Resident accuses council member of keeping 'file' on administrator; Matawan speakers debate decorum and public‑comment rules

Residents used the June 4 Matawan Borough Council meeting to press the council on multiple fronts: one resident read excerpts he said came from council correspondence and alleged a sitting council member kept a "file" on the borough administrator; another resident criticized recurring personal attacks in public comment and raised concerns about threats and farmers‑market accessibility.

John Sardo, identifying himself as a resident of 29 Crescent Place, spent his allotted time reading portions of a message archive he said included communications from Councilwoman Suzanne Reynolds about Borough Administrator Ryan Michelson. Sardo quoted messages he attributed to Reynolds such as "I'm keeping a file," "I have inside information," and "get us in and I promise you he's gone in January," and said the messages referenced investigations, ethics allegations and OPRA requests. Sardo asked residents to consider the councilwoman's words and said he planned to continue the "Matawan Barbie's 5‑Minute Update" in future meetings.

Later, Abby Berg (also referenced as Abby Burke in parts of the record), who identified herself as a Matawan resident, said she had filed a police report after an online threat and criticized what she described as recurring "temper tantrums" and personal vendettas dominating the meetings. Berg said the mayor previously told attendees that "there's no hate in Matawan" and urged the council to keep meetings focused on borough business rather than repeated personal accusations. She also raised a concern that SNAP benefits were not being accepted at a farmers market she remembered, and said the way some residents were treated felt "embarrassing for everybody."

Council members responded during and after the public‑comment period. Mayor Joseph Altomonte said he would review the lead‑test letter a resident referenced and asked residents to share the document so staff could follow up; he also agreed to discuss with the Department of Public Works whether the street sweeper schedule could be adjusted to avoid coinciding with Wednesday garbage pickup. Other council members defended their service and invoked First Amendment protections for public commenters, saying residents have the right to question officials even if the comments are personal or repetitive. A council member said allowing more back‑and‑forth could be useful for clarification, although others noted it could extend meetings significantly.

The meeting record does not include a direct response from Councilwoman Suzanne Reynolds to the allegations Sardo read aloud, and no formal investigation or council action on the assertions is recorded in the transcript. The meeting adjourned after the exchanges; the council did not take formal disciplinary or investigatory action during this session.