Doherty to withdraw from Freeholder race

Mayor Matt Doherty and Governor Chris Christie walk the Belmar boardwalk. Photo Credit: Tim Larson, Governor’s Office

Belmar, April 1- Mayor Matt Doherty will withdraw as a candidate for Monmouth County Freeholder and resign as mayor of the borough to become Deputy Mayor of Jersey City, according to a confidential memo obtained by MoreMonmouthMusings.

For years, Doherty has declined to run for Freeholder because, like his friend Governor Chris Christie, he prefers to be #1 rather than one of group. He agreed to Monmouth Democrat Chairman Vin Gopal’s plea that he run this year because he needs a quick exit from Belmar where he knows the gimmicks and tricks he has employed as mayor will blow up next year and cause massive tax hikes. Doherty calculated that this would be the year for him to win on a county level because Hillary Clinton, he thinks, do very well with Monmouth County voters and he will benefit from her pant suit tails.

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Monmouth Freeholders Cut Taxes and Spending

DEMOCRATS TRY TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Deputy Director Serena DiMaso at the Asbury Park St. Pat’s Parade

The all Republican Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved a budget which included a $18.2 million spending cut and a $4.5 million property tax cut last Thursday.

“This budget reduces the tax impact on residents and businesses and returns the amount to be raised by taxation to the 2010 level,” said Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone. “In January, I called for a roll back of last year’s 1.4 percent tax increase and we have achieved that.”

“Cost cutting and belt tightening over the past six years and the sale of the two County care centers have made it possible for this Freeholder Board to present a budget that resets our spending to below the 2007 amount,” Freeholder Deputy Director Serena DiMaso said.

Monmouth County’s government now spends $5.5 million less on salaries than it did in 2008 and has 1000 fewer employees than it did seven years ago when the Republican Party won control of the Freeholder Board back from the Democrats.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, March 25-27, 2016

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, March 25

• For Worse at NJ Repertory Theatre (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• Men’s College Baseball: Monmouth U. vs. Rider (WLB) – MORE INFO
• Sandy Mack and Friends Do the Blues (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Sculpted Needle Felting Class (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO
• Fine Art, Art Education, & Animation Show at Monmouth U. (WLB) – MORE INFO
• Clam Chowder Sale (Manasquan) – MORE INFO
• College Track & Field Opener at Monmouth U. (WLB) – MORE INFO
• Live Stations of the Cross (Sea Girt) – MORE INFO

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, March 18-20, 2016

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, March 18

• Patti Lupone at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• New 2 You Kids Consignment Sale at BCC (Lincroft) – MORE INFO
• For Worse at NJ Repertory Theatre (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• The Music Man by Shore Players (West Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• Iced: The Story of the Snow Queen by Spotlight Players (Matawan) – MORE INFO
• Ropes at Two River Theater (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• The Sound of Music by MPS (Little Silver) – MORE INFO
• Asbury Park Spring Home Show – MORE INFO

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The Arnone Report: Spring into Monmouth County

By Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone and Deputy Director Serena DiMaso at the Asbury Park St. Pat’s Parade

The past two weekends have been filled with fun festivities throughout the county and the list of activities throughout the rest of March includes parades, plays and performances. March is the month to celebrate the end of winter by getting outside and with two holidays happening this month, there are plenty of great events to choose from.

There’s nothing like a parade to usher in the month and the St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Belmar on Sunday, March 6 was the perfect place to do it.  Those of you who were in attendance may have seen me, along with my colleagues, on our 2016 float – it was a great way to participate in the parade – we had the best view! I also had a great time at the Asbury Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 13 walking with Freeholder Serena DiMaso, along with Mayor Moor and members of the Council and look forward to keeping the festive spirit alive in the Highlands by walking in their parade on March 19.  March 20 marks the first day of spring, so take the kids outside (if weather permits) and join the Monmouth County Park System for a nature walk at 10 a.m. at the Manasquan Reservoir to look for signs of the new season.  Log onto www.visitmonmouth.com for a full list of activities throughout the County.

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Monmouth County, Middletown and NY Waterway are working together to mitigate NJ Transit strike impact

Monmouth County, Middletown Township and NY Waterways officials are working together to lessen the possible inconvenience to commuters in the event of a New Jersey Transit strike starting Sunday morning.

“The County is working with NY Waterway and Middletown to take a proactive approach to the situation we may face next week if there is any disruption to how our residents travel to work,” said Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone. “We understand the inconvenience that a disruption would cause and are actively taking measures to make sure we are doing everything we can to arrange to accommodate an increase in ferry passengers.”

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, March 11-13, 2016

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, March 11

• For Worse at NJ Repertory Theatre (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• Iced: The Story of the Snow Queen by Spotlight Players (Matawan) – MORE INFO
• One Man, Two Guvnors at Spring Lake Community Theatre – MORE INFO
• Ropes at Two River Theater (Red Bank) – MORE INFO
• Chocolate Lovers’ Weekend (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO
• Godspell at Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO
• Chapter Two at Center Playhouse (Freehold) – MORE INFO

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New seats at Atlantic Cinemas

Atlantic Cinemas owner Fred Rast tests his new seats.

Atlantic Cinemas, our sponsor on 1st Ave in Atlantic Highlands, completed a major step in their ongoing modernization with the installation new wider seats with thicker cushions in Cinema 3 this week.

Those coming out to see Zootopia and London Has Fallen in Atlantic Highlands this week will be the first to enjoy the higher seat backs and movable armrests.

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Belmar Residents Seek To Repeal Loosened Ethics Laws

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty laughs with approval during Governor Chris Christie’s speech during the Two Year Anniversary Community Event in Belmar, N.J. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014. (Governor’s Office/Tim Larsen)

Belmar- A committee of Independent and Democrat Belmar voters is gathering signatures to repeal the recently passed Pay-to-Play/Ethics Ordinance that allows Belmar elected officials running for higher office outside of Belmar to accept campaign contributions from Borough vendors, professionals, liquor licensees and developers.  New the Ethics Ordinance also allows those who contribute less than $300 to an elected official’s campaign to remain anonymous.  The previous Ethics Ordinance required that all campaign contributions be disclosed.

In an announcement released on Common Sense for Belmar, Thomas Fahy, Linda Chelsen, Linda Sharkus, Katrina Clapsis, and former Mayor Kenneth Pringle said:

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The Arnone Report: Promises made, promises kept; a tax cut for Monmouth County

By Freeholder Director Arnone, Thomas[email protected].us

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Mother Nature may be playing tricks on us with the weather again – she’s bringing in extremely low temperatures, then teasing us with spring like weather in the 60s this past weekend. But there is no trickery here at the County, I made a promise last month that I would provide our residents with a much needed tax break, and I am holding true to the that statement, along with my fellow freeholders by proposing an overall tax cut of $4.5 million. This is the first time, I believe, that freeholders have ever decreased taxes to the county residents.

We propose collecting $302.5 million from property taxes, down from $307 million just last year. At the end of 2015, Monmouth County completed the sale of its two care centers which eliminated the yearly operating losses that the facilities have incurred for several years. The public auction of the two facilities generated $32.4 million in revenue; approximately $18 million more than was projected.

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