Tinton Falls Councilman’s Resignation Stuns Council
By GARRETT STASSE
The Tinton Falls Borough Council had a shock on Tuesday when its newly elected president abruptly resigned.
Brendan Tobin, a two-term councilman, was elected council president last month, began the council meeting by announcing he was “resigning effective immediately.” He handed a terse letter to that effect to Law Director James Berube and walked out, leaving a shocked and surprised dais of officials behind.
He declined to give reasons when asked by a reporter, and no one on council offered one or would even speculate on it.
Council Vice President Gary Baldwin took Tobin’s now-vacant seat and had council approve a resolution thanking Tobin for his years of service.
“This is a total shock to all of us,” Baldwin said.
Council did not say if it would make a temporary appointment.
Tobin, a veteran volunteer fireman, was known for his straight talk. He was a popular vote getter who won a four-year seat in a write-in campaign in 2003. He was re-elected last year to a term due to expire in 2011.
Council had expected to act on an ordinance to buy a tract at 246 Hockhockson Rd. for open space but financing questions prompted members to move the vote to Sept. 16.
Councilman Paul Ford asked whether the borough could use money from the Open Space Trust Fund instead of issuing $525,000 in bonds to pay for the 15.5-acre site. Council has been interested in the property for more than a year, and Ford worried the owner might put it on the market before the transaction could be completed.
The council did not introduce an ordinance to modify benefits given to employees and council members, should the latter wish to have them.
A Sycamore Avenue resident told council she does not want sidewalks in from of her historic house, but does want something done about flooding.
Phyllis Borgo, a 14-year resident, told council she objects to plans to install sidewalks on her side of the street for fear property owners would be liable for pedestrian injuries or for injuries they themselves might sustain from shoveling ice and snow.
The borough has a $160,000 state grant to extend the sidewalk from the fire house to the school. There is not enough money to do the entire street.
Borgo said the proposed walks threaten landscaping and trees and would be on the wrong side of the street to permit students to walk to school. Besides, no one walks on Sycamore to begin with, she said.
Sycamore is a county road that was regraded about eight years ago. Since then there have been flooding problems she said should take precedent over the walks.
Mayor Peter Maclearie said he has had ongoing discussions with county officials about the floods and intends to keep pressuring the county to improve drainage.
And Borough Administrator Brian Dempsey there would be a crossing at the school to permit children to safely get to the school.
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