GOP council boots longtime Democratic attorney firm Acropolis tapped to serve as council president for 2007 BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer Politics was just below the surface at the New Year’s Day Brick Township Council organization meeting, despite the red, white and blue bunting draped on the dais and the carnations council members sported on their lapels. The sparring began when the council reached the appointments portion of the agenda. Councilwoman Kathy Russell, the lone Democrat, asked to table or carry the appointments to the next council meeting because she said she had not received any correspondence from acting Mayor and Township Clerk Virginia Lampman about her recommendations. “In the past, we had a letter from the mayor requesting advice and consent,” Russell said. “I do not have that in my packet.” Russell then voted no on the appointment of Scott A. Pezarras as township administrator. Pezarras had served as acting township administrator since July 1, when longtime administrator Scott R. MacFadden left to take a job as president of Birdsall Engineering. The council voted 6 to 1 to approve Pezarras’ appointment. Lampman has served as acting mayor since longtime Democratic Mayor Joseph C. Scarpelli resigned suddenly Dec. 8. She declined to comment further on the appointments after the meeting or whether she had made the actual recommendations. “I was an appointed acting mayor, and I listened to the recommendations of the elected governing body for what was best for Brick Township,” Lampman said. Russell said it was “a shame” there was no letter from Lampman about the appointments. “I have not heard from the mayor that this is her appointment,” she said. “It’s unfortunate that we would get involved in politics,” council President Stephen C. Acropolis said. His remark prompted several guffaws from audience members, including Planning Board Attorney Charles Tivenan. When Acropolis asked Tivenan if he had anything to say, he replied, “I was clearing my throat.” Russell continued to object and vote no on most of the other appointments, including her own to the Local Assistance Board. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone vote against themselves,” Acropolis told Russell. “But at least you are consistent.” Councilwoman Ruthanne Scaturro said council members have not received letters from the mayor about past appointments. She questioned why Russell wanted them now. “I’m a little confused right now,” Scaturro told Russell. The council unanimously tapped Acropolis to serve as council president and Scaturro as council vice president in 2008. Acropolis was sworn in with about 20 family members by his side. “I’m under no illusions,” he told the audience. “I do realize the work of the entire year will be extremely difficult. No matter what the future will be, divided we will accomplish nothing.” Councilman Anthony Matthews, who served as council president in 2006, thanked the staff and the public for keeping him going through the loss of his father and two major surgeries last year. “I thank the entire municipal family,” he said. “Your support and good work has kept Brick Township going in the right direction.” Matthews did not mention Scarpelli by name but noted the “resignation of the mayor.” “Good government, with honesty and integrity, will always prevail,” he said. “We will not let anything come in the way of our core mission.” The council voted 6-1 to appoint the Toms River firm of Gilmore and Monahan as township attorney for 2007 at a rate of $165 per hour, not to exceed $100,000. George Gilmore is the longtime chairman of the Ocean County Republican Party. “I have no résumés on attorney Gilmore,” said Russell, who voted against the appointment. “I don’t know if the acting mayor had the opportunity to interview Mr. Starkey and Mr. Gilmore.” Gilmore and Monahan replaced the longtime Democratic law firm of Starkey, Kelly, Bauer and Kenneally as township attorney. “I’d like to thank Mr. Starkey for 10 years of service,” Acropolis said. Acropolis said Tuesday that both law firms were good firms, but he liked the response time from Gilmore and Monahan better. Some council members also wanted the same attorney at council meetings, he said. “We just didn’t get the same person at every meeting,” Acropolis said. “I wanted to have that. We want consistency.” But Acropolis praised Starkey’s firm for the work they did in recouping expenses from the French’s Landfill cleanup and said the firm would still do business with Brick Township. The council appointed Starkey’s firm and the firm of Apruzzese, McDermott, Mastro & Murphy to represent the township in “certain legal matters not being handled by the township attorney.” Each firm will be paid $165 per hour, not to exceed $100,000. Council members voted to replace Municipal Prosecutor Kimberly Casten with Steven Zabarsky as township prosecutor. Casten, a former Democratic councilwoman, is one of three Democrats under consideration to replace Scarpelli for the remainder of 2007. The council voted to appoint Robert Russo as public works director. Russo had been serving as acting public works director since the resignation of John H. (Jack) Nydam in 2005. Nydam pleaded guilty to official misconduct, theft and witness tampering April 3. John J. Jackson III, Brick, was appointed as township public defender. Council members voted to retain the firm of Birdsall Engineering as township engineer for $57,600 per year. The Toms River firm of Hutchins, Farrell, Meyer and Allison was appointed as township auditor at $60,000 per year. Frank Pannucci Jr. was reappointed to the Planning Board for a four-year term. Madeline Iannarone was reappointed to the Board of Adjustment for a four-year term. Dennis Liberatore was appointed to a two-year term as an alternate to the Board of Adjustment. Edward Mercer was appointed to fill an unexpired term as an alternate until the end of 2007.