Matawan Mayor and Council Face Criticism Over Treatment of Volunteer Firefighters
A dispute over public comments, fire department representation and fundraising questions is putting greater attention on how Matawan officials engage with volunteer emergency responders.
The treatment of volunteer firefighters at Matawan’s October 6 Borough Council meeting drew criticism in a Facebook statement by Suzanne Reynolds, who questioned officials’ handling of public comments and remarks concerning fire department fundraising.
According to Reynolds, department representatives appeared before the council to raise concerns about their representation, the fire commissioner’s attendance and alleged failures to comply with state law.
Reynolds said Mayor Joseph Altomonte repeatedly used his gavel as the president of the Matawan Fire Officers Board attempted to continue speaking after his allotted five minutes had expired. She argued that additional time should have been permitted because, in her account, no other speakers were waiting.
Her statement also challenged remarks she attributed to Council President Deana Gunn concerning the alleged use of “Coin Toss” fundraising proceeds to cover legal fees in a matter involving the borough. Reynolds called for supporting financial records to be made public.
Neither the alleged legal violations nor the claims concerning fundraising expenditures have been independently verified for this report. The available account does not establish whether any funds were improperly used.
Reynolds emphasized the sacrifices made by volunteer firefighters and urged residents to review the meeting recording before reaching their own conclusions.
“These volunteers weren’t asking for applause,” she wrote. “They were asking to be heard.”
Editor’s note: This report is based on Reynolds’s Facebook statement. TN News has not independently reviewed the complete meeting recording or supporting documents. The material available for this report does not include the full responses of the officials named.
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