Randy Bishop, new Director of the Senior Center.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor and Jack Bredin, Reporter @Blogfinger.net
Recently the Township created a furor when they dismissed Brian Batch from the position of Senior Center Director. The firing was, according to the Comedy (aka Committee,) based on an investigative report which has never been released publicly.
There was criticism of the process in which the Township brought about the firing, and many seniors are still disgruntled over this issue, considering the procedure to have been problematic. There was speculation that the Township Committee was trying to open up the job in favor of someone else.
Mr. Batch hired an attorney because he believes that he should be reappointed to the job.
At last night’s Committee meeting, a resolution was passed to offer the position to Randy Bishop who, for years, was a Neptune Committeeman and former mayor. In 2016, he left the Committee to take a job at the County level. We don’t know if he still holds that post, making the new Neptune appointment a second job.
Bishop, a Democrat, is the owner of an inn in Ocean Grove (the Melrose) which is currently for sale. The inn may be his third job. None of this was explained last night. The Coaster reported that the salary is $77,000 per year
Appointing a former colleague to a lucrative Neptune job will raise eyebrows because of many concerns in the past regarding favoritism by Neptune Township’s one party rulers. Examples of such favoritism include the recent case of the Aurora variance, approvals for developers to build condominiums without parking, and zoning favoritism as occurred with Mary’s Place.
Nevertheless, the Senior Center does currently need a Director who also has duties as Director of Senior Services. Bishop was once liaison from the Committee to the Senior Center, so he does have some experience.
At last night’s discussion of the resolution to hire Bishop, some seniors went to the mic. during the public portion to once again ask that Brian Batch be reinstated. They thought that making a new appointment now was out of order since the Batch matter is not yet resolved.
But the vote for Bishop was unanimous by all 5 Committeemen.
LITTLE RICHARD:
“Good golly Miss Molly, sure like to ball.
Good golly, Miss Molly, sure like to ball.
When you’re rockin’ and a rollin’ can’t hear your momma call.”