Community Corner
Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty's "Math"
Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty’s “Math”
So tired of incorrect information, who do we believe it’s hard to know what is true. Well not really.
According to Epic Management see below, Page 91, from the contract to build the Pavilions signed with Belmar on May 19, 2014.
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Epic documents the Boardwalk contract was $11,085,440.00 well that’s not what Belmar claims it cost. Belmar says in the June 26, 2014 Coast Star article Buy a Board fund questioned, it cost $10,200,000.00.
That’s a big discrepancy never mind that no one is even talking about the fact Epic signed a contract to build the Boardwalk for $6,500,000.00 which grew into over 11 Million Dollars! As far as, what is expected from FEMA those numbers keep changing too, and Belmar offers no documentation.
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FEMA does not pay until the project is completed, inspected and matches what was provided to them on the FEMA Project Worksheet. There are no guarantees from FEMA. No town can spend money they do not have, including Belmar. And Belmar cannot spend the same money dedicated to one debt over and over again by dedicating it to another debt, which the Mayor says he is going to do. If we take the Buy-a-Board money of $727,000 to offset a portion of the taxpayer debt of building the Pavilions, which cost an inflated 7 Million Dollars, doesn’t that just shift the debt. We now owe $727,000 more back to the Boardwalk debt? Belmar owes too much period. Stop spending and take a rest, and let the sand settle for a minute. The surf’s up and our badges sales are great so far.
VOTE NO at the Special Election August 19, 2014, and save 3 Million Dollars, let’s rebuild the pavilions within a reasonable budget. Mayor Doherty should calm down and act responsibly for SMART recovery. Look toward your neighboring towns, same hurricane and they have minimal debt after rebuilding compared to Belmar. The difference Spring Lake and Avon as well as other towns listened to their residents.
P.S. Mayor when you do your math, include ALL Belmar’s debt, not just the debt to taxpayers for the current Pavilion project you are trying to sell.
