Tension Rising In Jackson Over Rec. Department Funds

Jackson Township's governing body is looking closer into new allegations that money in the recreation department is being misappropriated.

Mayor Mike Reina has spoken with the town's Chief Financial Officer who says the funds are there but he would rather be safe than sorry and investigate it further. However, a war of words is brewing between Jackson Councilman Mike Kafton and Mayor Reina. It's all related to the handling of the situation.

The issue began when former Girls' Softball Coordinator, Bonnie Barrington, questioned the department's handling of sponsorships and explained that she left her position after "hitting a brick wall with department and administration officials."

Councilman Kafton is against having the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee perform an audit of the department because he feels it's too politically motivated. Kafton tells WOBM News, "this audit should be undertaken by an agency that has no connection or allegiance to the Mayor's Office or the Township Council, and the administration's suggestion that the committee should do it, underscores the fact that the Mayor does not take this issue seriously."

But Mayor Reina is firing back. He says "Kafton always twists things around. He uses his political grandstanding on every issue. Why should we ask taxpayers to fund an independent audit that would be costly? The money isn't there. Times are tough. If the committee does it, it would be on a volunteer basis and wouldn't cost taxpayers anything."

Kafton says he will continue to push the issue at the next meeting. Reina says the woman who first made the claims should have gone to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office with the information if it were true. Both men agree, they want to get to the bottom of this. It will be discussed at the next council meeting.