Hall will focus on technology in 2006 Chosen to repeat as Middletown mayor, outlines agenda BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer Outgoing Middletown Committeeman Raymond O’Grady attended the Jan. 1 reorganization meeting, much to the astonishment of Mayor Thomas Hall. “I think I share the feelings of a lot of people when I say that I was surprised that Ray showed up on reorg day,” said Hall. “I can’t understand why he showed up. There was no need to.” O’Grady is one of the 11 Monmouth County officials who were arrested during the FBI corruption sweep in February. He was later indicted on several counts of bribery and extortion and is expected to begin his federal trial later this month. O’Grady pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and has refused to step down from his elected position despite repeated requests. “We made it very clear we wanted him to step down,” said Hall. “That would be no admission of guilt, just the right thing to do.” Hall called O’Grady’s presence at the meeting “very bizarre.” “We all read the indictments and what was contained in them,” said Hall. “Time will tell.” Hall was chosen to remain on as mayor for a second consecutive year, a rarity in Middletown government. Committeeman Gerard Scharfenberger was chosen to serve as deputy mayor. Hall used the largely ceremonial gathering as a chance to outline his list of goals for 2006. “The cost of the upcoming reval,” and “getting the municipal budget behind us is the first priority,” Hall said in a telephone interview on Monday. Scharfenberger used his acceptance speech as an opportunity to praise Hall. “Rather than keeping the money he was given for performing seven weddings this past year, Mayor Hall donated all of the fees to the wonderful Middletown Alliance Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse,” said Scharfenberger. Hall and Scharfenberger both paid compliments to outgoing Committeeman Patrick Parkinson, who served 18 years on the committee. Parkinson, along with his former running mate O’Grady, declined to seek re-election this term and have been replaced by Republicans Pam Brightbill and Thomas Wilkens. “Whether you like him or not,” Hall said of Parkinson, “he’s spent 18 years in public service. I now have a full appreciation of what public service means. It means a lot of work.” Hall called Parkinson, “Middletown’s fiscal watchdog,” and noted his “huge influence on keeping Middletown’s property tax increases among the lowest in the county, if not state.” What are Hall’s main objectives for 2006? No. 1, keeping residents informed about the upcoming revaluation process. “We intend to put together a communication plan to keep residents informed of the process,” Hall said. Flooding, especially in the Port Monmouth area, is also a concern. Hall said the township “will continue aggressively lobbying our legislature and the Army Corps for sources of funding” in order to establish “a more permanent flood management solution.” Revamping the township’s Web site in order for it “to become more service-oriented and easier to navigate,” and allow residents to fill out forms and applications online is just one of the many items on his technological to-do list. An increase in electronic communications will be implemented by responding to residents’ inquiries via e-mail, by using e-mail to send community announcements and by creating more television programming with new features. The installation of a new tax system that enables residents to pay taxes electronically without service charges is another goal. The building department’s computer system will be upgraded in order “to create a mobile work force” that cuts down on paperwork and allows for more daily inspections. The modernization of the township’s records will be “examined,” Hall said, by utilizing automated record imaging, a process that would eliminate the need for storing much of the township’s voluminous paper documents. The mayor also reflected on the past year, listing many of the Township Committee’s accomplishments. “I’m proud to say we’ve been proactive in terms of ethics reform,” Hall said, referring to a new township ethics hot line and Human Resources position that focuses primarily on ethics in government. The Arts Council also made news in 2005 when it hosted a free exhibit of the 9/11 memorial quilt. Hall noted that more than $400,000 in grant money was awarded to Middletown in 2005, helping to pay for many items, including a new police boat and various road improvements. Other actions by the committee included the continued construction of the Cultural Arts Center, scheduled to open to the public this summer, a sex-offender ordinance that establishes exclusion zones for convicted offenders and the addition of 125 acres of open-space acquisition.