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Community Corner

Speak Out Against Monmouth Co. Corruption at Colts Neck HS

Community, Business and Government will converge on Colts Neck High School in October at a Town Hall meeting where people from throughout Monmouth County will have an opportunity to speak and interact with their State representatives. All are welcome to bring questions and ideas as the Colts Neck Business Association (CNBA) hosts a distinguished slate of guests, including Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblywomen Mary Pat Angelini, Caroline Casagrande, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden and Colts Neck Mayor Mike Fitzgerald.  This public forum format will discuss current issues of importance, followed by some informal time to meet and greet the panelists and other attendees.

This event will provide local businesses and residents of Monmouth County to directly interact with those they have elected to represent them.  “Laws are usually passed by legislators who want to know what their constituents are thinking.  Meeting directly with our representatives and sharing with them our thoughts and ideas can be a good way to see progress made in government.  It’s not enough to just pull a lever on Election Day.  If we want to be well represented we also need to speak-up and open a dialogue with them” says CNBA President Glen J. Dalakian.

There will be a time to meet and mingle not only with the representatives but with all who attend.  “The CNBA is focused on business but we have the community in mind in all we do” stated CNBA Vice President Anna Appolonia.  “This is why all are welcome to this unique event that will be of interest to business and community members alike”.

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Doors will open at 6:15 PM  for the 7:00 PM event on Tuesday October 22nd, 2013 followed by a “meet and greet” coffee and cake reception hosted by the local DECA student chapter at Colts Neck High School located at 59 Five Points Rd, Colts Neck, NJ.

 

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This will probably be the first and last opportunity before November’s Election Day, to ask why our County representatives have not called for a special investigation into the pension fraud and “double-dipping” shenanigans that have cost taxpayers dearly.

 

Three of Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden’s undersheriffs are guilty of double-dipping – not a felony or misdemeanor, just a costly reality in the world of New Jersey politics.

The most controversial of the three is Undersheriff Michael W. Donovan Jr.  Donovan’s double-dipping – revealed by a New Jersey Watchdog investigative report last year

As Monmouth County sheriff in 2008, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno hired Donovan as chief in charge of law enforcement. There was an obstacle:  Donovan had retired as a county investigator three years earlier.  Since a sheriff’s chief officer is a position subject to the rules of the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS), Donovan faced the prospect of giving up pension checks by going back to work.

To help Donovan double-dip, Guadagno informed payroll officials Donovan was her chief warrant officer – a similar sounding but completely different position not subject to PFRS rules.  In contrast, Guadagno’s own memo and organizational chartidentified Donovan as her chief in charge of law enforcement.

With Guadagno’s help, Donovan pocketed $85,000 a year in retirement pay along with his new salary of $87,000.  He scammed $245,000 from PFRS – $227,000 in pension pay, plus $18,000 he should have contributed to the pension fund after being re-hired. 

Faced with controversy, Sheriff Shaun Golden – Guadagno’s successor – found a way to protect his office and Donovan.  In February, Golden gave Donovan a raise and promoted him to undersheriff, a position not subject to PFRS rules.  So Donovan continues his double-dipping ways, more lucrative than ever.

Theodore Freeman retired from Monmouth County in January 1996 and was rehired as undersheriff in June 2002.  Freeman, 65, receives $151,000 a year – his $92,000 salary plus $59,000 in pension.

If Sheriff Golden objects to double-dipping, he has a funny way of showing it.  He hired double-dipper #3 – Undersheriff Robert J. Dawson – earlier this year.

Dawson, 47, retired from the Spring Lake police on Feb. 1.   Two weeks later, he was sworn into office as a Monmouth County undersheriff.  His double-take totals $184,000 a year - his$88,000 salary plus a $96,000 pension.

 

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