Brown and Sarcone: Change statute immediately that allows corrupt public officials to receive a taxpayer funded severance

For Immediate Release                              Contact: Chris Fifis

July 26, 2009                                             (609) 206-1678

Brown and Sarcone: Change statute immediately that allows corrupt public officials to receive a taxpayer funded severance

Van Pelt's ouster replete with 3 months of taxpayer funded dollars

In response to yesterday's public hearing in which Lumberton's Republican Administrator Dan Van Pelt was fired for his arrest as part of the latest corruption scandal sweeping the Garden State, Bill Brown and Debbie Sarcone today called for immediate legislation to change the statute allowing Van Pelt to collect 90 days of taxpayer funded salary.

"Assemblyman Van Pelt directly violated the public trust with his role in this sordid scandal, " said Brown. "The last thing we should be doing is telling taxpayers they need to dig up some more money to fund this guy's severance package."

"Bill and I are furious, but hardly surprised that this scandal has touched the Burlington County GOP, said Sarcone. "Lumberton taxpayers have already been gouged with exorbitant property taxes and now they're being asked to foot the bill for what is essentially a corruption tax. We need legislation immediately to change this statute and stop Van Pelt from collecting his cushy corruption severance pay."

“Addiego and Rudder owe the residents of Burlington County much more than symbolic rhetoric,” said Brown. “Stop issuing press releases condemning corruption and start protecting Lumberton and Burlington County's taxpayers by introducing legislation immediately. Your Republican colleague's actions are an embarrassment to Lumberton and Burlington County residents and by allowing him to continue collecting a paycheck you are adversely affecting the same residents who have been decimated with exorbitant property tax increases.”

“We’re astonished that Addiego and Rudder think a $500 donation solves the problem. They sound as pathetic as the corrupt politicians we keep reading about. How about real action like joining us in this effort to protect taxpayers? $500 is nothing compared to the amount we pay in higher property taxes year after year while Addiego and Rudder sit by and allow it to happen just as they allow this corrupt Administrator to continue to rake in tax dollars in their backyard,” said Sarcone.

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