There are times when you must step up to the plate and speak out, whether you are supported or not. In the case of Manalapan v. Moskovitz, this was one more instance when I did just that.
One of my primary responsibilities and concerns is how taxpayer dollars are spent. As part of our oath of office, we all swore to be fair and impartial, argue the issue, not the person. We understand that principle costs money, sometimes a lot of it.
Therefore, we always consider our options by negotiating prior to considering litigation. Why, there are no guarantees. I thought we, the Manalapan Township Committee, did just that.
However, later, I discovered that this case would be the exception to that rule.
How can anyone claim that our government is transparent and fiscally responsible when elected officials are denied access to legal documents, and legal counsel is allowed to function unmonitored?
This has become a case where several committee members have attempted to control how elected officials do their jobs. I was recently challenged when simply qualifying my vote on a “ratifying resolution” that retroactively attempts to rewrite history. In the end, the truth is the truth and it cannot be rewritten.
On behalf of the taxpayers of Manalapan, I believe that neither their interests nor mine were properly represented.
I provided (Superior Court) Judge Dennis O’Brien, and only Judge O’Brien, certain information I thought he needed to see. I decided that enough events had transpired and the time had come to defer to the judge, letting him decide whether or not the information I provided should be considered.
Acting reasonably, responsibly
and doing the right thing on behalf of the taxpayers go with the job. It is their interests I sought to protect.
Anthony Gennaro
Township Committeeman
Manalapan

