No Immunity for Somerset County Parks Finance Administrator

by: Thurman Hart

Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 06:39:56 PM EDT

The queries ranged from his job description to identifying who approved agency purchases.

Rogers and Hawkes argued Chen had no grounds to plead the Fifth because he had already provided those details in sworn interviews with investigators from the prosecutor's office. But Chen had no idea his statements could ultimately be used against him, Pasquale said. He never waived his right to avoid incriminating himself, and he was never advised of his rights, Pasquale said.

Talk about a hole big enough to drive a truck through!  He gives sworn statements to the prosecutor and then claims that he didn't know they could be used in court - what did he think they were for?

And what's the deal with not wanting to give your job description? 

"He's being put on the stand while there is a state investigation going on," Pasquale said, adding, "Mr. Chen would be happy to testify if he had immunity. That's not being offered to him."

Chen, a father of three who has a master's degree in public administration from American University in Washington, D.C., and a undergraduate degree in economics from Northeastern University in China, has been the commission's finance administrator since 1998.

He is also the purchasing agent and penned the park commission purchasing manual in 2004, which includes rules for hiring vendors for projects or goods that cost between $3,750 and $25,000. He included a special memo urging managers to pay particular attention to the requirement to obtain three price quotes directly from vendors for each job.

Hawkes also asked Chen to note the page in the manual indicating commission employees are "expressly prohibited" from accepting gratuities or other perks from any person or company to which an order for service might be awarded.

This is just the latest evidence that the problems at the Parks Commission go far beyond a "few bad apples".  The whole freaking tree here is rotten to the core and the only way to fix things is to take an axe to it - and in this case, that means electing Melonie Marano to shake things up.  I only wish she were running in Hudson County...

Marano for Freeholder Lit Piece Rocks

by: nathanrudy

Sat Oct 27, 2007 at 09:25:58 AM EDT

I know well, because I ran in 2003 and 2004 and couldn't break through myself.

This year, however, an awesome candidate is busting her butt and the Freeholders' poor management of county finances and parks has finally been made public.  Combined, these factors resulted in an internal GOP poll that has the race even -- before Democrat Melonie Marano mailed out a single piece!

Well, on Thursday her first piece hit the mail, and it is excellent. Here's your example:

Melonie has a real shot this year, but she needs our help to get over the top.  Please make a small (or large!) financial contribution to her campaign, or if you are a little light this month volunteer for a few hours at the headquarters.

The Two Faces of Pat Walsh

by: Thurman Hart

Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 03:04:21 PM EDT

That's the only conclusion I can find when I look at the Somerset Parks Commission saga.  Because Pat Walsh says she agrees with Melonie Marano (and it has to be put that way because Pat Walsh finally agreed with Marano six weeks after Marano called for the dissolution of the Parks Commission) that the Parks Commission is corrupt beyond repair and should not operate as an independent layer of government hidden from the prying eyes of the interested public.  Pat Walsh even said that those responsible for the corruption - like Commissioner Secretary-Director Ray Brown - should resign (instead of being fired in disgrace).  So the only thing an intelligent person would take away from this mountain of evidence is that Pat Walsh believes corruption is wrong, running a patronage mill is wrong, and it should be punished by...

hiring the guilty?  Jump with me people.  It gets interesting.

To Change, You Must Be Different (Redux)

by: Melonie Marano for Freeholder

Wed Oct 17, 2007 at 01:24:35 PM EDT

A few weeks ago, I pointed out something I thought was pure common sense: You can't be an agent of change by pushing the same tired cures that don't work.  Apparently, Pat Walsh didn't get the memo.

When asked about her initial lack of a position on the criminal enterprise our Parks Commission had become, she told Matt Friedman "I waited until I could get a copy of that report.  This is the difference of experience in government- you don't need to do knee-jerk reactions." 

My opponent is simply another white-wash Republican trying to spin her way out of being caught on the wrong side of the line.  Sick to the core with corruption, the Somerset Republicans would rather change a few names here and there, slap on a coat of white-wash, and pass it off as "change".  Now she's trying to re-write history.

You see, the truth is that my "knee-jerk" reaction was taken only after I had seen the report myself.  If Pat Walsh didn't get a copy as quickly as I did - if she really had to wait until she saw it as she says - then it's only because she didn't want to see it.  Her well-thought-out reaction was to fire a few staff members.  Of course, at that point we wouldn't have any idea which staff members to fire because no investigation had been conducted.  Her approach amounts to what I would call "scapegoating" and "hanging people out to dry".

Dysfunctional in Somerset

by: Thurman Hart

Wed Sep 26, 2007 at 11:40:07 AM EDT

The Somerset County Park Commission last night delivered a split verdict on reform measures, tightening some rules but putting off action on others.

Six of the nine commission members attended the session, which came as employees raced to meet today's deadline to comply with another state subpoena for park financial and personnel records.

Come along below the fold and see what else is happening.

To Change, You Must Be Different

by: Melonie Marano for Freeholder

Tue Sep 25, 2007 at 03:34:09 PM EDT

Now imagine that the whole commission-cum-criminal-enterprise comes to the public's attention.  In response, the commissioners resign in disgrace and control is given to a new set of political cronies.  In order to prove that the ruling party is dedicated to ethical government, one of the county freeholder candidates then hires one of the disgraced commissioners to serve as her most trusted campaign advisor - her campaign treasurer.

Can you see it?  Does it make your stomach turn like it does mine?  Would you think that the candidate must have a poor opinion of the public's intelligence to try and get away with such a stunt?

Melonie Marano Needs Us Now

by: Linda Stender

Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 03:39:34 PM EDT

With Labor Day just around the corner, Melonie needs our help!

Like many of you, I've been closely following the shenanigans over at the Somerset County Park Commission. It's clear that the all-Republican Freeholder board has turned a blind eye to corruption at the Parks Commission. It's also clear that its time for a change.

I couldn't have summed the situation up any better than the Star-Ledger's editorial board. Here's what they had to say about the issue:

"Freeholders cannot escape their responsibility for the waste of tax and fee money at the parks, through the ridiculously low rents offered to county employees, the unnecessary cars and unlimited gas given to workers and the expensive limo rides for park commissioners, complete with champagne. The buck ultimately stops with the Freeholders."

Like Bush, Somerset Republicans Seek to Run Out the Clock

by: Melonie Marano for Freeholder

Wed Aug 22, 2007 at 03:32:28 PM EDT

If Somerset County Freeholders keep this up, I'll have to ask Al Franken to add a new chapter to his book, "Lies and the Lying Liars that Tell Them".  I'll explain what I mean.

Only two weeks ago, Freeholders were sure they would abolish the corrupt parks commission.

"It might be time for a little less vision and a little more operational excellence," said Freeholder Jack Ciattarelli, adding the commission should be abolished and its employees should report to the freeholders.

The statements came as the freeholders named Hillsborough banker Peter Schoberl to fill the last vacancy on the nine-member commission. Four members stepped down after the freeholders last month released a damaging report on the commission's management and finances, which prompted a subpoena from the state Attorney General's Office for park records.

The Wolff and Samson law firm reported the commission violated public bidding laws, steered contracts to favored vendors, paid for limousines and liquor, and provided perks such as houses, cars and free gas to some employees.

"The park commission has been found wanting," Freeholder Peter Palmer said.

But, let's be fair, these guys were talking out of both sides of their mouth even as they hinted at cleaning up corruption:

"I can't help think about whether or not most elected officials would have the courage to stand up and say yes to projects like the Somerset ballpark, Natirar, Colonial Park, Torpey Field, a new turf football field in Warren, Ne shanic Valley" golf course, Fontana said, ticking off park projects.

Hey, I have an idea - why not let voters decide if they want to continue the current corruption system (Sharpe James is shaking his head in awe somewhere)?  The problem never was that civic leaders failed to take care of the parks - the problem was that the Freeholders ran the Parks Commission as a patronage mill.

Make the jump, but take your Malox first.

This is REFORM? Give me a break!

by: Melonie Marano for Freeholder

Fri Aug 17, 2007 at 02:44:41 PM EDT

There's a saying that the way some people tell you they think you are stupid is to say, "Have I got a deal for you!"  In Somerset County, the GOP tells us they think we are stupid by saying, "We will reform county government!"  Man, have they got a deal for us!

Since mid-July it has been clear to everyone that the Somerset County Parks Commission is damaged beyond repair - and the Somerset Board of Freeholders has shown they can't handle the truth.  They are doubly sure unable to do anything about the problem - because they are, part and parcel, the cause and symptom of the problem.

Join me below the fold for the latest outrage in Somerset County.

Falling on Sword Doesn't Clean House

by: Melonie Marano for Freeholder

Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 10:44:18 AM EDT

Of course Coyle and other freeholders are happy. They hope the resignations will give the freeholders absolution for their own sins of omission in the park scandal. Not a chance.

Freeholders cannot escape their responsibility for the waste of tax and fee money at the parks, through the ridiculously low rents offered to key employees, the unnecessary cars and unlimited gas given to workers and the expensive limo rides for park commissioners, complete with champagne.

The buck ultimately stops with the freeholders because they appoint the park commissioners and supply a large chunk of the park budget and because their county treasurer is supposed to have been keeping an eye on financial operations in the park system.

Make the jump.

Window Dressing Isn't Enough

by: Melonie Marano for Freeholder

Fri Jul 20, 2007 at 08:44:33 AM EDT

If you didn't see the Star Ledger's Saturday July 17 editorial, please take a look.

The freeholders appoint the nine park commissioners (there are now two vacancies) and supply more than 40 percent of the commission's budget. Yet the freeholders for years ignored, if not condoned, the cars, the houses, the junkets and other spending.

The freeholders, as well as the park commissioners, failed the public.

At the Freeholder meeting on Tuesday, 7/17, a former Mayor admitted during public session that he informed the Freeholders of these goings on years ago. Freeholder Zaborowski vacations with the Browns, but claims he knew nothing of their housing agreement, and knew that "a few people had cars." As if a little bit of graft would be okay!

Wasn't a "few" enough to question the whole issue? Freeholder Director, as our steward of public funds, when you know that a "few" are doing something, that's your tip off that you should act to investigate! And investigate does not mean sharing a beach blanket.

Mad in Somerset

by: Melonie Marano for Freeholder

Fri Jul 13, 2007 at 11:07:04 AM EDT

According to an independent report to the Somerset County Freeholders, the Somerset County Parks Commission "suffers from a systematic failure in centralized control, direction and oversight". For years select Somerset County Parks Commission administrators, courtesy of tax dollars, have driven county supplied cars including gas and maintenance for unlimited personal use, taken trips to Las Vegas & California complete with bar bills and movies, provided jobs and no bid contracts for friends and family, have lived in rental homes at rates far below market (in fact far below COAH prices), played free golf, enjoyed food & drink at the ball park and taken limos to parties.

The author of that letter is Melonie Marano, who is a Democrat running for Freeholder.  I met Melonie at a party recently and I don't know if it is my natural inclination for the underdog, my desire to see Democrats be competitive, or Melonie's natural charisma that made me excited about her prospects in Somerset County, but I'm pleased to be able to help her out.

You'll probably see more than one person post with this ID - the idea is to let people volunteering and/or working for the campaign have a voice and let you know what's going on.  So if you see "Melonie Marano for Freeholder", take a look and see what you find.  Melonie is out to surprise a lot of people in Somerset County - and we'd be glad to have your help and have you along for the ride.

Thurman Hart
General Blog Guy and supporter of Melonie Marano

Forty Districts and Twenty-One Counties

by: Creed Pogue

Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 12:06:52 PM EST

Somerset GOP Chair Is Tobacco Lobbyist

by: huntsu

Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 11:08:33 AM EST

The news release headline looked suspicious: "Delaware Proposes New Bridge to Accommodate New Jersey Smokers."

It said that in response to Gov. Corzine's plan to raise New Jersey's cigarette tax to $2.75, the highest in the nation, Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner would construct a new span parallel to the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

"We have reached capacity on the Delaware Memorial Bridge due to the multiple cigarette tax increases in New Jersey," the release had Minner saying. "Absent a new bridge, we are concerned with increased boat traffic that will clog the Delaware."

Groundbreaking was conveniently set for April Fool's Day.

Dale Florio, a lobbyist for tobacco company Philip Morris, was the obvious suspect. Reached by telephone, he confessed immediately.

"I was hired by the state of Delaware for about the five minutes it took me to hand out the press release," he quipped.

Is he a policial boss to make things better for his county, or to make things better for his clients?

Republican Corruption, New Jersey Style

by: huntsu

Fri Jan 20, 2006 at 11:02:00 AM EST

The day Somerset County Sheriff Frank Provenzano was officially sworn in to serve his first term in January 2002, he stopped by a local dry cleaner and dropped off seven shirts, four pairs of pants and two suits.

The bill came to $34.85. County taxpayers picked up the tab.

Since then, Provenzano has racked up $3,981 in laundry bills at taxpayer expense by routinely submitting his dry cleaning receipts for reimbursement through the sheriff's office petty cash account, according to an analysis by The Star-Ledger. ...

Between the 2002 swearing-in ceremony and November, when expenses were last submitted, Provenzano had 797 shirts, 232 pairs of pants, 84 sweaters, 54 uniforms, 47 suits, 28 jackets, 27 pairs of jeans and five ties cleaned with taxpayer funds.

Provenzano also had a pair of socks cleaned at a cost of $1.95 as well as a few winter coats, scarves, a vest and a pair of shorts. Provenzano receives $106,740 a year as sheriff in addition to his monthly $5,750 pension from his June 2001 retirement after 33 years as a Bridgewater Police Department officer.

The guy makes $175,740 a year and is too cheap to pay for his own freaking dry-cleaning.  Welcome to the "ethical" New Jersey Republican Party.