Booker, Menendez vote yes on historic “nuclear option”

Booker, Menendez vote yes on historic “nuclear option” (via NJ.com)

New Jersey’s two senators were among 52 votes in the upper chamber today in favor of the so-called “nuclear option” eliminating the filibuster and allowing a simple majority to approve executive and judicial branch appointments. The ‘majority rules’…

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Scott Walker stands up for Chris Christie’s conservative credentials, report says

Scott Walker stands up for Chris Christie’s conservative credentials, report says (via NJ.com)

TRENTON — At least one prominent Republican isn’t buying the idea that Gov. Chris Christie is a moderate. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker defended Christie in the wake of criticism that the New Jersey governor isn’t conservative enough for some Republicans…

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Bennett: Supreme Court Decision Does Not Apply To His Oceanport Job

Ethics Expert Disagrees

John Bennett. Photo credit: Rhoda Chodosh

Monmouth County Republican Chairman John O. Bennett said that a State Supreme Court Opinion written in 2000 by Justice Daniel J. O’Hern that states that the positions of Borough Attorney and Borough Administrator may not be held by the same person does not apply to his job in Oceanport.

In re ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL ETHICS, DOCKET NO. 18-98, the Court ruled 5-2, to affirm an ACPE opinion that Gregory C. Hart could not serve the Bergen County Borough of Old Tappan as both attorney and administrator.

We respect the wishes of the Borough to engage for its day to day management an attorney in whom it has reposed great trust and confidence. Likewise, we respect the attorney who is certain that his integrity would assure an unfettered exercise of judgment in either capacity. Yet we must fashion a rule that will apply equally as well in more demanding circumstances, as in a fast-growing suburban community. It asks too much for an individual to be able to give objective advice to the municipality without being materially limited by the “lawyer’s own interest” as the subject of the inquiry.

For these reasons, we hold that one attorney may not hold both the position of municipal attorney and clerk-administrator for the same municipality. As modified, the advisory opinion of the ACPE is affirmed.

In a phone interview on Tuesday, Bennett said he became aware of the Opinion after his appointment as Acting Administrator in Oceanport earlier this month, but that he did not believe it would prevent him from holding both positions on a permanent basis.

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Marlboro Police searching for missing autistic man

Marlboro Police searching for missing autistic man (via NewsWorks)

Marlboro Police are searching for an autistic man who has been missing since late Tuesday night. Michael Karwan, described as a high-functioning autistic 19-year-old, left has house after an argument with his parents, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans…

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Christie Administration Reflects on Sandy Recovery Progress and Challenges

Christie Administration Reflects on Sandy Recovery Progress and Challenges (via NJSpotlight)

When Sandy made landfall last October, displacing 120,000 from their homes, NJ Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Richard Constable said his department took immediate action to provide shelters and assist towns with their budgetary problems…

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, November 22-24, 2013

SPONSORED BY SEASTREAK

By Greg Kelly

Saturday, November 23

• Sea Girt Craft Fair – MORE INFO

• White Christmas at Count Basie Theatre (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

• Affordable Art & Fine Crafts Show/Sale (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO

• Live Animal Road Show (Tinton Falls) – MORE INFO

• Middlemen at NJ Repertory Company (Long Branch) – MORE INFO

• Les Miserables at Axelrod PAC (Deal) – MORE INFO

• Granny’s Attic Craft Show (Middletown) – MORE INFO

• Indoor Graft Fair (Ocean Grove) – MORE INFO

• St. Jude Give Thanks Walk at Monmouth Mall (Eatontown) – MORE INFO

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Oceanport Councilman Resigns To Take County Job

William Johnson, right and Oceanport Councilman Joe Irace. Photo credit: Rhoda Chodosh

William Johnson resigned his seat on the Oceanport Borough Council on November 1, due to his recent employment by Monmouth County.  Johnson’s resignation was first reported by LittleSilver-Oceanport Patch.

Johnson is the Monmouth County Recycling Coordinator, working out of the County Reclamation Center in Tinton Falls.  Prior to his employment by the county, Johnson was a loan officer at Colonial American Bank.

Municipal elected officials from Monmouth County towns are banned from employment with the county due to a Resolution proposed by Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, then a Freeholder, in 2005.  The resolution was passed unanimously by the all Republican Freeholder Board in April of 2005 in the wake of the Operation Bid Rig raid that February wherein numerous county employees and municipal elected officials were arrested on corruption charges.

Employees who held elective office at the time the resolution was passed were grandfathered.  County Administrator Teri O’Connor said this morning “there might be a few” employees still grandfathered and holding elected office, but she wasn’t aware of any.

Freeholder Director Tom Arnone said that Johnson applied for the job through a posting on the County’s website, and that the appointment was not a matter of political patronage.

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Christie’s role as RGA chairman bestows power over GOP’s fate, and his own

Christie’s role as RGA chairman bestows power over GOP’s fate, and his own (via NJ.com)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Gov. Chris Christie arrived on the impeccably manicured grounds of the Phoenician Resort Tuesday with one stated goal for his term as chairman of the Republican Governors Association: To elect governors from his party. But along…

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LG Smart TV Caught Collecting Data On Files Stored On Connected USB Drives

LG Smart TV Caught Collecting Data On Files Stored On Connected USB Drives (via Techdirt)

The growing presence of “smart” devices, each one requiring a connection to the outside world, is a bit alarming (Samsung TV zero day exploit, anyone?). The territory still remains largely uncharted and device manufacturers are still pretty much free…

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