Middletown Twp. Committee plagued by poor practices In response to Middletown Committeeman Tom Hall's letter ("Committeeman fed up with Democrat's 'grandstanding,'" April 11), I strongly object to his argument that Democrats are being unfair to the committee in town. Mr. Hall's committee colleague is Democrat Patrick Short, who won election last year. Committeeman Short questioned an item on the bill list recently about a television expenditure for the Municipal Alliance for Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Mr. Short did not question the need for a television for the program. He questioned why the municipality was buying a television set at a price they could get less expensively. When Mr. Short did question the expenditure, he was told that the committee members do not actually review monthly bill lists. Instead, the committee takes the word for any expenses from the staff without question. Mr. Short then went about questioning that procedure, since elected officials are elected to oversee how money is spent in the township. Mr. Hall is upset by facts he himself is giving to Mr. Short and even the media. One minute, he advocates for the town spending too much on televisions very strongly. Why, who knows? The next, he is advocating that Mr. Short - like everyone else on the committee - should blindly trust appointed professionals and ensure they have no oversight. On that count he is wrong. Patrick Short is not the reason Tom Hall keeps saying ridiculous things to the public. This committee is plagued by poor practices and financial mismanagement and the committee does not want to change or reform these practices. This is not Mr. Short's problem, it is the committee majority's problem and Mr. Short is trying to help them with it. Joe Caliendo Chairman Middletown Democrats