Many people are wondering what’s taking so long. Here’s the saga:
• On April 21, I first went to Scott Colabella’s (Ocean County Clerk) office in person to ask if he would be the one to accept a Notice of Intent to Recall. I left the message with his assistant since he was not in his office when I stopped by. I followed up with an email as well when I got home. And I called to verify he had received both the in person message and the email.
• I was hoping for an answer the next day.
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• A week goes by. Then two weeks. And I am now wondering how difficult was my question? The third week I made an email inquiry for my answer. On Friday night, May 9 at 8:15 PM an email arrives from Mr. Colabella apologizing for not getting back to me and saying he was too busy with arrangements for the upcoming Primary (not a real excuse at all…. I also found out he was on vacation for a week!). He promised to call with the answer on Monday May 12.
• On May 12 I finally received a phone call saying yes, the County Clerk would be one to receive a Notice of Intent to Recall. He, along with County Counsel Laura Benson, at that time advised me of the needed components that were to be included on the Notice of Recall. I fully complied.
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• On May 21 I gathered my committee and we notarized a Notice of Intent.
• On May 22, the Notice of Intent was hand delivered to the County Clerk’s office. He had 72 hours to review and approve.
• On May 28 an official Notice was approved. (Beyond the 72 hours…)
• The next step is for publication within 14 days. I kept checking the newspaper, no notices. After the 14th day, I send an email inquiry. On June 12th I am told it will appear in the Sunday June 15th Asbury Park Press. The notice finally appears on page A15.
• It has a typo! I contacted the Clerk’s office to advise of the error. On Tuesday June 17, about 9am, I get an email saying there was an error by the APP and it will be corrected.
• (Why didn’t anyone PROOFREAD the ad? The newspaper always sends a PROOF!)
• Two hours later I get a phone call- saying the entire Notice is in error…. I asked Why?
• County Counsel Laura Benson and Scott Colabella are both on speakerphone with me. She explains one Committee cannot recall TWO people. She told me I need 6 different people and two committees and two notices. I asked why this wasn’t explained before? I made it VERY clear two Board members were to be recalled. I knew there needed to be two separate petitions, but I was never told I needed two separate Notices of Intent and two separate committees.
• Mr. Colabella then offered to expedite the process by telling me to come into his office and scratch off one name on the existing notice (to make it correct). I refused. (It’s against the law to make alterations of any sort to an official document even if it’s worthless.)
• I told him I would get 3 more people, re-form the committees and make TWO new Notices of Intent.
• On June 19, I formed the two new Committees, we sign and notarize. On Friday June 20, the Notices are brought to Scott Colabella’s office a second time. Because of his previous errors, he offers to waive the 72 hour review and promises to approve by Monday June 23rd. He follows through!
• He has 14 days to publish again. I asked if publication could be ASAP because of the previous errors. He finally responds (via email) that Notices will be published on Wednesday, July 2. Both Board members must be noticed via certified mail. One responds and one has not yet responded. Her deadline is July 9th. On July 10, the Clerk can then approve our petitions for signature gathering.
• The law to recall has been on the books since 1995. The New Jersey School Boards Association legal department has a very detailed FAQ page which outlines the recall law.
I just wanted everyone to have a full update!