Toms River: The powerful new township Recreation Commission proposed by the all-Republican Council was subjected Tuesday evening to the longest public hearing in the short life of the new government.

Republican Council Members Apparently Change Their Minds

Most of the seven Republicans on the council inferred they came to the meeting disposed to vote for the new autonomous body of three commissioners which the ordinance conferred with enormous power to spend money and give themselves salaries and expensive health benefits, hire employees and professionals and sell bonds to buy land and build facilities with very little accountability to anyone but themselves.

But a solid two hours of debate from more than thirty members of the public out of an audience of about 100 which frequently broke into applause as the points were made both for and against the proposed ordinance, showed the telling points were against the ordinance, and it was tabled until April 24th.

Council Should Do It Themselves

The most persuasive points were scored by those who told the council of seven members, two more than last year after the government change, that the voters elected them to make decisions themselves, instead of "passing the buck to a body with no accountability."

Speakers opposed to the recreation commission all stressed they wanted more recreation, but suggested the new body was a "very poor way to go about getting a very good thing."

Schiff Says Political Bosses Need To
Defer To The Will Of The People

Speakers included Citizens Alert leaders Angelo DiGiovanni, Dan Polifroni, Frank Kenny, former candidates Carol Benson and Marc Baldacini, and OceanCountyPolitics editor Rich Schiff, who left no doubt he considered the proposed ordinance a product of a "boss dominated political organization that has become thoroughly discredited in the eyes of the people."

"If the council does not learn that the people expect them to be free of boss control, they will not be elected officials for very long," Schiff said.

McGuckin: Welcome Expression Of Public Sentiment

Council President Greg McGuckin said the meeting was the best "expression of public sentiment I've seen in the short time we've been in public office."

He thanked everybody who showed up to express their opinion and said the town and the political process was better for the meeting.

Council Appears To Be Grateful For Spirited Debate

Every member of the council appeared to be genuinely grateful for the turnout and the expression of opinion on the proposed ordinance, which was tabled for further study and assembling of information about the experience of other communities on similar issues.

Brush Says Ordinance Leaves Him Out Of The Loop

Mayor Paul Brush, an Independent-Democrat who has "cooperated" with the Republican council on the distribution of huge gobs of political patronage during the first ninety days of the new government, drew the line here because the proposed Recreation Commission, independent from everybody but God, would "leave me out of the loop" on all of its actions.

Brush was among those who won the point as the ordinance was tabled to April 24th for possible future reconsideration.

Video Action Re: Pubic Hearing Will Be Available Within 24 Hours.

For 03/24/04

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