Spreadsheet of Vendors Approved by Town Council and Contributions to NJ Political Campaigns
Over the past two weeks we’ve published several articles on the three Town Council Meetings to date that involved a whirlwind of Agendas, Resolutions and the Dissolution of the Local Ethics Board. We have compiled a spreadsheet that provides a quick reference that will be updated after each Council Meeting and is available on our Resource Page Link to 2025...
Resolutions and Political Contributions: A Final Look at the Last Three Town Council Meetings
This article continues our review of the last three council meetings, which saw seven different versions of the agendas, a flurry of high-cost resolutions, and the dissolution of the local ethics board. In our first article, we highlighted the Mayor and Council’s approval of a $30,000 contract for a Public Relations firm that describes itself as being “at the center...
Decoding the Town Council’s Legal Spending: Firms, Costs, and Connections
The last three Council meetings have been a whirlwind of rushed resolutions, amended agendas, and executive orders—most of which passed with minimal discussion. Among the most troubling decisions was the abrupt dissolution of the Ethics Council, despite the Mayor ignoring a simple solution: electing new members. Instead, the Council chose to hire a high-priced media firm with deep political ties,...
More Information on the High-Powered PR Firm Berkeley Heights Families Are Paying For
As highlighted in Mr. Samson’s Community Voices article, the Town Council recently voted to approve $30,000 in spending for a public relations firm—Vision Media Marketing. The firm describes itself as: “…a full-service media and communications consulting firm with numerous strong, long-term relationships with elected officials, political and labor officials, and business leaders throughout North Jersey.” (emphasis added) Their slogan? “Winning takes...
Letter to the Berkeley Heights Mayor and Council on Tonight’s Vote to Dissolve the Ethics Council
I wrote the following email to the Mayor and Town Council: I am writing to strongly urge you not to dissolve the local Ethics Board but instead to take meaningful steps to strengthen it. The argument that relying on the state Ethics Board would make the process more objective lacks substantial evidence. The state board is composed of political appointees...
Follow Up on Executive Orders and Police Training Connected to OSC Investigation
NJ21st recieved an email from a Berkeley Heights resident after the publication of Mr. Samson’s article that included all of the Executive Orders signed by Mayor Devanney in 2024 and 2025. These documents appeared to be the product of an OPRA request submitted on 02/01/2025. Executive Orders Signed from 2024 through January 2025 As a follow-up to our January 17,...
Power, Priorities, and Paychecks: Unpacking the Devanney Council’s Latest Moves and a Local Press that Fails to Hold them Accountable
$30,000 for Media Services, Armies of Attorneys and Lobbyists funded by the Families of Berkeley Heights Arik Samson is a Resident of Berkeley Heights and was a candidate for the Berkeley Heights BOE during the 2024 elections. The Town Council has voted to extend the deadline for submitting the 2025 budget, even as it swiftly approved multiple executive orders immediately...
Berkeley Heights BOE Public Comments on Controversial SLEO Contract (Video)
At the latest Board of Education meeting, an addendum to the contract for SLEO’s (a jobs program for retired police officers) sparked significant discussion. Unlike other districts, this agreement includes no cap on spending and places the burden of sick time and overtime costs squarely on the District. Public comments featured insights from the Town Administrator Liza Viana, NJ21st contributor...
Is It Time for the District to Re-Evaluate Its Services from a Politically Entangled Municipal Government?
The current Agenda for the next BOE Meeting includes an SLEO Contract Amendment. In Berkeley Heights, the District pays the full $37.45 per hour for each Special Law Enforcement Officer (SLEO), and now the township is asking the District to divert even more funds from classrooms to cover additional costs like sick time and overtime pay along with an increase...
Packed Agendas, Glossed-Over Details: The 01/21/2025 Town Council Meeting
Township and prior BOE meetings often feature packed agendas and lengthy presentations, leaving residents overwhelmed and details overlooked. By the time critical items are finally discussed, these meetings often feel like staged performances or exercises in futility. The 01/21/2025 Town Council Meeting was yet another example of this, highlighting how Devanney’s Town Council has adopted the same strategy as the...
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