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Council Selects Members For Ethics, Recreation Committees
By Catherine Galioto
Two committees formed with much debate now have members.
The township council, after approving the creation of an ethics committee and recreation advisory committee months ago, added the first members to serve on both groups.
Deacon Edward Fischer, a retired Lakewood police officer; Diane J. Hart, a financial advisor with John C. Watts Securities in West Long Branch; and Richard Lau, head pharmacist at the Briarmill Pharmacy and president of the Pinewood Mobile Home Park will serve on the ethics committee.
The ethics committee will accept and review complaints about alleged ethics violations by township employees and officials. The committee could handle an accusation or concern internally or pass it along to the Local Finance Board, a county board that rules on the ethical issues.
Councilman Anthony Matthews, who helped write the ordinance creating the ethics committee, said the board would be a way to counteract corruption and ethical quandaries, and would also provide an avenue for residents to report these issues.
Instead of interacting with officials at the county level, residents can send anonymous tips through the Brick Township Clerk, Virginia Lampman, who will act as the Township Ethics Officer.
The committee is also made up of three council members. Chosen to serve are Matthews, Ruthanne Scaturro and Stephen Acropolis.
These committee members will receive a case after Lampman removes information that would identify the people named in the case. The committee would discuss the issue and decide whether this should be handled swiftly through internal management, the prosecutors office, or the local finance review board.
The committee members are unpaid for their work.
Months ago, Councilwoman Kathy Russell submitted a list of volunteers willing to serve on the committee. She asked why none were picked (though she also indicated she was pleased with the choices). Russell was told that applicants with resumes were the only ones being considered; none from her list had provided resumes.
The positions last for one year, and the choices were voted in unanimously.
The second new committee that received its inaugural members was the Brick Recreation Advisory Committee.
The committee will try to get the best use out of Brick facilities, officials said, helping to coordinate playing teams and also networking to share sponsors, equipment or travel.
The idea is to share resources, Councilman Anthony Matthews said, by getting teams and officials talking and sharing advice.
One problem the committee could tackle is managing township fields - some are in high demand while others are used far less. Additionally, the committee could help link sponsors to make funding dollars stretch farther.
The members of the committee are William Kleissler, assistant principal at Brick Township High School; Edward J. McBride Jr, past board of education candidate; and Dominick Rappoccio, a retired engineer and former candidate who actively attends township council meetings.
The council members serving on the committee are Scaturro, Matthews and Acropolis.
The positions are unpaid.
Both memberships were unanimously approved during the township council meeting last week.
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