MARLBORO — Rage, resignation and a twinge of embarrassment.
That's the range of emotions residents of Marlboro are experiencing
these days as the township finds itself at ground zero in
an unfolding corruption scandal involving bribes, housing
developments and public officials.
"I like Marlboro, but the problem is that (Marlboro officials)
allowed (developers) to build so many new homes that now the
town is overcrowded," township resident Ilene Barba said
Tuesday outside the A&P supermarket on Route 520.
"Now, we have high taxes, crowded roads and need to build
new schools, and the taxpayer is the one who will have to
pay for it. You have to wonder . . . why didn't anyone see
what was going on?"
Barba's comments came hours after Marlboro developer Anthony
Spalliero was arrested and charged with offering cash bribes
to former Marlboro Mayor Matthew V.
Scannapieco and former Monmouth County Freeholder Director
Harry Larrison Jr.
The bribes were intended to help Spalliero win approval for
housing developments in Marlboro, according to the federal
complaint.
Scannapieco, who was mayor of Marlboro from 1992 through 2003,
pleaded guilty last month to accepting $245,000 in bribes
from a developer sources identified as Spalliero. Larrison,
a county freeholder for 39 years, was charged last week with
accepting $8,500 in bribes from Spalliero.
The charges announced Tuesday are part of an ongoing federal
corruption sting that has resulted in charges against 13 current
or former public officials in Monmouth County since Feb. 22,
and which has placed a spotlight on the glut of new housing
developments in this once-rural town.
Assemblymen Michael J. Panter and Robert L. Morgan, both D-Monmouth,
said Tuesday they plan to introduce legislation that would
require a municipality to conduct a detailed review of a project
linked to the arrest of a developer or public official. Another
bill would force a developer found guilty of criminal conduct
related to the approvals of a project to pay money into a
municipal or county open space fund.
"What has happened to Marlboro Township as a result of
the alleged illegal activities of the former mayor and a local
developer is disheartening," Panter said in a prepared
release. "People who are convicted of taking advantage
of the taxpayers for their own gain must be held accountable
for the costs to our communities."
But the stigma of the recent charges is what bothered 62-year-old
Dennis Clarke.
"Marlboro is such a great place — maybe a little
overcrowded — but it's gotten to the point that you're
embarrassed to say you're from Marlboro," Clarke said.
Still, Clarke, who has lived in the township for 30 years,
said he he is happy to live there. He said the current corruption
scandal can be traced to "just a handful of people."
Sara Schoenfeld, another Marlboro resident, said development
in the township is good for local businesses, but that "it's
a lot more congested around here and the taxes are insane."
Schoenfeld said many of the newer homes "are big houses
on top of each other. You can look out your bathroom window
into (your neighbor's) bathroom window."
An Asbury Park Press review of Spalliero's developments shows
that he was granted zoning variances by township officials
to allow higher-density developments, with houses close together
on smaller lots.
The current Marlboro mayor, Robert Kleinberg, said he is "angry
about this corruption because all the good, hard-working taxpayers
who came (to Marlboro) for a better quality of life are being
strangled by the ill effects of Scannapieco's corruption,
in perpetuity."
Kleinberg added, "We can't unbuild the house, we can't
uncrowd the schools or uncongest the roads."
Traffic congestion in Marlboro was a gripe expressed by several
others interviewed.
Serge Honinow, 55, of the Wickatunk section, said the roadways
"are not just congested, they are over-congested."
Honinow, who has lived in Marlboro for 14 years, said that
traffic on Route 79 is at a standstill most mornings near
the intersection with Route 520.
He added that he often hears such complaints.
"They say, "I'm moving out (of Marlboro). I'm moving
out. It's too crowded. I'm going to Pennsylvania,' "
Honinow said.
Gail Freeman, a resident of neighboring Holmdel for 30 years,
said there was a time she could drive through Marlboro "and
I'd be the only car on the road. But look at it now."
Freeman said she was disturbed by the bribery charges filed
against local and county officials and that she'd like to
express her disdain on Election Day.
"But all the candidates make promises and try to look
good," she said, "so how can you tell who is really
going to be honest?"
Jerry Lederman, a longtime Marlboro resident, agreed.
"All I want is an honest candidate," Lederman said.
"I have always thought that it's a privilege to be an
elected official," he said.
"It's a shame that some people in government have their
hands out."
Lederman added that official corruption "is not a victimless
crime. In some way, it affects everyone."
Former councilman Hy Grossman, who lived in Marlboro for 32
years and was on the council from 1978 to 1981, said he was
surprised by charges of official corruption on both the local
and county level, but viewed the scandal "as the perfect
opportunity to clean house."
"(The freeholders) have been entrenched for too long,"
he said. "They should all be thrown out."
Grossman, a registered Democrat who now lives in Monroe, said
that the recent charges of official corruption have a broad
emotional impact on residents.
"I think people are depressed and disappointed by all
the news," he said.
Sharon Sable, 59, said she is "not too happy" with
the recent news out of Marlboro, her hometown for 31 years.
But Sable shrugs when asked about the effects of corruption
on the township.
"I don't like it, but I think it will blow over,"
she said. "Life will go on."
