County Counsel Responds to Kathleen Bresan’s ‘Baseless Allegations’

To the Editor:
As a result of a thorough and complete investigation, I can vehemently deny the baseless allegations levied by Kathleen Bresan against Cape May County Freeholder Marie Hayes. There is an expectation of some public criticism of elected officials. However, the outlandish statements made by Mr. and Mrs. Bresan about Freeholder Hayes must be debunked.
In March 2013, an invoice for $2,035.00, representing the cost of canvas tote bags with the Women’s Commission logo, was submitted by Mrs. Bresan to the Cape May County Chief Financial Officer for payment. The vendor was listed as “Consulmag, Inc.” An investigation revealed that Consulmag, Inc. is owned by Mrs. Bresan’s husband, Joseph Bresan. A request was made for information concerning this transaction. In response to this request, Mrs. Bresan submitted an invoice from a Stroudsburg, Pa. company dated the day of my request to Mrs. Bresan for information as to the provider of the products. This request by me was months after the purchase was purported to have been made. When a clarification as to this invoice was requested, in light of the date of the performed service and the vendor, Mr. Bresan requested to meet with myself and the County Chief Financial Officer. During this meeting, Mr. Bresan admitted that he submitted the Consulmag, Inc. (his company) invoice, which included a profit to him, for the purchase of the canvas bags for the Commission that his wife chaired. He further indicated that he was upset that the County was now questioning this process, which had been occurring yearly, when now his profit was actually “worth something.”
Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Bresan seems concerned that taxpayer money was used to procure these goods at an inflated cost. The overage of the cost was being funneled to the Bresans’ personal benefit.
Moreover, the cavalier attitude exhibited by Mrs. Bresan with respect to her failure to document who had keys to gain access to the Women’s Commission’s office demonstrates the same lack of concern for taxpayers’ property. This directly led to an exorbitant amount of unaccountable copy fees, a cost that will be borne by the taxpayers.
For Mrs. Bresan to state she is in fear for her safety is ludicrous. She has been held accountable for her actions vis-à-vis taxpayers’ money. Furthermore, by requiring this response, her transgressions are now public knowledge.