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Toms River: The owners of two Lavallette-based construction companies have been appointed as members of the Dover Township Planning Board in the apparent redemption of a pledge by Mayor Paul Brush to "appoint a brand new planning board, completely independent of greedy development interests."

D’Anton In Charge Of “Screening Appointments” For Brush

Robert D'Anton, who also serves as vice chairman of the Brush transition team and head of a transition team committee that screens prospective appointments, is the Chairman of the State Lottery Commission and is a good government advocate who describes his company as "one of New Jersey's most respected and successful developers and construction managers.".

He was appointed by Brush to a two year alternate term on the planning board. D'Anton is the founder and President of AST Development Corp., a construction and property management company based in Lavallette.

McGreevey Connection Helpful To Good Planning

According to the Star Ledger, "D'Anton and his business have donated more than $100,000" to Governor Jim McGreevey and state Democrats since 1996, a connection that should be especially helpful to effective planning in Dover Township.

Independent State Police Connection Also Helpful

Also very helpful are D'Anton's connections with the state law enforcement process. He comes to the table with a special interest in communications, having been willing to donate communications equipment (cell phones and fax machines) to independent investigative units of the state police who put in substantial overtime to conduct surveillance on subversive Republican enemies list targets without even a thought of added compensation.

Sal Mattia Gets A Two Year Board Term

Also appointed to the Planning Board was Salvatore Mattia, the proprietor of Mattia Building contractors Inc., also based in Lavallette.

Mattia, a close associate and spokesman for the new mayor and chairman of the Brush transition team, was appointed to a two year term on the board.

Mattia's company specializes in additions and add-ons to existing housing, and does not get involved in residential, business park or other large scale construction developments.

Secare Is Special Mayor's Counsel

Among other appointments made by Brush was the designation of Steven Secare as a special legal counsel answerable directly to the mayor. Secare will receive $135 an hour and will submit very reasonable monthly bills.

Secare, a Toms River attorney, made the news a few months ago, when he acknowledged he made a secret $399 good government contribution to a committee that was set up by Democratic county chairman Fred Potter to offer constructive personal criticism of former Mayor John Russo Jr. in the Republican primary election.

Noble Obligation "To Elect Democrats And Un-Elect Republicans."

Secare, who has championed legal ethics as the secretary of the Ocean County Legal Ethics Committee set up by the New Jersey State Supreme Court, described his job at that time as a solemn and noble obligation "to elect Democrats and un-elect Republicans."

His dedication to high ethical standards and his devotion to good government will, no doubt, stand him in good stead as special counsel to the new mayor.

Secare's Appointment Survived
Exhaustive Competitive Evaluations?

"We will eliminate play-to-pay through comparative quotes and competition in hiring lawyers and other professional", pledged Brush during his campaign for mayor, and Secare's appointment, having clearly survived the most exhaustive competitive evaluations, stands as a beacon of what can be accomplished through real reform by a new independent mayor.

More on these issues and more appointments by Brush and the new seven member Township Council as time goes forward.  (For 01/02/04)

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