Mayor Mary Beth Jahn of Neptune Township, New Jersey.
We recently reported on an ugly incident at the April 27, 2015 Township Committee meeting where an Ocean Grove resident was forced to sit down during the public session. We posted the exact verbal exchange between Jack Bredin and the Mayor, but when the minutes of that meeting were published on the Township website, this is what it said: “Jack Bredin came up to the microphone to talk about the North End but was asked to sit down by the Mayor. He was escorted to his seat by a Patrolman.”
I think this version of the event makes Jack look bad without revealing the Mayor’s untoward behavior. Those minutes should include everything that is said at those meetings, not a distorted whitewashed version. This revisionist text makes one wonder what else is distorted when those minutes are typed and does nothing to reassure the public about transparency by the Committee.
The conversation can be heard on the recording that was made at the meeting, and we posted the transcription on Blogfinger (see link below)
What a travesty. The message from Neptune Township clearly is: don’t question anything Neptune Township wants to do in the North End Redevelopment. Just because you may live in OG, don’t think that gives you any right to express an opinion to the council (unless you agree with the council). The Bredin episode is very Putinesque. Is that what we want from our elected officials?
I am told that the minutes do not have to be a verbatim transcription such as in a court of law. But regardless, the actuality of the Bredin event at the Committee room was edited and manipulated to avoid the truth. At the very least, that is a violation of how a citizen should be treated by elected officials and how the truth should be transmitted. What happened that night to Jack was indecent and violates the values that most Americans hold dear.
Everyone should know that you should not go to a Council meeting, with this gang of officials, and expect to be able to express an opinion that is opposition to their sensibilities and belief system. Dissent is not permitted, and clearly, they have no problem misusing the police to intimidate citizens and shut down discussion. Why do these people keep getting elected??
I am hoping — politely asking really — anyone on the Council to please explain what Neptune Township is up to here. I am also hoping that if someone at a State level sees this story — that they will initiate an investigation of this abuse of power.
That’s just shady. They should transcribe those meetings just like a court hearing. It is so residents don’t get heard.
Very sad from the people that should be representing the people of the town.
By the way, speaking of deception by the Township Committee, Randy Bishop recently announced on his Facebook page that the Township would enforce their ordinance regarding the pink bows on Main Avenue. But that has not happened, and now that we are mid-way in May, we can see that the Township ordinances are not worth the paper they are written on. Favoritism in the enforcement of laws is an early step towards tyranny.
We had a similar incident with some Neptune Township meeting minutes a few years ago. Glad to see that you are on top of it.
Paul, all the concerned citizens of Ocean Grove, I am sure, appreciate your establishment of the standard “unfinished business” for your continued coverage and analysis of the critical issues–the quality of life in “God’s Square Mile.”
If you are wondering why I am writing about politicians after saying that I won’t, but this is unfinished business, and this is about the mistreatment of an OG citizen. I said I would continue writing about selected subjects that interest me, and this is one. Thanks, Paul