Post by admin on Mar 15, 2009 14:51:33 GMT -5
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990313121
Monmouth Democrats shuffle top jobs; GOP lambasts move
FREEHOLD — Democrats on the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders have pulled the trigger on a high-level administration shakeup despite heavy criticism that the changes were politically motivated.
But Democrat John D'Amico Jr. said Republicans had expressed no concerns about the political spoils system for several decades when they had control of the county government.
"I'm somewhat amused by these passionate objections," D'Amico said at a Hall of Records meeting room packed with about 300 people Thursday night. "In 1985, when the Republicans took control, every single division head got a pink slip on Christmas Eve and they were told they were finished by the end of the year."
The chief financial officer, Mark E. Acker, a 25-year employee who earns a $176,000 salary, and two other department heads who had served under the former Republican administration were ousted.
Other changes were internal promotions, except for the appointment of Glenn Mason to emergency management coordinator. Mason was Freeholder Amy A. Mallet's running mate on the Democratic ticket last November. Mallet's victory gave the Democrats the board majority for the first time since 1985.
Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrow, a Democrat, said Mason is qualified for his new job and that all the changes will save $225,000 in salaries.
County Republican Committee Chairman Joseph W. Oxley said the freeholders could have saved more money -- at a time when the county has asked its employees to accept a wage freeze because of a budget crunch -- by giving the emergency management job to a deputy coordinator and not hiring Mason.
"The fact that you're about to hire Amy Mallet's running mate and still plan to lay off people from the Sheriff's Office is a disgrace. You bring in a political associate to take that job," said Oxley, who was county sheriff for 12 years.
Former Howell Mayor Joseph M. DiBella, who was in the early running for the Republican nomination for freeholder in 2006, said a patronage appointment for emergency management is wrong "in a post 9/11 environment.
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"What are you thinking? This can't be real," DiBella said to the freeholders. "Now you're going to pat yourselves on the back because you say you're saving a few bucks."
Numerous other Republican leaders and other residents called for retaining Acker.
Millstone Township GOP Mayor Nancy Grbelja ridiculed the assertion by board Democrats that Acker, 54, and the head of human services, Lynn F. Miller, 58, a 36-year employee who made $125,000, were being replaced because they wanted to retire. Acker had said he will seek similar work elsewhere or go into consulting.
"Anybody who thinks Mark Acker is retiring because he wants to go to Tahiti is mistaken," Grbelja said.
Mason will be paid $75,000 annually and has elected not to receive health benefits or participate in the retirement program, county officials said.
A 26-year police veteran in Hazlet, Mason had served as emergency management coordinator in Hazlet for three years and also had been in charge of the police auxiliary, which is part of the Hazlet Office of Emergency Management. He is currently a member of the Coast Guard auxiliary and serves as the group's liaison for emergency response, and sits on the county's Local Emergency Planning Committee.
Another new appointment is that of Thomas Pivinski to director of the Division on Aging, Disabilities and Veterans' Interment. Officials did not say if there is a new assignment for the former director, John A. Wanat.
Pivinski is a retired Roman Catholic priest who is currently working with a hospice for Meridian Health Care. Pivinski maintains a small private psychotherapy practice in Asbury Park. He will have a $75,000 yearly salary.
Promoted were Craig Marshall to finance director, Acker's former position, at $128,000 annually; Charles Brown III to human services director at $120,000; Barry Johnson to head of mental health and addiction services at $99,000. An assistant department head job was eliminated.
Reappointed were Patricia Watson as consumer affairs director at her current salary of $77,973 a year, and John G. McCormack as director of the Monmouth County Police Academy at his current salary of $86,113.
Monmouth Democrats shuffle top jobs; GOP lambasts move
FREEHOLD — Democrats on the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders have pulled the trigger on a high-level administration shakeup despite heavy criticism that the changes were politically motivated.
But Democrat John D'Amico Jr. said Republicans had expressed no concerns about the political spoils system for several decades when they had control of the county government.
"I'm somewhat amused by these passionate objections," D'Amico said at a Hall of Records meeting room packed with about 300 people Thursday night. "In 1985, when the Republicans took control, every single division head got a pink slip on Christmas Eve and they were told they were finished by the end of the year."
The chief financial officer, Mark E. Acker, a 25-year employee who earns a $176,000 salary, and two other department heads who had served under the former Republican administration were ousted.
Other changes were internal promotions, except for the appointment of Glenn Mason to emergency management coordinator. Mason was Freeholder Amy A. Mallet's running mate on the Democratic ticket last November. Mallet's victory gave the Democrats the board majority for the first time since 1985.
Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrow, a Democrat, said Mason is qualified for his new job and that all the changes will save $225,000 in salaries.
County Republican Committee Chairman Joseph W. Oxley said the freeholders could have saved more money -- at a time when the county has asked its employees to accept a wage freeze because of a budget crunch -- by giving the emergency management job to a deputy coordinator and not hiring Mason.
"The fact that you're about to hire Amy Mallet's running mate and still plan to lay off people from the Sheriff's Office is a disgrace. You bring in a political associate to take that job," said Oxley, who was county sheriff for 12 years.
Former Howell Mayor Joseph M. DiBella, who was in the early running for the Republican nomination for freeholder in 2006, said a patronage appointment for emergency management is wrong "in a post 9/11 environment.
(2 of 2)
"What are you thinking? This can't be real," DiBella said to the freeholders. "Now you're going to pat yourselves on the back because you say you're saving a few bucks."
Numerous other Republican leaders and other residents called for retaining Acker.
Millstone Township GOP Mayor Nancy Grbelja ridiculed the assertion by board Democrats that Acker, 54, and the head of human services, Lynn F. Miller, 58, a 36-year employee who made $125,000, were being replaced because they wanted to retire. Acker had said he will seek similar work elsewhere or go into consulting.
"Anybody who thinks Mark Acker is retiring because he wants to go to Tahiti is mistaken," Grbelja said.
Mason will be paid $75,000 annually and has elected not to receive health benefits or participate in the retirement program, county officials said.
A 26-year police veteran in Hazlet, Mason had served as emergency management coordinator in Hazlet for three years and also had been in charge of the police auxiliary, which is part of the Hazlet Office of Emergency Management. He is currently a member of the Coast Guard auxiliary and serves as the group's liaison for emergency response, and sits on the county's Local Emergency Planning Committee.
Another new appointment is that of Thomas Pivinski to director of the Division on Aging, Disabilities and Veterans' Interment. Officials did not say if there is a new assignment for the former director, John A. Wanat.
Pivinski is a retired Roman Catholic priest who is currently working with a hospice for Meridian Health Care. Pivinski maintains a small private psychotherapy practice in Asbury Park. He will have a $75,000 yearly salary.
Promoted were Craig Marshall to finance director, Acker's former position, at $128,000 annually; Charles Brown III to human services director at $120,000; Barry Johnson to head of mental health and addiction services at $99,000. An assistant department head job was eliminated.
Reappointed were Patricia Watson as consumer affairs director at her current salary of $77,973 a year, and John G. McCormack as director of the Monmouth County Police Academy at his current salary of $86,113.