The Freeholders are trying to look like they're being tough on the Parks Commission. But let's not forget why we got in this whole mess to begin with - because the Freeholders have not been doing their job for years.
If you didn't see the Star Ledger's Saturday July 17 editorial, please take a look.
The freeholders appoint the nine park commissioners (there are now two vacancies) and supply more than 40 percent of the commission's budget. Yet the freeholders for years ignored, if not condoned, the cars, the houses, the junkets and other spending.
The freeholders, as well as the park commissioners, failed the public.
At the Freeholder meeting on Tuesday, 7/17, a former Mayor admitted during public session that he informed the Freeholders of these goings on years ago. Freeholder Zaborowski vacations with the Browns, but claims he knew nothing of their housing agreement, and knew that "a few people had cars." As if a little bit of graft would be okay!
Wasn't a "few" enough to question the whole issue? Freeholder Director, as our steward of public funds, when you know that a "few" are doing something, that's your tip off that you should act to investigate! And investigate does not mean sharing a beach blanket.
Why are the Freeholders tossing up this window dressing to begin with? If they were TRULY serious about cleaning up this mess and eliminating a superfluous layer of government harboring corruption, then they would take the actions that I, and members have the public, have been clamoring for since this story broke:
1. Conduct an "independent" forensic audit. What I mean is that a firm should be hired through an RFP bidding process, reviewed by a bi-partisan team, and awarded to a firm that has no political, personal or financial ties to the political parties or governmental officials.
2. Dismantle the Commission entirely. Put the question on the ballot for the November election to discontinue this arcane system, and consolidate the parks under the county umbrella just like the vast majority of other counties in this state do.
What Somerset County needs is a serious change in leadership - and you can't get that by voting for the same Republican Party that has proven itself unable to govern. I have served as an advocate for good governance and responsibility as Green Brook Township Committeewoman for four years. I have the experience and the guts to bring that same kind of leadership to the county government.
