I know I’m not supposed to do this, and that a “responsible” citizen (or councilman, or, apparently, wannabe councilman) would just say “Oh, we saved 400,000? Oh, okay”, but I’m actually going to ask questions. Sorry.
1) What did we buy with that $1.3 million? Did we buy plans for a grand double building with a golf course on top and public baths below? Did we buy plans for an oceanfront two story catering hall? Or was it for something that we needed and are enjoying the use of today? It’s important. I don’t consider spending $925,000 on roof top golf instead of $1.3 million to be saving $400,000.
2) Where is it in the law that if an entity buys the assets of a company that you owe money to at a discount, that your debt should be discounted? I never heard of that and apparently neither did Partners Engineering because they sued us for the entire amount plus interest. And while we did settle for less than we owed, we could have lost and been liable for a total of $1.8 million. If the value of the work Birdsall did for us was diminished by the fact they weren’t around to service it, that might be grounds. But the mayor didn’t say that. He only said that we wanted some of the break that Partners recieved. Why did we risk a lawsuit on such shaky legal grounds? Anyway, the time to save money is when we’re incurring debt, not when it’s time to pay it. Does Belmar pay its bills or doesn’t it?
3) Why did Colleen Connolly sign the P.O. in the spot where the mayor or a councilperson is supposed to sign? And why didn’t CFO Robbin Kirk sign off on it? Is this even a legal P.O.?
4) Isn’t the Council supposed to vote to approve the settlement before the payment is made, not two weeks afterward? Was there ever an executive session where the lawsuit and settlement were discussed?
5) Was the resolution on the printed agenda that was available at the March 3 meeting? It’s still not on the one that’s on line.
6) If the $925,000 payment was on the agenda and had just been voted on, why would Joy DeSanctis ask what is was about? Why would Brian not know? WHY DID THE MAYOR MAKE NO MENTION OF IT IN HIS ANSWER TO HER?
7) In light of this very strange reaction to Ms. Desanctis’ questions, how big a coincidence is it that there happened to be a typo on the resolution dating it for the day after the meeting? I assume none of the other resolutions on the agenda had the same typo.
8) I loaded Adobe reader on to the mac I use at home so I could make a clearer image of the “properties” box for the resolution document. (The screen shot I took at work last week was a little fuzzy.)
In case you don’t have your reading glasses with you:
Any explanation? (Adobe doesn’t make typos.)
25 Comments
When you are wreckless, mistakes are made.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave. When first we practice to deceive!
I think these are questions a lawyer could answer. From what I know the debt that was owed to Birdsall is handled in Bankruptcy Court by the Trustee and the Bankruptcy Judge, they are responsible to review the assets and debts and to try to get as much as possible to pay the creditors of Birdsall.
The $1.8M and $1.3M are just MIA numbers …. (Make It Anything) …. just pay the $925K Belmar owes!
When residents raised concerns about change orders to the $7M Pavilion cost estimate (ala Boardwalk) …. the Wizard said there would be no change orders because the design plans were 90% complete …. 90% X $1.056M = $925K.
But the million in engineering for the $7 million pavilions was Maser, not Birdsall.
“The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God”.
Can you really believe Doherty’s numbers ? The fact is that until the actual invoices from Birdsall and the lawsuit and settlement documents are all made public, these numbers and the mayor’s explanation mean nothing.
I honestly think that Matt must go to bed every night thanking the Lord for being able to hand deliver ballots.
Why no mention of a FEMA contribution for this amount owed to Birdsall? Were these not Sandy related services? The blogger is correct, what services were rendered for this short-payment? Maybe the services were for projects other than those related to the cash-rich beach utility account?
FYI there are a number of other towns also being sued for the unpaid Birdsall Bills the lawyer for Partners is getting $$$$$.
I like Janis but her comments to the press make absolutely no sense. If you were informed enough to supposedly vote to spend $925k of taxpayer money then you are informed enough to explain why you voted the way you did. I truly hope she explains her statements and vote at the next meeting. Belmar is more split as a community under this admin than it has ever been.
Admin #5,
You are correct ….The first set of plans for 5 Pavilions were revealed 7/3/2013 …. Sadly, Borough indebtedness continues to grow.
Yo Belmar, wake up! Shenanigans to the left and to the right.
How about spending some money to improve the school, instead of on bogus plans never used.
Too much confusion about dates and what the council knew and when. Too many things that do not seem to have been done properly.
Very important article. Excellent job analyzing these issues and trying to get some answers.
Avon is building a pavillion right now for less than Belmar spends on just drawings.
I bet if the drawings were done by an architect with engineer consult on the pilings the drawings would have been substantially less money.
Belmar should have teamed up with Avon and other towns that needed a pavilion and all used the same people making a deal to save on labor and materials, using the same vendors I bet that would save $$$$ too!
Avon’s DPW did a lot of the work.
this is what Avon has done since Sandy
Rebuilt Boardwalk (with real wood), bathroom house, Pavilon ( roof doesn’t leak Matt) , rebuilding public works 2 of the buildings75./. Done, new public works storage building, new marina, new tennis and b ball courts. All for below what Matt wanted to spend on one Pavilon . All done in house and we didn’t have to pay anyone a $100,000 bonus. Just saying
Can we give Avon the Common Sense of the Year Award????
Several drug arrests in Belmar this weekend. So get it together politicos.
Serious issues need handling. Get the drug dealers out and save the children.
Stop squabbling over money issues, and be open in activities so residents are not hoodwinked
#20, Sir, I’m sure these drug dealers are a bunch of bums. But, the problem is the laws against people doing what they want to do. Until the early 20th century, there were no drug laws in this country. Now we’ve got all these people under arrest, incarcerated and thousands of lawyers running around defending and prosecuting defendants, prison guards guarding these convicts, businessmen providing food for them, etc., etc., etc. It’s long past time to stop the idiotic “war on drugs.”
I think the town needs to focus on “bettering” the town….they don’t focus on the things that could have a impact on us – the residents…they don’t enforce the housing codes, or laws they pass….now housing / year-round rentals are over crowded, stressing our infrastructure (schools, town services,etc). If the town followed its own law about inspecting rentals every 3 yrs or at tenant changes – could cut back on this – and have an indirect effect of reducing school taxes. And I would say most of the reasons my property value is declining (based on refi appraisals I have had done) is attributed to year round rentals, and not property owners. (my Sunday rant)
21 Tom The government’s war on this or that ie. terror, drugs, pollution, etc. is nothing more than a money machine for their contributors.
Let’s not lose sight of the issue- some backdating occurred. Funny how the supporters of this admin don’t respond to issues but try to redirect to personal attacks. Anyone know why this doc was backdated?
Guest #24,-The regime routinely meddles with documents and the only way to rectify, or force, accountability is in the courts …. as was done with the “Responsible Bidder” ordinance. The subject resolution was being swept under the rug and the Council members just didn’t pass the red face test …. Sad.
Actually, the blunder is unsuccessful backdating.
Post a Comment