Judge: Belmar’s new pay to pay ordinance, “Matt’s Law” is not law
Doherty’s lawyer asks Court for a gag order
Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty
Freehold-Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Katie Gummer ruled Wednesday that the new pay to pay ordinance in Belmar, dubbed “Matt’s Law” in honor of Mayor Matt Doherty who the measure would immediately benefit, is not law, has never been law and will not become law unless approved by Belmar voters in a referendum or unless the Court rules otherwise in coming weeks as a suit regarding a protest petition filed under the Falkner Act is further litigated.
For now, Doherty, who is running for Monmouth County Freeholder, and all candidates for office in Belmar are bound by the pay to play ordinances, passed in 2004 and amended in 2005 and 2011 (the current ordinance), that restrict campaign contributions from Belmar vendors, developers, liquor license holders and professionals to $300 and/or require that the office holders to recuse themselves from matters regarding the contributors that come before them.
Posted: April 27th, 2016 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Belmar, Matt Doherty, Monmouth County News, Monmouth Democrats | Tags: Belmar, Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, ethics, Ken Pringle, Lawless Matt Doherty, Matt's Law, Monmouth County News, Monmouth Democrats, Pay-to-play, Ruben Rivera | Comments Off on Judge: Belmar’s new pay to pay ordinance, “Matt’s Law” is not law