TOMS RIVER, NJ – A federal subpoena was issued by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and delivered to the Ocean County Board of Commissioners dated March 22, 2022, seeking five years worth of employment records. The subpoena is requesting records for “hired employees” between 1/1/2017 and 12/32/2021, but more specifically are, seeking referrals made by Ocean County Commissioners for public patronage and pay-to-play jobs.
On Wednesday, Ocean County Commissioner Jack Kelly went public with the subpoena, but only after Shore News Network Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request was filed Monday afternoon, seeking a copy of the public record.
County officials have said off the record, the FBI is investigating looking into allegations of awarding public jobs in exchange for kickbacks, public contracts,
Long known as a patronage pit for elected public officials and their families, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners regularly appoints politically connected friends, family, and political allies to high-paying public jobs, not because they’re qualified but because they have put in the time politically.
Many Mayors, former Mayors, council members, political party leaders, and their families hold jobs within Ocean County government, appointed by the board of commissioners.
The subpoena asks for records as the most current public patronage job prospect is currently being courted, former New Jersey State Trooper Tristin “TJ” Collins. Collins, who Ocean County Commissioner Virginia Haines is grooming for the position of assistant business administrator, is seeking a six-figure public job in addition to his pension as a State Police officer.
Last month, Haines said she did not know who Collins was, but after a leaked memo in her own handwriting was leaked to the press, she walked back her denial, saying instead, Collins is a friend of Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy and it was Mastronardy who asked for Collins to be hired for the future job opening.
Other pay-to-play and patronage employment problems plague the county such as Ocean Gate Mayor Paul Kennedy, a county employee who stole municipal parking revenue and surplus town assets online for personal profit. It is also alleged that Kennedy did that while on the clock with the county.
Still, another employee, Michael Reina, the Mayor of Jackson, is facing multiple lawsuits alleging civil rights violations, including possible criminal investigations by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General. Reina has been under investigation by the FBI, who have been questioning residents about the mayor’s dealings in Jackson over the past two years. Reina has not been reappointed by the Ocean County Board of Commissioners since 2020, but still holds his politically appointed patronage job Bridge Supervisor, despite not having the required educational background for the position.
It’s not known exactly what the Department of Justice is looking for in the files requested by the subpoena delivered to Ocean County Director of Employee Relations Robert A. Greitz.
The DOJ is seeking, “Any Employment Applications For Hired Employees for the period of 01/01/2017 to 12/32/201 and FOR: Any referrals or other hiring correspondence from Ocean County Commissioners contained in what are commonly known as “THE BLUE BOOK(s)” for the time period 01/01/2017 to 12/32/201.
The “Blue Books” are high priority files kept on record by the commissioners, which are their most confidential and important documents, memos, and recommendations.
OPRA – 4.11.2022 – DOJ Subpoena, OC by Shore News Network on Scribd