Keeping this brief.
It has come out in public meetings that there has been a co-mingling of funds and misappropriations of the Tourism Trust. It was stated at the council meeting, on October 11, 2023, that the Mayor admitted this was a mistake about the 130th anniversary celebration. The public has been on top of asking how this and other events have been getting organized and paid for. Is this on the taxpayers' dime? How much do we have in tourism? Who is hosting what event - the BBBCA vs town Tourism? Who decides how these events get paid? Are we hiring event planners? Why were random employees being assigned by our former business administrator (Kim Humphrey) in lieu of our Tourism director? How many more bills will be seen on this bills list being paid from the Tourism Trust? Why did the Mayor override the Tourism Commission's decision on Latin Fest? So many questions for SO MANY MONTHS.
Time and time again we have been told money was coming out of Tourism for many of these BBBCA non-profit private entity events, as well as many town tourism events. Based on updates by the Tourism liaison, Ms. DeNoble, it appears as though the Tourism director has been left in the dark with most of these past years' events which is against our Bradley Beach ordinance . It is also against our law to have money moved out of this account without the Tourism director signing off on it. This has been done repeatedly! We are BEYOND "mistakes". We have asked and asked tirelessly with circle talk answers. The Mayor now wants this ordinance changed!! How about we first investigate the details of what this administration has been doing with this money?
Mayor Fox admitted and acknowledged being in violation of our ordinance. Which is the LAW! He made this "mistake" from an event back in June, but yet, continued to override the Commission on Latin Fest a month ago in September, hiring his own entertainment and paying thousands over what the commission decided. This is the Mayor's third year in office, and we the people have been way too lenient with his continued unethical and unlawful behavior.
On a much BRIGHTER note in BRADLEY BEACH:
Congratulations to Ms. DeNoble, the new Council President, and Congratulations to Ms. Kristen Mahoney for being sworn in as our new council person. She was the highest vote-getter of this council decision and comes with a very impressive experienced professional background. Some of Ms. Mahoney's first closing comments were that she looks forward to starting budget discussions in November and hopes to have a preliminary budget by January.
Having Weber's commitment and years of service, DeNoble's grace and integrity, and Mahoney and Gubitosi's eyes on the next budget, gives us some great hope for a Beautiful Bradley Beach rebirth!
See you in the sand...
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