Politics & Government

Eatontown, Tinton Falls, Oceanport Mayors Defend Their Actions to FMERA

A report stated that the mayors of Oceanport and Tinton Falls "may have jeopardized" Fort Monmouth redevelopment deals by sharing information.

By Christopher Sheldon

On the same day when a report stated that he may have broken confidentiality rules by sharing information on Fort Monmouth redevelopment deals with his council, Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon defended his actions at Wednesday night's Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) meeting.

"The involvement of these communities (Eatontown, Oceanport, Tinton Falls and Monmouth County) and the impacts, both of the closing and the redevelopment, are special concerns repeated again and again in the statute," Mahon said. "These mentions include specific rights of review and outline a process for plan amendments, municipal review, and planning board review. The Statute calls out specific time frames for review by the Host Communities and the County."

"With regard to any negative impact this process may have on 'sensitive negotiations' and the success or failure of redevelopment deals; the Oceanport Governing Body will continue to seek out those opportunities that are best for Oceanport, best for our residents and neighbors while achieving the goals of this Authority," Mahon continued. "Doing it right the first time requires building consensus, engaging our stakeholders and understanding local issues." 

Mahon and Tinton Falls Mayor Michael Skudera told the Asbury Park Press that they regularly update members of their borough councils with relevant Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) information. Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo was said to be the one who does not share information with his council.

Oceanport Councilman Joe Irace spoke at the meeting in support of Mahon.

"I believe that the mayors of Oceanport and Tinton Falls share information necessary to keep their respective councils informed regarding the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth," Mahon said. "I believe that neither of the mayors were taking any confidential operating information and making it public."

"They are not putting any Fort Monmouth plans in jeopardy," Irace continued. "They were and are, in fact, bringing information back to the municipal bodies that they are part of by virtue of their election into office. They were and are bringing that information back as part of an executive session that excludes the general public from the municipal council meetings."

FMERA Chair James Gorman said the report was inaccurate and that he has "been proud to serve with the three mayors."

"How those mayors run their councils is not appropriate for FMERA to comment on," Gorman said

Gorman said it is up the mayor's borough attorneys to advise them on things they can discuss in the public and in executive session.

FMERA Executive Director Bruce Steadman said the information in the report was not "presented properly in any shape or form in the way it was discussed several months ago."

"The first thing I did was reach out to the three mayors  to tell them it was not accurate and was not my position and that I would not do that publicly to embarrass the three good board members we have."

Tinton Falls Mayor Michael Skudera also defended his actions.

"Even the attorney general and FMERA staff members indicated nothing was done improperly," Skudera said on Thursday. "When Oceanport and Tinton Falls have to deal with redevelopment issues they need to get their councils to sign off on negotiations and PILOT programs."

Tarantolo said he agreed with Mahon's comments and that he tries to keep his council up to speed on redevelopment issues at the fort whenever it is possible and he is not breaking any confidentiality rules. 

"Where the problem occurs is that the law that governs municipal bodies to go into executive session has certain requirements that imposed on it," Tarantolo said. "The executive session is required for three purposes, litigation, personnel or negotiations. If you can't characterize and executive session in any one of those three categories, you're not permitted, based on the Open Public Meetings Act, to go into executive session."

Tarantolo said there is a specific agenda item during Eatontown Council meetings that deals with Fort Monmouth.

"Wherever I can divulge information that is not confidential, I take advantage of that particular item on our agenda to update our council and the general public on issues related to Fort Monmouth."


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