There’s something fishy smelling in the water in Jackson Township. The Jackson Township Municipal Utilities Authority, an authority that runs independently of the Jackson Township municipal government and supplies water and sewer service to residents, is about to undergo a major change after the retirement of Director Dave Harpell. That change is intended to enrich the very people who have been chosen to oversee the commission on behalf of the customers it serves.
The township-appointed commissioners on the MUA are allegedly working behind the scenes to enrich themselves on the ratepayer’s dime.
It turns out three commissioners are involved in a plot to give themselves high-paying jobs once Harpell, who has done an excellent job with the once-politically corrupt and morally bankrupt utility.
In a meeting last night, Commissioner Todd Porter interviewed Commissioner Bill Allman to replace Harpell. After Allman takes the six-figure salary, he is rumored to be hiring Commissioner Clara Glory as his secretary and leaving the door open for a potential future job for another commissioner.
This smells fishy because here you have three appointed commissioners seeking to enrich themselves and create jobs for themselves. It gets worse. Allman’s septic business is in direct competition with the MUA. He has served as partner and owner in a septic tank company.
That’s not the worst part. Allman, Glory, and Porter all three political operatives who are on the outs in Jackson. All have been removed from positions in the local GOP and have been running political campaigns against Republicans in Jackson. The MUA is their last political stronghold in the township before they are shown the door. The only way they can keep it is by giving themselves long-term contracts to enrich themselves.
It’s New Jersey Political Corruption 101. If you’re not paying attention, here’s what’s happening:
The Jackson MUA treasurer is interviewing the Jackson MUA chairman (Allman) for the executive director position at the MUA, who will then award another high-paying job to the vice chairwoman with the potential to eventually hire the MUA treasurer if needed in the future.
I hope this is all wrong, but we have seen worse things in the dirty, corrupt, and political landscape of New Jersey politics. I pray this rumor is unfounded and that the three individuals chosen to represent the ratepayers’ interests are not raiding the piggy bank while nobody is watching.
Allman and Porter allegedly met recently to discuss the plan and the two friends sat together very recently for an ‘official interview’. They have known each other for decades and along with Glory have worked on many failed political campaigns in Jackson Township going back to the early 2000s, even more.
Sincerely, A Concerned Jackson Resident
This letter was sent to Shore News Network and is the author’s opinion. The views expressed in this letter do not represent the views and opinions of Shore News Network, its employees, or principals. It is the opinion of the writer only.