Fink, Bateman criticize each other over ethics BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer Committeeman Larry Fink HOLMDEL - Committeeman Larry Fink came out swinging at the Jan. 4 reorganization meeting, telling a packed house that new Deputy Mayor Alan Bateman lacks integrity and commitment to the job. Now the lone Democrat on the committee, Fink made his opinion of Bateman known in no uncertain terms, lengthening a dispute between the two men that began about two months ago. "Actions speak louder then words," Fink said in reference to Bateman at the meeting. And "integrity speaks even louder." "Immediately after my swearing in, immediately after that, I outlined a few things that were important to me," Fink said on Monday, describing the events of the Jan. 4 meeting. "One of the things I emphasized was the importance of maintaining high ethical standards. And I mentioned campaign finance reform and continuing to fight the elimination of contributions from professional firms." Fink said Bateman lacks integrity because he "misrepresented my record" regarding a nixed plan for high-density townhouses and retail stores on Route 35. Deputy Mayor Alan Bateman According to both Fink and Bateman, several months ago, Bateman held up a map of the proposed plan during a public meeting, stating it was Fink's plan for Route 35. "He was trying to paint a picture that made it sound like I was behind a proposal when in fact, after the developer made the proposal, all five of us had no interest in the plan," Fink said. "It showed a lack of integrity." Fink was also critical of what he said was Bateman's poor attendance record on the Open Space Advisory Council last year. "He didn't provide any excuse for not being able to attend, and I just thought that showed a lack of commitment," Fink said. "If he couldn't attend, we could have been notified and we could have selected a replacement." Bateman swung back on Monday, calling Fink hypocritical for speaking about ethical reform and then attacking him. "He viciously attacked me in front of my wife and children," Bateman said. "He proved he's a hypocrite." "He was upset about a meeting two months ago," Bateman said. He added, "He tried to deny the purpose of that meeting. That's why he attacked me, saying I lacked integrity. But he showed a lack of integrity for trying to deny that." Bateman also accused Fink of putting his campaign interests ahead of Holmdel's. "We replaced the auditor this year because the auditor did not deliver quality work. Larry fought hard against that. What he didn't say was that a few campaigns ago, he took $1,000 from this auditor," Bateman said. Resident Tom Scarano, who was appointed that night to the Environmental Commission and helped manage Republican Donald Lemma's campaign against Fink in the fall, said that Fink was out of line. "I was actually shocked and appalled when Mr. Fink attacked Mr. Bateman," Scarano said during the public portion of the meeting. "I think Mr. Fink should apologize, not publicly, but privately, to Mr. Bateman." Mayor Serena DiMaso agreed, saying, "The resident wasn't really wrong." "Mr. Fink showed a lack of integrity by making such a bad call. He took a nasty swing at Mr. Bateman," DiMaso said on Sunday. She added, "It wasn't the time or the place."