Not the change the Burlco Bridge Commission Needed

by: Jason Springer

Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 09:49:55 PM EST

The Burlington County Bridge Commission has, to put it nicely, a checkered history. Past members appointed by the all Republican freeholder board turned a blind eye as no bid contracts and no show jobs which produced no work were doled out leading to one guilty plea and the suspicion that more activity went unpunished.

One has to wonder if the county leaders will once again turn a blind eye over this latest black eye which has the new Chairman, who was brought in to fix the previous problems being arrested for DWI, leaving the scene of an accident, refusing a blood test and more...

Jason Springer :: Not the change the Burlco Bridge Commission Needed

John Comegno, 35, of Murray Road in Moores-town was arrested after officers found his vehicle stuck on a mailbox along Brooks Road at 10:23 p.m., police said. The officers had gone to Brooks Road after receiving a report that a vehicle had struck mailboxes along the road, police said.
Comegno was charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to a blood alcohol test, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident and reckless driving. He was released pending a court hearing.

First, he's lucky the only thing that he ran over were mailboxes or keeping his job would be the least of his concerns. Second, Comegno refused a blood test, however his attorney would like you to ignore this fact and give the presumption of innocence downplaying the incident as "traffic tickets that will be defended."

Let's see what the statutes say about refusing a blood test...

Except as provided in subsection b. of this section, the municipal court shall revoke the right to operate a motor vehicle of any operator who, after being arrested for a violation of R.S.39:4-50, shall refuse to submit to a test provided for in section 2 of P.L.1966, c.142 (C.39:4-50.2) when requested to do so, for not less than seven months or more than one year

Undeterred by fact and law, Freeholder Director Aubrey Fenton has bought this story hook line and sinker, possibly because he doesn't want to acknowledge the egg on his face...

Anyone who knows John Comegno would say this is wholly out of character for him, Fenton said. He deserves the benefit of the doubt as the legal process plays itself out.

Man, the defense should call Fenton as a character witness during the sentencing phase. Frankly, it doesn't matter if it's out of Comengo's character. He did it and now he will have to face the consequences of his actions. Burlco Dem Party Chair Rick Perr isn't buying the spin and has called for the Bridge Panel Chair to resign...

At its least, Mr. Comegno's alleged conduct demonstrates the exercise of very poor judgment, a judgment that Burlington County cannot rely upon at the helm of an already troubled agency, Perr said in the release. At its worst, Mr. Comegno's actions are reprehensible and the public is lucky that only property damage, and not further serious personal injury, ensued. In either case, Mr. Comegno should step away from the Bridge Commission. The public deserves better.

So the question is will Congressional candidates Myers and Kelly, Senator Haines, Assembly members Rudder and Addiego, the Freeholder board or even the republican dog catchers remain silent in the face of this latest embarrassment or will they cross Boss Paulsen and join Perr's call for real change at the Bridge Commission? I won't hold my breath.