The topic of televising Township Council meetings on Brick’s public access station received bipartisan verbal support at last week’s meeting.
Judging by the typically low attendance at these meetings, we’ve always been skeptical of whether this would be worth the trouble. If 50 times more people watched on TV than attended, that would still only be about 500 viewers –– a fraction of the township’s almost 80,000 residents.
But in an era when reality programs and salacious talk shows are undeniable ratings grabbers, last week’s meeting might have competed. We drew some parallels between the meeting with some other Tuesday night shows and movies it would have run against.
"National League Championship Series Game 1": The staff aces for the Republican Taxpayer Team, and Democratic Team Scarpelli throw plenty of high, hard ones in a prolonged duel. It’s now deep in the political postseason with league/party supremacy hanging in the balance.
"Law & Order": Councilman Stephen Acropolis investigates the case of a Green Acres property allegedly used for commercial profit; announces he reported his findings to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
"Playmakers": Scarpelli revives an old scandal involving Acropolis, alleging he provided housing to non-relative youths so they could play hockey in Brick. Scarpelli happens to have a two-year-old news article on the subject with him –– which he reads aloud — but accuses Acropolis of dirty politics.
"Other People’s Money": Acropolis takes Councilman Leon Mowadia to task for "electioneering," using taxpayer dollars and stationery to send out a letter for personal political gain.
"Pardon the Interruption": Council President Kimberley Casten bangs the gavel in a desperate attempt to restore order when Acropolis and Councilman Frederick Underwood won’t let each other finish their sentences.
"Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer": OK, nothing doing here.
"Auto Week:" Scarpelli admits to Acropolis’ accusation that he drove a township-owned car to New England on vacation days earlier.
"Friends": After the meeting, Scarpelli and Acropolis quietly engage in a private conversation in the public seating section.
On a final programming note, Oct. 21 is the last scheduled meeting before the Nov. 4 elections. Stay tuned.