Councilman with Fire Hat
- CONFLICT ALARM IS RINGING!!!
by: KEVIN BROWN
Ambition can be the undoing of even the
best of people. In this case I have a real problem with Zambrano's
child hood dream of being a high ranking fireman.
As the City Council requires a vote of
4 members to pass budget items it may be okay for Zambrano to be both
responsible to the Fire Department and The town's folks when he is
called upon to cast a vote. He could simply "abstain"
and there would remain four other members of council to carry the
major issues before them. As it stands now, if a budget item, or
the budget itself, comes to the council for a vote all matters
pertaining to public safety Mr. Zambrano would have to pass by
abstaining. If the same vote dealt with depository funds, bonds
or any other revenues passing through Monmouth Community Bank (Largest
City Depository) than Councilmen Anthony Giordano and David Brown
would have to abstain for they are both employees of Monmouth
Community Bank. This leaves only 2 eligible council people who can ethically
cast a vote; Celli and DeStefano. Two votes do not carry any
issues in town.
The problem as it already stands is
that Giordano and Brown have not abstained from many votes on issues
having portions related to depository of city monies. The
reason, unknown by many folks - is that these two council people are
employees of the Bank. Now that Zambrano has ignored the
concerns of his fellow council people and even the Mayor - and wants
to be First Ass't - he will become a problem Council Member.
Public Safety is the largest portion of
the annual budget. Technically speaking when the Mayor brings
his budget to the council for approval, denial or amendment - that
budget will include Public Safety dollars and Zambrano should
"abstain" The budget, creating the demand for
revenues, mostly through taxation, would be generating large deposits
into Monmouth Community Bank - Giordano's and Brown's employer.
Technically these two votes should be held for conflict of interest
reasons and these two council members should also "abstain."
Long Branch requires a vote of 4
council people to pass a budget. This can not be accomplished
with three disqualified members of council. It couldn't be done
during the period of time where Giordano and Brown have been employed
by the bank. Maybe "Fazz" believes the "conflict
of interest" issue is not one he has to worry about as Giordano
has obviously dismissed it with little notice or contention. Yet
as time moves on and more eyes are opening here in town this time bomb
may go off.
Look for minds to be changed on this
second hat for Councilman Zambrano, or look for him to resign from
City Council so he can have the HAT he has dreamed of throughout his
life.
Does anyone hear the barkers?
"Peanuts, popcorn, cold drinks!"
see you next time.
KB
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