Tuesday, July 31, 2018

$1.2M in additional state aid will be used to offset the Board's 2.08% tax increase...





Before discussions on the additional aid even began, Mike Nardino made a motion to NOT use all the remaining aid for tax relief.   Marc Capizzi had a long, descriptive, prepared resolution based on what Nardino said.  It was a backroom deal.  It was a done deal.  They wouldn’t disclose when they discussed the matter or who else was involved. 


Six Board members voted against using the full amount for tax relief.  Like last year, only Jeff Telep and I voted to give the taxpayers the full amount. 


This year’s budget is padded to the extreme as it is every year.  Lodi’s additional aid will likely be there next year as our aid has never declined.  The district should be in good financial shape next year because of all the additional aid.  The only threat to our finances are scheming politicians that do stupid things, like raising taxes so they can stash away 8 million for an unnecessary administration building or paying someone $200,000 for unused sick days when everyone else is capped at $15,000.


Everyone that voted against giving more tax relief tonight also voted to raise your taxes 2.08% just a few months ago.


“Rice him like a bride! Ha ha ha!” –Nancy Cardone




Quatrone and the Board members that he controls tried to withhold the salary increment of an employee tonight without providing the employee a Rice notice.


The item was put forward last month but did not pass.  The same item was put up again tonight.  It was tabled after I explained what they were doing violated the employee’s rights.


Nancy Cardone was gleeful at the prospect of  going after the employee in the future.  She said, “Rice him like a bride! Ha ha ha!


The reason given for going after the employee’s salary increment is trivial in nature compared to the actions of certain employees sitting up there tonight.


I don’t like double standards.  I don’t approve of violating any employee’s rights.


Monday, July 30, 2018

Marc Schrieks causes Tedesco to break his campaign pledge and violate his own “ethics policy”…




When Jim Tedesco became County Executive, he pledged not to have any elected officials serving on his executive staff.  He referred to it as his “ethics policy”.  Marc Schrieks resigned from the council in 2015 to become one of Tedesco’s three deputy chiefs of staffs.


From an nj.com article:


“Schrieks resigned to comply with Tedesco's pledge not to have any elected officials on his executive staff.”


A northjersey.com article stated that Tedesco didn’t want Marc to serve “two masters”.




It’s disappointing that Tedesco (up for re-election) broke his campaign pledge.


But then again, Tedesco couldn’t have been serious about an ethics pledge when he was hiring Marc Schrieks, Coniglio’s Chief of Staff. 


If elected, Marc Schrieks would be serving three masters- James Tedesco, Joe Capizzi, and Frank Quatrone.