Politics & Government

Amato Didn't Violate Hatch Act, U.S. Special Counsel Says

Democratic Freeholder candidate Michele Rosen filed complaint recently

Republican Township Councilman and mayoral candidate Carmen F. Amato Jr. has not violated the federal Hatch Act, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel said after a probe prompted by a complaint from the Democratic freeholder candidate.

"We reviewed this matter and...have determined that your candidacy is not in violation of the Hatch Act," said  Treyer Mason-Gale, attorney for the Hatch Act Unit, in a Sept. 6 letter to Amato.

Democratic Freeholder candidate Michele Rosen recently filed separate complaints against Amato, Beachwood Republican Councilman Robert Roma, Republican Freeholder James F. Lacey and Brick Township Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis. Rosen claimed in all four complaints that the men were violating the Hatch Act  because the agencies that employ them receive federal funds.

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The Hatch Act only applies to persons who are "principally employed" by programs financed by a federal loan or grant. It restricts the political activity of anyone principally employed by state, county or municipal agencies in connection with programs paid for in full or in part by federal loans or grants, the letter states .

Amato, who is director of the Ocean County Printing and Graphics department, is also a member of the Ocean County Board of Health and a commissioner on the Ocean County Utilities Authority. Hatch Act attorneys reviewed Amato's three positions and determined his primary job is director of the printing and graphics department.

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Amato said last night there is no salary for serving on the Ocean County Board of Health and a $5,000 a year salary for his OCUA commissioner position. They are part-time positions, he said.

Although the county Printing and Graphics department does print materials for the benefit of federally funded programs, the programs are administered by other departments and the printing costs are not paid for with any federal grants, Mason-Gale said in his letter.

The U.S. Special Counsel's Office found that Amato is not covered by the Hatch Act, the letter states.

"Based on the preceding, we have concluded that you do not have duties in connection with federally funded activities," Mason-Gale said in the letter. "Thus your candidacy is not in violation of the Hatch Act. Accordingly, we have closed our file on this matter."

Berkeley Patch does not have the results of the investigation into Roma, Lacey or Acropolis.


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