Letters
New administrator should have affinity for Keyport

After reading the article in the Aug. 24 edition of the Independent, I can understand and appreciate Joseph Wedick’s and George Walling’s opposition to the appointment of Thomas Antonucci as the new borough administrator of Keyport. Considering our town’s recent and past history with unethical practices, at first glance, I would agree with them. I won’t even actually say I disagree with them now. However, when I look at the situation — and issues with nepotism — it usually involves an individual responsible for the hiring process selecting someone who isn’t qualified for the job. I don’t think we have that here.

Granted, I haven’t read any of the resumes, nor have I ever met Mr. Antonucci, but of the information I’ve read, Mr. Antonucci does seem to have the skills to be successful at the position. Realistically, I am not aware of any specific college degree in “borough administration,” so job experience is the primary source for acquiring the skills. I would rather see someone hired who has an affinity for Keyport and business experience who can operate the town like a publicly held company that is always under scrutiny.

As to his relationship with Mr. Richard Hasmiller, Keyport is only 1 square mile. If you were born in this town, there’s probably a nine-out-of-10 chance you’re related to another “Keyporter.” I’d rather not reduce the pool of qualified applicants just because the candidate is an in-law of someone on the council. If that council member were solely responsible for the hiring, then I might have an issue, but that’s not the case here.

Finally, as to the salary increase, I have an MBA and probably the same skill sets as Mr. Antonucci — no, I’m not applying for the job — and I would never take the position for less than that myself, so I wouldn’t expect anyone else too either. I can appreciate this may seem like a lot of money to most people in Keyport, but it’s really not. I know what those skills are worth in the nonpolitical world and that’s about right. For our little town it may seem high but if he meets my expectations, then he’ll be worth it. If he doesn’t meet the town’s expectations, then we’ll deal with it, but I think the investment will pay off.

Kim Mundrane-Tuohy

Keyport

Reader ‘disgusted’ by councilman’s comment on salary

Your Aug. 24 article on the Keyport Borough administrator’s pay prompts me to write this letter. I am completely outraged and disgusted by Councilman Robert Bergen’s quote: “I have secretaries in my office who make $65,000. It’s not a lot of money today.”

Well, the $65,000 his secretary makes and certainly the $87,000 Antonucci will earn is a lot of money to me, and probably is to a lot of other Keyport residents.

I am 33 years old, moved here from Colts Neck, and my father was a Wall Street professional his entire life. Bergen is right, a lot of money can be made on Wall Street, but should we have to overpay Tom Antonucci to keep him in line with his Wall Street pals? Don’t leave Wall Street, Tom, if you don’t want to take a pay cut. I am sure Keyport can find someone qualified, who is willing to do the job, for the appropriate pay.

Nobody leaves a high-paying job just because they “love a town.” Commute, quality of life, family, but “Because he loves this town”? I doubt it! If he loved it so much, why did he move to Middletown?

I am really not annoyed with Tom himself. Hey, he applied for a job, qualified or not, negotiated great pay, and he got it. It’s that Robert Bergen, on my Borough Council, could say what he said.

At 33, making in the mid $40,000’s along with my husband’s paycheck — I thought we were doing OK. Now I know why the water bill is always late — We are poor! I need to be a secretary at a law firm!

Jessica Wroblewski

Keyport

Plea made for governor to reinstate New Jersey military group

We have all watched in shock and horror the recent events in the deep South. What if Katrina had spared New Orleans and instead made landfall in New Jersey? Would New Jersey have been able to respond any better?

There is a little-known state military organization that was started by former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. This group was formed by combining the New Jersey State Guard — not the National Guard — and the New Jersey Naval Militia. The formal name of this official state-organized military force is the New Jersey Naval Militia Joint Command (NJNMJC).

These soldiers and sailors were ordered to state active duty by the governor to the Bound Brook flooding and later, the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The NJNMJC assisted the New Jersey State Police Marine Unit, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies that were overwhelmed by these events.

With their donated small boats, the NJNMJC ferried federal agents to ground zero, enforced a security zone around the George Washington Bridge, provided picket boat patrols at Earle Naval Weapons Station, Middletown, and also Oyster Creek nuclear power plant; staffed and manned the Joint Operations Center at Fort Dix; and provided land-based security patrols at Lakehurst Naval Engineering Station and Fort Dix.

The chaplains of the NJNMJC provided much-need counseling at ground zero and at the Arthur Kill Landfill in Staten Island. These volunteers performed unselfishly and at great risk, oftentimes dipping into their own pockets to complete required state missions.

In the middle of 2002, New Jersey’s adjutant general suspended all operations and funding of the NJNMJC, citing liability and background check issues. All the issues raised by the adjutant general have been addressed or debunked, yet the state of New Jersey has not reinstated the NJNMJC. Three years later, the NJNMJC is still suspended from aiding the people and the state of New Jersey.

Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey is the commander-in-chief of the NJNMJC. He needs to reinstate the NJNMJC, especially in light of the recent events in the areas affected by hurricane Katrina. Think of New Orleans and what a force such as the NJNMJC could’ve done for that city and state. More information may be found at www.njnavy.org. The official state Web site for the NJNMJC is www.nj.gov/military/naval.

Roman Dementiuk

Belford section of Middletown

Freeholders commended for open space efforts

I attended the Aug. 25 meeting of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The board approved Resolution No. 05-669 — sponsored by Freeholder William Barham — which takes up the matter of property in Aberdeen owned by the late Eugene Fariello.

In his will, Mr. Fariello left his Greenwood Road farm to the county for use as a county park. As there had been two contracts to sell the property to developer Anthony Spalliero while Mr. Fariello was still living — but after the will was written — there is a question as to whether or not the contracts are valid.

The freeholders are interested in resolving the questions about this property, and preserving it as open space. This is a beautiful piece of land, one that could be the beginning of additional open space acquisition in that area. The Fariello farm adjoins Baker’s Brook, a main tributary of Lake Lefferts, and not far away one finds a Pine Barrens ecosystem and the wetlands of Baker’s Bog and Burnt Fly Bog.

I support our freeholders in their efforts to preserve this land. I call on the Aberdeen Township Council, and the governing bodies of neighboring towns, to join the freeholders in this endeavor.

Edward Fitzgerald

Aberdeen