to the voters of Monmouth County for electing me to serve as a Freeholder with this great board.   I am honored and humbled that you have placed your trust in me.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend: January 3-6, 2019

By Greg Kelly

Thursday, Jan. 3

• Happy New Year 2019
• New Year’s Day Beach Walk on Sandy Hook – MORE INFO
• Learn to Play Bridge (Shrewsbury) – MORE INFO
• Bayshore Hooks and Needles (Hazlet) – MORE INFO
• SHIP: MediCare Questions Answered (Manalapan) – MORE INFO
• Knit Wits: Enjoy Knitting & Crocheting (Manalapan) – MORE INFO
• Atlantic Cinemas Movie Night (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO
• Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Crocheters of the Jersey Shore (Wall Twp.) – MORE INFO
• Squan Village Historical Society Museum Tours (Manasquan) – MORE INFO

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Colts Neck Man Indicted For Kidnapping, Sexual Assault and Child Pornography

Terry Y. Kuo aka Victor Lee

Terry Y. Kuo, 27,  of Colts Neck, also known as Victor Lee, was indicted by a Monmouth County Grand Jury on December 21 on 47 counts including kidnapping, sexual assault and other misconduct involving a student and other local children, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Kuo was a youth tennis instructor prior to his arrest on November 12, 2017. He was previously indicted last February on 15 counts of various sexual assault and child pornography charges.

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Belmar Democrats fined by Election Law Enforcement Commission

The Belmar Democratic Committee and the committee’s former chairman and treasurer, Luis B. Pulido, were fined a total of $1,972.18 by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission for late disclosure reports from 2012 and 2013, according to a Final Decision posted of the commission’s website this morning.

On July 11, 2018, the commission issued a complaint charging that the Belmar Democrats and Pulido with six counts of late and incomplete reports for 2012 and 2013.

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