Former conductor disappointed in officials

Since my resignation as the Manalapan Battleground Symphony conductor, I have watched with great interest and concern the spin that the Manalapan Township Committee has created regarding the symphony, and my leaving the position I held with great joy for the past seven years.

I truly appreciate the support from the community for the symphony during my tenure. The symphony board members were selfless volunteers, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life around us through music.

The staff at Manalapan Parks and Recreation was extremely supportive. Together, we had a great working team, committed to bringing the very best in music to Manalapan and our surrounding community.

Though disappointed, I respected the decision made by the Township Committee to cut the annual symphony funding from $35,000 to $10,000.

Even with a $35,000 annual budget, the ability to present four high quality concerts a year was not easy. There were other music opportunities in my life to which I could devote my attention. This is why I resigned, plain and simple.

The Township Committee’s decision turned out to be very unpopular. They could have simply said that they regretted my resignation, but financial pressures sometimes make difficult choices necessary. I could have accepted that, too, since it would have shown the leadership and courage we expect of the officials we elect.

Instead, members of the Township Committee scrambled to recover their popularity.

This was at the expense of everyone who committed years of selfless dedication to make the symphony such a treasure for the township.

For example, Deputy Mayor Michelle Roth asserted that the orchestra was overpaying its professional musicians, I was overcharging for my services, there was a lack of documentation, etc.

There is truly no other word to describe my shock and disbelief regarding those slanderous accusations other than “disgust!” I actually did not receive any increase in stipend in my seven years of service. The very conscientious symphony board and I followed the same procedures established by the township for all the years I have been the conductor.

All expenses had to follow these procedures and we were never before questioned about the way we complied with them. It is also most curious that these accusations did not precede, but followed my resignation announcement on May 12, 2007.

The misconceptions regarding my resignation are apparently being perpetuated and they were reported in a News Transcript article on Sept. 6, 2007. This tells me that it’s not principle, but politics of the dirtiest kind that is motivating the Township Committee’s behavior.

On top of the slander, truthtwisting and spin-doctoring, there is also the irresponsible behavior of deliberately delaying payment for services rendered.

Even though Manalapan Parks and Recreation had long approved payment, the Township Committee waited four long months after I conducted my last concert on May 12 before releasing my check.

I’m still hoping to believe in my government and my elected officials regardless of their party, but it’s hard to keep faith in them in the face of this kind of treatment.

As a lifelong registered Democrat, I have been utterly disappointed with the behavior of the elected officials from my party such as Michelle Roth and Rick Klauber.

It is highly doubtful that local Democrats will get my vote in Manalapan during the coming elections. This isn’t because of their stand on the issues. It is because of their lack of character and integrity, and I am sure the citizens of Manalapan deserve better.

Chiu-Tze Lin

former conductor Manalapan Battleground

Symphony Manalapan