Fred Rubenstein had the courage and strength of character to stand up for what is right. So what does the new Melchiondo-led Committee do as one of their first orders of business? They dump him. According to the Jan 1st Asbury Park Press, Mr. Rubenstein was removed from the Zoning Board and our new Deputy Mayor, Al Cirulli, said "We're trying to have people get along." This is ironic, since it is Cirulli's own anti-Gay bigotry that has divided his own party. The Asbury Park Press also said Committeeman Thomas Hartman is concerned that Rubenstein was preparing to run for office. This is ALSO ironic since it is Hartman who will be running for office.

To Rubenstein's credit, in the past he has spoken out against Cirulli's bigotry and also the 50 percent pay raise scandal hanging over Town Hall. Rubenstein criticized the lame excuse that the Committee used when they said they knew nothing about the proposed raises. By standing up for what's right -- and for the truth -- Rubenstein showed a strength of character that his fellow Republicans on the Committee sadly lack. This is a horrible way for new Mayor Melchiondo to start the year. Hopefully he will do better, but it does raise some serious questions of scandal and coverup within the Committee.

The pay raise scandal is something that needs to be investigated. The Atlantic City Press published an excellent article regarding it way back on November 22nd entitled "Barnegat Committeeman Alleges Contract Coverup." Click here to read the story from the Atlantic City Press.

The biggest scandal may be something that the newspapers don't want to talk about. It involves the qualifications of Twp. Administrator David Breeden as an un-certified CFO. DowntownBarnegat.com tries its best to stay up on local news, but we did not see this story covered at all in the local press. The only newspaper we saw it covered in -- again -- was also in the Atlantic City Press back on November 22. The story is entitled "State Tells Barnegat To Get Certified CFO." Click here to read that story from the Atlantic City Press.

A full investigation is needed on the pay raise and the CFO scandal. The punishment of Fred Rubenstein for speaking openly and honestly should be enough to anger the public to demand that Town Hall comes clean. We need more people of character -- like Rubenstein -- serving our town, and less scandal and coverup coming from the Committee.