POINT PLEASANT BEACH – In the final meeting before Republicans take control of Borough Council in January, new rules were adopted governing nepotism and business referrals for township employees, as well as for permits covering special events.
Mayor Vincent Barrella broke ties regarding four separate ordinances, including one governing meeting protocols, and aligned with Bret Gordon and outgoing council members Kristine Tooker and Dave Cavagnaro. Republicans Andy Cortes, William Mayer and Stephen Reid opposed the measures.
Under a Mayor-Council form of government, the mayor only votes to break a tie. Republicans will gain two council seats in January after November’s election of Tom Vogel and Tom Toohey.
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While there was considerable debate about the ordinances upon their introduction on Dec. 3, there was little discussion by the Borough Council or public outside of the public events ordinance.
Elected officials for state and county office should not be seeking to be put on the borough’s payroll and the nepotism ordinance addresses a common issue in New Jersey, Barrella said.
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Reid had said that this ordinance is targeted at blocking state Senator Jim Holzapfel's (R-10th District) law firm from gaining any appointments from the borough in January.
Regarding the referral ordinance, Barrella said the rules prohibit referrals of work from professionals and vendors doing business with Point Pleasant Beach's government to governing body members or their immediate family. Republicans criticized the proposal as too broad and that existing bribery and local government rules already govern what can be construed as favors from vendors.
The ordinance regarding special events only determines the mechanics of managing large events with more than 200 people and addressing the borough’s share of costs for major events, such as providing police and public works support.
Barrella said if a person is having a party with more than 200 people at his or her home, a permit will be needed.
Barrella, a Republican who was re-elected as an independent for mayor in 2011, said an ordinance regarding meeting protocols was also introduced to prevent the role of mayor from being marginalized when Republicans take control of the Borough Council in January.
