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Asbury Park Press

MONDAY 03.09.15

St. Patricks Day

fun at the Shore
Thousands
don their
emerald green
sweaters as
parade popularity,
participation grows.
Story, A3

Snow means
big overtime
for the states
highway crews
SHANNON MULLEN @MULLENAPP

When the snow falls like it did Thursday, the overtime bill for state highway workers goes up. And up.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority paid out more
than $16.1million in overtime last year, up nearly 12 percent, according to an analysis of payroll data by the Asbury Park Press.
The lions share of those payouts, $9.5 million or
nearly 60 percent, was snow-related, said Turnpike
spokesman Tom Feeney.
Given the severity of this winter, its a safe bet that
number will be even higher for this year.
As we say every year, overtime is a fact of life in a
24/7 operation like the Turnpike Authority. We have
jobs that have to be staffed at all times. In some cases,
the most efficient way to staff them is to pay somebody
overtime, Feeney said in an email.
The authoritys overall payroll was almost $162.4
million for 2,999 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees. That total was down from $163.6 million in
2013.
The authority is responsible for the operation and
maintenance of both the New Jersey Turnpike and the
Garden State Parkway.
Even some of the OT that is not classified as snowrelated was necessary because of the weather, Feeney
said. The brutal winter last year meant a very difficult

GRAPPLING
TO THE TOP

See OVERTIME, Page A4

Search overtime and payroll

at the NJ Turnpike by
visiting www.DataUniverse.com. Look
under Whats New for the link.

SUPERSTORM SANDY AID

Should homeless
get housing help?

PETER ACKERMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Alec Donovan of Brick Memorial wrestles Stephan Glasgow of Bound Brook for the 145-pound state crown Sunday at the
NJSIAA Wrestling Championships in Atlantic City.

Keansburg High wrestler Tyree Sutton,

Brick Memorials Alec Donovan champs

BY KEVIN PENTN @KEVINPENTONAPP

When Superstorm Sandy blew through Lakewood in

2012, a tree crushed Will Browns dwelling. Browns
dwelling was made not of brick and mortar, but of nylon
and twine.
That distinction doesnt matter to homeless advocates, who are urging former residents of Tent City a
homeless camp in the woods of Lakewood that has since
shuttered to apply for two years of federal housing
vouchers meant to help low-income Sandy victims.
I lost everything that I owned to Sandy, said Brown,
51, who could not rebuild the tent. A generator, a TV set,
a DVD player, clothing, canned foods it was all destroyed.
The thought of people who were homeless before
Sandy taking advantage of the Sandy Tenant-Based
Rental Assistance Program is totally absurd, said
Diane Mazzacca, whose home in Beach Haven West was
severely damaged by Sandy.
Im so livid, I could spit nails, Mazzacca said. New
Jersey wants to pay for social services on the backs of
See HOUSING, Page A4

wo wrestlers from Shore area high

schools were among the athletes
emerging victorious at Sundays finals of the NJSIAA Wrestling Championships in Atlantic City. e Keans-

burgs Tyree Sutton, wrestling at 195 pounds,

capped off a tumultuous high school career by
winning the first-ever state title for his alma
mater. Sutton took down Matt Correnti of Holy
Cross for the win. e And Alec Donovan of Brick
Memorial wrapped up his methodical rise to the
top with a 1-0 win over Bound Brooks Stephan
Glasgow in the 145-pound championship bout.
PETER ACKERMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Tyree Sutton of Keansburg celebrates after defeating Matt

Correnti of Holy Cross in the 195-pound final Sunday.

FULL COVERAGE BEGINS ON PAGE D1

THOUSANDS RETRACE HISTORIC STEPS IN SELMA PAGE 1B

Bar none
Whet your appetite with these
bites at the bar. @PLAY, C1

ADVICE
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LOCAL

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VOLUME 136
NUMBER 58

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