Not Entitled to Our Own Facts

Background

At the Washington Township Council meeting of 10/14/2026, a member of the public from a neighboring town asked about the Township's opioid settlement report. He also raised its spending on police Tahoes and Flock license plate cameras. This video shows how the Township Solicitor and Council President Peter Del Borrello answered him, and what the Township's own records show. The title is the Solicitor's own words, at 1:45:01 in the Township's recording of the meeting.

What they said and what the record shows

"Law enforcement purposes"

The Township Solicitor, at 1:43:30: "And in this township, they've been spent on law enforcement purposes."

The Township told the State something else. Its FY2024 report certified 134,321.38 spent on a program named Drug Education, a school-based program for 500 participants, ages 0 to 13 through eighth grade. Its FY2025 report added 36,125.32 to the same program. Together that is 170,446.70. The opioid account's ledger shows 117,946.70 for two Tahoes, 17,500.00 for five Flock readers and 35,000.00 for ten more. Together that is 170,446.70. The two totals are equal to the cent.

"Prior administrations"

The Township Solicitor, at 1:42:50, said the practice "was initiated by prior administrations."

Resolution R301-2024, adopted 11/26/2024, awarded the two Tahoes for 117,946.70 from the National Opioid Settlement Grant line. It passed 5 to 0. The current mayor, then a council member, voted yes. So did three members of the current council, Council President Del Borrello among them. The current mayor took office on 01/03/2025. The account has paid seven checks. The Tahoe check is the only one paid before that date. Every Flock payment came after it. The checks are on the ledger through 03/18/2026 and the ledger through 08/19/2026.

"Budgets were introduced"

The Township Solicitor, at 1:44:43: "the 2024-2025 fiscal years were commenced and budgets were introduced before the current administration."

The opioid account was never in an introduced budget. Seven Chapter 159 resolutions funded it: R262-2024, R285-2024, R234-2025, R294-2025, R131-2026, R179-2026 and R206-2026. The current mayor voted for the first two as a council member. The other five passed while he was mayor.

"Some kind of BMX event"

The Township Solicitor, at 1:43:44: "There's a town up in North Jersey that threw a concert. There's another town a little bit closer to home that spent it on some kind of BMX event."

A drug awareness BMX show in Barnegat Township cost 3,000.00. Washington Township's opioid account paid 267,924.50 for two Tahoes, their upfit and Flock readers. That would pay for 89 BMX shows. Irvington told the State its program was a concert. Washington Township told the State its program was drug education.

"This governing body believes in transparency"

The Township Solicitor, at 1:43:05: "This governing body believes in transparency."

The Township's FY2026 report was due 09/01/2026. The State's FY2026 listing of 10/01/2026 reads No Report Received for the Township. The State's confirmation shows it was filed on 10/08/2026, 37 days late and six days before this meeting. The Township produced the FY2026 report on 10/09/2026 in answer to a records request. It certifies 267,924.50 spent since 2022, the ledger's total to the cent. It still lists Drug Education as a prior program with no modifications. Its goal line reads, "Our goal is to support law enforcement efforts by enhancing the license plate reader program."

"Are we on trial?"

Council President Peter Del Borrello, at 1:49:53: "I'm trying to answer your questions. Are we on trial?"

The opioid account has paid 267,924.50. All of it went to two Tahoes, their upfit and Flock license plate readers. Treatment, recovery, prevention and naloxone got 0.00.

The settlement's Exhibit E does not list law enforcement purposes as a use. It lists no use for police vehicles or license plate readers. The police uses it does list are narrow. They include diversion to treatment, naloxone and training on opioid use disorder. How this project reads the settlement is set out in the methodology.