Letters
Irresponsible behavior by official can’t be tolerated

Brick Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) Chairman Andrew Nittoso Jr. has hit an all-time low while serving in office. Blaming political retribution for his possible ouster from the Brick MUA is absolutely without merit and should have the average Democrat in Brick outraged. When any person, regardless of political affiliation, does wrong in office, they should be held accountable.

It has been alleged that Chairman Nittoso ordered the Brick MUA executive director to bury a 20-year-old sewer bill for Democrat Party boss, former mayor Dan Newman. In fact, the Ocean County Prosecutor is leading an investigation into this and other matters at the Brick MUA. The township council has found 19 charges against Nittoso, including neglect of duty, inefficiency and misconduct in office.

From hiring family members and giving them pay raises well in excess of reality, Newman and Nittoso have politically “hacked” the Brick MUA, simply because they could. Maybe it was rewarding political friends or simply because they thought they were entitled — either way, it was wrong. Now [Township Councilwoman] Kathy Russell has thrown her hands up in disgust at the party she now heads, and offered a plan to abolish the MUA.

The public should rest assured that the Republican majority who were voted in two years ago have done a great job of curing the ills of the Scarpelli team. From getting a hold on our tax rate, televising council meetings, blocking the development of Traders Cove, as well as putting responsible members on the Brick MUA, the Republicans have worked hard to effect change. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been rewarding.

Irresponsible behavior by Nittoso is wrong and can’t be tolerated. It’s clear to me that Nittoso’s feelings may be hurt and he may be frightened by the impending legal ramifications of his actions. This in no way should warrant Nittoso to spew political hatred toward the Republican majority who were elected to clean up after the poor decisions of the Scarpelli team over the years. He should take his medicine like a man and stop spinning these issues away from him and his Democrat colleagues.

John Barrett

Brick