Committeeman Avoids Second Call For Censure

“This as you make your way into our communities and neighborhoods as peace officers,” said Ocean County Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, in addressing the graduates on behalf

(Officers - See Page 10)

By Bob Vosseller

PLUMSTED – In a vote of three to two (one being his own) Township Committeeman Dominick Cuozzo avoided being censured by the rest of the gov-

Censure is just a formal statement denouncing a public official’s behavior.

Mayor Robert Bowen introduced an ordinance

(Censure - See Page 5)

Custodian: Continued From Page 1 to positively impact their school communities. The public was able to vote in the contest.

Merritt celebrated at a surprise ceremony at her school where she was presented with a $1,000 cash grand prize.

The custodian said she was completely surprised by the entire effort on her behalf.

“I never expected anything like this to happen.’’

She added, “it is very nice to be acknowledged and to be appreciated in this way.’’ In addition to the public voting efforts, she said she was truly moved by all of the letters and messages that people wrote about her.

“It’s like this wall of people who took the time out to help nominate me and I am so touched. It is a tremendous honor,” she added.

Elms Principal Michael Burgos said Merritt’s commitment to the students of Elms goes far beyond the typical duties of a custodian. “She is actively involved in the school’s Green Team, which focus on sustainability initiatives and spends time on the school’s aquaponics system, food share system and food pantry donation efforts and recycling program.”

“Her interactions with staff and students are always focused on sensitivity, understanding and deep commitment to doing all she can to keep students safe,” Burgos said.

“We are so happy that one of our most deserving members of the Elms community was recognized for her selfless service to our kids,” Burgos said. “She is the last person to ever want or expect this kind of attention, but it is attention she rightly deserves.”

“Doreen leads by example, setting clear expectations and doing the work she asks of her team. She’s developed meaningful relationships with staff, students, and families alike. She’s responsive to others’ needs, including being quick to help the school’s large special needs program – from diapering needs, cleaning up toilet accidents, all while approaching those tasks with a sensitive and understanding manner,” he added.

He noted that Merritt plays an integral part of the school’s recycling program and helping facilitate the school’s food share program and is very meticulous about cleaning and has organized space within the school to help students and staff thrive.

“Doreen joined us at Elms nearly two years ago and since that time has made a tremendous impact on our school. She is known for going above and beyond, for her reliability, and for her cheerful attitude. One of our proudest accomplishments is our recognition as a National Green Ribbon School, but what you may not see behind the scenes is the care and effort that Doreen puts into helping the Green Team carry out some of our biggest initiatives, like recycling and our food share program,” Elms Elementary School 2nd grade teacher Shaina Brenner said.

She added, “every morning, Doreen collects recycling from around the building, ensuring that any contaminants are removed, and neatly sets it out for pick up. Every day she collects and organizes our leftover food from the cafeteria so that I can take it to the food pantry and to the farm.”

“We wouldn’t have the success we do without Doreen’s commitment and support. Just like my story, I’m sure everyone here can share their own Doreen story. We all have them, because that’s who Doreen is,” Brenner said.

Brenner added, “we are all completely in awe of Doreen’s work ethic and inspired by her positive attitude. Thank you to everyone at our school and in our community who took the time to vote for her.”

Censure police did not hassle us. That is why I talked to the chief about it. I said here is what I don’t want to do, I don’t want you guys confused that we are soliciting.” to censure Cuozzo based on a verbal exchange between Cuozzo and members of the police department.

Members of the Bible Baptist Church - which Cuozzo serves as pastor of - were going door to door on April 23 on Ivins Drive. Police were alerted by a resident of that neighborhood who witnessed a group of young people exiting a small bus and knocking on homes there in an effort to promote church services.

Police explained to them that this constituted solicitation and asked them if they had a permit. They said yes but could not produce one. They stated they had not knocked on any doors that had a “no knock” sticker on them.

The officers also explained that even with a permit, the ordinance stipulated that on Sundays, even religious groups could not solicit during certain hours and they were in violation of that.

Committeeman Cuozzo arrived, showing the permit and stating that the group wasn’t soliciting and that the ordinance was in conflict with a Supreme Court ruling.

Police body camera footage at the scene shows Cuozzo telling the officers, “I don’t appreciate you hassling our guys. We have a permit to do what we are doing. We are inviting people to church. There is nothing wrong with what we are doing. In fact, there is no time frame in doing what we are doing.”

“What you are talking about is soliciting. We do not solicit,” Cuozzo said. He told the police he came to the scene after being informed of the police response, “I felt like making sure that the

He added, “I filled out the permit so you guys would know so we wouldn’t have moments like this but now we won’t have it again, right? Perfect. Nice to see you guys. Please excuse us we are going to continue.” itation cases and not one time did I ever have anybody, not even a church, give me a hard time. As I said last month, my officers were enforcing the ordinance that this Committee had in place,” Meroney said. to me you can’t do that.”

Cuozzo was then told by the officers that if the group did continue, they would be in violation of the ordinance to which the Committeeman responded, “there will be no citing. You are not going to cite us. You are not going to do that alright. You guys are going to exit.”

“You are not our boss. You are not going to tell us what to do,” the officer responded. Committeeman Cuozzo replied, “Actually, I am your boss.” He added that the police sergeant that the officers were in touch with about the matter also needed to “back off.”

This exchange from the body cameras was quoted in the resolution calling for his censure. Chief Earl Meroney repeated what he said last month which was that his officers did what they were supposed to do. He stressed to the Committee that the ordinance needed to be changed as it was not in compliance with federal law but that it still had to be enforced as it was written at the time. An ordinance was approved to revise the prior one during the June meeting.

Meroney came up to the podium twice to reiterate that Cuozzo’s involvement and commentary had escalated the situation to what he said would have been a 10-minute response and became a 45-minute exchange.

“I’ve been a police officer in Plumsted for 22 years and have responded to numerous solic-

The chief asked Cuozzo, “if it was an issue, it should have been changed whenever you got elected if you knew it was a violation then. Why wasn’t it changed so that my guys wouldn’t be put into that spot?”

“Now because we have an issue and my guys were put in a bad spot the ordinance is being changed,” the chief added.

Township Attorney Jean Cipriani explained the censure was whether there was a violation of the ethics law “in the manner that the committeeman interacted with the police.”

“You can’t send your police out and say we will have your back, probably. I think you either have their back or you don’t. I concur with the recommendation that it is a violation of the local government ethics law. I support it and I feel this is something that is indefensible,” the mayor said. Committeeman Michael Hammerstone said he watched the video. “This is a tough one because the officers, who I support to the end, they were called out on an ordinance that was outdated so they were protecting an ordinance that was outdated. I believe it was the officers doing their job and Committeeman/Pastor Cuozzo was doing his job protecting his people who were out there canvassing the area.”

Committeeman Leonard Grilletto, who voted no, said he reviewed the video and questioned the officer in charge. “I don’t feel Committeeman Cuozzo was threatening this man’s job at all. That is my opinion on it.”

Chief Meroney told Grilletto “the video is clear as day that Committeeman Cuozzo comes up and says “actually I am your boss and you are going to step aside and we are going to continue. My guys said no, as per the ordinance.”

“The young men (from the church) were about to leave. There was no reason for you to come on the scene. If that was me at the scene seven years ago, I would have asked you to leave. A phone call was made (to Cuozzo) and it spiraled out of control,” the chief told Cuozzo.

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Mayor Bowen said, “unless it is an extraordinary situation, we always support our police. I think it was clear from the video that the committeeman was using his position to have the police leave and have the organization continue their activities and

“Maybe emotions got the best of people when they were on scene and it snowballed into something it didn’t have to, something that was easily resolved but unfortunately it wasn’t and here we are,” Hammerstone added. He voted against the censure.

“We ask the police to enforce the law as it is. We don’t ask them to interpret Supreme Court cases or the law, I think they stated the ordinance as it was and that is what we ask them to do,” the mayor responded. He voted yes.

Deputy Mayor Herb Marinari said, “I feel that this is clear. I concur with the chief that you are only there to enforce not interpret the law. I vote yes.”

“All I was trying to do was explain what we were doing. I told the officers we are going to go on forward and if you believe we have broken the law, then you need to cite us. I said it several times. Listen to the body cam footage,” Cuozzo said. Chief Meroney corrected him. “You said we