Opinion: County Clerk's Office Stymied School Board Recall Effort

In April of this year efforts to recall two members on the Lacey school board for gross mismanagement of the $19.8 million solar panel project was begun by a small group of Lacey citizens. (See NJ State Comptroller’s Report dated 3/11/2014 “Is Your School District Paying Too Much for Architectural Services?”.)

Knowledge of this effort was circulated by word of mouth and public support was expressed by many Lacey citizens. As a recall event had not been used for years, the necessary protocols had to be researched with the Ocean County Clerk and County Attorney.

By early June, sufficient information was obtained to initiate documents for public notification and obtaining registered voter signatures on the recall petition. However, county approvals were continually rejected with spoonfed methods for changes of format, print size and style, inclusion of other documents, etc.

In order to have the recall question put on the November General Election ballot, the signed recall petition had to be completed by August 13th as set forth by Court order on July 31st. The petitions were not even approved for signature until July 10th!

The County Clerk had to be allowed an additional 10 days to count the signatures and another 10 days for challenge of the recall. The County Clerk said their print deadline was September 15. We could not get 4,767 signatures within the time frame set forth by County.

I got involved with this effort in early June with the belief that affording the citizens of Lacey to legally express their opinion and assign responsibility on how their tax dollars are used would be refreshing and perhaps stimulate more interest local issues. Unfortunately, it appears that our county officials helped keep the status quo.

Domenick R. Biava
Forked River