I just finished reading a letter to the editor from Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry that was published in this newspaper. If anyone has had a narrow-minded approach to Mayor Andrew Lucas’ land deal in Manalapan, it has been Mrs. Burry.
Once again she beats the drum of “the people not understanding the sole purpose of farmland preservation.” It is reminiscent of another political figure who remarked when people were starving and had no bread — “let them eat cake.” She completely misses the point, and it’s not the first time.
Mrs. Burry seems so stuck on the farmland preservation process that she uttered a crass remark about Adolph Hitler that offends every decent human being and then goes on to completely ignore the ethical issues surrounding Mr. Lucas’ application.
Mayor Lucas eliminated four other properties submitted to Manalapan for purchase, so there would be enough money left in the open space account for his newly acquired farm. What other property owner, whether applying for farmland or open space preservation, had the ability to knock out the competition?
Mr. Lucas sat through executive session meetings while these four properties were discussed. He even commented on the record, turning one of them down.
Mrs. Burry has repeatedly stated that Mayor Lucas was cleared by the state ethics board; the same ethics board headed by Monmouth County Republican Thomas Neff, who said he found no violation because Mr. Lucas had not participated in a substantive manner. Perhaps Mr. Neff needs new reading glasses to review the executive session minutes that were sent to him.
Where was Freeholder Burry’s concern about open space and farmland preservation in Manalapan when the property next to Thompson Grove Park was turned down for purchase by Manalapan?
That purchase could have expanded an existing park and been enjoyed by every resident. It now has five new houses. This was one of the four properties that was turned down in favor of Mayor Lucas’ new farm.
So Manalapan gets five new houses and keeps eight from being built on the Lucas property? Do the math — that’s a whopping total of three new houses not being built in town at a cost to taxpayers of $1.2 million; and that money goes right into Andrew Lucas’ pockets.
Unfortunately, Freeholder Burry has a habit of protecting her friends.
During the Brookdale Community College scandal, just two years ago, Freeholder Burry defended former Brookdale President Peter Burnham and the board of trustees right up until Mr. Burnham was arrested. He is now serving five years in prison for committing official misconduct and lying on his expense reports.
It is Freeholder Burry’s judgment that has been questionable. Perhaps she is the one who should rethink her position on the Lucas land deal, just as she had to do with the Brookdale scandal. Or maybe it is time she just retired.
Gerard D. Ward
Manalapan