Note: 7/11/04 - Former Mayor Butch Saunders was sentenced last week to prison time for conspiring to bribe another city official. Back on Oct. 10th, 2002 - nearly 2 years ago -Terry Weldon, former A.P. city manager and mayor of Ocean Twp., pled guilty to three counts of extorting money from developers and has yet to be sentenced. Where's the justice here?
The
Weldon Timeline
As the sentencing date for former Asbury Park City Manager, former Ocean Twp Mayor and confessed extortionist Terrance Weldon draws near, we might take a moment to reflect on the events that led to this day. It is important to view the bare facts, unadorned with the gushing tributes still being paid to this man who deliberately misled a city that put its trust in his integrity.
2000 – Nov 18: the former Asbury Park council appoints Terrance Weldon
Interim City Manager. Future Councilmember Kate Mellina’s husband, Dave Christopher, displays his contempt for political boss Phil Konvitz by acknowledging his hand in the hiring of Weldon as city manager, by “congratulating” Konvitz. (As depicted in photo on Asbury Park.net)
2000 – Dec: Weldon retires from position of Fire Chief of Asbury Park
2001 -Late Spring/ early Summer Weldon extorts a $50,000 bribe from
Moshe Gohar, a Long Branch developer, for 75 units to be built at Apple Farm in Ocean Twp.; prosecutors accuse Konvitz of arranging the bribe.
2001– July 1: New Council takes office and grants 1 year contract to
Weldon, at a salary of $95,191
Residents chastise the council for this pay scale in light of severe budget problems. James G. Aaron, Ansell Zaro Grimm & Aaron, city attorney at the time and the city's present redevelopment lawyer, says that Weldon has excellent credentials. "He would bring an air of stability to the city." (Source: AsburyPark.net.)
2002- Jan 23: About $50,000 in bribe money from Gohar (see 2001 Spring)
is seized from a jacket pocket in Weldon’s attic - His Ocean & Asbury offices are also searched.
"This is all about things going on -- perceived things that have gone on in Asbury Park over the years," Weldon tells the Asbury Park Press, in response to the FBI search.
"As redevelopment counsel I have reviewed the subpoena for documents," Aaron said this morning. "It does not make a charge against anyone, it does not make allegations against anyone, and it certainly does not affect this mayor and council from moving forward with tonight's presentation. The timing of this is unfortunate and can lead to speculation. This document [the search warrant] and the documents it seeks do not have anything to do with this mayor and this council." (Source: AsburyPark.net) Subsequently, Aaron becomes a contributor to Weldon’s legal defense fund.
2002- Jan: Weldon Assures City Council members he’s done nothing wrong,
even though he must’ve noticed the $50,000 missing and will later confess to having taken bribes amounting to $64,000. Attorney Peter S. Falvo represents principals in two of the three Ocean Twp development projects that Weldon pleads guilty to extorting: Rolling Meadows and Mark Place. The attorney for Apple Farm is (at that time) George McGill of Belmar.
2002 – June 20: Council hires Peter S. Falvo, Jr. as city attorney, who joined
James Aaron’s firm - Ansell Zaro Grimm & Aaron – in May 2001
2002- July: Council hires Weldon with new 3-year contract, calling for
incremental raises from $95,191 to $98,999, and $102,958 in 2003
2002 – Oct 7: Weldon signs off on redevelopment plan
2002 – Oct 7: Weldon immediately resigns citing the commission of
“reprehensible acts” on his part.
2002- Oct 10: Weldon admits to three counts of extortion spanning 1998
thru 2001; and, Weldon refuses to cooperate with FBI investigators
2002- Oct 23: City passes Redevelopment resolution. Council members
James Bruno and Kate Mellina credit Weldon with fast tracking and shepherding the plan to completion, saying the city would not have the redevelopment plan if not for Weldon’s leadership.
2002 -Nov 7: On the advice of counsel, Council members James Bruno, John
Loffredo and Kate Mellina vote to give Weldon compensation for unused sick, vacation and comp days dating back to his job with the fire company. Computed at his city manager’s rate, the amount approved is $67,609. Asbury Park city attorney Peter S. Falvo, with James Aaron’s firm - Ansell Zaro Grimm & Aaron – interprets labor lawyer’s (Brian W. Kronick of Genova, Burns & Venoia) opinion, saying it is “the legal obligation of the municipality” to pay Weldon. However, Kronick’s letter actually states that discretion to pay Weldon lies with the Council (Source: AsburyPark.net). Mellina asks Kronick for a second letter supporting Falvo’s interpretation. Labor lawyer refuses to write it. (Weldon also receives about $54,000 a year through the state Police and Firemen’s Retirement System.)
2002 -Nov 14: Mellina reveals during radio interview that she has written a
letter to federal judge hearing Weldon’s case requesting his mercy.
2002 –Nov 19: Council persons Kate Mellina and James Bruno responding to an audience question, state during council meeting that they both wrote letters of clemency for Weldon. When asked who requested that they write the letters, city attorney Peter S. Falvo discourages councilpersons from answering the question.
2003 - Mellina, who vows to remain Weldon’s friend, and her husband
continue their public friendship with the Weldons, while Weldon awaits sentencing.
2003 – Prosecutors drop charges against Konvitz due to dementia. Konvitz is seen shortly after talking business over lunch.
2003 – July 22: Weldon is scheduled a third time to be sentenced for the extortion charges he pled guilty to in October 2002. On two prior occasions he has been too ill to appear in court, although he was seen socializing and dining out shortly after both postponements.
Compiled by Maureen Nevin – Restore Radio, Asbury Park, based on news reports, public records and interviews.