An Ethical Diamond in the Rough

By Benson Chiles, member of the Atlantic Highland’s Planning Board


Many people around here know Atlantic Highlands as the “Jewel of the Bayshore.” It’s not an official slogan, nor is it always fitting. It does, however, accurately characterize the beautiful rolling hills, the colorful Victorian homes, and the big views of NYC and Sandy Hook that make Atlantic Highlands a special place to live.

The Atlantic Highlands Council has an opportunity to add another priceless feature to the Borough: ethics reform. For more than a year a bi-partisan committee worked hard to develop a suite of three ordinances that insure the highest ethical standards of conduct for town officials, developers who go before the planning board, contractors who bid on Borough projects, and professional service firms who want to do business with the town. Passing these reforms at tonight’s meeting will send a strong message that Atlantic Highlands is a jewel for reform.

Council members Stephanie Ladiana (D) and Lou Fligor (R) deserve credit for their hard work bringing these reform ordinances this far. Now it will fall to the full council to put them on the books. Mayor Peter Donoghue has publicly expressed support for the measures, and other members of the Council throughout the drafting process have offered sound suggestions for ways to strengthen them. Clearly, members of the Council understand the importance of these reforms in the larger political context, and tonight, residents will have a chance to reinforce that view during a public hearing.

The arrests and ongoing investigations of Monmouth County officials for ethical misconduct have brought increased public attention to issues of ethics in government. Now the challenge is how to convert this negative momentum into something positive, before even more voters are lost to cynicism and disgust. Senator John Adler, in a recent Asbury Park Press editorial captured the moment well when he said, the "implied quid pro quo of campaign contributions" is "one step removed from the worst example of corruption, which is taking bribes."

At every level of government, our elected officials have a choice to make: continue with politics as usual, despite deepening citizen concerns, or enact sweeping reforms that empower citizens and build public trust? The vitality of our democracy depends on the answer.

In Atlantic Highlands, the Borough Council stands ready to make the right choice. In so doing, it will not only raise the ethical bar of conduct for our small town, but it will join the dozens of other municipalities who have passed similar “pay-to-play” reforms. This coordinated action (thanks in large part to the “Citizens’ Campaign,” www.jointhecampaign.org) may strengthen the resolve of County and State officials to pass similar reforms. As Tip O’Neil once said, “all politics is local.”

But the challenge should not be underestimated. Barbara and Stephen Salmore, in their book New Jersey Politics and Government, describe New Jersey as one of “the strongest bastions of the individualistic political culture among the states,” where the “culture is expressed at its lowest level through urban political machines, boss rule, and extensive corruption.” If we can get real reform here in the land of “The Sopranos,” then other states and the Federal government should have the courage to follow suit.

“Pay to play” reform in tiny Atlantic Highlands may be like discovering a large ethical diamond in the rough. With a little polishing, the core nature of our community can be seen and admired by others. Other communities, in turn, need only to look within to discover their own ethical jewels.

Calling All Budding Bloggers!

Do you enjoy reading the AH Muse? Do you enjoy reading other blogs? Have you ever thought about starting your own blog? Do you have thoughts and opinions on local affairs? Can you turn on a computer?

Then I'm looking at you.

The AH Muse writer/editor/bartender/paternal unit will be soaking up San Diego's sunny rays with the family in one month and two days (not that I'm counting). If any AH resident would like to guest host the AH Muse for a week please let me know. You don't need to post daily and you can cover whatever topics come up and interest you. Most of all, you don't need to be a computer genius - if you can type a Word document you can post a blog entry.

Should a few people want to help we can work out a schedule or heck, y'all can write everyday, I don't care as I'll be relaxing poolside or sunning myself at the beach.

Please let me know as soon as possible so we can arrange a quick tutorial to get you started in the wild, wacky world of web-logs.

Email: hill_timothy@hotmail.com

March Ridiculousness

Thanks to some ridiculous upsets this weekend I no longer have to worry about my NCAA brackets. I can now fully devote myself to familial and local affairs.

One would think that a week away from following the papers would leave lots of news to catch up on, but alas, local buzz is tough to come by. I think the biggest story last week was the inebriated leprechaun that took a rather unfortunate spill into the Sandy Hook bay on St. Paddy's Day while trying to get off the ferry in Highlands. Fortunately, the gentleman was ok. Just think if he had to walk stumble down the pier in Atlantic Highlands! (Cough, cough, it's not easy.)

The Bayshore Courier published a press release article (second item) on Keyport Mayor John Merla and how "he's looking forward to defending the allegations brought against him by the FBI." The Courier goes on to paint Merla as a heavyweight boxer, never backing down from a tough fight even though the odds may be stacked against him. The Courier might as well have had a picture of Merla running up the steps of city hall with his fists pumped into the air to accompany the article.

Then, in the Courier Editorial section, Somdatta Sengupta comes to the defense of former Hazlet Mayor Paul Coughlin, writing:

I really like the way in which the town's GOP members have pulled together in an hour of crisis and have done what is best for the town and its taxpayers. Even Coughlin. Though he was not required by law to step down, he did.

As my daughter's Wiggles would say, whoop-dee-doo. If I'm going to listen to spin doctors, I'd much rather listen to Pocket Full of Kryptonite. I never knew the Courier was a soapbox for the Keyport/Hazlet GOP.

But hand's down, the most disapointing feature about this week's Courier was the absence of the Mystery Shopper! What's up with that? I don't exactly pay the $.40 for the stellar reporting, I just like looking at the picture of the poor sucker who gets photographed walking out of FoodTown with a pint of Ben & Jerry's, a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos and assorted deli meats. And I secretly hope one day I am that man. Lord knows I try.

Oh, and by the way, speaking of the Lord, Jesus is the Messiah Whether One Believes or Not. End of story. Don't talk to me about your "Force" and Jedi voodoo. Or your kooky alien invaders Mr. Tom Cruise.

So I pretty much threw my Magic 8-ball against a wall, kicked it a few times and then smashed it with a hammer. After so reliably predicting some immediate consequences of last month's bribery scandal it COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY FAILED ME in my attempt to repeat as the winner of my March Madness office pool (as you already know - I said UCONN, it said "outlook positive").

So I'm left with few options for predicting future events. The Town Psychic was run out of town to make room for a vintage clothing store (forget the future, let's recycle old stuff that was cool old stuff five years ago), Councilman Jack Archibald only predicts the future around the holidays when he gives us sneak peaks into Santa's bag and I had to burn my Farmer's Almanac for heat this winter. So I guess I'm left with a good ol' gut feeling. That same gastrointestinal pain that tells me to raise on fourth street when I'm holding four diamonds attempting to bluff the table and then seeing the next bet after being re-raised. Sure, my gut's failed me before - but not as much as it's come through for me. (I held 'em and got the flush on fifth street). So my gut tells me:

1. After some discussion during the public comment portion of Wednesday's Council meeting Atlantic Highlands will pass three pay-to-play ordinances.
2. The municipal budget will be introduced at Wednesday's meeting and the phrase "bull-sh%#" will uttered at least a dozen times. This may be qualified with a rather explicit adjective.
3. I want turkey and swiss for lunch
4. The completion of the Bayshore Bike Trail will not be mentioned at all.
5. Water and sewer rates will go up.
6. It will snow one more time before spring really arrives.

St. Patrick's Day Eve

Can't write, drooling...



Sorry for the lack of posts this week folks. I'm integrating, optimizing, branding and communicating like a mad man. The Muse will return on Friday.

Perhaps hungover.

Erin Go Braugh! Happy happy St. Paddy's manana.

Merla Apologizes!

Keyport Mayor John Merla apologized to residents at the March 1 Borough Council meeting.

I want to apologize to you for the recent media attack on me. It was not my intent to have our community plastered all over the news. I have no intention of resigning, and I have the full intention of fighting these allegations. I will continue to work hard for this community, as I have for 19 years. I want to thank all the friends and family who have supported me.

Well, isn't that special? Merla is apologizing on behalf the media for its recent "attack" on him. What attack? Does he mean the attack from Johnny Law? I've read just about every story on his, and the other Monmouth 11 14's arrests, and I've found that the "media" is simply reporting the fact that he and others were taped doing very unlawful things. Then he goes on to say that it "was not my intent to have our community plastered all over the news." Duh, that's why when he allegedly accepted an envelope full of cash ($9,000) he did it in a quiet restaurant. People don't intend on getting caught when they pull BS like this. They intend on getting richer and more powerful at the expense of their integrity and constituents.

And in another case of forgetting to cover your tracks (literally), Red Bank police arrested two men and charged them with robbery and assault after they store a man's backpack and ran to a local residence. How did Patrolman Steven "Sherlock Holmes" Adams solve the backpack mystery? He followed the idiots' footsteps in the snow.

"You say tom-A-to, I say tom-ah-to. You say fruit, the Legislature says vegetable. And lawmakers are making it official." Has anyone been following the saga of making the tomato New Jersey's official vegetable? Here's what Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club had to say:

New Jersey is losing farmland faster than any state in the nation. We see development paving over our farm-fields. Instead of taking on the real issues of protecting farmland and keeping farms viable, they pass silly resolutions that waste time and money.

Official State Breakfast - Taylor Ham, egg and cheese on a hard roll (of course!) and more "official state" things from DynamoBuzz.

I've added some more New Jersey blogs to the blogroll on your right. Try to check them out and stay informed on all the NJ buzz outside of our humble little town.

• Jerseystyle: politics/music/books/technology/rants
• Enlighten New Jersey: NJ politics
• Parkway Rest Stop: writing/music/news
• Mister Snitch: Hoboken/hilarity

Speaking of NJ buzz, NJ bloggers are all over a scandal brewing at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken. The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that while the university is adding more Ph.D's to its faculty, building new dormitories and increasing its endowment, it's bond rating has been lowered and faculty are raising questions about the school's fiscal management and President, Harold J. Raveché.

The timing of his growth plan has proved ironic. Soon after Mr. Raveché (pronounced Rav-a-shay) told faculty members about his goals last year, they were surprised to see Stevens's bonds downgraded first by one credit-rating agency and then by another. The faculty's standing committee on planning and resources, assigned to assess the viability of the growth plan, began to look into the downgrades instead.

Faculty members discovered that the institute was running operating deficits, even in years for which its own annual reports showed surpluses. And the endowment was declining, having lost almost $37-million from 2000 to 2003.

Enlighten New Jersey looks at the State ties to the school and points out that Raveché is one of the ten highest paid college presidents in the country(!). Even as one of the highest paid college presidents making $696,965, Jerseystyle notes that Raveché borrowed over $1 million from the school with little or no interest on the loan. Fausta at Bad Hair Blog is also on the case. Developing.

And Another One Down, And Another One Down

And another three bite the dust.

Kumba...Yeah Right

Well, we didn't exactly pass around a bottle of peppermint schnapps, sing campfire songs and eventually make-out to Stairway To Heaven, but last night's Council meeting was rather chummy compared to the last one. It may have had something to do with putting off the introduction of the municipal budget until "early next week." That said, there was still some good entertainment, but it didn't warrant breaking out the popcorn.

One hot topic was the parking lot in front of the Ocean Club and Dockside restaurants on the harbor. I came a little late to the meeting but it looks like the police department will begin enforcing a two hour parking limit for about 30 spaces. I have some advice for everybody:

1. Don't park there if you're a commuter as you'll get a ticket or get towed.
2. Make the fine substantial because most of the people riding the boat would gladly pay a fine or have their butler pick up the car from the towing company if it's the difference between missing the boat and making thier bling on Wall Street that day.

The Harbor Commission was under fire on few topics. The first was the allocation of thier budget. Apparently the Commission keeps a line item for miscellaneous. Understandable. But $186,000? That's a whole lot of miscellany. The Finance Committee is trying to get the Commission to more accurately define what short and long-term capital improvements are necessary and to budget accordingly. I think this is a reasonable request as $186,000 hanging out for "I dunno" is not adequate fiscal management.

The topic was also raised about the Harbor Commission's "mission." Does it have a "mission statement," what are its long-term goals, how does it support the overall town vision and master plan, what kind of metrics can be designed to measure the success or failure of its goals and objectives? Pretty valid points in my opinion. People in town and at Council meetings talk about the Harbor Commission like it's some separate entity to the town government. The harbor is the town's single greatest assest - besides all the charming characters and the fantastic tequila selection at Copper Canyon - and needs to be run efficiently to provide maximum benefits to taxpayers. Transparency is the name of the game these days. Tossing $186,000 into a slush fund for whatever doesn't cut it.

A comment was made that the Harbor Commission does have a "substantial mission statement," which was written in 1947 by the Lion's Club. I may try to look this up via the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society but regardless, an updated mission and long-term strategic plan need to be put together and the Commission, as well as the Council, need to be held accountable for achieving the goals laid out.

A great idea was presented by the publisher of the Atlantic Highlands Herald, Allan Dean. Mr. Dean suggested that when the town re-enters negotiations with Comcast to, I guess renew its monopoly, that we request some dedicated time on one of the local cable channels to broadcast council meetings and other events in town. Mr. Dean also suggested that students from Henry Hudson Regional High School tape and edit the meetings for broadcast. I say do it and make Comcast donate the equipment. I guess I'd feel a little better paying my outrageous cable and Internet bills each month if I knew some local kids were getting a chance to explore communications technology, media, production, etc. and build real experience for college applications and jobs. Plus, this way I could watch the Council meetings from the comfort of my Lay-Z-Boy with my popcorn and cold brewskis. I could even tape, or better yet TiVo them for posterity. You never know when there's going to be a wardrobe malfunction at a Council meeting.

Something that may have been addressed but I missed was the absence of the Borough Attorney Janice Miller. There was another lawyer from her firm at the meeting and he said something to the effect that he "would bring the concerns re: Mrs. Miller to his office on Monday." Specifically he cited the concerns of Councilman Fligor, Councilwoman Spatola and Councilman Archibald. Developing.

Speaking of Councilman Fligor, I had an opportunity to meet him last night. I've been impressed with his knowledge of seemingly every issue brought up at Council meetings, especially the ones when you have to roll up your sleeves and really dig in to figure it out, i.e. the kind of things I like to avoid. In fact, we've introduced a new verb in my household - "Honey, the shower is leaking again and the bills are due, go Fligor it out." There's definitely a campaign slogan in there Councilman.

And lastly, everyone, please help me in welcoming to the AH Herald, The Beer Man! Mmmm....beer.

How Many People Here Are From Jersey?

Governor Piscapo?

You think I'm joking? [via Sluggo Needs A Nap]

Joe Reynolds wrote a very thoughtful piece on the winter blues and the restorative value of a walk in the woods. Yesterday was the perfect day to venture out for a woodsy constitutional as we approached spring-like temperatures - 63 degrees according to NOAA. Today on the other hand... Joe also explains the origins of the name Many Mind Creek.

Ray "I can smell a cop a mile away" O'Grady attended last night's Township Committee meeting as he still refuses to resign his position. Former Middletown committeeman Joseph McGrath addressed O'Grady at the meeting saying, "Your actions are inexcusable, and they have definitely cast a black shadow over the entire form of government in Middletown Township. You have an obligation to step down and allow the Township Committee to replace you and restore that trust."

Does O'Grady really think he's going to get out of this mess? That he was entrapped? That he's, uh, cough, cough, innocent? Yes, I believe in innocent until proven guilty but his position and alleged actions affect an entire town, and the county as he was director of the Monmouth County central money motor pool. He should step down, if even temporarily, and be replaced by someone who will not be a distraction to getting town business done. If he's found innocent then Middletown can throw him a big welcome back ticker tape parade through Downtown. Wait, Middletown doesn't have a downtown because O'Grady couldn't convince his constituents to shell out the money to build it. I wonder if The Duke was bidding on that project? Not only are O'Grady's olfactory senses bad at sniffing out cops but worse at detecting any kind of common sense in this matter.

...And the beat goes on...check out the last item in this Asbury Park Press story re: "Belford developments." It involves O'Grady winning of a "raffle," the purchase of a condo, the suggestion of unethical behavior and the ever present, "no comment."

Acting Governor Codey gave the Senate approved pay-to-play bill a "conditional veto." He's asking lawmakers to revise portions of the bill to protect some $350 million of federal transportation aid, which federal officials withheld last year. Federal highway officials feel the bill "would illegally stifle competition for government contracts."

I know I won't be getting any sleep tonight as I'll be anxiously awaiting Wednesday's Council meeting. The agenda looks exciting!

1. Roll call
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approval of minutes from 2/23
4. Introduction of municipal budget
5. Snickering from the audience
6. Call to order
7. Outrage from the audience
8. Tomato throwing
9. Tomatoes to be tossed back at audience
10. Call to order
11. Passing around of the minibar cocktails
12. More passing around of the minibar cocktails
13. Drunken apologies
14. Group hug
15. Passing of the budget
16. Singing of "Country Roads Take Me Home"
17. Adjourn

The Tax Man

If you drive a car-car I'll tax the street/ If you try to sit-sit I'll tax your seat/ If you get too cold I'll tax the heat/ If you take a walk I'll tax your feet/ Tax man / Well I'm the tax man / Yea I'm the tax man

Budgets and taxes are the new scandal black. From Trenton to AH, talk of the Tax Monster is replacing bribery and pay-to-play around the water cooler and office sludge coffee machine.

AH Councilman Jack Archibald goes on the offensive in his Body Politic column on the AH Herald,

This will be the second budget for the Donoghue Administration and residents are still waiting for his team to deliver on their campaign promise of reduced water and sewer rates...The excess spending of the past few years by Trenton Democrats continues, and the pie in the sky campaign promises by local Democrats further erodes the public confidence. There is a property tax monster swallowing up our state, and Democrats from Trenton to Atlantic Highlands continue to shove
taxpayer dollars into its throat.

The Donaghue Administration are Predators on the taxpayer of At-lan-teeec Highlands. They must be Totally Recalled from Borough Hall. What with all the pies and the skies and the waters and the sewers and so forth and so on. You can't be a girly man with the budgets, you have to be strong like Conan the Tax Reducer not wimpy like Conan the Tax Increaser.

I'll be sure to attend the March 9th Council meeting when the budget is introduced as I'm fairly certain sparks will fly. The Harbor Commission got a sneak peak at the budget on March 2 and "voted" it down 3-4. Quotes because their vote does not hold any weight - the Council doesn't need their approval. One issue is that the Harbor Commission wants $100,000 for capital improvements such as paving the parking lots while the budget reflects $50,000 for capital improvements so that more money can go toward tax relief. Hold on there - did I just read that the Donaghue Administration's budget is trying to provide tax relief? How will we feed the Tax Monster? Will it eat us if it can't eat our money?

Do the harbor parking lots need to be repaved? If there's a capital improvement to be made at the harbor it's getting some kind of temporary something to put up on the pier before a gust of wind knocks somebody into the water on the way to the ferry. The seasonal hand rail doesn't really do the trick.

Middletown Committeeman Ray "I can smell a cop a mile away" O'Grady will not resign his position even though he was one of the 11 county officials arrested in the bribery sting last week. According to an article is the Asbury Park Press, "only death, resignation, term expirations, a recall petition or the finding of guilty in the legal proceedings would result in their [any of the officials] removal." Obviously they forgot common sense in that list.

The balance of the Middletown committee released a statement on 2/23 stating: “He has clearly lost the confidence of the people ... and he should not burden the township with his presence at governmental meetings and other activities. Frankly, that would be adding insult to injury, and embarrassing.”

And I thought our Council meetings were fun - I might pick up some Goobers and a Slurpee and head to Middletown to catch a show sometime.

It is Friday so let's have some fun:

• Lamb and orzo stuffed peppers: Things You Don't Expect to Find on a McDonald's Reader-Board Menu.
• Chunky: Adjectives Rarely Used by Wine Tasters
• Who's on First?
• How does bullshit differ from such precursors as humbug, poppycock, tommyrot, hooey, twaddle, balderdash, claptrap, palaver, hogwash, buncombe (or "bunk"), hokum, drivel, flapdoodle, bullpucky, and all the other pejoratives* favored by H.L. Mencken and his many imitators?
• The Rutgers women's basketball team finished 1st in the Big East Conference. Nize!
• Silly celebrity Scientologists.

Pay-to-Pay Ordinances

Here are the pay-to-play ordinances that will be discussed at the Council meeting on 3/23. If anyone has a problem downloading the PDF files please email me and I will forward them to you.

• Pay-to-Play Developer Disclosure
• Ethics Ordinance
• Professional Contracts

Cowboy Up

Photo courtesy of Bill at "Figuring out the Future

Roberto of DynamoBuzz pointed me to a nice piece on the winter side of the Jersey Shore from Figuring out the Future.

New Jersey Transit may soon be able to control ferry service between NJ and NY - at least the New York Waterway runs. A bill, already approved by the Assembly, will be introduced to the state senate for a vote.

Anyone who's rode NJ Transit will appreciate this tirade from Gigglechick.

Speaking of a big vote. The state senate passed more restrictions on the practice of pay-to-play in a special session yesterday. Despite concerns that the bill did not sufficiently address the practice of "wheeling" (funneling money from district to district), the measure passed 34-0. Harry Pozycki, director of the government reform organization Common Cause New Jersey said, "This is significant. It's not just indicating a change in policy, it's indicating a change in the culture of corruption." The last obstacle will be Acting Governor Codey who is apparently under pressure to reconsider the bill from federal highway officials who are concerned about the constitutionality of pay-to-play limits. In some sort of twisted irony we get federal law enforcement agents busting mayors for accepting pay-to-play bribes while at the same time federal highway officials are expressing concern over the constitutional rights of highway contractors and how strict pay-to-play laws would affect them. Millions of dollars in federal transportation aid hang in the balance.

Never before has my magic 8-ball been so correct since I asked it if the Giants would win the Superbowl in 1991 and it said, "That poor kicker from Buffalo has no idea what he's in for." Well, this time I asked about Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye and it said, "That poor county prosecutor has no idea what he's in for and pick up some lightbulbs on your way home because your hall light is going to go out." Oh, magic 8-ball, where would I be without you. So, about Kaye, his office was served with federal subpoenas on Monday "seeking to interview five county investigators and examine documents relating to the federal corruption probe." And the beat goes on...still moving strong on and on.

Let's see what's shaking in AH these days.

...And the beat goes on, still moving strong on and on. The AH Herald forums are hot sizzling today rehashing some old disputes from Campaign 2003. I'm scared to ask my magic 8-ball about the election this fall. Allan Dean, publisher of the AH Herald, looking forward to the campaign, writes today, "I think the Republicans will come out with both barrels blazing this year. Watch for the literature to arrive in your mailbox beginning in August." That would sound so cool if the guy who does all the voiceovers for the movies had said it.

Hmm...both barrels blazing? Cowboy up partner. I happened to overhear some of these cowboys strategizing the other day over an onion bloom and a couple of pina coladas at TGIFriday's Harborside. One guy in particular caught my attention, a newcomer to town, a real straight talker, and tan, rather handsome man. His name, Jack Schwarzenegger.

People of At-lan-teeec Highlands. We need to Terminate the bad guys from Borough Hall. What with all the botching of the back-door meetings, and overpaying of the attorneys bills and the for sale signs on the doors of the harbors and the forgeries and so on and so forth. These bureaucrats are Predators on the tax-payers of Atlantic Highlands. They must be Totally Recalled from the Council. They act like a bunch of girly-men.

I think we're going to need a Kindergarten Cop this fall.