Dissent At Holmdel Reorg Meeting

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By Allison Perrine

HOLMDEL – After successfully securing a seat on the Holmdel Township Committee this November, Republican newcomer Rocco Impreveduto made some waves with incumbents at the virtual Jan. 4 reorganization meeting.

Impreveduto, who ran on a campaign promising to “do what’s best for Holmdel,” was the first of two elected officials who voiced opposition to fellow Republican Gregory Buontempo’s return as mayor in the new year and Independent committeeman Prakash Santhana serving as deputy mayor, though no other nominations were made.

Impreveduto’s ‘No’ votes were matched by Republican committeeman DJ Lucarelli, who joined the dais last year.

Ultimately, Buontempo and Santhana received approval 3-2.

“I’m especially grateful for your confidence in me to serve as Holmdel Township mayor once again. But they say no man is an island. We all rely on the help of others to succeed,” said Buontempo, with Santhana adding that he is “honored” to serve.

“I will continue to focus on my two initiatives: fiscal responsibility and improving the quality of life,” Santhana said. “I’m looking forward to serving you better in 2022.”

The township operates in a partisan committee-style form of government, which is why mayoral and deputy mayoral appointments are made each year. That could change if the township opts to alter its form of government, a move currently being studied by five residents on the township’s charter commission, approved through a referendum in November.

But it wasn’t approved by Impreveduto who openly voted against the public question. “If you don’t like the way the government is running – that’s what elections are for,” Impreveduto wrote in an editorial piece for an online publication. “If we commit to electing good people, we’ll never have to worry about changing the structure of the government they preside over.”

Impreveduto was also quick to share his skepticism of two of several contract awards on the consent agenda that evening, including Resolution No. 2022-12 which awarded a contract for group health insurance advisor and broker Acrisure. As confirmed with commission member Kin Gee at a fundraiser in 2021, Acrisure donated “several hundred dollars” to the Holmdel First Charter Study Committee, a group which fundraised to bring awareness to the public question.

“I’m concerned about the optics related to Acrisure and a donation they made to the Holmdel First Charter (Study) Committee – a political entity that is looking to potentially change our form of government,” he said. “I can’t vote in favor of it.”

He did not, however, voice opposition for the award of special counsel contracts to Gluck Walrath LLP or Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., which donated $500 and $300, respectively to his primary campaign efforts, New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission records show.

Despite Impreveduto’s request to vote on the two resolutions separately – Nos. 2022-12 and 2022-13 – they were approved in a 3-2 vote.

Also at the meeting, Buontempo reflected on 2021 and Holmdel’s accomplishments amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He highlighted the township’s COVID-19 vaccination program which helped first responders, seniors, disabled and resource-impaired residents and others find access “to critical vaccine appointments” through a partnership with the Visiting Nurse Association and Bayshore Medical Center.

“The program was so successful, we were able to expand to additional residents when they became eligible and other towns also used our model. As they say, imitation is the highest form of flattery,” Buontempo said.

In 2021, Holmdel also expanded its communication efforts and moved many of its services online for better access and convenience for residents; entered a shared service with the Colts Neck Municipal Corp.; opened the township’s first dog park; hosted recreation events; and more – all without raising the municipal tax rate.

He also gave a special shout-out to township volunteers on the first aid squad, fire company, emergency response team, police department and others who “put their lives on the line for Holmdel.”

“Despite the pandemic, Holmdel keeps moving forward,” said Buontempo.

Looking ahead, the mayor highlighted the township’s efforts to preserve and maintain open spaces in Holmdel. In 2021, township residents approved a referendum to increase taxes for the Open Space trust fund to make such efforts possible.

“We took the message to heart and land acquisition and preservation will be the foremost on our minds as we plan for 2022,” he said. “I was proud we were able to keep our parks open for our residents to enjoy, to step out away from the stress and confinement and be out in the fresh air with their families… Open spaces have intrinsic, recreational, aesthetic, environmental and health values. We will work to maintain the rural character (for) which Holmdel is known.”

Additionally, Holmdel plans to address the issue of flooding in the new year, something that has become “all too common” in the past few years, he said. This past fall, Hurricane Ida left “many” Holmdel properties damaged by floodwaters. Some township residents and surrounding neighbors were even trapped in their cars on roadways, “forced to wait for flash flooding to recede,” he said.

“Experts tell us that these problems will likely increase in the future and the time to start planning is now. Throughout the year, we’ll be working with our engineers and professionals to identify the best ways to manage and control our stormwater discharge, protecting people and property now and in the future.”

This article originally appeared in the Jan. 13-19, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.