The proposed library, at 25,800 square feet, is eight times larger than the borough’s current 3,000 square foot structure and would cost $6.8 million in brick and mortar construction, explained project architect Dennis Kowal. If the project were approved and bonded, it could be completed by 2011.

Kowal, of Dennis Kowal Architects in Somerville, told the council that the average library for a community of Tinton Falls’ size would fall in the range of 24,000 to 27,000 square feet and repeatedly described the borough’s current library as woefully inadequate.

“Don’t get me wrong, your library board and director are doing a great job making due with what they have, but they deserve more,” Kowal said. A library, he told the council, is considered a community center and “one of the few buildings in a town designed to be used by all segments of the population.”

Kowal explained that his design would incorporate many aspects he felt the residents desired, including an organic building with a sustainable design, community activity and speaking rooms, and a central meeting area. “We tried to meet all your design needs and concerns in 25,000 square feet,” he told the council.

When it was their turn to address Kowal regarding the proposal, the council had fewer questions about the particular design than about cost and funding.

“The problem is, we don’t know all the costs associated with running this kind of library,” said council president Michael Skudera, mentioning deferred maintenance costs as one unknown. “I’ve been asking for months but I haven’t been able to get them. We need to get these numbers together to understand the yearly impact.” Kowal could not give specifics on maintenance costs.

Councilman Paul Ford wondered whether it would be better suited to put the question to the residents in the form of a referendum, rather than a bond vote by the council. Additionally, Ford pointed out, the decommission of Fort Monmouth could offer the borough an opportunity to build a library at far less cost. “We might as well put that on the table now,” he said.

“We have asked for nine parcels of land from Fort Monmouth,” said Mayor Peter Maclearie. That land, he said, could be part of an 80,000 square foot downtown project which may include a 20,000 square foot library. The mayor expressed hope that such a project could be built with a significant portion of private funding. The closing date for Fort Monmouth is September 2011, though the mayor said there is talk of possible early conveyance of some parcels of land.

The debate revolved almost exclusively around economics. Although the borough’s Chief Financial Officer Steven Pfeffer reported earlier in the evening that the borough’s revenues were equal to or better than expected, he sounded a somber tone for the future as he described the note market as “dead for municipalities.”

“At the moment we are better than we anticipated,” he said, but with the collapse in the bond market he described the future as uncertain. “I’ll keep you posted as it plays out on Wall St.”

“We’re in scary times,” said Councilman Ford. “New Jersey might not be far behind California, where that state can’t pay their bills. We have to be careful about spending.”

Tinton Falls resident Carol Redfern agreed. “People are losing their jobs, their homes,” she said. “Some people can’t afford food and we want to spend $6 million on a library? We’d all want a beautiful library like that, but that’s not right.”

For the moment, the council seems content to bide their time and weigh their options concerning a new library for the borough.

Named one of the “Ten Standout Stand-ups Worth Watching” by Backstage Magazine, Maureen is taking a break from opening for Joy Behar, stealing the show with her sharp news satire from MSNBC’s hottie Dan Abrams and touring – a regular at Caroline’s in New York City – to help us forget the country’s troubles and get happy.

The B Plot: Where did you come from and where have you been hiding?

Maureen: I haven’t been hiding. It’s just that to get national exposure these days – especially if you’re a gal from Jersey – it seems you have to have sex with a governor from New York.

TBP: Who is the most famous person in your cell phone?

Maureen: Joy Behar.

TBP: Love Joy. I hear Elizabeth Hasselbeck is not long for that seat next to her. Back to you – what’s the most important number in your cell phone?

Maureen: My local wine shop.

TBP: What’s the funniest word?

Maureen: I like some bad words that I can’t say here, but I say on-stage. “Godspeed” cracks me up, because I have no idea what it really means.

TBP: You were a host for years on Bloomberg Radio – positively the most entertaining part of that network. What did you learn about all those money people?

Maureen: You can’t buy soul.

TBP: Thoughts on the economy?

Maureen: As a comic, I’ve been living as if the stock market crashed for years.

TBP: Your satire of current events is brilliant. The Daily Show’s John Stewart has got to want you. Politics aside, who will make a more entertaining next four years, Obama or McCain?

Maureen: McCain and Palin would be funnier. I can make jokes about the darkest things – I’m just hoping I won’t have to.

TBP: Amen. Every time Sarah opens her mouth, it’s a joke. Want to make a shout out to your fans in Asbury Park?

Maureen: I love my Jersey people and places. So many people who live outside New Jersey have no idea how great it is. Too bad for them – I’ll keep you all to myself. I met my husband at the Jersey shore. To me, it’s an extra special Jersey place.

Oh, and I want to give a big shout out to my friends Nancy and Bill Graf, owners of the Bradley Beach Inn. They are amazing people.

TBP: John Stewart can you hear me? Godspeed Maureen.

Full schedule for Maureen and the Women’s Arts Festival at BlackBoxAP.org.

Briefly: Producer and actor, Marj Conn has a talent for choosing the historically interesting, intensely researching the subjects and bringing them to dynamic life on stage.

For two weekends, beginning Friday, Oct. 10, Marj’s Provincetown Fringe Festival presents “Women Behaving Badly and Madly” at the Stephen Crane House (very special venue if you have never been) – featuring monologues about Lizzie Borden and Aileen Wuornos or Eleanora Duse. You will be entertained and learn something – a great duet for both sides of your brain. Call: 732.807.4052.

Richard@TheBPlot.com.

A meeting was scheduled for this week with Mayor Randy Bishop and Township Committeewoman Mary Beth Jahn. It was canceled after Jennifer Krimko, attorney for the redevelopers, and Township Attorney Gene Anthony said there is a legal problem with governing body representatives meeting with the homeowners committee since all five Township Committee members are listed as defendants in a lawsuit regarding the project.

The legal action has been filed by Ocean Grove resident Kevin Chambers challenging the North End redevelopment project on a number of issues.

Anthony said the lawsuit is “very extensive and covers almost every aspect of the redevelopment plan.”

He said township officials would be ill-advised to proceed with the meeting.

Charles Layton, chairman of a special committee created by the homeowners association to monitor the progress of the North End project, said he thinks banning discussion on the project is inappropriate and needs to be looked into.

“It was to be a simple, routine meeting of a delegation of constituents with their elected officials,” he said.

The redevelopment plan calls for an 80-room hotel and 85 residential units, of which seven must be single-family houses on Spray Avenue. There will also be commercial and retail units on the boardwalk.

“It was to be a meeting where we were to discuss how the negotiations were proceeding between the township and the developer and what issues need to be ironed out before the project can proceed,” Layton said.

“(Canceling the meeting) is as undemocratic a thing as I’ve heard of,” Layton said. “We are trying to find a reasonable way to keep track of North End redevelopment as it progresses. We are open to any means of doing this but we certainly do not want to see it carried out under a cloak of secrecy.

“I think it’s OK to not talk about issues that have something to do with the lawsuit but there should be certain other things that are open to discussion. If they want to narrow the scope of the discussions to cover themselves legally then I think that would be reasonable- but this blanket curtain of silence is unacceptable and I have never heard of such a thing being imposed on any legislative body.”

Anthony, however, disagreed.

“It has always been my position that when the subject of litigation arises with the Township Committee they should not discuss the matter until the litigation is completed,” he said.

Anthony said Chambers’ lawsuit is very extensive and covers almost every aspect of the redevelopment plan.

“It brings up every imaginable issue and it’s very broad. And the reality is that, if they are going after anything they can find, it’s pretty much impossible to narrow it down to issues that can be discussed,” he said.

Anthony said any comments, or lack of comments, could be used as evidence by the plaintiff in the case.

“Anyone saying anything is subject to deposition, subpoena, or something,” he said

Anthony said the case is currently in the discovery phase and that the hearing is expected to take place in January.

“A trial will probably be scheduled after that,” he said.

What did you think of the debate?

I thought that both gentleman were fairly cordial. They addressed a lot of issues. They both have a sincere desire to help the country and I truly believe that. Senator McCain is better qualified at this point and time.


Nicole Possin, Asbury Park

I didn’t think there was a clear winner.

I think Obama presented himself really well and certainly a lot more likeable, articulate and on target with issues.

I’m glad he interrupted McCain a couple of times so those untruths couldn’t be used as sound bites later.

I just wonder how people in other states perceived it.



Larry Shaw, Ocean

It’s been going on for two years, and everybody seems to be saying the same thing over and over.

Like McCain talking about Obama being against the surge again and again.

I’d like to know who they are gong to put in charge of various departments.

We do need a change. I’ll be voting for Obama.




James Hoffman, Ocean

I’m a little nervous about both of them.

I feel like McCain is a puppet and I feel Obama is going to say anything just to get elected.

I’ll probably vote for Obama as the lesser of two evils.



Jack Doran, Interlaken

I think McCain won on substance and Obama has, as always, presented a great image without much depth.



Carol Jahn, Wall

I think I’m going to vote for Obama. He has a lot of energy. McCain scares me a little bit with his military past.

It helps him on one side, but on the flip side I think he could be a little too aggressive.




Lori Lewkowitz & Ed Psota, Bradley Beach

Lori: I thought McCain was more defensive and more on the attack than Obama, who was a gentleman.

I felt Obama stuck to the issues.

Ed: I’m sort of undecided about who I’m going to vote for. I think McCain uses his war hero (status) to his advantage. I’m much more concerned about the economy.

I’m in the construction business and I feel now that having a Democrat in the White House might help.


Colette & Ellen Smith, Oakhurst

We thought it was wonderful and very insightful for the country, and we appreciated Mr. McCain’s appearance at the debate.



Barbara Hoelle, Ocean & Dorothy Argyros, Neptune

Barbara: I thought both were ineffectual. Obama was smoother, but he didn’t answer the questions like I’d like to see him answer.

My husband said it was 1960 all over again except McCain wasn’t sweating.

Dorothy: I thought Obama was factual and thoughtful.

Do you mind if I call McCain McSame? It’s George Bush all over again.

McCain played the violin. He didn’t seem to be in touch with what’s going on with all the disastrous consequences with the Bush administration.


June Semon & Piera Mistretta, Belmar

June: I thought it was quite fair and they were both gentleman.

Obama was very relaxed; very sure of himself.

Piera: I like McCain. I only saw a little bit.

I hope they can get together after the election and solve something.



Please send us your suggestions for The Question Is… email us at editor@thecoaster.net

Photos by Michael Kearns

“I am just pleased that the process has finally come to completion,” said board Vice President Jason Jones, who is the official liaison to an ad hoc committee studying the uniform policy.

Jones said the uniform policy has been under discussion for several years but that it was only in March of this year that it came under serious consideration.

“We didn’t want the policy to be too restrictive but we did want to make sure there were guidelines in place and know where Neptune wanted to go with it,” he said.

Under the new dress code, khaki-colored pants, shorts, jumpers or skirts will be the only dress option with no baggy, cargo or corduroy pants.

Either short or long-sleeved golf or polo shirts will be required and they must be red, white or black with no logos or insignias. Turtlenecks may be worn underneath the shirts and cardigan sweaters are allowed but only in one of the three allowable colors.

Socks, knee-highs, stocking or tights may be worn but only in red, white, black or neutral colors. All belts must be black or brown.

Jones said the ad hoc committee looked into school uniform policies in other districts.

“We also looked into what obstacles they encountered and how they overcame them,” he said.

Jones said a major reason the board wanted to initiate a uniform dress-code policy is to create parity among students.

“It was not an issue of preventing violence or anything like that. It was an issue that economically it’s time we stepped up and helped parents and students out,” he said.

Jones said the new policy should alleviate a lot of issues surrounding clothing, including peer pressure and the cost to purchase them.

He said the policy can be amended in the future to reflect the needs of staff, students and parents and that enforcement of the policy will be up to the school principals.

“There will be guidelines but, in the end, the principals will have the final say and they will have the support of the board,” he said.

Board President Beverly J. Holland said the ad hoc committee recently conducted surveys of parents at the elementary schools and early childhood learning center.

“Each parent was given a printed survey to fill out and for every one person that did not like the uniform policy, another four people were in favor of it. They overwhelmingly supported it and that surprised me,” she said.

At a contentious board meeting over the summer parents came out both against and in favor of the uniform policy.

By state statute, the board needs to wait 90 days before implementing the policy.

Holland said many parents are already aware the uniform policy is being implemented but she added that every effort will be made to notify all parents about the board’s decision and when it goes into effect.

She said many parents had already voluntarily sent their children to school in the uniforms this year even though it was not required.

“I’m very optimistic about the program. A majority of board members and parents support it and I think will be a huge success,” she said.

Holland said the uniform policy will eventually be required at the Middle School and High School but that it may be implemented slowly.

“We are going to watch what happens in the elementary schools and that will help the board make a determination on expanding it, perhaps as early as next year but parents will be surveyed first,” she said.

Holland said the policy may be implemented on a graduated basis with each class continuing with the policy as they advance into the higher grade levels.

“They will then be accustomed to it and it may move through the upper grades that way,” she said.

“For first time out I think everybody’s happy with the way it went. It also makes people a lot more aware what’s going on regarding the lake,” said event organizer Mark Fleming, who lives in the Wanamassa section of Ocean Township.

Fleming said individual homeowners around the lake were invited to host parties to raise money to install aerators at various sections of the lake to help improve the water quality.

Deal Lake, with more than 20 miles of shoreline that borders seven municipalities, is the largest lake in Monmouth County.

Fleming said due to the rainy and foggy night a number of parties were cancelled but five homes along the lake did proceed with their plans and raised $5,000 to help fund purchase of an aerator.

“Considering the weather and the number of cancellations we are very happy with the results,” Fleming said.

Eileen Chapman, who lives on Locust Drive in Asbury Park, said she combined her party with her next-door neighbors, Thomas Mannix and Kevin Pilla.

“About 40 people showed up even though the weather wasn’t the best,” she said.

Chapman said Jeanne Toher, a representative of the Friends of Deal Lake, went around and spoke individually to people about the problems and issues concerning the lake.

“It was a good event for people to interact with each other, learn more about the lake, and meet some new friends,” she said

Fleming said it is expected an aerator will be installed later this year in the lake, just west of the Sunset Avenue bridge, but that long-term plans call for about four to six aerators to be placed in various sections of the lake.

Fleming said his group is now working with the Deal Lake Commission to determine placement of and electrifying the aerators.

The Saturday night plans also called for people to line the shore with lights and have a flotilla of boats, also displaying lights.

“Some people did have lights on their shoreline and some even went out in their boats but then the fog rolled in,” Fleming said.

He said a similar event will be planned for next year, most likely in August or September.

“We will definitely have another one so people can start planning now,” he said.

For more information on the efforts to raise money for the aerators go to DealLakeEvents@yahoo.com.

Gail O’Reilly, a former Red Bank planner, was hired unanimously, but when it came to approving her contract, Council President Lori Marchak-Ortiz cast a no vote.

Marchak-Ortiz objected to provisions in the contract that she believes violate the borough ordinance governing employee contracts.

O’Reilly, who started work Oct. 1, negotiated a contract with Mayor Julie Schreck for four weeks vacation time and compensation time for attending borough meetings.

Schreck said in negotiating her contract, O’Reilly sought life-work balance in lieu of monetary compensation.

Marchak-Ortiz said new hirees in the borough, according to the ordinance, are normally given 12 days vacation time.

“I’m just protecting our borough workers who have been working for years to earn vacation time,” she said.

The council president also said she believes the contract should follow the existing ordinance.

“It’s not fiscally responsible – days off are money,” she said.

On Sept. 30 Marchak-Ortiz said she had not met O’Reilly yet, mainly because she declined to attend the meeting when council members interviewed her for fear it was a violation of the Sunshine Law.

The council held two meetings to interview candidates, which were not advertised.

Schreck said it was her understanding because no discussion or deliberations took place, the meeting met the legal requirements.

“We only asked questions and then we disbursed,” Schreck said last week.

Marchak-Ortiz also said borough department heads are required to attend council meetings and are not compensated.

“I don’t believe borough department heads should be given comp time – that’s not appropriate for the taxpayers of Bradley Beach.”

Marchak-Ortiz said she is most concerned that other borough employees will seek the same compensation when contracts expire at the end of the year.

“We have public works expiring this year and P.B.A. next year. This well set a precedent and where are we going to go with this?” she asked.

“I’m trying to protect borough workers,” she said. “They have been working all these years and she gets 20 days handed to her. They worked so hard to keep the borough at the level we are at.”

“This is a fair point,” said Mayor Schreck on her online blog, “and I respect the councilwoman’s advocacy for our staff members, nevertheless I believe that agreements do not have to be identical to be fair.”

Marchak-Ortiz said the fact that O’Reilly was given a salary $30,000 less than outgoing administrator Phyllis Quixley is not relevant.

“That was her longevity,” Marchak-Ortiz said of Quixley’s higher salary.

O’Reilly, who was appointed for four years concurrent with the mayor’s term, will be paid $83,000 with an annual review on her anniversary.

She will be eligible for up to a 4.3 percent raise the first year which will be tied to her job performance.

“Which is not the case with anyone else working in the borough,” Schreck says.

Schreck expressed confidence in O’Reilly.

“I believe her skill set is exactly what we need for the most important challenges we face for the next decade.”

O’Reilly said Wednesday that working in Bradley Beach is “like coming home.”

“My family grew up in Asbury and Belmar and everywhere in between,” she said.

She said she is confident in her abilities to tackle the position.

“I’ve had so much experience I’m very comfortable and the staff has been very supportive already.”

O’Reilly said balancing her family and work life is important.

She is the mother of three children, one of whom died, several years ago.

Her youngest is a 19 year old college student.

“I take good care of my family and I take good care of my towns,” she said. “You shouldn’t have to do one to the exclusion of the other.”

Firefighters at the Unexcelled Fire Company in Neptune recently implemented a new program to better organize emergency responses.

The “I Am Responding” program includes a new flat screen monitor installed on the wall of the fire house that lists the responses of firefighters who will be heading to the fire house to go out on a call.

The program allows emergency personnel to respond via their own cell phones to a call, by calling a special number and pressing a prompt from one to nine.

The prompts indicate the persons name, rank and how long it will take them to arrive at the fire house.

The system also includes a prompt for those not available to respond.

The information is immediately transmitted onto the monitor where those arriving at the fire house can see who is on their way and what job they do.

“It lets us coordinate the calls,” said Fire Captain Donald Colarusso.

Colarusso said the program costs just under $1000 for the year with donated funds being used.

He explained that knowing how many drivers there are and when they will arrive allows the crew to have one driver stay behind for other fire fighters who may have responded that they will be at the fire house in five to 10 minutes, or 10 to 15.

Colarusso said he and firefighter Frank Sutphin learned about the new equipment at a trade show in Baltimore.

While there they met fellow firefighters they knew from Jericho, Long Island who had been using the system.

“They loved it,” Colarusso said.

He said the Unexcelled Fire Company decided to try a two-month free trial period before purchasing the equipment.

“That gave us a feel for what is was about,” he said.“It’s tremendous.”

Before the new equipment Colarusso said responders had to call each other on cell phones to learn how many people would be responding to the call.

If a firefighter is going on vacation for a week that is also indicted on the board.

The system also keeps a record of weekly “duty crews” for the night shift and text messages are sent reminding them they are on call.

“It allows us to pre-program them and send a reminder to their phone that they are on call,” he said.

Colarusso said the program is a welcome addition to the fire company.

“It totally enhances our abilities as firefighters.”

Asbury Park Fire Captain Frank DiLello ran in a five kilometer run/fund-raiser over the weekend that follows the steps a New York firefighter took in rescue efforts on 9/11.

Over 20,000 people participated in the seventh annual Tunnel to Tower Run, DiLello said.

“It was really a moving experience,” he said.

Though it was pouring rain, he said he was too caught up in the moment to care.

“It was almost like the rain wasn’t even there,” he said.

The Tunnel to Tower Web site listed his time as 19:15.

Asbury Park’s firefighter union, Local 384, will make a donation to the Stephen Siller, FDNY Let Us Do Good Children’s Foundation, DiLello said. The foundation raises money for children who have lost a parent, according to its Web site.

The run goes from the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the site of the World Trade Center, the path of Brooklyn firefighter Stephen Siller. Siller, who was off duty when the attacks occurred, drove to his fire house, suited up and started to drive toward the towers when he got word of the attack in order to meet up with his unit. When he was unable to drive through the tunnel into Manhattan, he got out of his vehicle and ran to Ground Zero. Siller was one of 343 firefighters who died that day.

For DiLello, it was the first time he returned to the World Trade Center site or New York City since he aided in the recovery efforts of the terrorist attacks.

DiLello and other Asbury Park firefighters went to New York City soon after the attacks as support, where they were stationed at a hospital to help with the expected surge of wounded survivors. By the next day, it was clear no such surge was coming, so he and others went to the site of the towers, where they sifted through debris. He returned home Sept. 13, when the New York City Fire Department had reorganized itself sufficiently to take over the recovery efforts, he said.

“Personally, it was time for me to head back and see what was going on,” he said.

While DiLello was the only Asbury Park fire fighter in the run, firefighters from around the world joined him. He ran next to fire fighters from London, Montreal and Chicago, he said. “To participate was just a treat. It was exciting; it was moving,” he said.

DiLello, who signed up for the run last week on the spur of the moment, said he will do the run next year, and other Asbury Park fire fighters have expressed interest in going as well.

The ordinance called for the township to sell the property at public auction with a $2.5 million minimum bid. Jersey Shore University Medical Center, just a bit west of the senior center, has expressed a potential interest in purchasing the property.

One caveat in the ordinance, however, was that a private sale of the site could take place if the buyer was an incorporated, nonprofit hospitable association, like Jersey Shore – a stipulation that brought comment by Committeeman James Manning Jr.

“In my mind we need to bid the property and that’s it. It someone wants to bid on it then let them bid on it,” he said last week.

Manning said he believes that a public auction is the more equitable way to sell the property and that the Township Committee will most likely take that stance as well.

“I’d rather receive bids than directly negotiate with the hospital or any other entity. If someone bids $3.5 million then that’s additional revenue for the township,” he said.

Michael Bascom, the township’s chief financial officer, acknowledged that Jersey Shore is “researching” a possible purchase and it was hoped the direct sale might accommodate them if they were really interested.

“A direct sale would save money needed for marketing, advertising and auctioning the property,” he said.

Bascom estimates those costs to be about $75,000

He said once the revised ordinance is adopted and the property goes to auction, it would probably not be sold until next spring at the latest.

Bascom said the renovations to the new senior citizens center will not be delayed because of waiting for the auction to be held.

“It will not delay the project because we are getting some short-term borrowing to move that project forward,” he said.

The township plans to purchase and renovate the old Rite Aid building, just east of the existing senior center at Route 33 and Neptune Blvd.

Repairs and renovations were originally proposed for the current 8,400-square-foot center but bids for that project were rejected by the governing body because they came in too high.

Instead, the vacant 12,500-square-foot Rite Aid building will be purchased and renovated since it has room for expansion and more parking.

The project will be funded through a $2.8 million bond ordinance with money from the sale of the old building used to pay down the bond.