Let's Talk About Roles and Responsibilities

How dare anyone ask about police salaries? Just ask Police Chief Kevin O'Hara! O'Hara is an incompetent manager if he has no knowledge of the human resources concept of diminishing returns. There is a well documented body of knowledge of what happens to people when they focus on work-related tasks too long. Briefly, they can become disoriented and very tired, all of which can lead to very bad decisions and actions. I have been there myself. When working at U.S. Steel, I would occasionally try to put in 12-16 hours of overtime. By the end of the shift, I was like a dishrag...not much value to the company or myself. And, I was 20 something at the time. In case you are interested, the officer who earned more than just about everyone else in town ($200,000), Lt. Dikun, is no "spring chicken". O"Hara does not understand his role as a manager, and worse yet he was arrogant in his defense of Dikun. He apparently  has confused who pays his salary, and is further confused about the public's entitlement to ask any question they like about a town's operations and where their tax dollars are going.

You may remember Dikun's name from an episode in Point Pleasant Boro's recent past. Dikun sued Point Pleasant Boro in Superior Court, because he believed proper public notice had not been on occasion of a Council meeting to approve the budget. HE LOST! It would be fair to say Dikun is a cop who has too much time on his hands, and way too much money!

Chris Goss declared the actions of the Republican majority on Point Pleasant Boro's Council "insincere" and "shameless". These comments came in the wake of party-line votes to reject the Mayor's professional appointments and instead make their own. I suppose how voting is perceived is in the eye of the beholder. Apparently, Mr.Goss had no problem with the fact the Democratic majority did the very same thing two years before (and he voted as part of the block). There seems to be something inherently wrong with being lectured by someone who doesn't like the fit of the shoe when it is on the other foot. 

As far as Mr. Dasti's appointment goes...he is the attorney that negotiated a very generous raise for police and Boro employees in the middle of a hard recession. When asked a few questions about the settlement terms he appeared to have not even been there...couldn't remember a thing. He also has been around so long he likes to answer questions for the Council...almost like he is in charge. As the saying goes, when you have been around a long time you start to think you own the place. He DOESN'T and the hope is he will remember that!