Candidate: Mayor Should Institute Pay-to-Play Rules

RIO GRANDE — The campaign of Michael Voll, a candidate for Township Committee in Middle Township, issued the following statement, in which he raises “pay to play” and other challenges to the activities of his Democrat opponent Mayor Susan Atkinson DeLanzo.
“My opponent does not seem to understand simple theories behind New Jersey’s ‘Pay to Play’ legislation, such as: no one should be enabled to buy their way into a municipal position, and public officials should not accept ‘donations’ from persons whom they will then be considering as potential hires,” Voll stated.
“I challenge my Democrat opponent to immediately implement ‘Pay to Play’ legislation in Middle Township,” he said, noting that many municipalities, including Ocean City and Lower Township, have moved in this direction.
“It is painful enough to hear that several large contributors to the Delanzo campaign may have paid for the Township Employees Christmas Party shortly before they were considered again for Township positions,” Voll stated. “This just isn’t right, and its time to stop doing business this way.”
Voll pointed to his website www.mikevoll.com/moneytrail.html, where he posted information regarding the amount that professionals with Township jobs have given and what they have received in return.
“Equally troubling is the treatment afforded my opponent’s family restaurant and bar,” he said. “For one thing, the establishment has received over $70,000 of campaign money raised directly by her professionals over an 8-year period.”
He said the election reports are posted on his website.
“And those are just the receipts that are reported,” he said.
“For another thing, the Mayor’s establishment is not operating with the municipal approvals that are required of all other business people for their buildings,” he added.
Voll claimed that DeLanzo applied for several permits to add a 4,000 square foot canopy for an outdoor eating area. Her plans showed an awning like canopy with planters around the perimeter, he explained.
“Anyone who has been to the restaurant knows that it is now enclosed with heating and air conditioning, making it operable year round,” he said. “The structure is being operated illegally; my opponent has no certificate of occupancy issued by the construction official. And members of the public are regularly being welcomed into this structure by my opponent, regardless that it has not undergone the stringent inspections required of all non-privileged business owners in the Township in order to ensure legal compliance and the safety of those who use the premises.”
“How would my opponent explain this to the Department of Community State Regulatory Affairs Office?” Voll asked. “When the roof caved in last winter during the snowstorm, how did this situation continue to avoid review?”
“Yet, as she smiles at customers unwittingly entering a building that has not been inspected and approved as required by law, my opponent tosses red herrings like the health coverage issue my way,” Voll said.
Regarding his health insurance, Voll explained that during the 80’s and 90’s while he was on Township Committee, he received a health care package consistent with the law in effect during that period.
“Now that I am retired, I continue to receive health care for my 29 years of service via a combination of my full time employment with the Wildwood Police Department, State Department of Corrections, the South Jersey Transportation Authority and my years with Middle Township,” he said. “While hurling misleading allegations, DeLanzo fails to disclose she took health coverage for eight years and only did away with it for herself when the Governor was moving in that direction for currently seated part-time elected officials.”