Parker: Good government requires truth and death of cronyism
In the federal corruption trials that sent Hamilton Township Mayor John Bencivengo and Trenton Mayor Tony Mack to prison, both cases received exact scrutiny here.
Truth in government remains a critical component to the advancement of democracy as residents deserve transparency. Period.
A personal love for democracy and good government knows that accountability, honesty and truth matter. These hallmarks require deliverance by Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.
By the way, those aforementioned political tribes can potentially produce disgraceful behaviors as party allegiance overrides desires for truth. Political memberships run parallel to West Side Story’s “When You’re a Jet”.
“When you’re a Dem, you’re a Dem through and through, we don’t care what you say, we don’t mind what you do — You’re a Dem!”
“When you’re a GOP, you don’t care ‘bout the lies, the more that you tell makes you one of the guys — You’re a GOP!”
Truth may rank as subjective although emails and other correspondences transition observers into the general ballpark of honesty.
Evidence rolls in to support allegations made by suspended Hamilton Twp. CFO John Barrett who said that Hamilton Twp. employee Richard Mulrine signed off on a purchase order that reimbursed his sister-in-law Mayor Kelly Yaede.
Mind you, Mayor Yaede appears deserving of the almost $5,000 in reimbursement costs for stays at The Borgota, Tropicana and Boston Marriott, all charged to her credit card with about half the money paid out for her personal security detail.
A document obtained by The Trentonian showed Barrett complained vigorously about Mulrine’s alleged breach of protocol. An email notes Business Administrator Dave Kenny, Chief of Staff Marty Flynn and Lindsay Burbage, township attorney, were made aware of the Mulrine overstep.
On December 29, 2018, Barrett contacted personnel Director Louis Guarino about Mulrine signing off on the purchase order.
Barrett wrote, “I have attached purchase order 18-06183 where Richard Mulrine signed as the chief financial officer related to the certification of funds for a purchase order for Mayor Kelly Yaede. He knowingly certified the availability of funds, in direct violation of the township’s cash management plan. This topic was brought forward to the director of DLGS and in a conference call and Mr. Mulrine, Kenny, Flynn, and Burbage were informed by the director that only the CFO can sign in the role of certification of funds. Please draft the disciplinary notice and advise me when complete.”
An obtained email showed Barrett sought further disciplinary action after Mulrine allegedly again overstepped his authority.
Barrett wrote, “Mr. Guarino, I would request that your office prepare 3 separate disciplinary notices related to the 3 attachments provided.”
“After a conference call with DLGS on 12/12/18, Mr. Mulrine was notified along with Kenny, Flynn, & Burbage that nobody but myself can certify funds or council resolutions. On 12/13/18, Richard J. Mulrine signed 3 applications that have been attached as “Plan Administrator”. I am the plan administrator of the township’s retirement plans and Mr. Mulrine knowingly signed as the plan administrator. Please advise me when the charges are drafted along with the details of the proposed discipline.”
These challenges against Mulrine and the administration gained retribution as Yaede’s administration filed complaints against Barrett as Kenny served as point man for charges that accused the CFO of theft, misappropriation of funds, employee misconduct and inefficient job performance and other criminal misbehaviors.
A previous Trentonian article noted that an email sent Dec. 13, 2018, Barrett contacted officials in the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ Division of Local Government Services with allegations that Mulrine had engaged in “theft of time”. Barrett alleged he reported the alleged matter to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
On October 25, 2018, Barrett emailed Township council members Anthony Carabelli, Jeff Martin, Ileana Schirmer, Ralph Mastrangelo, Rick Tighe, and Kenny, Burbage, and auditor Dave Gannon. Barrett alleged that Mulrine had gained 315 hours toward his vacation time bank via instructions from Director Guarino.
Robbinsville Mayor David Fried allegedly endorses a hiring policy that disconnects from employment for relatives as genealogical restrictions prevent scandals of nepotism. Family members have a way of causing problems.
While Richard J. Mulrine gained employ before his sister-in-law Kelly Yaede became mayor of Hamilton Twp., finding him another job sounds reasonable.
One topic all Dems and GOP members despise connects to cronyism and nepotism. Blue collar workers hate welfare recipients and people who receive favors because they’re related to some politician.
When government morphs into politics and people lose faith in leaders then change sounds appropriate. Siding with the party not in leadership sounds reasonable but Hamilton Twp. voters have a chance to rebuild a great government.
Elect representatives with the intestinal fortitude and honesty to challenge their own party. Be bold with your decisions then find a way to improve your home, street, and city.