Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger stopped by MoreMonmouthMusings last week.
In part one of our conversation, the Mayor discusses the township's budget that has been introduced.
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27 comments:
Good questions, Art. Bad answers. Check the Mayor's math - even in your interview he can't calculate an honest response to your inquiries. Funny that in Jan he didn't know who the Governor was going to be - And, by the way, it snowed in other towns, too, and many of them managed to cover their expenses with a lower impact on their budgets than Middletown. Why do you think the Mayor resists creating a group of citizens with appropriate financial background and bipartisonship approach to help the Township to get out of this mess?
Boy Art, the hapless Democrats came out of the woodwork early on this one. I listened to the mayor's response several times and he never said he didn't know in Jamuary who would be the governor. His answer related to beginning to work on this year's budget last year - obviously before the November election. He then said he also didn't know what changes would take place until after the new administration. I also read that Democrat-run Marlboro, who increased their budget by over $4 million (way higher than the percentage of Middletown's increase) cited snow removal as a major factor. And what's stopping all the financial geniuses out there from looking at the budget, which is now posted on line, and making suggestions? I've looked and without knowing about government contracts, mandates and the like, I have no idea what I'm looking at, no less be able to give them advice. Typical Democrat answer to everything - form a commission and see what happens. I bet the savviest hedge fund manager wouldn't know his rear end from a hole in the ground when it comes to looking at a government's budget.
It is not partisan to expect elected officals to be accountable for their management. Perhaps you should consider taking an intro course in financial management, or at least stop voting for the people who present a budget that you don't understand. By the way, the mayor spent the last few months of 2009 borrowing money from 2010 to cover overexpenditures in 2009. That's easy math to follow.
Hmmmmm. I seem to recall that in 2010 the TC took money UNSPENT from numerous accounts and put it into this year's budget. Funny how the world of normal accounting. I also understand that one of the trucks that filled its tank in 2009, used that fuel into 2010.
I hope it was in one of those new shiny red trucks.
Sure it snowed in other towns. However, were those towns as big as Middletown with over 300 miles of road to be plowed? Wouldn't this be a much greater cost than other towns?
Byrnes is all about creating committees that go nowhere. Ask him about his Strategic Planning Committee. How did that one go?
probably about the same as the county's: nowhere!..postulizing,theorizing,in meeting after meeting,behind closed doors in their nirvana-cocoons, while never "getting" all the real implications of what gov't. does and how it affects so many, is a recipe for disaster.. hope the Mayor and every other Rep. on the ticket this year is emboldened to say/do/follow through with what the masses are demanding-if not, such a huge missed opportunity!
Anon 5:55, The committee did not move money (revenue) from one year to the next. They were short money, over $800,000 in health care costs, in 2009 that they are going to borrow from the taxpayers in 2010 by raising taxes. This loan will never be paid back. The committee did the same thing in 2008. The majority has a habit and history of not planning and not looking at trends.
Anon 7:53, Ask Brightbill about the Strategic Planning committee, like Byrnes she is also member.
Anon 2:44, The Mayor says that he has been tirelessly working on this budget since November. Nine months and no formal budget. The township was seven months into the fiscal year before the budget was introduced. The "temporary budgets" that Mayor Gerry mentioned were passed as "emergency spending resolutions", emphasis on spending and emergency. Because they are resolutions there is no opportunity for public comment before they are voted on and passed by the Republican majority. Is this any way to run a township and a democracy?
Annoy 11:55...this mayor is not interested in a democracy...he is a dictator!!
Let's teach him a lesson in November because the people will remember the pick pocketing by the "incompetent four" of the majority who ARE RESPONSIBLE for their actions. Nobody's fault but their own and the Governor's not coming with his checkbook!!!
This is not a partisan viewpoint,it's the reality of the matter. Scharfenberger is not capable of common sense.
I have to laugh Art. Anyone who attends MT Committee meetings or freeholder meetings can recognize the posts from the regulars including the wholly unstable diva of Swimming River Road. They post the same things here using the same wording that they get up and blather on about at meetings.
Hey Babs,
Go back to Middletown Moose's blog where you belong. Oh no, another truck just went down Swimming River Road!!!
Art - what is it about the mayor that brings out such venom from the Democrats and the "person" on Swimming River Road? It almost reminds me of little kids who have nothing going for them and are jealous of the star quarterback who gets all the girls. Looking at his bio, it is quite impressive. A Ph.D., Senior Archaeologist with a slew of publications, college professor, public official of the year, countless volunteer positions, appointed to the governor's transition team - I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Then you look at the motley crew that constitutes the Middletown Democrats and you see what is going on.
Get a grip. He's running for a MT office not Miss America.
Exactly anon 11:05 and that's why those impressive credentials are so important to someone running for elected office in MT. Again, you sound petty and jealous.
Hey Art, anon 11:55 needs some straightening out - didn't Middletown introduce their "formal" budget several weeks ago? If so, why would anon say there is no formal budget? Also, why is it that most towns in New Jersey have only introduced/adopted their budgets recently? Could it be that this is the norm for the way things are in the state and not a reflection on Middletown?
Anon 925 - how is it that you did not include even one signicant accomplishments Gerry has made during his two terms in office as part of your glowing resume of his qualfications. Perhaps he is spending too much time flirting with Trenton and attending photo-ops to focus on key business issues facing the township.
Are you 12?
How is it that you did not include even one significant accomplishment Gerry has made on behalf of Middletown in your list of selected glowing accomplishments? Perhaps the mayor is spending too much time flirting with Trenton and doing photo-ops to attend to the serious business of the Township.
anon 11:44 - I looked up some of the mayor's accomplishments. He devised the green initiative and was behind the revamping of the town's website. He instituted the mayor's office hours. He had the town join the adopt the troops program. He was the one who began the link to allow people to give suggestions on the school and municipal budgets. He has been the loudest critic of COAH in the state, and now it is finally getting abolished. Under his leadership the town's workforce is down to around 300 employees. He successfully brokered many open space acquisitions - often partnering up to get private money brought in. He was appointed to the League of Municipalities legislative committee which will give middletown a say in laws that can sometime hurt the town in a big way (like COAH and Abbott laws). The governor appointed him to his transition team. Those are indisputable facts. The fact that the governor, the league of municipalities and the people who voted him public official of the year also recognize his accomplishments shows that the Democrats and BT are just jealous, petty, perennial losers who cannot accept an accomplished, successful opponent.
At it again,swooning over Gerry,annoy 12:18 and at least half of the rest of these posts. Funny how familiar your diarrhea of the mouth sounds !!
Haven't learned your lesson yet!!
Sorry but your examples are not accomplishments, they are activities. Using the town's web site and having office hours so the people you represent can reach you are non brainers. Being put on republican sanctioned committees is a popularity contest amongst your own party. What he has accomplished is raising the taxes in Middletown Township three years in a row. This year will be the fourth year of increases. Perhaps you could research that.
Art, when are you posting part 2 of your interview?
Anon 11:25, The potential formal budget was introduced a few weeks ago, about 18 days to be more exact. The budget isn't formal until it is passed. I only wish it had been introducted several weeks ago, which would have given more time to examine it and make suggestions by using the portal on the township website that was only made available to the public about two days ago. Scharfenberger's game is to get the budget out there as late as possible with as little chance for the public to comment as possible. Wonder how many people are on vacation in July who are not available to make comments? It is not about other town's budgets. It is about Middletown's budget, which was just as late last year and almost as late the year before so, Middletown's norm seems to be being seven months late with the budget. Using other towns to set a norm is an excuse to justify lateness. If the norm is putting your hand in a meat grider, or driving drunk, does that mean you should go along with the norm?
Hey Art - this is a riot watching the Dems try and diminish every one of Scharfenberger's credentials and accomplishments. Guess when you are part of the new socialist party with a disaster in the white house and a former disaster in Trenton, you grasp at straws.
Take note: the prolific nonsensical ranting by the only supporter the mayor seems to have . What's her gig anyway??
Real estate market not keeping her busy enough??
Just what is it about the mayor's obvious lone supporter ( 7/10 @ 9:25 a.m. ) that she now describes him as the "star quarterback"..
What girls are you talking about....could you be talking about yourself ???
Good question. What's your role in this nonsense anyway?? Calling others names,questioning everyone's integrity but your own and behaving like a "sick" puppy?
Give it a rest because the one person you make look bad is YOURSELF!!
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