08/20/08

TITLE: FREEHOLDERS TO SHERIFF - TAKE A STEP BACK - there may be a light at the end of the Tunnel
DESCRIPTION:
Time: 20:53:07

ARTICLE

HUNTERDON COUNTY - The Freeholder Board, through its mouthpiece, county counsel DeSapio, told the County Sheriff, with whom they have been dueling for 8 months now, to take a step back and get focused on your true duties.

Those comments came as a reaction to the rumor going around that the sheriff had offered to help protect the local DMV and to help out towns who had been covered by the state police. This apparently amused a freeholder board who has been told that the sheriff cannot even provide the courthouse proper safety with the number of people she has, how she planned on doing all these other things with the same amount of staff was anyone's guess. The sheriffs representative stated that the offer to help out in the other suggestions had not been formally made and was in fact leaked to people who were not supposed have knowledge of the situation.

On a brighter note the two sides seem to be getting closer to settling their disputes over salaries etc.. and the board, again through Desapio, made several concessions to get the ball rolling, including allowing for a 16th officer. The board did not budge however on paying the sheriffs confidential aide who is no known as an under sheriff. Hopefully that situation will resolve itself next Tuesday or Wednesday when both sides will sit down with trial court administrator Gene Farkas.