HOWELL – Tensions have escalated in the ongoing partisan dispute between the mayor and members of council which now include accusations of illegal activity.
Republican Councilwoman Pamela Richmond posted to social media that she had gone to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office regarding actions by the mayor. “It is with sadness and disappointment that I was obligated to report to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office evidence that I believe reveals Howell Mayor Theresa Berger acted unlawfully and outside the scope of her authority under our form of government.”
The issue revolves around an event Berger planned that ultimately never took place.
This November, Berger, a Democrat, is up for re-election.
Richmond added, “while the Mayor and I have significant philosophical differences on the direction for the township I never would have believed she could break the law. Yet based on my research, the evidence suggests that that is what has occurred.”
“The evidence suggests that earlier this year Mayor Berger tried to arrange a ‘political event’ under the false premise that it was a ‘community party.’ In organizing the event the mayor was illegally communicating with and directing township employees, attempting to use public resources, and potentially (if enacted) using taxpayer funds in arranging an event for her benefit,” Richmond said.
Richmond said evidence obtained through the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) indicates Berger worked outside the Township Manager’s Office and directed employees to act; both of which are against the law under the Faulkner Act.
The councilwoman added, “evidence also suggests that the mayor deliberately tried to arrange this event outside the lawful process by bypassing public bidding and side-stepping other requirements necessary to hold a legitimate township event.”
Richmond said, “evidence further reveals that when the scheme was exposed, Mayor Berger tried to blame township employees for the event and used her official Mayor’s email to seek the help of a political consultant to craft her response to the allegations.”
The councilwoman said she “needed to investigate this matter when emails began to surface about an event that was to take place for which the full governing body was never made aware.”
“When I began to ask questions about the event, it became apparent to me that something inappropriate had taken place. I began to OPRA all emails related to the event which led me to uncover the troubling behaviors exhibited by Mayor Berger,” Richmond added.
Richmond said it was her duty to notify Township Manager Brian Geoghegan of her concerns and submitted her evidence to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office for their review.
Geoghegan has since alerted the governing body as to Richmond’s actions. Richmond stated she would not comment further on the status of the investigation other than to say “I am meeting with MCPO officials.”
Mayor Berger told The Howell Times, “I’m the mayor and coordinating community events with the police is part of my job. Period. End of sentence. The Police Department came to me with an idea to do a community event with the police and the public, with a local band and local food trucks.”
“I thought it was a great idea and so did Councilman (John) Bonevich. We were working with the Township Manager, Howell Police Department, Office of Emergency Management, Department of Public Works, and local restaurants to put the event together, the mayor added.
Berger added, “unfortunately, Council members Richmond, (Thomas) Russo and (Evelyn) O’Donnell blocked it and the community event never happened thanks to them.”
“This anti-police stance from the Howell Republicans is not new. For decades under the Republican majority, the Howell PD has been underfunded and understaffed. Since I was elected mayor, I’ve been pushing for more funding and resources for our extraordinary police department, and I’ve been working with Chief (Andrew) Kudrick to get our police officers everything they need,” the mayor added.
The mayor said the police appreciated her support. “We have a great relationship that helps us get things done. The Republican council members don’t like me and they don’t respect the police.”
Berger went on accuse the Republican members on the council of being “angry that we were working together on a community project that would benefit the town without asking their permission. That’s what this issue is really about.”
