BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAM, that is the best way we can describe the last Council meeting. The meeting was going along relatively smooth. Councilman Mullaney asked his 'electioneering questions" regarding the 2009 Budget. Borough Administator, Bill Garafolo, with assistance from Mayor Buccellato answered his 3 questions. In our opinion questions could have been asked and answered by a simple conversation with the Borough Administrator prior to the meeting. But, hey, it is election time and Councilman Mullaney wants us to think he is on top of things. What things, you ask, your guess is as good as ours. What ideas has the Councilman offered up to save the Borough money you ask, well so do we? Wasn't it Councilman Mullaney who offered up a Pay to Play Ordinance......oops, that's right, until he found out it could possibly affect him and others on the dais.

Sorry, we digressed, election time becomes a waste of time and energy for the Borough Council when its members and their families use their positions as a political podium!

Back to the BAAAAAAAAAAM....

Open Privilege of the Floor - A woman, identified herself as Mrs. Mendes of Key Auto Body Shop, Mother/Employer of Councilman Kevin Mendes, demanded to have a conversation with Mayor Buccellato. She commenced with demanding to know why her family business is being attacked by the Mayor and insisted on seeing the data he referenced in an Asbury Park Press article and a subsequent editorial. The Mayor stated he had the paperwork in his car. Interestingly enough she did not request he retrieve it from his car. Mrs. Mendes then demanded the Mayor provide a retraction, he stated he could not. Mrs. Mendes ending by claiming she would be back next meeting.

Comment: To do what? The Mayor, as he tried to indicate, does not control the news media. Assuming the figures quoted were taken from the Borough books, where is there misinformation? Figures don't lie.

We all know the Mendes family has done some good things for the Borough of Matawan over the years. Why after the article appeared over two months ago come in and take a public position. Would not a meeting or a telephone call to the Mayor have been more productive?

During the dialogue between Mrs. Mendes and the Mayor, he asked if it was okay for Councilman Mendes to accept health insurance benefits from the Borough when everyone else on the Council has declined coverage. Mrs. Mendes chastised the Mayor claiming it had nothing to do with the issue at hand.

Comment: During this time of economic difficulties, where the Borough has to make cutbacks, why has Councilman Mendes (the only Council Member) opted to take the Borough Health Plan Coverage? Does he contribute? Did he have private coverage through his employer before? These seem to be questions that need to be answered.