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BODY POLITIC by Jack Archibald, Atlantic Highlands Councilman

Contact Jack Archibald jack@ahherald.com View archive

PEOPLE WILL ASK: IS ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS HARBOR COMMISSION FOR SALE?

On New Year’s Day, the Donoghue Administration of Atlantic Highlands had the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to high standards of government. Unfortunately, with the reappointment of Councilman Carl Nolan to the Harbor Commission, the Democrat majority squandered that opportunity and have hung a For Sale sign on the Atlantic Highlands Harbor Commission.

It is fairly well known that as the Treasurer of the Atlantic Highlands Democrat Party, Mr. Nolan accepted a $4,800 campaign contribution from Seastreak last year. One would hope that as a member of the harbor commission, Mr. Nolan would have had the sense to either resign his position or refuse the contribution from the Harbor’s largest tenant. Instead, he did neither and now every other tenant in the harbor has an idea about how to grab the Councilman’s attention.

The whole debacle could have been avoided if the Democrats had appointed any other councilman to the Harbor. After spending a year, (and countless tax dollars on attorney’s fees) trumpeting her commitment to ban pay to play, Councilwoman Stephanie Ladiana folded when it came time to make a stand for clean government. In defense of the appointment, the Councilwoman said that it really wasn’t a contribution from Seastreak, but an in-kind donation. Oh… and for her next trick, the Councilwoman will define the meaning of “is.”

The stench surrounding the appointment will not cease and Mr. Nolan’s position on the Harbor Commission has been compromised. Someone in the leadership of the Democrat party should have had the foresight to ask the Councilman to take a year away from the Harbor and let the Commission operate without a cloud hanging over one of its members. His appointment is blight on the current administration and a disappointment to those residents that expected high ethical standards from their elected representatives.