We don't know about the booze question, but the discussion evolved into a desire by the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders to expand its travel and meals reimbursement policies for county workers to cover those in autonomous agencies - Schools of Technology, Improvement Authority, etc.
Then that new troublemaker, Freeholder Jose Munoz of West New York, asked whether they, the freeholders, are subject to the same policy - the one that does not allow such reimbursements as alcohol, health spa massages, or stays at five-star hotels.
No, they are not. Who can go on a trip and how much they can spend each day is apparently at the whim of the chairman of the county panel, and this time around it is Jersey City's Jeffrey Dublin.
On Thursday, Munoz motioned to introduce legislation that would make the freeholders follow the same travel and meal rules county workers must obey. O'Dea seconded Munoz's motion.
If you're brave enough, click through and see the asshattery.
In baseball, tie goes to the runner. In politics, tie goes to defeating the bill. Munoz's motion died a 4-4 death, with one abstention. Albert Cifelli of Kearny has the distinction of being the Most Scaredy-Cat Asshat Freeholder. He couldn't figure out if he wanted to be treated like royalty or be treated like a county employee.
Voting against Munoz, and in favor of having Hudson County taxpayers pick up their bar bill, were Jersey City's Jeffrey Dublin, Doreen Dimenico of Bayonne, Eliu Rivera of Jersey City, and Thomas Liggio of North Bergen. I will, from this day forward, referred to them as the Four Royal Asshats of the Taxpayers Apocalypse. Feel free to repeat that. Often. And with derision.
Joining Munoz and O'Day were Maurice Fitzgibbons of Hoboken and Tilo Rivas of Union City.
Then you find the absolutely best part of the whole story:
The Freeholders want new chairs to replace what they call their worn-out seats. The price tag is $1,000 for each butt, but that same annoying guy from West New York said he saw the same chairs at Wal-Mart for $176. And then he has the nerve to say he's keeping his old chair.
Wonder how the Four Royal Asshats of the Taxpayers Apocalypse (I should find a shorter name) feel about Walmart chairs.
