Just two months after the Republican-controlled Point Borough Council approved a slate of professionals, the council appears to be bickering over the bills.
On Tuesday night, the Council went through a list of resolutions as it customarily does – Tuesday’s list included authorizations to hire lifeguards and recreation department workers for the summer.
Most of the resolutions were passed unanimously, but when it came to Resolution 118-2012, Bills and Claims, Democrats Christopher Goss and Christopher Leitner both voted no, while the Republicans – Robert Sabosik, Antoinette DePaolo, Mitchell Remig and John Wisniewski – all voted yes, thus approving the bills for payment by a 4-2 vote.
After the meeting, Leitner said he voted no because he feels some of the bills need more scrutiny.
“The bills are going to way overperform what we were promised at the beginning of the year,” if the town continues to receive bills similar to what it is receiving now, Leitner said.
Goss said he requested formation of a bills committee to review the bills, but “that committee has died on the vine.”
He said it has been difficult with the schedules of Sabosik and Wisnieski, who were named to the committee with Goss, to find an opportunity to meet to discuss the bills.
Goss said they have attempted to have the finance office send packages with all of the invoices to each member of the committee for review before the council meeting, but he said that has been inadequate.
Sabosik, in an email reply to the questions raised by Goss, said the subcommittee of "bill review" has been reviewing the bills individually.
“If any member of the subcommittee wishes a formal meeting, including the alternate, Councilmember Leitner, they can ask for one,” Sabosik said. “Historically the town has had six committees established and this new subcommittee is not in our code, henceforth a meeting schedule was never established, since many of us were completing our assigned task in a different manner as previously stated.”
Sabosik said the bills are submitted after the work is completed, and that he trusts that “our executive team of Dave Maffei and our finance office insure the work was completed before the bill was submitted for approval.”
“As you saw last night (Tuesday night), I break down the bills to insure the right amount of money is charged to our town,” he said, referring to a discussion where he gave a breakdown of the bill submitted by the law firm of Borough Attorney Jerry Dasti.
“If any of us find a bill we feel needs more information, we then discuss that in executive session with the whole council and mayor and Mr. Maffei to insure all input and all opinions are stated and shared,” he said.
Goss said the council has rejected a bill from one vendor – which he would not identify – and asked that vendor to reconsider the charges, but he still is concerned the council is not doing enough, a sentiment Leitner shared.
“They could sustain a little more scrutiny,” Leitner said.
“I have full faith in our administrator and his team at Borough Hall that all of these items are being looked at thoroughly and professionally,” Sabosik said. “Our subcommittee is like an audit committee, insuring that the town is getting everything that they are paying for.”
Lifetime Resident
7:54 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
If they are all so concerned with town finances, why are using a law firm that charges thousands more than the other firms we have looked at? One guess? My opinion is, Yup, Mr. Dasti's firm is a member of Point Boro Republican's good ole boys club... Let people like Mr Dasti line his pockets with taxpayer monay while our GOP council members blindly look the other way. Sorry, it is this readers opinion that law firms like Mr. Dasti's are a dime a dozen, and that that council could found multiple other firms who could have done as good a job if not better for alot less money..
Lifetime Resident
7:57 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
Sorry for the typos. The last line should be---- that the council could have found multiple other law firms who could have done as good a job if not better for alot less money...
Laura
8:42 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
I believe these are the figures I received Tuesday night from Sabosik about Dasti's bill: Approximately $6,046 of the total bill is for arbitration. If I can make out my own handwriting approximately $4,669 is the amount that he charged us for 1 council meeting in April; approximately $4,868 is for tax appeals. The numbers may be slightly off.
We are Jerry Dasti's cash cow. The amount for less than 3 months is over $33,000.
Da Poppa
10:37 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
Dasti is not just a member of the Boro GOP, he is a member of the Ocean County Good Ol' Boys Club ... He has been at the teet of the Boro, and a number of other towns, and his biggest cash cow Ocean County, for years.
There is nothing "conservative" about the GOP in the Boro or Ocean County. It's as bad as any other entrenched political party. Take care of their own, at the expense (great expense) of the tax payer.
Concerned Citizen
11:50 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
It amazes me how citizens scrutinize their own finances, but don't hold our "leaders" accountable for how they spend our taxes! It's in black and white....we are being ripped off by those in charge. What's the harm in reviewing the bills more closely....oh, that's right, their "schedules" don't allow it. So in other words, the residents of Point Pleasant who voted for you are not a priority. It's called checks and balances, people. Not Republican vs. Democrat! It's very clear that no matter what the Democrats suggest, it's falling on deaf ears. Way to work together! What a disgusting way to run a town.....sad.
Rick Ricky
1:32 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Citizens have no control over these" knucklehead" council members and Mayors. They are not just in point pleasant. "Brick is right along with them" They are everywhere and pretty much in all the towns whom effects the citizens. The Citizens vote them in because of their promises that they do not follow once they are in. It is called "Political Platforms" The only thing a citizen can do is vote them out which takes a few years. You are stuck with them. There should be checks and balances in everything. There is not and reason why there is so many problems everywhere. I am just wondering how come "Spooner" does not comment on his own towns problems. He has no problem commenting all the other towns especially Point Pleasant Beach.
Spooner
7:31 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Rick Ricky... you don't know what your talking about! Had past Boro comments on 'patch' . . .Stay on message...your starting to sound like Cathy Kelly? Nothing here that I care comment on. . .
http://pointpleasant.patch.com/articles/point-boro-gop-votes-for-boro-attorney-
without-knowing-rate
...and if you want to see what they have to review every two weeks you can find the vendor bill list here:
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/119902384/Point-Pleasant-Mayor-and-Council-Meeting-Agenda---May-1-2012
PS: since they shut down Beach comments. . .that's why you're posting here?
Rick Ricky
8:45 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Spooner, No,,, You don't care about your own town finances. Really, That's funny you seem to post comments all the time about the Beach finances. I am not from the Beach and yes I posted a few comments on issues that I can relate to here and there. I am not obsessed like you, commenting everything on what the Beach does. Maybe you should pay attention more to your own town. No, I had the need to respond to Concerned Citizen because there is a lot of knucklehead council members from a lot of towns up and down NJ. That's all folks...
Rick Ricky
8:47 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Spooner, No I am not Cathy Kelly. I don't know who she is and you should not be guessing who you think it is or sounds like.
Spooner
11:24 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
Rick: you seem to know all about my comments on the Beach 'patch', but you deny knowing her. Here's your own posts on the same thread she's had a number of posts on?
http://pointpleasant.patch.com/articles/proposed-point-beach-budget-would-raise-taxes-3-4-cents
...as for my towns finances, I go over those meeting agendas. . .and when something on there raises an issue, I bring it up on boroindependent.com: like their attempt to go with in house garbage collection, and there cronyism attempt to rehire a early(25year) pensioned employee part time, who in my opinion, they were lining up for one of those in house garbage jobs? What this story is about is more of the continuing partisanism. One popular Republican incumbent is not running this year, so there getting ready to chalk up political flack to attack his replacement and the other Republlcan incumbent, Toni DePaola?
Ever since the Democrats loss control of the Council this year, they in my opinion have been playing hard ball with the Republicans. The ranking Democrat, Chris Leitner threaten to resign as finance chairman if the Republicans changed town accountant...which he did when they went with another firm! Laura Beeden tried to raise an issue with the recent resignation of our newly hired CFO, having to do with the same issue.You apparently don't follow Boro politics, other wise you wouldn't be making these statements
Rick Ricky
2:56 am on Sunday, May 6, 2012
Spooner, What is your point? I didn't say I never left any post on Beach Politics or an issue that I felt strong about. Just because I respond to someone does not mean I know they personally. When I read some of these story lines and if I don't agree or know something different I will respond. My kids went to school at the Beach and I paid tuition. So I do know some of what has been going on in the town. There is no real big secrets. It is a small town. You just seem overly obsessed on how many comments you leave on many of the Beach Post. You go back and fourth and only see what you want. I do not personally know Cathy Kelly maybe you do being you seem to go back and fourth with her and a lot of other post. Just saying, maybe you should pay more attention to your own. No, I have no interest or ties to Boro politics.
Laura
10:57 am on Sunday, May 6, 2012
Spooner seems to extrapolate "facts" that aren't there. Last year it did not seem to enter into Spooner's brain that it, correct me if I am wrong, would take a super majority of the Council to approve the garbage contract. The mayor, unlike our previous mayor, was not going to break a tie. A little more character possibly? JMHO
FACT: The CFO resigned
FACT: Councilman Wisniewski stated during the Council meeting the CFO, when told of their choice for auditor, said she thought there would be a problem.
Fact: Jerry Dasti has already taken over $33,000 out of this town in less than 3 months.
Spooner
11:03 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012
Rick Ricky...now your a confirmed liar and too me a phony...when you said you don't know Cathy Kelly. . .Here's your own post addressing her:
Rick Ricky
11:10 am on Thursday, February 16, 2012
@Cathy Kelly, There was no controversy at the council meeting I attended. Only one resident stood up and asked questions. Once the Chief gave her an explanation, she appeared to be satisfied with the answers and understood it a lot better...
Rick Ricky
7:06 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Spooner, now I know you have a few loose screw... Again, I do not know Cathy Kelly. I never said I did not respond to one of her comments. It might have even been two. What don't you comprehend. I sent my kids to the Beach School. I have made a few friends. I happened to go to a few council meetings with them.. It is not unusual for out of towner's to go to council meetings. I went to a few. You should have seen the meeting on the early bar closing. It was packed. There was so many out of towner's at that meeting. Some were as far as Toms River and in the other direction West Orange. You really should start thinking before you post and calling strong names as you do. You should look in your own back yard. The other thing I am neither a phony nor a liar... Nothing I said was not true.... I was informing Ms. Kelly the truth of what happened being there was so many discrepancies. I attended that meeting and only one resident did stand up and that was the truth. It was ridiculous being he said so many complained on this post about the over time with the police and the large increase. That is why my buddy went and he asked for me to attend it with him. Not one got up with the exception of one resident. I found that odd being so many went on the post and complained about the police, overtime and budget.
Cathy Kelly
8:19 am on Monday, May 7, 2012
Spooner,why are you bringing up my name on an article that has nothing to do with me? I don't know Rick Ricky,just like I don't know you. I do agree with him/her about how inaccurate your comments always are....
Denise Di Stephan
3:58 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Dear Mr. Happy: Stop it. Now. You are wrong that one person was the predominant reason that comments on two stories were shut down. The shut down was caused by many, many people and several direct complaints that were made to me by email and phone. You have made numerous comments on more than one story that I have had to delete. One more and your account will be suspended.
Mr. Happy
5:47 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012
Double secret probation...excellent!
Spooner
12:52 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Our Democratic Council has nothing to say here. . .but under the protection of animallovertoo.com(Laura Beeden). . .posts an ignoramus comment...
5/7/2012 8:18 AM Christopher Goss wrote:
Exactly what I meant when I said we should abolish council and move to a Committee/Administrator format with equal representation and no tie breakers, either your reasoning is pursuasive or it's not.
http://animallovertoo.com/2012/05/04/here-is-a-link-to-an-article-on-patch---they-seem-to-understand-that-we-have-no-transparency.aspx#Comment
Why not post your comment on 'patch' Councilman Goss?
Laura
9:33 am on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Spooner, why would Council members want to comment on here? They would just be subjected to harangues from cowards who remain anonymous. JMHO
Sincerely,
Laura Beeden
Spooner
12:55 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
...it's still an idiotic statement...from a Councilman elected under the same system he wants to abolish. . .maybe he should abolish himself(resign)...and we'll keep the system. . .It's worked pretty well in this country for a long long time. I think they call it "democratic-republicanism"
Oh. . .he complained about the Mayor breaking tied votes. . .So pray tell me Mr. Goss. . .why the legislature includes that in the state's municipal law?
Maybe we should just put an end to "party politics" in this country. . .started by Jefferson and Madison(Democratic-Republican Party), when they opposed the politics of what was our first party, called "Federalists". . .
DroppenLoads
6:25 pm on Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Umm...is Spooner's translator here? What is he saying??