Mayor, Candidate Verbally Spar, Over Administrator, Rec. Dept.

COURT HOUSE – Following an award and two proclamations, Middle Township Committee moved through 21 resolutions. The public comment period arrived 20 minutes into the Oct. 17 meeting. 
That is when the fact that there is an election in a couple of weeks became apparent.
Daniel Lockwood, the Republican candidate, running against Mayor Michael Clark for a seat on the committee, questioned Clark on the search for a new township administrator. 
Administrator Connie Mahon is leaving at the end of the month to take a similar job at Wildwood Crest.
Lockwood said that the township needs to be more aggressive in seeking a qualified replacement. One month after Mahon announced she was leaving, Clark said an advertisement for the position was listed on the township’s and state League of Municipalities’ websites.
Clark said he had proposed spending $12,000 to hire a professional search firm for the job. Lockwood responded that for a lot less money Mahon could have been retained.
Lockwood also sparred with Clark over the lack of a September committee meeting at the firehouse in Rio Grande.
Clark said he intended to have the meeting but had not realized the advance time necessary for advertising and clearing the use of the fire house.
Admitting that lack of knowledge evoked another criticism from Lockwood.
At that point Sam Kelly, a Swainton resident and a past Democratic candidate for committee, read a statement critical of the influence Republicans Lockwood and Timothy Donohue have had on the committee.
“The motivations of these men have divided the community against itself,” Kelly said. Kelly criticized an alleged $100,000 loan Lockwood had received from the township and the “full-time paid political appointment” Donohue received after his reelection.
Kelly also took issue with the “paid political releases disguised as real news.”
Lockwood responded to Kelly pointing to the fact that he had been the township’s first Republican mayor in 50 years.
Lockwood praised the actions taken by Donohue and himself in their brief committee majority. 
He accused Clark of sending his “hit man,” meaning Kelly, to read “prepared statements.” The issue of “planting” comments in the audience or in letters to the editor is a criticism both parties have had of the other.
At the last meeting Committeeman Jeffrey DeVico asked Donohue if he had written a letter critical of the Recreation Department and just had a member of the public sign it.
For the second meeting in a row, the Recreation Department became a subject for debate.
Rosie Jefferson rose to continue the defense of the department and its supervisor Robert Matthews. At the previous meeting, Jefferson had been vocal in defense of Matthews and the department in light of criticisms appearing in a published letter.
Clark argued that some of the issues in the recreation program stem from a lack of volunteers. He called on the public to participate more. He admitted that additional staffing is going to be needed and that the issue would be part of the next year’s budget process.
At that point, DeVico admitted what was apparent, “We are a committee divided,” he said. “There is no question about it.”
DeVico, the newest committee member in his first year, complained that he has found no written plans for the future and that his attempts to get the committee engaged in meaningful debate on issues facing the township often do not result in the “kind of discussion I was hoping for.”
DeVico challenged Donohue citing a lack of ideas coming from the ex-mayor except for “the blue ribbon” program for supporting the police. Donohue responded that he had proposed ideas that met with no support from others on committee, including the plan to keep the administrator.
Only one meeting of the committee remains before the November elections.
Employee of the Month
The township continued its practice of awarding a municipal worker as Employee of the Month. This month the recipient was Krystal Arana who serves as deputy clerk and alternative deputy registrar.
Clark called Arana “a wonderful asset to Middle Township” citing her professional and courteous manner in helping residents and co-workers. 
Arana is a Lower Township resident but says that she has come to love Middle Township and enjoys her job at the center of the many services provided by the Clerk’s Office.
Township Clerk Kimberly Krauss said that Arana has been essential to a smooth transition after personnel changes in the Clerk’s Office.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.