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Council Reaffirms Commitment To Random Drug-Testing
By Keith Hagarty
Saying they want to keep drug and alcohol abuse out of town hall, the township council unanimously approved a resolution last week reaffirming their support of random drug-testing for all members of the governing body.
The council's support of the resolution sends a clear message, said township Business Administrator William Santos.
"I think it sends a good message to the (municipal) employees that the elected officials are holding themselves to a higher standard," said Santos. "Because they're not required by law to do it."
Last year, the previous township committee had agreed to a similar resolution calling for random drug-testing following the 2005 arrest of former Township Committeeman Michael Kafton, who was picked up in Belmar on driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance charges. The possession charge given a conditional discharge, with Kafton receiving probation and temporary loss of his license for the DUI.
This incident prompted then-Committeeman, now Mayor, Mark Seda, to push for the random drug-testing. However, since the change of government last July, the new township
council had yet to undergo any testing.
"What they did the other night was say, 'we voluntarily agree, number one, that we
should be held to a higher standard because we are your elected officials, and number two, by adopting the resolution, we voluntarily agree to certain penalties if we should fail,'" said Santos.
The random testing will occur twice a year at a total cost of $834. According to the resolution, any member of the governing body who tests positive would result in a $500 fine as well as mandatory attendance in 10 hours of certified drug and alcohol counseling. In the event of a second positive test, that member of the governing body agrees to resign his or her position.
Alcohol testing would be measured in much the same way as for determining whether a motorist is above the legal blood alcohol level of .08.
Having members of the governing body agree to be randomly tested for drugs and alcohol is unique in Santos' experience.
"I know very few communities, if any, that I know of who do that," he said.
Despite the fines and mandatory classes, there is nothing in the resolution forcing the elected official to step down from office should they test positive.
"They couldn't state that in the resolution because you couldn't (legally) compel them to," Santos explained. "But certainly to me if the test came back, and the mayor, for example, tested positive for cocaine, then certainly the public outcry would be so great that it would probably facilitate him (to step down)."
Drug and alcohol abuse is a serious issue not to be taken lightly by anyone, especially those handed the responsibility of representing thousands of residents.
"You would think that if they were a sitting elected official, then they would be setting a very poor example, and they should consider alternatives," said Santos.
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