Community Corner

Birdsall Records Explain Money Trickle Down to Ocean County Politicians

An in-depth look at Birdsall Service Group's alleged pay-to-play scandal  examines how some of that money trickled down to area politicians - including the Ocean County Freeholders and local mayors and committee and council members.

A Star Ledger article published today notes that Birdsall reimbursed staffers with bonuses after the staffers wrote personal checks to area candidates - many of whom are serving in Ocean County.

"Records show $110,000 went to politicians and political groups in Barnegat, $96,025 in Ocean County, $87,020 in Brick, $66,035 in Monmouth County and $35,500 in Lakewood," according to the Ledger article. "The company earned approximately $2.45 million from Barnegat during the same period for engineering work according to disclosure reports, $1.45 million from Ocean County, $4.9 million from Brick, $4.2 million from Monmouth County and $1.2 million from Lakewood."

Current Barnegat Mayor Len Morano - whose campaign, the Ledger article says, received $8,100 over the years, told Patch this morning: "I was in the minority not the majority. The majority had the votes to give Birdsall whatever they wanted." 

Morano was referring to the fact that up until last November, the Republicans had the majority on the council - including former Mayors Al Cirulli and Jeff Melchiondo, whose campaigns, the Ledger article notes, received $10,000 each. 

"The checks were never from Birdsall itself," Morano said. "It was all employees, and that money goes to my campaign treasurer." 

Morano said even though all of the contributions were legal, this example was a perfect reason for campaign finance reform - noting that he feels the federal government should give local politicians $5,000 each to fund their campaigns, and that way, he said "everyone is even." 

Last August, Cirulli confirmed for a Patch reporter that Barnegat had received a subpoena connected with their business with Birdsall Services Group. A call to Cirulli was not immediately returned this morning. 

He added at the time that he had the utmost confidence in Township Engineer John Hess, and the staff at the Barnegat office. Birdsall Engineering has been the Barnegat Township Engineer, along with the municipal water and sewer engineer, for a number of years. 

"I would trust John Hess with my life," Cirulli told Patch last August, referring to one of Birdsall's engineers who does work with the Township.  

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According to Cirulli, the subpoena was for documents and records pertaining to work Birdsall Engineering performed for the town from 2008 to present day.

Brick Township's former business administrator, Scott MacFadden, has also been indicted for his role as chief administrative officer of Birdsall Services Group.

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