Show me the money – How John Bencivengo got a raise.

“It was a conditional letter, meaning he would not take the raise if his Directors would not get one.” John Ricci, Hamilton Business Administrator, May 15th response to my question about John Bencivengo’s letter withdrawing from a raise in 2010.

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Thanks to a Hamilton Council version of the Monopoly Community Chest Card saying BANK ERROR IN YOUR FAVOR , Mayor Bencivengo continues to reap a windfall pay raise that has already totaled $11,500. Hamilton Township. Democrats today called on the All-Republican Council to rescind that pay hike and to demand restitution from the Mayor for the money he has already taken.

During salary ordinance deliberations in 2010, Mayor Bencivengo sent a letter dated March 1, 2010 to Council writing, “I am withdrawing personally from any increase in salary,” as he declined any hike in the salary ordinance for the office of mayor. Bencivengo March 1, 2010 Salary Letter

Apparently the All-Republican Council neglected to have their salary ordinance reflect the Mayor’s request and the ordinance, as passed, included an increase from $97,978 to $104,551 for the mayor, a jump of 7% – not the 3.5% portrayed to taxpayers.

Perhaps an honest mayor would have called out the error, but in this case Mayor Bencivengo took the checks and cashed them, netting himself a windfall of over $11,500 to-date.

All of this would probably gone undiscovered if representatives of the Hamilton Township Democratic party hadn’t gone to Council to protest another pay raise for the mayor scheduled to take effect July 1 of this year despite his federal charges of extortion and bribery. During discussion of the new hike, it was revealed that the mayor was already collecting a raise he had supposedly turned down in 2010!

The Hamilton Democrats shamed the All-Republican council into taking some action at that meeting to rescind the July 1 hike but council took no action on the earlier windfall for the mayor. Ironically, Mayor Bencivengo wrote another salary letter (Bencivengo Salary) on May 4, 2012 declining this latest increase. In that letter, he makes no mention of the money he has already collected.

Whether it is in the form of a resolution, ordinance, or lawsuit, the All-Republican council must consider itself obligated to return these ill-gotten gains to the Hamilton taxpayer instead of allowing them to be used to pay for the mayor’s high-priced criminal defense team

One other thing that is clear from this salary grab episode is that the most recent “pinky swear” letter to council from the mayor saying that municipal government is running smoothly and efficiently as he battles serious criminal charges has to be considered just as suspect as his earlier letters regarding salary.

Finally, although the Hamilton Democrats are referencing Monopoly to make a point, this is not a game. It is actually more akin to the recent case in Cinnaminson, NJ where a man was arrested after keeping the excess money a bank clerk gave him when cashing a check. To not require return of these funds would be another example of the double standard of fairness and justice the republican administration arrogantly claims as their right.

Times of Trenton – Mayor Bencivengo should do the right thing: resign

As printed in the Times of Trenton May 11, 2012

In regard to our Republican mayor of Hamilton Township, I quote Chris Christie, who said, in 2009 (as Republican candidate for governor), in reference to charges of election fraud against a Democratic Essex County freeholder: “The principle I believe in is, once that cloud is over you, I think you owe it to the people who elected you to step aside and to let someone else who doesn’t have that cloud serve.”

Mayor Bencivengo’s supporters should stop vilifying the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the “cooperating witness.”

To label the calls for Mr. Bencivengo’s resignation as partisan is tantamount to ignoring the major New Jersey newspapers’ editors, columnists and well-regarded elected officials who have called for his resignation.

Mr. Bencivengo should heed Gov. Christie’s words and resign. He owes it to Chris Christie, his party leader, to his family and to the residents of Hamilton Township.

Sign the petition asking John Bencivengo  to resign in order for Hamilton Township Council to appoint an interim Mayor.

PETITION TO RESIGN

Attn: Hamiltonians – It is the Little Things that Make a Big Difference

Author Unknown

There was a man taking a morning walk at the beach. He saw that along with the morning tide came hundreds of starfish, but when the tide receded the starfish  were left behind and that with the morning’s sun growing hotter they would die.

The tide had just begun to recede yet the starfish were alive. The man took a few steps, picked one starfish and threw it into the water. He did this repeatedly. Right behind him there was another person who just couldn’t understand why this man was doing what he was. The person caught up with him and asked, “Why are you doing this? There are hundreds of starfish. How many can you help? So, what difference can tossing one starfish at a time back into the sea make?”

This man did not immediately reply, but took two more steps, picked up another starfish, threw it into the water, and said, “It makes a difference to this one. It makes a difference to me”

The other person picked up a starfish and threw it into the sea.

The End (?)

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If you have tried to make a difference in another person’s life then you know how powerful your acts are. It is just as likely that we over look the added power that our effort had – we were unaware that another had observed what we had attempted. Now that other person follows our example.

Lead, be an example and sign the Bencivengo Resign Now Petition – Link Below.

http://www.change.org/petitions/mayor-hamilton-township-nj-demand-his-immediate-resignation

How to run a transparent Hamilton Township Government

“A popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or, perhaps, both.” Pres. James Madison, August 4, 1822

Aside from what I recommend below, please comment on what else Hamilton Township needs to do to be more transparent.

Hiring 

1) Post all open jobs on the Township Website with job descriptions and wages.

2) Advertise all open positions to the public.

3) As a condition for interviewing, for anyone considered for an open position post their resume on the Township Web Site.

4) The person responsible for hiring would be required to provide a signed written report outlining the reason for that hire and submit it to the Municipal Clerk for public review.

Purchasing

1) Bid everything over $17,000.

2) Forbid “comparison” pricing as a basis for a purchasing decision.

3) Upon award of the contract, post all bid responses (winning and losing) on the Township website.

4) The responsible department, persons and Purchasing Department would provide a signed written report as to why the successful bidder was awarded the contract.

Public Meetings (Council, Boards and Commissions)

1) Immediately publish to the Township website the Meeting Agendas for each open public meeting

2) One week prior to the next public meeting of Council, Board or Commission have the Meeting Minutes published to the Township website

Township Employment

1) In searchable and sortable list, publish on the Township website all employee names, jobs titles, job descriptions, prior township positions held and wages.

2) All cumulative and monthly overtime paid (hours and amounts)  to Township employees would be posted by the end of the following month and searchable on the Township Website

Budgeting

1) All budget worksheets, which already detail the line item spending from each department would be posted to the Township Website.

2) All budget material would be searchable utilizing basic browser or other search tools.

3) Budget hearings and workshops would be held in different community buildings throughout the Township.

4) All Directors would be required to attend public budget workshops and public budget hearings that pertain to their department.

Road Projects

1) A simple explanation of road prioritization for paving would be posted to the Township Website

2) A two (2) year plan of road projects would be posted on the Township Website.

Zoning

1) A clickable map of the Township indicating what areas are zoned for what purpose.

2) Any open Zoning Variance requests would be indicated on that clickable map.

3) A searchable history of any approved Zoning Variances would be published to the Township website.

Crime

1) A civiliam Information Officer from the Police Department would be responsible to provide Police Blotter information to the media

2) A civilian Information Officer  from the Police Department would be responsible to update the Township website’s Police Blotter

3) The home page of the Township website would have a visible and direct link to the Police Blotter

4) Prior to any publication with the media, the Police Chief will report in person to Township Council and the Mayor the annual Uniform Crime Report.

NJ Governor Chris Christie on Trust, Conduct, Corruption and John Bencivengo

“He does not believe who does not live according to his belief.”  ~Thomas Fuller; churchman and historian

On Trust “Is there any wonder why we are in such big trouble? Any question why the people don’t trust their government anymore, and demand a change?”

On Corruption “The principle I believe in is, once that cloud is over you, I think you owe it to the people who elected you to step aside and to let someone else who doesn’t have that cloud serve.”

On Conduct “Today we must make a pact with each other to end this reckless conduct with the people’s government.”

On Trust “Is there any wonder why we are in such big trouble? Any question why the people don’t trust their government anymore, and demand a change?”

On John Bencivengo – nothing. Not one word.

Bencivengo charges not a distraction in Hamilton, huh?

I am floored at statements supporting John Bencivengo’s decision to not resign. He is innocent until proven guilty….I get that. I said it on WZBN the day the Times first ran with the story.

Saying that he can still do his job? Ignoring the fact that he has to invest a lot of time into helping with his defense? Saying that this will not be a distraction to him or to other employees? Incredulous. These are delusions. They fly in th face of logic.

1) There are a large number of employees gathering documents for the FBI. These are not just the Clerk’s office employees. This is the Clerk’s office, IT, Finance, Planning, Police, Senior Services, Veteran Services, the Business Administrator….How many more subpoenas will the Township be asked for?

2) Everyone is talking about the Mayor and not the proposed tax hike.

3) Everyone is talking about the Mayor and not the run down buildings we are using as community centers for seniors and teens.

4) Everyone is talking about the Mayor and not the Capital Roads budget, which targets roads that do not need resurfaced (I know because I drove all of them).

5) Everyone is talking about the Mayor and nor the lack of grant money coming to this community.

6) Everyone is talking about the Mayor and not the likelihood that we are going to get penalized for how we used Federal grant monies.

7) Everyone is talking about the Mayor and not the three (3) employee lawsuits pending against the Township.

8) Everyone is talking about the Mayor and not about the vacancies.

9) Everyone is talking about the Mayor and not the fact that there are 770 homes for sale, which indicated a large exodus from the Twp, which means higher taxes for those who stick around.

10) Everyone is talking about the Mayor and not that we are losing 6 police officers.

11) Everyone is talking about the Mayor and not asking why we spend $9 million more in discretionary spending today than we did in 2007.

The Mayor is not a distraction? Yes, he is.

John Bencivengo, there are 97,999 other people in this town other than you. Regardless of your insistence of your innocence, think about us – for once. This is not just about you. This is about business as usual and it is folly to think and to say that you can still do your job.

Big Hairy Audacious Goals – Hamilton Township Post John Bencivengo

A Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) is a statement created to focus an organization on short-term to long-term goals, which many would call …well, audacious. Some will consider the goals unlikely to be achievable, but that is not the same thing as saying they are impossible to achieve.

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

The term was introduced by James Collins and Jerry Porras in their 1994 book entitled Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies. The idea is to encourage organizations to define visionary goals that are more strategic and emotionally compelling. At the least, what improvements you do achieve along the way would have otherwise never been considered.

Pre and post John Bencivengo, setting large and ambitious goals is exactly what has been needed to move Hamilton forward. Especially, now with both major newspapers and our State legislatures calling for John Bencivengo’s resignation.

Not listed among these goals is honesty and integrity of elected officials. These traits are to be expected and to be present within our government thus they are not goals. In fact, (current events aside) honesty and integrity have been and are the character of Hamilton Township and her residents.

Many say John Bencivengo ran Hamilton very well. Only history (and a FBI investigation) will be able to tell for sure. Regardless, “running government” and “being in service to the residents” are two very different things.

John Bencivengo’s approach has been very clinical, like a doctor with a poor bedside manner whose only desire is to diagnose and cure the problem while considering the patient as something that is inconveniently there to deal with – kind of like Dr. House. The other approach considers the impact of the treatment, is concerned about the patient’s quality of life and wants their input – kind of like Robert Young’s Dr. Marcus Welby MD.

Ultimately, Hamiltonians want an affordable, beautiful, resident focused, safe and wealthy community. So, how do we achieve these things? We set Big Hairy Audacious Goals and we put plans in place to achieve those BHADs.

Big hairy audacious goal #1 – It is not and never has been enough to “hold taxes stable”. We must reduce taxes – dramatically.

We need to cut taxes and cut them by a large amount. In 2008, John Bencivengo raised taxes $13.1 million annually and we have spent that amount plus more per year ever since. The time for giving tax dollars back arrived with the elimination of the deficit in 2008.

Big hairy audacious goal #2 – Without reducing services for Hamiltonians, but in order to enhance services and to cut taxes, Hamilton needs to reduce the size of local government.

What can we do with the County government and other governmental agencies to help reduce the size of township government?

Big hairy audacious goal #3 – Eliminate speeding through our residential and commercial neighborhoods.

The slower the traffic the more that drivers will see in terms of retail businesses along our streets and bicyclists & pedestrians on our streets.

Big hairy audacious goal #4 – Eliminate residential blight and emerging blight.

Offer homeowner occupied properties property tax related incentives to improve the exteriors and energy efficiencies of their homes. An attractive neighborhood reduces crime and attracts businesses.

Big hairy audacious goal #5 – Return high skilled and high paying jobs to Hamilton Township.

In conjunction with the County and BOE, offer property tax incentives to locate manufacturing and other businesses (not developers) that will buy property to build or and/or renovate within our border areas with Trenton (which are also the areas zoned for manufacturing). These businesses will hire skilled laborers who have high wages.

Big hairy audacious goal #6 – Create jobs for the working families of Hamilton Township.

If we reduce taxes, provide homeowner occupied incentives for property improvements in our blighted and becoming blighted area, plus incentivize businesses to purchase property and locate in Hamilton then working families will have an abundance of jobs.