Jack and Jean Bredin. Ocean Grove citizens and Blogfinger staff. 2016 Paul Goldfinger photo.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
At the end of each Neptune Township Committee meeting, a citizen is allowed to come up to the microphone and speak for 5 minutes. The citizen may ask questions or make a statement. No Township official has to respond, although they are free to do so.
We have received a report from Mr. Jack Bredin on Heck Avenue that he went to the podium last night to express some concerns about the North End Plan. He was in the middle of his time when he asked why the Mayor was not present at the April 15 meeting which was, according to the Township Clerk, supposed to be about negotiations for a Redeveloper Agreement. Mary Beth Jahn is one of the two Committee people who were chosen to participate in those negotiations.
However, Mayor Jahn reacted angrily to Mr. Bredin’s question by slamming her gavel down several times—a signal to have a policeman come in and remove the citizen.
The officer assigned to attend Committee Meetings approached Mr.Bredin, at the podium, to indicate that he should return to his seat.
As this was occurring, Mayor Jahn allegedly said into the microphone that she could have him thrown out because “I am a bitch!”
None of the representatives of the Homeowners Association and none of the other elected officials rose in Mr. Bredin’s defense.
NORAH JONES: “Cold, Cold Heart.”