HOWELL – A member of the township council is questioning Mayor Theresa Berger’s intentions regarding the recent COVID-19 vaccine event administered through Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI).
A member of the council had allegedly submitted an ethics violation anonymously against Berger. Since Berger is the President and CEO of OHI, a member alleged that Berger was possibly profiting off using OHI for administering the vaccine.
At the March 9 council meeting, Berger raised concerns and mentioned how they need to schedule another event to administer the second part of the vaccine. Berger read the following statement:
“We’re in the middle of a public health crisis. Dr. Anthony Fauci has recommended you should be vaccinated by all means possible to stop the spread of the COVID virus and to save lives. It is a sad day when town officials politicize efforts to protect our seniors and disabled members of our township from receiving vaccines. This is what it’s become, putting politics over serving our community and saving lives. Is this really what we want as a council want to look like?
“It’s no secret that I am a physician and that in my private life I work at a federally qualified health center, providing medical services to the elderly, to the poor, the vulnerable and in Howell and all of Ocean and Monmouth County. I’ve done this very long before I was ever elected mayor and re-elected as mayor. It’s unfortunate that I believe the Republicans in town council are fully aware that I’m perfectly able to serve individuals from our community. I’ve been doing it for years.
“There’s absolutely no conflict in OHI or myself being in the middle providing COVID vaccines to eligible individuals in our community. I don’t have to contract with the town to do this. The town is not paying me for it, and I am not personally benefiting from performing this desperately needed humanitarian service to the individuals in our community. And why would anybody want to stop the vaccine? I’m not quite sure. So, you have to ask yourself, who would have a problem with this and why? Who was opposed to trying to help to protect people in the middle of a pandemic and what is the motivation there?
“Sadly, the only conclusion is partisan politics. So, when your grandmother or your disabled son or your child’s teacher needs a COVID vaccine, remember those who are trying to stop them from being protected. All because of the hatred for me, and how sad is that?
“Personally, I’d like to take a different path. One where we can work together and serve all of the citizens and get this pandemic behind us. I call upon my colleagues of the Town Council to join me and OHI and all the other organizations and our efforts to protect our citizens, instead of trying to stop our people from being vaccinated. And how about just try to help? Wouldn’t that be the decent thing to do? Or do we still want to fight about OHI providing vaccines to the poor people in our town that need it. That’s up to the council.”
Berger ended her statement saying she is determined that OHI will move forward with the second dose of the vaccine, wanting to make sure the people who they’ve already vaccinated the first dose with will be fully covered.
After her statement, the Township Manager, Brian Geoghegan, commented on not being aware that they will try to stop vaccines, but was asked what other entities they were working with to come to Howell.
“Anyone who is able to come in to vaccinate members of our town – they should be able to into town,” Berger said.
Berger said Township Attorney Joe Clark told her she “cannot provide the vaccines. That OHI cannot provide vaccines.” Berger further explained that if the second OHI vaccine event is not held, they would have to reschedule everyone to a different location in order to receive the second vaccine. Individuals would need to receive the second vaccine within 13 days of the first one.
Clark spoke back stating he had concerns Berger was violating the local government ethics law by “benefiting from shots that are being administered by OHI in town and are billing residents’ insurance companies and are billing the township’s insurers for the police vaccination. That money goes towards OHI and a portion of it pays your salary.”
Berger retaliated stating she does not receive any money. Clark continued saying he recommended that Berger went to the local finance board and request an advisory opinion from them, whether it was permissible for OHI to take action.
“I did not tell you to not distribute vaccinations. I told you to protect yourself,” Clark said
Berger said she has spoken with the outside counsel about it and that there’s no issues. Clark said he’s having counsel look into the issue.
“It is not a question whether or not it’s a good or noble thing to vaccinate people, we can all agree it is. It is a question whether or not you’re getting a benefit that other people can’t get as a result to your position,” Clark said.
Berger asserted that OHI is a non-profit organization. She continued stating she’s spoken with the local finance board and has gone to the governor with it.
Councilwoman Pamela Richmond made statements about how Republicans are not against the vaccines, and that everyone is on the same page and want citizens to be vaccinated.
Councilman John Bonevich, who also works at OHI, discussed how residents are struggling to get a vaccination. He stated out of the 200 vaccines OHI administered, they received 1,750 emails from residents who were trying to receive the vaccine.
“I don’t think any of us should get in the way. Let’s put this behind us and let’s get everyone involved,” Bonevich said.
Councilwoman Evelyn O’Donnell was last to make a statement, saying she was appalled that Berger used this as a “political platform.”
“Whoever it was on this council who put in an ethics violation because I gave vaccines, how dare you. You don’t care about the township. You don’t care about the people that live in the township. All you care about is yourself,” Berger said.
Berger concluded saying she has nothing to hide. She reiterated that she is not benefiting at all from the vaccine event. The minimal administration fees pay the professionals that need to administer the vaccine and among other expenditures for storing and recording, according to Berger. The vaccine is always free to those getting it, even if they do not have insurance as vaccines are donated.
The OHI vaccine event was held on February 27 and those who received the vaccine then are due for the second doses. It is unclear at this time if the second event was being held.
