Howell Township Attorney Joseph Clark recently revealed that Howell Councilwoman Pamela Richmond is attempting to block a vaccination event in Howell Township. This Saturday, March 27th, Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI) is scheduled to vaccinate over 200 people at the Howell Municipal Building. OHI has given out over 13,000 vaccines in Ocean and Monmouth Counties.

Richmond, a Republican, has worked to stop the event because Howell Mayor Theresa Berger, a Democrat, is also an employee of OHI.

Mayor Berger stated, “Councilwoman Richmond would rather play politics than let Howell seniors get their vaccinations.”

The majority of people scheduled to receive the vaccine are senior citizens and many of them are homebound, including a 107-year-old woman who is scheduled to receive her second shot at the Howell event.

Mayor Berger continued, “OHI is giving out vaccinations in Toms River, Brick, Little Egg Harbor, Neptune, Freehold and Wall. But I guess Howell is off limits just because I am the mayor. It’s ridiculous. We are going forward with this event whether Councilwoman Richmond likes it or not.”

Richmond has threatened to file ethics violations against Berger for holding the event in Howell.

Berger explained, “I am a salaried employee. I don’t make an extra dime for holding this event in Howell. I just want to help protect our most vulnerable residents and to help them get their shots in a safe and familiar place near their homes.”