Veni's Future As BTMUA Commissioner in Doubt

Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority Commissioner Joseph Veni, who last week lost a lucrative contract with the Ocean County freeholder board over purported "explicit" e-mails he sent from county computers, may soon be off the BTMUA commission.

Veni, a Republican, was the subject of a unanimous vote by the all-Republican freeholder board last week which ended a consulting relationship six months before its expiration date over the e-mails. The e-mails had been sought under an Open Public Records Act request filed by the Asbury Park Press in the wake of Veni being referenced in a lawsuit that names Freeholder Director Joseph Vicari. According to the Press report, Veni was accused in the lawsuit of holding conversations with an employee over his sexual preferences and once forcing a kiss on an employee after biting off half of a cookie she was eating.

Through a company he owned, Veni was paid up to $150,000 per year, public records showed.

"The freeholders acted so quickly, whatever’s in those e-mails must be pretty damning," said Brick Mayor John Ducey. "Obviously, the freeholders have access to the e-mails, and we don’t."

Ducey said he expects BTMUA Chairman George Cevasco, a Democrat, to request Veni's resignation from the board, but if that does not happen – or if Veni refuses to resign – a hearing before before the township council would be required to remove him from the position.

"I’ll call on the council to have that hearing and have him removed," said Ducey.

Commissioners on the BTMUA, a regional water and sewerage commission that serves Brick and several surrounding communities, are appointed by the Brick Township Council and are tasked with making policy and budget decisions for the utility. They are also entitled to a stipend and taxpayer-funded health benefits. Veni, records obtained by Patch showed, accepts dental and vision benefits and the stipend, but not a full health package.

Veni's alleged explicit e-mails have prompted agreement on both sides of the political aisle in the county as well as in Brick, where former GOP council member and BTMUA employee Domenick Brando – who is currently seeking a comeback on the council – also called for Veni to go.

"Mr. Veni has exposed the Brick Township residents and MUA rate payers to a financial burden for his alleged actions," said Brando, in an e-mail, who added it would be "unconscionable" if officials allowed Veni to stay on as a commissioner.

The BTMUA's next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 19. The township council will hold its regular meeting the following day.

A call to Cevasco seeking comment was not returned.