Malfeasance:
- Deputy Mayor Brian Brady, as President of the Babe Ruth Baseball League in Sparta, leases, and is responsible for, four vending machines in Station Park, which are not, and have NOT been compliant with the existing ordinance in our opinion. He has been allowing Mayor Spekhardt and Councilman Goldberg, along with the Township Manager, to try to initiate another ordinance, solely to cover these illegal machines. This is a direct conflict of interest. Moreover, while serving as Councilman and Deputy Mayor has hidden the fact that he had unauthorized access to Township property and placed vending machines at Station Park for the sole purpose of benefiting his baseball organization by circumventing the approval process thus creating a conflict of interest. (TC Minutes 6/26/07 pg.2, 10/23/07 pg.1, 11/27/07 pg.2, 12/11/07 pg.2&3, 1/8/08 pg.2, 2/26/08 pg.3&4)
These are the Town Council minutes from February 26, 2008
Vending Machine Ordinance:
Mr. Underhill stated that the ordinance was referred to the Planning Board and they have made comments.
Councilman Murphy stated that there were ordinances already on the books that addressed vending machines and he felt that the current proposed ordinance was an attempt to circumvent the existing ordinances in order to legitimize some vending machines that were placed in Station Park in non-compliance.
Mr. Underhill stated that it was HIS decision to allow the vending machines in Station Park about seven or eight years ago. He stated that a Board of Health permit had not been issued over the past several years because it was in conflict with the zoning ordinance. Mr. Underhill stated that the zoning ordininace indicated that the machines could not be publicaly displayed and that was why the amendment was being proposed.
Mr. Ryan, the Township Attorney, stated that the proposed ordinance did not lift the responsibility of getting written permission from the Director of Recreation, or a permit from the Health Department.
Councilman Seelagy stated that he didn't feel having vending machines located in Station Park was a bad thing provided it did not conflict with licensing and health requirements.
Councilman Goldberg stated that he was fine with the proposed ordinance and did not see a point to Councilman Murphy's comments.
Mayor Spekhardt stated that he was also in agreement with the proposed ordinance.
After Council discussion, a decision was made to introduce the ordinance at the next Council meeting.
- Councilman Brady approached the Captain of the Sparta Volunteer Ambulance Squad in 2007 with plans for the Township to take it over, and charge residents for its transportation services. Currently it is a free service. He had already contacted outside sources for approvals, and plans on initiating the change in the near future. (TC Minutes 3/27/07 pg. 7&8) As shown on our website, the March 27, 2007 TC minutes state that
"Brady wanted to investigate further the billing for the use of the ambulance vehicle AND for the transportation of the patient."
Councilman Brady endorsed a plan for Sparta Township to artificially turf the field at Station Park, which then could be leased on a long-term basis by the Board of Ed, in our opinion specifically to avoid a referendum by the citizens.Sparta taxpayers, inessence, will be paying for the same field twice. (TC Minutes 5/22/07 pg.7, Sparta BoE Newsletter 10/07)
- Deputy Mayor Brady voted in favor of purchasing the Limecrest Quarry, without voter knowledge or approval, and without due diligence–incurring a huge liability upon the citizens of Sparta. The ensuing lawsuit (21 counts) down now to (17 counts) is wasting taxpayers money on legal defense (including some of the plaintiff’s legal expenses already awarded by the courts), yes the other side won legal expenses and will doubtless continue for years until a settlement is reached–which we will also be responsible for paying. (NJ Herald 3/6/08, Sparta Ind. 3/13/08)
Unethical:
- Deputy Mayor Brady voted to double the fees in Sparta, only, for licensing animals. None of the other towns we contract out in 2007- Hardyston, Ogdensburg, or Fredon – is affected by the 100% increase. (TC Minutes 2/27/07pg.4, Animal Ordinance Adopted 2/27/07)
- Deputy Mayor Brady stated that COUNCIL authorized the Township Manager’s garbage proposition to go out to bid. Both Councilmen Seelagy and Murphy have stated that the Township Manager never sought their input before sending it out. (TC Minutes 12/1/07 pg.2)
- As a newly elected Councilman, in our opinion manipulated his way to become the Council liaison to the Recreation Committee for the purpose of gaining control of a recreation field for an organization (Babe Ruth Baseball) of which he is the paid president and treasurer, thereby creating a public perception of a conflict of interest. Certificates of Insurance for 2004 and 2006 were missing from the OPRA request.
- While serving as Councilman, in our opinion has continually been untruthful with information he has supplied to both the Recreation Director and Committee with the intent of gaining preferential treatment of field use for his baseball organization, particularly all-star teams which benefit players from outside the Township.
Broken campaign promises:
In the same article "This is our community and we all have a say, not just the five members of the Council. If I am elected to Council, you will ALWAYS be heard."
And also "...I am very much in favor of the citizens of the Township having the final voice, unlike the new Town Hall and the new Firehouse which was approved by Township Council and we were taxed to fund without having that voice." See Limecrest, White Lake (purchase and updates), turfed fields, ambulance takeover, health dept. merger, and proposed PAL building and stadium complex!
"I would like to give voters a choice before we spend millions of taxpayers' dollars. That does not go on today." Just as true today! See Star Ledger 5/3/06.
Deputy Mayor Brian Brady had this to say about voters who oppose him: "(They are) misguided, confused, and arrogant!" He ought to know! Sparta Independent 3/13/08.
Brian Brady stated that a lot of people felt that the Town's ability to communicate was lacking, and that people wanted to be more involved. He stated that he saw it as the community giving ideas to the governing body. TC minutes 11/21/06
"Any large infrastructure projects should be approved by the citizens of Sparta."(NJ Herald 6/11/06)
"We work for you...we’re your voice." (NJ Herald 7/7/06)
"We need to get a weekly message to the citizens." (NJ Herald 6/11/06)
Betrayed the citizens’ trust:
- In our opinion Deputy Mayor Brady has broken the trust that the citizens of Sparta had placed in him. He has been less than honest. He has frivolously spent millions of Township dollars without voter approval. The White Lake property cost $1.45 million, and yet another $1 million is needed for improvements. The Limecrest Quarry cost $2.45 million–but is certain to escalate with the ensuing litigation. Although we taxpayers of Sparta have an overly heavy tax burden, and have yet to begin paying for the new $71.5 million high school, Deputy Mayor Brady is staunchly in favor of building a proposed stadium complex for $1-2 million, and a P.A.L. building big enough to house two gymnasiums, and then some. (TC Minutes 7/10/07 pg.2, 11/8/07 pg.4, 11/27/07 pg.8, 12/11/07 pg.1, 1/8/08 pg.2&3)
