LEGISLATIVE APPOINTEES OF POLICE AND FIRE INTEREST

ARBITRATION TASK FORCE DENOUNCE RELEASE OF

INFORMATION WITHOUT CONSENT OF FULL BODY

Ronald Bakley, Edwin Donnelly, Dominick Marino, and George

O’Brien Call Tactic“a sham”

Trenton, NJ- Today, the four Gubernatorial appointees of the Police and Fire Interest Arbitration Task Force are going to release an incomplete report. The release of this information without the consent of the four Legislative appointees clearly violates the statute (N.J.S.A.34:13A-16.8) creating the Task Force and its legislative intent.

We, the four Legislative appointees, will seek judicial relief for any use of the Task Force information being released prior to the issuance of a final report.   ​

​The Task Force met this past Monday, September 25, 2017 for the first time since February 2, 2017.  At the last meeting, a motion was made to obtain additional information to provide for a clear and concise final report; the vote resulted in a 4-4 tie.  The enabling statute clearly states that the Task Force is empowered to utilize various resources to obtain data and a comprehensive analysis is needed for a complete report.  The statute also provides a deadline of December 31, 2017 to issue a final report.  The desire for this early release is clearly part of a strategic plan that matches on this Governor’s political agenda.  The release of this “public information” is a sham and the members who have violated the public trust through their politicization of this Task Force must be held responsible.

This is just another example of the Administration’s consistent and blatant disregard for the law, resulting in millions of wasted taxpayer dollars.  The Legislature must ignore the one sided information released today and send back a request to the ​full Task Force to get back to work.

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The statute is clear, and much work is needed to prepare a complete and accurate final report.   ​

The four Legislative appointees remain ready, willing and able to continue the work in the time frame provided.

We are not political pawns or some public relations spin before Election Day.

CONTACT:               Steve Lenox

                                    973-715-7330