Hard lesson: Arts and politicians do not mix
Your Turn
BRUCE K. BRICKMAN  Guest Column

"Arts Council Has Vision Of Enhancing Community" read the headline for my Your Turn column, which was published by News Transcript on Jan. 31. It reflected the joy of chairing a group of passionate volunteers focused on enhancing quality of life in our community. Key to our success was Jerry Collincini, Manalapan's longtime director of parks and recreation (winner of numerous awards attesting to his professionalism); and a symphony, well regarded throughout the region, led by its conductor, a world-class artist, Chiu-Tze Lin. The council's active volunteers were, for the most part, successful leaders confident that their creativity and independence would be appreciated.

Today, the Manalapan Arts Council is a shell of itself. Enthusiasm sapped, volunteers scattered, no long-term projects and the one near-term event supported by just a very few people. What happened to that group and its vision? Apparently, based on our past success, the Township Committee led by Mayor Andrew Lucas and Deputy Mayor Michelle Roth decided that we were "broken," so they "fixed" us.

Our mayor and deputy mayor reorganized parks and recreation, eliminating Collincini, which deprived the council of 30 years of professionalism, leadership and expertise. Then, [ignoring the pleas of residents] they arbitrarily slashed the symphony's [already] insufficient budget by over two-thirds, causing the conductor to resign.

In addition, the Township Committee without prior notice challenged the approval criteria for existing invoices (followed for years, without objection, by the conductor and the symphony board), withholding payment to the conductor as well as local vendors and musicians who had already provided their services. But it was the unexpected, senseless attack on the reputation of a world-class artist, (conductor Chiu-Tze Lin), which was most perplexing. Why publicly undermine the personal dignity of anyone, let alone a world-class artist, by suggestions of "overcharging", particularly, without any basis in fact (see Deputy Mayor Roth's interview with the News Transcript, June 6)? How do vague threats ("forensic accounting") and innuendo ("questionable charges") help this community keep an extraordinary symphony?

In early May, the arts council sponsored the second annual Asian Heritage Festival, attracting over 800 people, providing a spectacular display of food, art and performances. It was successful, in part, because we followed the logistical template previously laid out by former director Collincini during the first year of that festival.

Deprived of support from the recreation trust fund, our mayor and deputy mayor directed us to find additional sources of revenues.

The minutes of our July 9 meeting show that Tara Lovrich, the township administrator, as well as the mayor and deputy mayor were present for the grant report, indicating that we met the grant application deadline set by the Monmouth County Arts Council.

During the July 9 meeting, Ms. Lovrich, who was the person charged with "speaking" and implementing government procedural requirements (role of administrator), never mentioned the need for the township to enact an enabling requirement. This was an act of omission.

However, at the Aug. 22 township public meeting Ms. Lovrich denied any knowledge of the grant, which she applauded on July 9. This was a failure to take responsibility.

I am extremely disappointed with silence exhibited by Mayor Lucas and Deputy Mayor Roth at the Aug. 22 township meeting. They failed to correct the record, allowing Committeeman Richard Klauber to chastise an innocent volunteer, rather than accept responsibility for an omission by the administrator, ["the buck stops with the Township Committee"]. Only Committeewoman Susan Cohen had the courage to reprimand Mr. Klauber for his callous and insensitive comments. She was the only member of the Township Committee who affirmed the dignity due volunteers.

The lesson we have all learned is that arts and local politicians don't mix. Independence of thought and creativity should never be cudgels used by narcissistic political leaders to harm innocent volunteers. How could anyone vest confidence in a government that lays off its obligations on innocent volunteers? Arts must be separated from the influence of local government.

The joy of being chair is that I have worked with phenomenal individuals. Together we have created momentum for people to join together, independent of government, forming a dynamic network celebrating the enchantment of human dignity through the arts. My hope is to continue that impetus attracting people of stature, from all backgrounds, willing to share their creativity in order to enhance quality of life in our community.

Bruce K. Brickman is a resident of Manalapan.