Former official wants details on Lacey's MUA job

Isuppose I should be shocked, but I guess it's political business as usual in Brick.

I have read the articles by former Brick Township Municipal Utility Authority (BTMUA) Commissioner Salvatore Petoia regarding the controversial hiring of Freeholder James F. Lacey to a $135,000 position as the head of the BTMUA. Petoia provided an excellent accounting of the shameful behavior of the commissioners in their hiring of the Freeholder.

I have read the articles in the papers from residents and even editorials from some newspapers stating that Freeholder Lacey's hiring was not only disgraceful but was political patronage at it's worst. Some have even said it was a conflict of interest.

However, Mr. Petoia's accounting of the hiring has raised another important point. He stated that he never saw Freeholder Lacey's résumé before the meeting and that nothing was ever discussed about the other applicant's qualifications (if there were any other applicants). But the most shocking part to me was that there was a formal resolution approving Freeholder Lacey already made up before the public meeting started.

How could this be? Did the majority of the commissioners discuss this beforehand in some back room? If so, that is clearly a violation of the Sunshine Law.

Were there any discussions in public or in closed session regarding the applications? If so, are there any minutes available regarding these discussions? Were there proper notices given of these discussions?

Chairman Bottazzi has stated that all the applications were discussed. When? Where? How could all of the commissioners who voted on this hiring have possibly known about the resolution and its contents?

I think someone needs to investigate this seemingly very possible Sunshine Law violation. Come on Brick! Lets have and open and honest government and once and for all stop political backroom business as usual in our township.

Gregory S. Kavanagh Former Brick Councilman

Brick