What Happened To The $250,000 State Grant Budgeted For The Real Ortley Police Sub-Station?

"Instead Of A Real Facility At No Cost To Local Taxpayers, We Got A Rented Room With A Fax Machine" - Ortley Resident

Was Forcella Promised A Job By Gilmore & Brush For His Acquiescence In Their Broken Promises?

The new president of the Ortley Beach Property Owners Association has apparently sold his community soul to Mayor Paul Brush and Republican County Chairman George Gilmore.

If there is one thing Ortley taxpayers agree on, it is that the $2.5 million artificial turf project at three Toms River Regional High Schools should have been put on referendum in the school election held April 19th.

Turf Scam Follows Record Spending
Increase And Big Tax Hike

In the alternative, Ortley residents would prefer the bonds to be put on referendum in the November election so the public, not the politicians, could decide whether they really want the turf project to be sponsored by the local government that recently gave them a record spending increase and a big tax hike.

Forcella Rubbed The Noses Of Ortley Taxpayers In
Turf Bonds With Fawning Congratulatory E-Mail

So why did brand new OBPOA President Michael Forcella endorse the turf bond project and then rub the noses of 99% of his members in it by sending out an E-Mail congratulating Brush and School Superintendent Michael Ritacco on behalf of the property owners of Ortley Beach.

Forcella also took part in the "dedication" two weeks ago of the rented room that Brush came up with to serve as a "police department sub-station" in the Ortley Beach First Aid building.

Where's The $250,000 Grant??

Former OBPOA president Daniel Polifroni noted that a number of Ortley leaders worked with former Mayor John Russo to secure a state grant of $250,000 which was earmarked for the construction of a "real sub-station facility" on the grounds of the old Ortley sewer treatment plant.

Ortley leaders want to know what happened to the $250,000 and "why are we sold a bill of goods on the rented room?"

After Functionally Disabling Ortley Taxpayers With Large Scissors, Mayor Brush and Councilwoman Maruca Tap Dance And Smirk As Rhythms Leader Michael Fiure  Beats Out The Current Party Line Gospel And Ortley Property Owners Assoc. Pres. Michael Forcella Looks On Approvingly

Forcella Never Even Mentioned The $250,000 Grant;
Neither Did Brush Or Maruca Or Fiure

Forcella never even mentioned the $250,000 grant, or the "gross inadequacies" of the rented room at the dedication.

Instead, he praised Brush and First Ward Councilwoman Maria Maruca, and made remarks which most of the other Ortley leaders regard as "misrepresentations" and indicative of a "sellout to the politicians who betrayed us starting from Day One of the new government."

Maruca Broke Promises To Cut
Spending, Hold The Line On Taxes

Maruca broke campaign promises to "hold the line on taxes" and "eliminate wasteful spending" by embarking on the most expensive wasteful spending program in the history of Dover Township and raising taxes by 22%.

Maruca Voted For Turf Bonds; Opposed
Referendum In Sellout Of Ortley Taxpayers

She also voted for the turf bonds and opposed a referendum on the $2.5 million expenditure. Forcella attended the public hearing on the turf bonds, cheering vigorously for supporters of the bonds, and hooting and booing opponents of the bonds.

So why has Forcella double-crossed his own constituency?

No one knows for certain, but reports persist that he may have been promised a public payroll job by Gilmore and Brush, a chit to be redeemed after the re-election of Maruca, whose candidacy Forcella supports.

This article prepared for publication on May 13, 2005.