The Smear Tactics continue from the Old Bridge Democrats (but who is really surprised?)
Friday, May 25, 2012 at 07:56AM 
STILL CRANKY over getting swept in last November’s election for Mayor & Council at Large, the Old Bridge Democrats have continued to LIE, DISTORT and SMEAR when it comes to the very important issues that face Old Bridge. So let’s compare and contrast their lies with what the actual truth is.
OB Democratic LIE – The Phillips/Gillespie regime left the Township of Old Bridge with a surplus of $7 million dollars.
The TRUTH – In Fact, after eight years of Phillips/Gillespie and 14 years of the Democrats controlling the Council, Old Bridge was in a DEFICIT of approximately $7 million dollars. Last year alone, they sold 300 ACRES of land to the OBMUA for $5.6 million dollars and stole another $1.3 million from the OBMUA reserve, just to make payroll!!!! Not only did the Democrats raid the OBMUA, but due to their malfeasance, the OBMUA had to raise Water & Sewer rates!
OB Democratic LIE –The Township’s Budget woes somehow miraculously started on January 2, 2012, the day Mayor Henry was sworn in.
The TRUTH – Old Bridge was facing a fiscal “Tsunami” caused by the Democrats through uses of one-shot revenues. This was reinforced by the Township’s auditors as well as the NJ State Division of Local Government Services. The Democrats were consistently selling off Township owned property to balance budgets and not getting any return in the way of revenues.
OB Democratic LIE – The Calogera/Volkert Plan would save the Township money.
The TRUTH – Political Patronage at its best. This “plan” was nothing more than more of the same from Democrats, kicking the can down the road like they have done in the past. Raising the average collection rate in a down economy and over-forecasting an already over-forecasted municipal court revenue stream is just plain dumb. In fact, Councilman Butler abstained from voting for this, one can only assume why.
OB Democratic LIE – Mayor Henry is going to use one-shot revenues by selling the Laurence Harbor Senior center to the Housing Authority.
The TRUTH – Wow, now this is a whopper. A one-time member of the Housing Authority and former Democratic Council at Large candidate suggested that the Township look into building a facility for Veterans in Laurence Harbor in conjunction with the Housing Authority. Mayor Henry publically stated he thought that was a worthwhile opportunity and his administration would try to make the Veteran Center a reality. Again, Wow.
OB Democratic LIE – Mayor Henry gave a no-bid contract to the Law Firm representing Old Bridge and hired the Township Business Administrator without Council Approval.
The TRUTH – The Law Firm representing the Township was picked via the “Fair and Open” process and that process was open to any and all Law Firms to bid on. The Firm has a not to exceed contract of $250,000 for one year, which can be renegotiated at the end of 2012 and saves thousands of dollars versus under the Phillips regime that had an Attorney, an Assistant Attorney and a Secretary. The Mayor via executive order (within his rights as Mayor under the Faulkner form of Government) appointed the New Business Administrator. The Council voted to approve his new salary of $150,000. The salary of $150,000 is still well under the spending levels under the Phillips administration when there was a fulltime Business Administrator, an Assistant Business Administrator and a Secretary.
OB Democratic LIE – That Mayor Henry was responsible for the Police layoffs because he didn’t set aside money in the budget for the arbitration ruling.
The TRUTH – The PBA and the FOP knew that a favorable arbitration ruling could lead to layoffs, because MAYOR PHILLIPS told them so!! Mayor Henry attempted to bargain with both Unions and was only able to reach an agreement with the FOP. However, he has to date brought back 3 of the laid off policeman and is working to bring back more if possible.
OB Democratic LIE – The Republicans refused to repeal part of the Lifetime Benefits plan
The TRUTH - The Democrats passed a Healthcare ordinance that changed the eligibility to receive lifetime healthcare benefits from 25 years of Service in Old Bridge to only 15 years in Old Bridge as long as you worked 10 years anywhere else in the State system. They did this purely and simply as a political favor to a certain sitting councilman whose son would benefit from that change. The Republicans reversed that bad piece of legislation and reverted it back to 25 years. Separate from that awful piece of legislation, the Democrats attempted to lump in a Pension ordinance that allows employees who are 65 years old and have 15 years of service with Old Bridge to be pension eligible. This is one of the many pension options the State of New Jersey offers and oh by the way, was enacted by the OB Democrats! Mayor Henry did a study and concluded that changes to this ordinance would have a negative fiscal impact on the Township and as such, the Republican majority voted any changes to the ordinance down.
The bottom line is this………….
Mayor Henry and the Republican Council Majority were able to introduce and adopt a budget that is fiscally sound and does not rely on one-shot revenues like the Democrats have done year after year. In fact, at $52.5 million, the budget is 6.3% less than the $56.05 million dollar budget passed by the Democrats last year. Yes, it was a painful process, but the PAIN was caused by the DEMOCRATS, Mayor Henry and the Republicans are simply cleaning the mess up. Going forward, Old Bridge’s future looks bright, we have a new Hotel to look forward to which will bring jobs and revenue to Old Bridge, a potential public/private partnership to complete Mannino Park, the completion of the expansion project for Raritan Bay Medical Center, the list goes on and on.