Scarpelli legacy 'gone,' says his replacement BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer Brick Township BRICK TOWNSHIP - The "spirit of cooperation" is the new catch phrase in town hall these days, after former Mayor Joseph C. Scarpelli's recent downfall. "It's been a very difficult time for the township over the past two weeks," Township Council President Stephen C. Acropolis said at the Jan. 9 Township Council caucus meeting. "Unfortunately, between now and May, I think from my standpoint, it will continue to be a difficult time." Acropolis made the comment before the public portion of the meeting. He asked council and audience members to keep their comments about Scarpelli to a minimum. "I think the less said the better," Acropolis said. "But let me just say this. I think there are people that are angry, there are people that are mad, there are people that feel betrayed. Let's try and keep that to a minimum if we can, in reference to public comments." Mayor Daniel J. Kelly, who attended his first council meeting in his official capacity, agreed. "Joe Scarpelli broke the public trust," Kelly said. "His legacy is now gone. And that is sad. I pray for the family, I pray for his wife, his children and his grandchildren. They have a burden they didn't ask for, as far as I'm concerned." Scarpelli pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 8 to one count of accepting and agreeing to accept cash payments in exchange for official action. His sentencing date is slated for May 29. Kelly's name was one of three submitted by municipal Democratic Party leaders as a replacement for Scarpelli until a special mayoral election is held in November. Council members picked Kelly at a Jan. 3 special council meeting. Acropolis said he and Kelly met before last week's meeting and agreed to "do what's right" for the township. "If we all do the right thing … together we can accomplish a lot; divided, we will accomplish little," Acropolis said. "We need to put this behind us." Kelly agreed about the need for cooperation. "I would ask any supporter of mine here tonight to keep that in mind," he said. "There's a spirit of cooperation, and let's keep everything on a positive note." Kelly spent his first full day on the job last week touring the municipal building and meeting with employees. "The comment that the mayor was in the building was true, and it's going to be true in the future," he said. "I'm not criticizing anybody, but this is a full-time job and I intend to do it on a full-time basis." Scarpelli had been seen less and less in town hall last year, prompting some to accuse him of being a "snowbird." Councilman Daniel Toth welcomed Kelly and said his heart "totally goes out" to the Scarpelli family. "I'm speechless as far as anything else goes," he said. Councilwoman Kathy Russell, the only Democrat on the council, said she was saddened and disappointed with Scarpelli's actions. "I ran with him," she said. "I served Brick Township with him. And I never would have dreamed that would happen in Brick Township to someone like Joe Scarpelli. A person who does something wrong is responsible for their actions. I just am really very sad and I feel sorry for his family." Councilman Michael Thulen had nothing to say. "My mother told me, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all," he said. "So, I don't have any comment tonight." Councilman Anthony Matthews said township business has continued, despite the Scarpelli matter. "It's a credit to the staff at town hall," he said. "We will not stop working as a governing body. I encourage people, do not allow a mayor and seven council people to determine the fate of 80,000 residents. Get involved." Acropolis said he reserved the right to make comments on the Scarpelli matter in the future. "Whether it's next week, next month, May, June, I want this to be over as soon as it can be over. And unfortunately, it's not over. Until it's over, we still have a problem." Resident Nan Coll said during the public comment portion that she felt sorry for Scarpelli's family. "Only one person is ever responsible for what they did," Coll said. "And it's not a reflection on anyone else." Another resident said the Scarpelli scandal was not the first one Brick had weathered. "Somehow, we as a community have survived," she said. "One person will not bring this town down." Resident Michael Moran said the "wrangling" over appointments made by then-acting Mayor and Township Clerk Virginia Lampman should stop. "The potential disruption can take the focus off where we are going, how are we going to get there," he said. "It has the potential of taking us out of a positive mode. The only way for this to be over is for the appointments to remain. We only have 10 months left under the present administration."