Superior Court Judge Katie Gummer:
This case involved an invalid and misleading explanatory statement that was created not in the sunshine of an open and public meeting by the governing body as required by statute, but beyond the public view by the borough administrator behind closed doors.
Plaintiff’s rights in this case were not simply to put the bond ordinance issue before the public for a vote, rather the right was to have a vote on that issue in a fair electoral process, free from any bias or effort to mislead or influence voters. With the invalid and misleading explanatory statement, the Belmar defendants deprives plaintiffs of that right.
Former Mayor/Plaintiffs’ attorney Ken Pringle:
We’re not surprised with the result; the law is quite clear on the issue.
The judge emphasized a point that the supreme court had made and that was the importance of awards of attorneys fess to plaintiffs in cases like this to deter public officials from interfering with the rights of voters to have fair elections on public questions.
Mayor/Defendant Matt “I plan to appeal” Doherty:
This is the lawsuit from Ken Pringle and [Ms.] DeSanctis that deals with an election that occurred last November that they lost.
We called on them to drop all their lawsuits, there’s no point in any of this stuff. Clearly, they’re not putting the needs of the residents first.
Update!
Ken Pringle on Doherty’s stated intention to appeal:
57 Comments
Clearly Matty you and your crooked mouthpiece are not putting the “Needs of the Residents” first.
Your rhetoric just does not ring true to anyone anymore. Riding the Hillary train is not going to fool the voters into getting a freeholder job for you
It amazes me that Mayor D continues to try to shift blame/responsibility for every successful legal action brought against him to the plaintiffs. If there’s any blame out there associated with the resident population of Belmar it relates to an epidemic of complacency that’s allowed the mayor and his crew to increase our debt by 120%, sell our natural resources .. our park and marina .. to the highest bidders, and promote Belmar as a drinking haven.
The election was barely won because Mayor Matt Doherty lied. He unlawfully created a misleading statement to fool and trick residents and they bought it. He also walked around town with Borough Engineer Nick DeCotiis knocking on doors passing out a flyer with inaccurate claims about funding to pay for the pavilions. By the time residents are hit with the tax increase he will be gone and laughing his ass off. There is no funding from FEMA for the pavilions.
Hey Doherty you dope you never won a lawsuit the plaintiffs are correct in suing Belmar to protect the residents 49 million debt you created all you do is drink.
Are the palm trees going to be replaced
When will we hear her ruling in regards to the Parking etc… ? Matt response is just so predictable it is laughable ! What is he 0-6 in the court of law ?
I was expected word on the Susko case this week. Maybe next?
Is he still spewing “I’m am a professional bull thrower and regardless of my campaign pledges, which hold no water anyway in a court of law, I own this town, they owe me”. “WHAT Difference does it make… it’s all past history anyway”. In the doherty world Belmar’s charter name should be changed to “No Consequences”
The “needs of the people”!!! Hey Lawless Matt, when the people’s need for transparency are blatantly disregarded, our civil rights become our primary need. Your primary need is for looking big and important. Thus our needs conflict and will continue to do so.
Any thoughts Claire? What should the Mayor do? Appeal ??? Resign? Pay the fees? What are your thoughts
10 old man what do you expect her to say she is the head honcho of the Democratic party. The party of lawlessness and anti civil rights of beach goers. They just follow like sheeple right or wrong, what Obama and Hillary do, they could care less about normal people. Watch, Transgender what ever that is will get free stuff too! I think that is to take the attention off of Crooked Hillary.
#1 – I think your “bull thrower” mayor is going to be mighty sorry that he hitched a ride on the $hillary train!
#2 – WELL SAID!!!!!
#5 – HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Matt “I plan to appeal” Doherty – great name!!!
I love all the idling Belmar work trucks, they want no smoking but I am choking on truck fumes while sitting on this bench. Turn off the ignition.
I just read the dumbest letter allegedly written by Ellen Ramey an 80 year old resident of 8th Avenue, in the Coast Star letters to the editor. She was referring to an imaginary group of naysayers.
Ms. Ramey get your facts straight. Maybe signing a prepared letter is your thing. But document just one negative or pessimistic action taken by this imaginary group. Just one proof of your claim. There is none.
There are concerned citizens that want their community back to being a family place, stop uncontrolled spending and stop promoting bars and drunks. More importantly this imaginary group of naysayers filed 8 lawsuits against Doherty and won every single one. Why, because Matt is lawless and self serving. But hey, enjoy the glory of Matt’s smiling face while you can.
It is Matt Doherty who is negative and called these great citizens working hard to keep our 49 million dollar debt under control so many names with pessimistic (I’m being kind) comments about our citizens. But for “taxpayers” it is a serious problem. I know you are reportedly 80 years old but still don’t just let yourself be used. We are 49 million dollars in debt it matters to Belmar taxpayers. NO OTHER SHORE COMMUNITY OR ANY COMMUNITY AFFECTED BY SANDY HAS THIS DEBT.
http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2016/04/shore_mayors_officials_slam_nj_utility_companys_st.html
Scenario: Insurance company conducts risk management interview at Belmar similar to Private sector to prevent lawsuits and errors and omissions claims. No way could administer or Maynard withstand the scrutiny or pressure for that matter.
Write you own script for that interview. Can you imagine?
? Have you ever been a named party to a lawsuit?
? What steps have been implemented to improve liability for your actions or INACTIONS?
As unpractical as it might seem, I would like that Judge Gummer had gone further and declared the referenced election invalid and ordered no more work performed at the 5th Avenue beach. The site then can become a Belmar attraction called Beachhenge. In years to come, people can point at the site and attribute it to the reign of “Dirty Doherty”.
What do civil rights and palm trees have in common?
Both are being killed in Belmar for a political agenda.
Do you think any of this bothers Mayor Matt like it would the rest of us? It doesn’t. He doesn’t get his self worth from actually serving and protecting his constitutes. He gets his self worth from the amount of fundraising he can do. Fundraising is then translated to the buying of power.
My neighbor has an Uncle who is a neighbor of Ellen Ramey.She does not pay one dime for natural gas as she is a resident of Belmar’s Senior Building. I will bet that Claire had put her up to it.
Of course, the mouthpiece has much damage control to deal with now.
I hope the Republican County candidates read this blog, lots of ammo for them to use. Keep up the baloney Dems, see how far that will get you this time.
Positive, informed democrat and independent voters know what is going on in Belmar. They were hoodwinked just like the GOP voters were robbed.
There is no 4.1 Million dollars coming our way to build the pavilions. We should stop the waste, build the 10th Avenue Safety pavilion and then pay our taxes.
Using Seniors and the disabled as political pawns is nothing short of reprehensible and, more so, abusive in some instances.
At least the housebound, blind stroke victim isn’t being imposed upon to sign another prepared letter to the editorthis year.
#23 This pales the Pavilion antics. These people have no conscience, they are sick individuals to mislead people that are not taxpayers or aware of what is going on.Take heed council members this is what you apparently approve, of shame on each and every one of you.
Claire please comment about these recent events. The World is waiting……..
“This is the lawsuit from Ken Pringle and [Ms.] DeSanctis that deals with an election that occurred last November that they lost.”
I was not aware that they were running for office.
#23 Janice Auto-pilot is a key player with the seniors, as is a former councilwoman. A vote for Blackburn is a vote for condoning the bias of using the voter block in the senior building. People of the senior age bracket should be respected, not used as pawns, but freebies mean a lot to folks with limited means. Unfortunate.
I have viewed many town meetings on this blog. Have not seen many questions regarding grants etc. except for one lady quite awhile ago who I believe is involved with the lawsuits. I am to blame as well as anyone else, because I haven’t stepped up to the plate as many of you haven’t. Perhaps it is time for all of us to attend a meeting and ask questions. Public hearing on budget next meeting. Think it’s time. I don’t like complaining without expressing my views. It’s time people. I’m going. Hope to see you there. Don’t disappoint me.
Just disrespectful using any vulnerable group of people. They’re being used just like the “Djais” voters block.
#23, Most of us seniors are pretty much with it. Even Janice is pretty much with it, but is of limited ability. She knows her agenda and pursues it. She’s wrong, but not a dummy like the others on the council.
CAMILLE WITKOWSKI 9th Ave wrote a rebuttal to my letter to the editor in the Star News. Sorry Camille, you can’t rebut my person feelings or deny my experience which you know nothing about. As far as the heroic 2 weeks the mayor was out of his home, I was out of mine for 2 1/2 YEARS paying mortgage on a destroyed home and rent on my storm housing. While looking for a hotel room or housing, I had to camp 4 weeks on the property with no heat or electricity because the meter was pulled for fire safety (remember the snow?) until I could find a place, hotel, apartment anything, in commuting distance to my job. (I am a nurse at a local hospital and could not/did not miss 5 minutes of work in the disaster despite my own situation; you hear a lot about first responders and not very often about the nurses!) I lost about 80% of everything I own in the storm along with my house being condemned. Much of what I did not lose in the storm was looted and stolen because the west side of town had inadequate police protection (in my experience and opinion.) That is the tip of the iceberg for my personal experience. Before people feel so compelled to rebut a personal situation, you really should know a little something about the story, especially for something so personal and devastating as a natural disaster can be. In fact, Camille, you do not even know me. There are still several houses in my immediate neighborhood under construction TODAY with more families not home yet (some are multifamily dwellings.) That’s great that some parts of town got so much help, that did not happen in our area. My comments did not slight the efforts of anyone in town but the the facts are the mayor over stated his role in families restoring themselves. I stand by my personal experience and and my personal interpretation of being offended by the political use of my situation.
Received a mailer produced by Tom Burke. A major typo “Mounmonth” County leads me to believe that somehow our borough administrator had a hand in its production.
Interesting that the Mayor wants credit for rebuilding the boardwalk.That is not an accomplishment that is a responsibility,building it at the lowest per square foot than any other Municipality, that’s an accomplishment! Some of the Council Members are members of this dept or that dept. What have they done to improve the dept. that they are sitting on???? Seems like all they do is say yes when an issue comes to a vote. Not one has done something or suggested to do something to improve Belmar. Their agenda is to block people with common sense so they can continue with their wild ideas that do not improve Belmar and even allowing the Mayor’s uncontrollable behavior to force citizens to sue.
#29 Many of the “vulnerable” D’Jais clowns do not live in Belmar, are complicit in the voting deceit scam and are in pursuit of the next beer, not about what is important for the residents of Belmar. Yes, they are being used, but they probably know it and think it is fun and they are helping the cool-guy mayor. No compassion from me, and in fact, none for most of the seniors who are duped, as they should know better, have some wisdom and insight that one would expect to come with age. Sounds judgmental? Maybe. I am not in the shoes of those people and have common sense and ethics. And self-respect – “call me cynical.”
#34 Unfortunately I think in Belmar we are the minority.
#32 B R Why does that surprise you. I case you haven’t noticed Matt’s handpicked council is dumber than he is, to try to make himself look good and get what his agenda dictates.
Speaking of agenda: have any of you citizens of the FREE world been tbe recipient from FLASH mcdirty at the Headliner?
Doesn’t Belmar have very rigid, time consuming and costly licensing requirements for taxi/omnibus license holders in Belmar? Any comment from taxi owners or Lyft?
Claire has been forbidden to write anything further on the blog.
If the borough attorney were on the ball, he would have told the former councilwoman to keep her mouth shut. Too much is hitting the fan these days. Sure, she has a “right” to respond when she is mentioned, as she always points out, and in fact, no one is denying that, but sometimes it is wiser to not respond (and dig a deeper hole).
How would you wonderful people respond to the following real time experience I had while trapped in traffic in front of 107 1/2 16th Avenue, Belmar, today.
At approximately 10:30 am the inebriated residents at the above location were cheering one of their dwellers as he raised a headless female mannequin, withdrew a plug and proceeded to drink from the legless pudendum all to the cheers if fellow cave dwellers. No only was I mortified by this display in public view by children, mothers, fathers and grandparents but thevshear face is that many feel powerless and intimidated by the idea that this kind of behavior is OK in Belmar or any other place where their Mothers don’t live. By the time I came home they were scattered with their dummy. If I see it again I will call the police. My husband is no longer with us to walk across the street, next to the year round home with 15 grandchildren, to make the suggestion to the cave dwellers that their animal house display might offend others so bring your dummy back into your house not outside.
#40 Noreen, putting aside the anger and embarrassment I’d be feeling because of these drunken, self-absorbed animals, I would also know that at 11:00 am this morning Belmar’s police were busy with their priority job of trying to direct a ridiculous amount of pedestrian and vehicular traffic at Ocean and 16th (with traffic backed up all over the place.) I have fantasized one way to impress our police and public servants about the summer nightmare shared by many residents. My fantasy involves flyers or hand-outs about an “Incredible Blow-0ut, Start of Summer Bash, Beer on Tap (BYOB), Music and Pool” for a couple random streets, perhaps Inlet Terrace, S. Lake Drive, or wherever.
It could be hearsay that the President of the Belmar Democratic Party has been sanctioned from responding to this blog. I have read all the comments distributed here over the last few months from this individual. The reading has truly helped me in my voting decision come the official primary election that is upon us all. Please take time to vote – no matter your affiliation.
Sample ballots were in the mail today.
Vote for Republican candidates Mark and Josh post card was received today.
Need I say more?
Awe, still not peanut gallery comments from Claire yet. I guess she’s been order to keep quiet from Lawless Matt.
Wow really? If this is true that Claire is not posting because Mayor Dirty Doherty (MDD) told her not to is really sad. At least Claire would try and get you answers which is tough to come by with MDD.
If you are still listening Claire which I am sure you are, I would like to know why when I lock my bike on the railing at the Marina when I go to work in the morning I get a note on it telling me to put in the bike rack. When I talked to Charlie, he said he would cut my lock and take my bike if I didn’t. When I got back from my shift last night, there were over 10 bikes locked up on the same railing behind the boat I work on and not one had a note on it like mine??? Do Chef International customers get preferential treatment when it comes to where bikes are parked??
When our boat customers come the only place for them to pee is in a pornagraphic graffiti ridden porta john between two dumpsters! This is where I have to send both male and female customers. Chef International or the boro should open the comfort stations to the public or provide something. The summer is just here and it is a complete disaster already at the Marina. And now you and MDD decide to be mute?? Shame on you.
Take video and post it. It will be shared. Sadly Belmar has to be shamed into doing the right thing. Post the Port A Johns, post the bikes with and without tickets. Post video of MacLearie full to capicity and only a porta john next to the beace. Perhaps a YOUTUBE channel would help.
When the sewers overflow into L Street beach will the potties empty there as well? Maybe the unsightly graffiti will get washed away with the heavy rains due to hit at midnigh.
#45 Brian what do you expect with this group of selfish narcissistic people who think they can do what they want.
Admin is it in the Common Sense For Belmar budget to have a contest with the winner receiving a lottery scratch off. Whoever can make a comment to make Claire respond wins. We miss her comical comments
Maybe she’s just taking a break
No Dave.. She’s been given orders to not comment on this blog anymore during Lawless Matt’s election campaign..
#50 Belmarguy, why would they not want her to comment? They all are making fools of themselves anyway what difference does it make??
I miss my favorite Bond Girl.
~James
Why might the lady be temporarily silenced? The exchanges between her and the commenters are too amusing, invite more readers who read more of the posts, learn more about the stuff going on…can’t have that, can we?
Oh Claire, where are you!?! Have you been silenced by lawless Matt because it’s election season?!
Belmar voted for 12 o’clock closing years ago because of the fourth ave bars that are now gone, which cause the exact problems that are now on the blog. Belmar residents must rule the town or we are in for the same every summer. All we ask for is for caring people to enjoy our shores and the beautiful beaches
5 years of the 12 o’clock close only taught the cretin’s to get liquored/drugged up at their rentals “cause it was CHEAPER” and then go out %_&&faced to try and get a roommate???? Needless to say the quality if life didn’t improve where the landlords encouraged anarchy.
Kind of like matteo’s world Vision of Belmar today.
12 O clock closing isn’t an answer to anyone problems w extra tourists in town
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