Fall campaign off to early start at council meeting
Mayor to have hip replacement surgery in September
BY PATRICIA A. MILLER
Staff Writer

BRICK TOWNSHIP - Mayor Daniel J. Kelly will be out of commission for a short time in September while he recovers from hip replacement surgery.

Kelly made the announcement at the July 24 Township Council meeting, which was held in the Normandy Beach Improvement Association building.

The mayor had originally planned to have the surgery in January, but decided to move it up to Sept. 14 because he is in pain.

"It's really been acting up," he said after the meeting. "But I'm a quick healer. I don't intend to be out of action very long."

Kelly will have the surgery on his right hip at the Rothman Institute's satellite services at the Atlantic City Medical Center, instead of its main facility in Philadelphia.

"It will be a lot easier for my family," he said.

Kelly, a Democrat, doesn't plan on being off the campaign trail for too long. He faces Republican Council President Stephen C. Acropolis in the race for two-year unexpired term of former Mayor Joseph C. Scarpelli.

The campaign seemed to have already started at the July 24 council meeting. Acropolis mentioned the "good ribbing" Kelly had gotten in absentia at the July 10 council meeting.

Kelly did not attend the meeting, but instead appeared at the opening of Summerfest to represent the township administration. He has attended many regular council and caucus meetings since he was sworn in on Jan. 7 to replace Scarpelli.

"I would like you to be at the meetings," Acropolis told Kelly, who is not required by law to attend any council meetings. "I think residents would like you to be at the meetings. We miss you when you are not here."

"That's very touching," Kelly replied.

"We hope you come to all the council meetings," Acropolis said.

"I'll be at as many as I can," Kelly said.

Kelly said after the meeting that under the Faulkner Act, the mayor attends council meetings only as a guest.

"As long as I don't have anything that conflicts with my duties, I'll try to be there," he said. "As long as I'm treated with civility when I'm there. There have been times in the last six months when I haven't been. I don't intend to be somebody who sits there and listens to it anymore."

Politics also surfaced at the meeting when Republican Club official Allen Cartine came to the microphone to say that Democratic "political operatives" were in the audience.

"There are Democratic operatives who have come here tonight to make some political comments," said Cartine, who identified himself as Acropolis' campaign chairman.

Acropolis was quick to point out that Cartine was one of many who were helping him in his quest for the mayor's seat.

Resident Michael Liloia, a member of the citizens' advisory budget committee came to the microphone right after Cartine.

"I assure you I am not an operative this evening, Mr. Cartine," Liloia said.

"That's not true, you are," Cartine replied from the audience.

"I think he thinks I'm a lot smarter than I really am," Liloia told the council.

"No, I don't," Cartine said.

"That's it," Acropolis said, cutting Cartine off. "Thank you. That's it."

Liloia had originally questioned the pending township purpose of the Ocean Ice Palace and the 13.34-acre tract it sits on. But he said he had changed his mind after looking at the numbers and seeing the site.

"As long as it doesn't get too out of control, I'm all for it," he told Acropolis.