Curley Accused of Official Misconduct, Corruption

By Art Gallagher

Freeholder John P. Curley

The FBI and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office have conducted at least five interviews into the conduct of Freeholder John P. Curley and former Monmouth County Counsel Timothy B. Middleton, Esq., according to former Assemblyman Michael Panter, in his capacity as in-house legal counsel of Realty Data Systems, LLC (RDS), a company that performs property inspections for many municipalities participating in the New Jersey Assessment Demonstration Program (ADP).

Panter disclosed the law enforcement investigation into Curley and Middleton in a detailed nine page letter to Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone, Monmouth County Counsel Michael Fitzgerald, and County Administrator Teri O’Connell, with copies to the Prosecutor’s Office and the FBI, wherein the former legislator alleges that Middleton was the author of the anonymous letter which alleged corruption in the ADP, that Curley referred, with great fanfare and press coverage, to the Prosecutor in September of 2015, during the height of his last reelection campaign. Read the rest of this entry »

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Arnone thanks workers for snow cleanup, addresses County budget

By Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone speaks at the NJTPA Board Meeting – Jan 22, 2018

Happy Spring! I’m sure I am joined by many in saying I hope we saw our last snowfall until next winter season.

I’d like to thank our department of public works employees for working throughout this recent storm to clear our roads and county-owned properties. As always, these employees did a great job. I’d also like to thank our first responders who were also out working throughout the storm in difficult weather conditions.

On a separate note, the 2018 Monmouth County budget was approved during the March 19^th meeting of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. When we first introduced our budget, there was a proposed 1-percent tax increase. Ultimately, the approved budget includes a half-percent tax increase.

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County Ready To Clear Snow Covered Roads

Monmouth County’s Department of Public Works and Engineering is ready for the expected overnight snowfall, Freeholder Director Tom Arnone announced.

“County road crews have been spreading liquid salt brine on County roads since Monday afternoon in advance of the threat of snow,” said Arnone, liaison to the County’s Department of Public Works and Engineering. “The County’s snow room will open this evening and we will monitor the storm’s progress. Our process helps us manage the personnel needed at the County’s ten highway districts and dispatch crews as needed.”

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning starting on 6PM on Tuesday for both Eastern and Western Monmouth County.  Mixed precipitation is expected Tuesday night followed by heavy snow fall on Wednesday.  Unnecessary travel on Wednesday afternoon and evening is strongly discouraged. Read the rest of this entry »

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Road improvements in Middletown could delay mid-day NJ Transit commuters this week

Residents of the north side of Middletown and Bayshore residents who commute mid-day on NJ Transit’s North Jersey Coast Line via the Middletown train station should leave home earlier than usual this week as Church Street (County Road 50) will be closed near Kings Highway for road construction and improvements, according to an announcement by Freeholder Director Tom Arnone.

Weather permitting, the plan is for Church St to be closed from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m., Monday March 19 through Friday, March 23.  Riders of 9 trains that leave Middletown starting with the 9:31 a.m. departure through the 4:06 p.m departure could be delayed. Read the rest of this entry »

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Monmouth County Freeholders Endorse Bob Hugin For U.S. Senate

Bob Hugin, center, with Freeholder Pat Impreveduto, left, and Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberg, right

The Monmouth County Republican Committee is holding a convention tonight, March 15, VFW Post 2179 on Rt 36 in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown.  The purpose of the convention is to endorse candidates for the United States Senate and for the House of Representatives in the 6th Congressional District.

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone, Deputy Director Lillian Burry, and Freeholders Patrick Impreveduto and Gerry Scharfenberger issued the following joint statement endorsing Bob Hugin for the Republican nomination to represent New Jersey in the United States Senate: Read the rest of this entry »

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Arnone Report: Updates on bridge repairs, Shark River dredging and the coming tourism season

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone speaks at the NJTPA Board Meeting – Jan 22, 2018

While I could say the last few weeks have been very busy, the truth of the matter is that the County stays busy around the year with ongoing projects and initiatives.

I would like to provide a few updates from the departments I oversee, including the County’s Department of Public Works and Engineering. I’m proud to serve as the liaison to this department and cannot praise enough the tremendous work these – and all – County employees do on a daily basis to maintain the high quality of life we enjoy in Monmouth County.

One ongoing project this department has been working on is the rehabilitation of the East End Avenue Bridge, located between Neptune Township and Neptune City.  This project was designed to improve overall safety of the traveling public in the area. Additionally, it’s $3.7 million cost will receive 92% of its funding through the New Jersey State Transportation Trust Fund, with the remainder of funding coming from the County, at no cost to the municipalities. Read the rest of this entry »

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Arnone Report: Freeholders continuing to cut budget

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone speaks at the NJTPA Board Meeting – Jan 22, 2018

I hope everyone is doing well! Despite the Groundhog’s prediction, we are only a few weeks away from the start of spring and warmer weather.

I would like to briefly discuss the budget my colleagues and I on the Board of Chosen Freeholders introduced during our meeting on February 8^th.

As it currently stands, County taxes would increase by only 1 percent. However, I cannot stress enough that this budget is still a working draft with the opportunity, rather the goal, to make additional cuts to keep the tax levy as flat as possible. If the budget stayed the same and was adopted as-is, this would be the first slight tax increase in seven years while continuing to keep the great services and infrastructure improvements throughout the County.

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The Arnone Report: Important Infrastructure Projects In The Works

By Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone speaks at the NJTPA Board Meeting – Jan 22, 2018

I hope everyone is staying warm, happy and healthy this winter season. It sure has been a cold one but there is only a little more than 100 days until the unofficial start to the summer season!

In the meantime, I would like to provide some information stemming from our recent meeting of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

During our last meeting, we unanimously approved a resolution allowing emergency repairs to be made to the Glimmer Glass Bridge on Brielle Road in Manasquan. The scope of this project includes the installation of additional timber piles, the installation of fiberglass jackets on piles and mechanical repairs among other miscellaneous repairs. This work is scheduled to be completed and the bridge reopened to traffic in time for the upcoming summer season. Read the rest of this entry »

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Monmouth Freeholders Oppose Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone speaks passionately against the legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey. (Apologies to County Purchasing Director Helen Fiore)

Freehold- The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders passed a resolution opposing the legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey at their regular meeting on Thursday, January 25.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Monmouth County Gets $1.6 million in federal funds for road safety projects in Holmdel and Upper Freehold

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone speaks at the NJTPA Board Meeting – Jan 22, 2018

Monmouth County has been awarded $1.6 million in federal funds from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) for the design and construction of road improvements in Holmdel and and Upper Freehold, according to an announcement by Freeholder Director Tom Arnone. The award was approved at a NJTPA meeting in Newark this morning.

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