Editorial in Today's APP:
Since I live in OT and pay quite a few sewer bills...but it goes back
to AP and areas as well. SOS.
Authority needs outside review
Published in the Asbury Park Press 05/24/05
If ever a municipal agency needed an outsider to evaluate its
operations, it's the Ocean Township Sewerage Authority. Its longtime
accountant recently admitted bribing the former mayor, an authority
member, after his firm won an auditing contract. It's a patronage
pit, with all of its members having deep political connections.
The authority should rethink its decision to do the work in-house. An
outside consultant should be hired to determine whether any savings
can be returned to its 2,000 customers in Ocean Township, Deal,
Allenhurst, Interlaken and Loch Arbour.
The consultant also should consider whether an authority that
includes a former mayor, two former councilmen and a former mayor's
aide, plus a former councilman and the township manager as
alternates, is a healthy leadership mix. And whether there is any
possible justification for providing them with free health insurance
and $2,000 stipends. No matter how hard we rack our brains, we can't
think of one.
Mayor William F. Larkin and authority chairman John A. Villapiano
contacted a Cranford consulting firm to see if it would conduct a
performance review. But they dropped that idea because David R.
Kochel, the township manager and authority alternate, has done work
with the firm, creating a potential conflict of interest. So, instead
of finding another consultant, Villapiano says the authority will do
its own analysis.
In general, we prefer that local boards solve their problems
internally. They know better than anyone how things work. But in this
case, the authority members know it much too well. A fresh set of
eyes is badly needed.
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