A former political opponent of soon-to-be-ex Sea Bright Mayor Jo-Ann Kalaka-Adams has asked the Monmouth County Prosecutor to investigate the role the mayor may have played in a recent borough court matter that resulted in a local noise ordinance being invalidated, today’s Asbury Park Press reports.
From the story:
Andrew Mencinsky, 41, of Ocean Avenue said he called the Prosecutor’s Office on Oct. 26, the day after he attended the Borough Council’s meeting to request the probe, because he contends the mayor should not have been in court while the judge was hearing noise complaints against the local restaurant that later hosted her pre-election party.
“I was very upset about it,” Mencinsky said Tuesday. “It didn’t sound like a position the mayor should be in. Somebody has to connect the dots.”
Kalaka-Adams could not be reached for comment. She acknowledged at the Oct. 25 council meeting that she was present Oct. 18, when Municipal Court Judge Thomas F.X. Foley nullified the borough’s nuisance ordinance and dismissed charges against Mad Hatter Pub & Pizzeria on Ocean Avenue and its owner, Scott Kelly.
The council had a lengthy discussion at the meeting about the judge’s ruling. Some members said they feared convictions of local bars and restrictions placed on their liquor licenses over the years could be overturned, and that the borough would be left vulnerable to noise infractions. The governing body then instructed its attorney to appeal Foley’s decision, which the judge reversed Thursday.
The judge is slated to hear the four complaints against the Mad Hatter at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 24.
Councilwoman Maria Fernandes questioned why a long-sitting judge who had imposed numerous noise convictions based on this ordinance suddenly invalidated the measure.
“I’m puzzled why this happened,” she said at the meeting. “This is a good ordinance.”
Fernandes, a Democrat, is slated to become mayor next month following her recount victory yesterday.
