First of all, Bean didn’t run for re-election, he ran for mayor and came pretty close to winning. And Seebeck got more votes than Matt in 2014.
Second of all, what Doherty doesn’t mention is that Ayala never made a political contribution before in his life, not to any of Matt’s previous races or anyone else’s. His first political contribution is for the maximum allowable and just coincidentally is at the same time he wants permission to land a helicopter in a public park. If Matt took $2500 for the town that would have been fine. But he took the money for himself.
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“They don’t understand that government should work for people and try to accommodate their requests if possible.”
What people? Is that why some people are stifled at Mayor and Council meetings? Belmar government listens when someone pays for the privilege, like at fundraisers. What a phony.
Democrat or Republican doesn’t matter. If any taxpayer money was spent on police, fire, first aid, or if any town resources were used to ensure that this helicopter landed and took off safely, there may be a problem.
“If Matt took $2500 for the town that would have been fine. But he took the money for himself.” Public-minded guy, that Mayor, master spinmeister. It’s for the PEOPLE – what people, the family on Inlet Terrace? I’m gonna puke.
LEO the CABLE GUY!
I guess if the Harmons gave $2500 to a government official seeking re-election or new office then government could work for them too? Seems like Democratic Council is not working too hard to accommodate that request.
One thing I believe. There isn’t a bartender in Belmar Matt doesn’t know personally. Leo probably just payed Doherty back his tips. It was in all cash right?
So let understand this….
The Mayor, Boro Administrator AND the Acting Chief of Police approved this with no police presence or zoned off area. So the helicopter pilot was in charge of clearing the landing zone while he was flying? So anyone, including kids and families, using the park had to run for cover from the landing? This has to be one of the most unsafe things that has ever been approved and done by the Administration AND the Acting Chief of Police. Can anyone be that naive or stupid? Someone help us all…
What else would you expect from a yuppie mayor. It’s about the flash, the pizzazz, the photo op.
Why does anyone care that a helicopter landed in Belmar!?1? What am I missing???
#7, that was my concern about this surprise landing and proposal that happened. Yes, it was a nice thought by this man, but not thought out by the Borough (apparently Colleen, Matt and Acting Chief). The Mayor can try to spin it but it is what it is. Thankful that no one got hurt.
The company he keeps. Matt’s friend Leo Junior. Photo without a bottle hard to come by. https://www.facebook.com/leo.junior.927
#9 — Maybe I can help. It appears clear that Mayor Doherty took action in his official capacity — without the prior approval or knowledge of the Borough Council, much less approval given at an advertised public meeting as required by the Open Public Meeting Act — to allow a friend/political contributor to use a public park in the Borough for the purpose of landing a helicopter for personal purposes. Judging from the fact that DOT approval was required, it also seems obvious that landing a helicopter somewhere other than at an approved heliport is considered a sufficiently dangerous operation that special approval is required by the DOT.
Now here’s the discussion of “Official Misconduct,” N.J.S.A. 2C:30-2, from the New Jersey League of Municipalities website:
Official Misconduct (N.J.S.A. 2C:30-2) A public servant commits official misconduct if with a purpose to obtain a benefit for himself or herself or another (or to injure or deprive another of a benefit) he or she knowingly commits an act relating to his or her office constituting an unauthorized exercise of official functions: or knowingly refrains from performing a duty which is imposed by law and is clearly inherent in the nature of the office. The “benefit” obtained may be of minimal value. Investigation Into Hamilton T.P. Board of Education 205 N.J. Super. 248 (App. Div.1985). This also includes benefits not received by the public official but rather by a third party. State v. Schenkolewski 301 N.J.Super.115 (App. Div.), cert. den.151 N.J. Super. (1977). To violate this section, the individual must be a public servant and the act must relate to the office. State v. Bullock 136 N.J. 149 (1994).
I’m not aware of any law that gives the Mayor the authority to grant permission for private aircraft to land anywhere in Belmar. To the contrary, Section 40-5.3(20) of Belmar’s zoning ordinances specifically prohibit 20 “Any airport, landing field, landing strip, heliport, helistop, off-heliport landing site, . . . or any other facility used for the landing or take-off of any aircraft, either as a primary use or as a use accessory, auxiliary or incidental to any primary use.”
MM, I hope this will help you understand why residents might care about this issue.
CommonSense readers can read about other laws that govern our public officials by clicking on this link to the League of Municipalities’ page on this topic:
http://www.njslom.org/magart_0109_pg20.html
The page ends with the following warning to all municipal officials:
“In sum, there is little room for error in terms of conduct which falls within any of the above categories. While the official may not be aware that such acts may constitute a criminal act, ignorance of the law continues to be no excuse, nor should it be. If an official has the slightest question as to whether a proposed action or course of conduct is illegal, appropriate advice from either the local public entity attorney or in appropriate cases, the County Prosecutor should be sought prior to acting. The career you save may be your own.”
Lawless Matt is so stupid it is hard to continue to read about his dumb choices. Had you been driving down Ocean Ave and suddenly saw a helicopter overhead I think one would be
incredibly distracted from driving. There is so much debris at Silver Lake that the landing easily could have kicked up flying bottles or other items causing harm to anyone in the immediate area. I suggest Leo gets a check out immediately to the Belmar Police Dept. There were a few officers present which means they were taken off general Belmar patrol. Why should we as taxpayers pay for the police so Leo could land a helicopter. There is nothing here that benefits or serves the community and I guarantee no one will ever, ever land a helicopter at Silver Lake again. Unless it is a medical emergency. We have a heliport pad landing area already remember Christie came in by helicopter.
Judge Judy would follow her nose on this one. Cash business to CASH BUSINESS ADVANCE, ADVANTAGES, ALCOHOLIC ALLEGIANCE IN BELMAR.
No PD reports for license renewal for LA Dolce Vita, Burrito or Djais for X number of years?
Ahem, did I read the word “criminal” in the last paragraph sited by Mr. Pringle?
Sounds like the infamous Mayor Matt may have tripped over his, uh, ego.
I wonder who oversees the disbursements of the donations to the Mayor’s campaign. Is the treasurer a “friend” of a council member? If a donation was in cash/currency, seems to me that a bundle of greenbacks can be handed over to someone to use at his/her discretion. In private business, checks would typically be used for accurate bookkeeping accountability and traceableness, unless there were “petty cash” allowances. Who is watching the store?
Might be a good idea to OPRA the Audio Communication Files from Monmouth County Police, Fire, EMS, Belmar Dispatch and Belmar Local frequency. I would also request the audio file from the FAA. Generally anytime a helicopter is to land (for Medi-vac reasons) proper protocol requires both Fire and EMS are notified for a standby. The area is cleared from all flying debris, Safety cones are placed 150 feet apart to form a landing zone and the pilot generally has communication support from someone on the ground to assure that the area is clear and prepared for a safe landing. I would be pretty certain that the police chief made the emergency services aware of this situation.
Well Mr. Pringle, if the mayor has broken the law, who and where would you report this to? Does it matter, or will the Mayor continue to break laws, and nothing happens?
I vote the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office if not Homeland Security.
Tapes are recycled every ? Days?
Transcripts get lost?
Reliable witnesses? Servers?
Unearned income is called what?
Benign ignorance of the law is often used by career SCOFFLAWS, Mr Mcdirty.
Next he’ll try the Menendez defense.
Councilman MaGovern agrees with you Ken. Check the Council meeting video 2:05:20
MaGovern: I think we have enough ordinances in place that we don’t need to add one. That helicopter landing there violated something. The Facebook echo chamber thought it was a beautiful gesture but the council did not. Let’s see how the council reacts if it comes up again.
Meanwhile, this echo chamber isn’t getting anywhere. So let’s have some fun. Why don’t we all put in requests for landing helicopters?? We can copy the denials here.
I’m as much against this mayor as anyone here, but this chopper stuff is “much ado about nothing.” Matt is laying out enough rope to hang himself, but this isn’t it.
#23….see #12. It actually is a big deal. Matt Doherty made this decision without the input and votes of the other council members. Therefore, one can assume that the decision to allow this was based solely on the fact that the individual made a campaign contribution and Doherty was saying “thanks- sure you can do it”. It will become an even bigger deal if ANY town resources were used. If cops were assigned to the landing or if town personnel were used to obtain the proper permits then town resources were used on a favor to a private individual. That could be a huge problem.
Scenario. ACT I
1. Mayor receives request for unauthorized helicopter landing on Belmar property which he grants and engages in some questionable communication with BA;
2. BA without consulting Borough Ordinances prepares item 1 letter to a go to person;
3. BA somehow relates above COMMUNICATION with BPD;
4. BPD duty officer somehow along the unkniwn chain receives above communication from BA, after receipt, review and analysis of said unknown chain of communication, and Confirmation within the.BPD chain of command, dispatches agents to secure and disperse citizens from “landing strip”;
5. BPD stationed personnel at secure location for rendezvous per NA as communicated above.
Cost to Belmar for special event accommodation $$$$$$
Personal tip to Mayor for the above taxpayer funded propaganda influence = $2500.
You people love complaining
That’s the key… YOU PEOPLE not “We the People”.
#27 Exactly. There are some people, quietly, on their own, working to uncover the duplicity, the shenanigans and dirty tricks, surreptitious relationships between people making deals behind the scenes. Do not be fooled, some of us see what is going on. So-called complaining is venting, expressing frustration about the complacency of blind followers of the administration who do not do their own investigation and take matters at face value as long as they are “paid”, one way or another (like the infamous freebies, gift cards, etc.) It is easier to follow the crowd and vote with the masses.
sheepeople, lower case sheepeople.
All capital letters for your name or a combination of upper and lower? Look at a jury duty notice, for example. Flesh and blood person or an artificial person?
Neither here nor there, but:
http://www.usa-the-republic.com/revenue/true_history/AffTruth.html
“YOU PEOPLE” can be construed as legal voting entities/persons; “We the People” are the flesh and blood persons who think and have a conscience.
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