Monday, August 31, 2009

Quid Pro Quo, a favor for a favor

We Advise - You Decide

Quid Pro Quo, a favor for a favor

The Matawan Advisor has no idea why Henshell and Buccellato are so fortunate but we would like to Advise the Matawan Public about their FIRM’S FOCUS AND GOOD FORTUNE!

A Google Search turned this up:
Henshell and Buccellato, Consulting Architects
Justin Henshell, FAIA CSI FASTM; Paul Buccellato, AIA CSI FASTM

Firm Focus
Colleges and Universities, Courthouses, Entertainment Facilities,
Government Offices, K-12 Schools, Multi-Unit Residential, Religious Facilities, Warehouse/Office
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Another Google Search turned this up:
From the Asbury Park Press, November 20, 2007:
High bidder gets pact for county roof design
Freeholders OK $125G contract
FREEHOLD — Days after Republicans retained control of the Monmouth County freeholder board in the Nov. 6 election, the board slipped a $125,400 contract to a politically connected engineering firm, despite the price being the highest of the four qualified bidders.

Paul Buccellato, a Republican councilman in Matawan, is a partner in the company that received the contract to design roof replacements for four buildings.
The bid by Henshell & Buccellato Co. of Red Bank — which for years has sent campaign contributions to the county GOP and received other Monmouth County government contracts — was $30,400 more than a quote from a Somerset County-based competitor seeking its first contract here, and $41,430 over the lowest bid.
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AND another Google Search turned this up:
On January 13, 2005, Henshell & Buccellato was awarded a $25,000 contract by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders to provide “call-in professional architectural services” for the Monmouth County Department of Buildings and Grounds for 2005.

T&M: License to Bond With Matawan’s Funds

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T&M: License to Bond With Matawan’s Funds

The Mayor sets the Agenda for Council meetings and on August 18, 2009 he placed Ordinance 09-16 to issue a $350,000 bond for the Water Treatment Plant at the bottom of the lengthy agenda.

The Borough Engineer from T&M Associates informed the Council that he would need to leave the meeting before the introduction of this Ordinance. He reluctantly agreed to stay for the reading after a formal motion to change the Agenda was passed but the mayor would not allow any questions. That was a close one but the Mayor came to the rescue for T&M in the end. Why wasn’t the engineer prepared to discuss this? A $350,000 item shouldn’t be rubber-stamped by the Republican Majority Council.
The initial $200,000 Bond just wasn’t enough for T&M. What was Matawan buying for $200,000 that is now projected to cost $350,000? Is the entire $350,000 for “Engineering Fees” payable to T&M Engineering?

The Mayor has most graciously stated he would allow the T&M Engineer to answer questions at the second reading of the Ordinance. This should buy T&M enough time to come up with some answers.

We’ll try to let you know the date of the second reading but we have to wait for the mayor to set the agenda first and then release the agenda and then have it posted on the Borough website. The third step often happens after the meeting has taken place.

Agenda (From The Borough Website)
Borough of Matawan
August 18, 2009

Ordinance 09-16: Amending Ordinance 09-07: Bond Ordinance Providing an Appropriation of $200,000 for Improvements to the Water
Treatment Plant for and by the Borough of Matawan in the County
Of Monmouth, New Jersey and Authorizing the Issuance of
$200,000 Bonds or Notes of the Borough for Financing Part of the
Appropriation

You just can’t tell from reading what is put up on the Borough Website that this Bond Ordinance 09-16 is for $350,000. Is this another attempt to mislead Matawan taxpayers?
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Why would this misinformation be posted on The Matawan Advocate?

We Advise - You Decide

Why would this misinformation be posted on The Matawan Advocate?
Taking quite a long time to hire patriot consulting again.
http://www.patriotconsulting.us/success.htm

April 7, 2009 3:11 PM
MATAWAN ADVOCATE STATED:
“Anonymous, Re: Patriot Consulting.
It would seem to me if the Borough Dept Heads make cuts themselves (as has been done) we do not require Patriot's services for this year. Without all the facts, it is only supposition.

Await your answers. Thanks.”April 7, 2009 3:55 PM

MATAWAN ADVOCATE STATED:
Now that we have a Borough Administator, Bill Garafolo,let's give him a chance. He certainly was knowledgeable at last night's Council meeting. April 8, 2009 9:30 PM
Ku rti s said...
Please give the info and background about the outside firm that has been hire d
April 9, 2009 2:50 PM

MATAWAN ADVOCATE STATED:
Kurtis, No outside firm was hired. Matawan hired a part time Boro Administrator, William Garofolo. Previously, we had a full time B.A. who was paid salary & benefits. The move to part time will provide a cost savings to the Borough.

Patriot was a firm hired by the Boro several years ago. Believe the comment made by Mayor Buccellatto referred to work done years ago.

Trust that answers your question.
Thanks for writing in...
April 10, 2009 12:02 PM

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Oh what a difference a year makes:

We Advise - You Decide

Oh what a difference a year makes:

This was posted by Mayor Buccellato’s #1 Fan
The Electronic Spreader of Misinformation and Petty Accusations
From April 25, 2008: THE MATAWAN ADVOCATE:
“There hasn't been a meeting we've attended that the majority party doesn't look to spend money. Bonds are not the answer at this time, reduction in bonds could afford taxpayers a reduction. When the economy improves we can take on additional debt. The Dems want to float bonds like it is "free money" that we don't have to pay back. Why not give taxpayers a break and wait until we have a Budget that incorporates projected increases for next year.

Thanks for writing and we hope we answered your question.”
The Matawan Advocate, April 25, 2008 1:34 PM

Now that the Republicans are the majority where is the outrage as they introduce Bond Increases like the $350,000 new bond for the Water Plant that was supposed to $200,000?
The silence is deafening…….

Friday, August 21, 2009

Drapes Anyone?

We Advise - You Decide

What’s next Mayor, Will you be choosing drapery colors for Mr. Garofalo’s new office?

Mayor Buccellato can surely bog down the council in details. At the last council meeting he led a lengthy discussion on carpeting for the yoga room. Yawn. Are any decisions made without his blessing?

Considering Matawan has an outside service that provides the yoga lessons and a Recreation Director to oversee the program and a Business Administrator to supervise the Recreation Director and three Councilpeople who are Recreation Commissioners, why is this a topic of discussion at a Council Meeting? Doesn’t the Mayor trust his colleague’s ability to choose a carpet? The word “delegate” is missing from his vocabulary, and until he acquires this essential management skill, Matawan’s real problems won’t be addressed.

What is he doing about the vacant stores downtown, rising taxes and foreclosures, possible furloughs for borough employees, and the train station development? Is he so busy picking out carpet for the yoga room that he hasn’t noticed the town crumbling around him? Or is this part of his grand plan for redevelopment?

By the way, the police officers present at this council meeting had to be scratching their heads over the Mayor’s concern for the yoga room carpet considering the state of their headquarters. It is falling down around them.

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

WE ADVISE – YOU DECIDE

Ghostbusters or our Phantom Business Administrator?

Just who can you call for an explanation in Matawan?

Let’s see…

There’s our new Business Administrator, Patriot Consulting. Their contract calls for a political crony, Mr. William Garofalo to work for Matawan Borough fifteen hours a week. Of course these aren’t specific hours. These fifteen hours are random and certainly not posted anywhere. Not to worry, there’s no time clock to be punched at Borough Hall for any employee. Matawan has the Honor System. Oh and every other week, when there is a council meeting or even one of the Mayor’s Waste of Time “Workshops”, this time counts toward the fifteen hours a week, so every other week Mr. Garofalo is available for only ten hours or so.

Matawan residents can thank Mayor Buccellato for this appointment. He replaced a full-time Business Administrator with his crony and now Mr. Garofalo will have the opportunity to solve our budget crisis and run the town (further into the ground) in no time…literally. Patriot Consulting will have him do this for a mere $60,000 fee and Manchester Township and NJ PERS are paying for his health benefits and pension. Talk about “Wheelin’ and Dealin’”. We will never know if there were more qualified candidates because the position was never advertised properly. It was another back room deal that exposes Matawan to yet another lawsuit for disregarding EEOC regulations.

Funny thing, Mr. Garofalo lives in Ocean Township and is a councilman there. You would think he would know better. The head of their Administration Department is a full-time employee with dual master’s degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration. On second thought, Mr. Garofalo worked in Manchester Township where they play musical chairs with this position; currently their Mayor’s former secretary is the Borough Administrator in Manchester.

Oh what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive.

Go ahead, give him a call and catch him if you can. His number is listed as 732-566-3898 ext. 601. Good Luck!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Selling tires

Bud Mullaney sold tires in Matawan before he was a councilman and he continues to sell tires in Matawan.

Key Auto Body, owned by Councilman Mendes parents, towed cars in Matawan before Kevin was a councilman and they continue to tow cars in Matawan.

Mayor Buccelato receives lucrative government contracts for his architectural services. His Red Bank firm is even awarded these contracts without being the lowest bidder. Was the mayor’s firm awarded these contracts before he was politically connected?

Now our mayor is feigning outrage over honest businesspeople selling tires and towing cars but yet he won’t open up his books to disclose just how much he earns from his government contracts.

Hypocrite or threatened by the only two people on the council who are looking over his shoulder?

When will the mayor start to focus on Matawan’s real problems? Could it be that Matawan isn’t the mayor’s priority just the government contracts he’s awarded by the virtue of his position?

Selling tires and towing cars are nowhere near as profitable as “Government Contracts for Architectural Services”.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Why did Mayor Buccelato hire a consulting firm as our new Business Administrator?

Why did Mayor Buccelato hire a consulting firm as our new Business Administrator? Is he aiding and abetting Mr. William Garofalo as he circumvents NJ Pension law? Patriot Consulting has been hired as the new Matawan Borough Administrator. Mr. William Garofalo, the (former) Chief Financial Officer for Manchester Township has been placed in the position as Matawan Borough Administrator but Matawan isn’t paying him, Matawan is paying Patriot Consulting instead for his services. It seems there’s some regulation about collecting paychecks from one government agency as you’re collecting accumulated sick pay from another that would have prevented Matawan from hiring Mr. Garofalo directly. Our mayor, never one to miss an opportunity to help out a political crony from another town, came to the rescue with his endorsement of this convoluted scheme to get around the regulations.


Yes, Mr. Garofalo is being paid from Manchester Township though October 2009. He is also being paid from the Ocean County JIF and he is also an Ocean Township Councilman.

Good thing Patriot’s contract with Matawan only requires him to work 15 hours per week for the $60,000 we’re paying. Since Matawan’s borough offices are only open 4 days a week, his required time averages out to 1.5 days per week. Not bad for someone who has never even been a Business Administrator before.