Habel's Denali Up For Sale

The Denali that the Board of Education gave to former schools Superintendent James Habel is up for sale.

Bids are being accepted for the top-of-the-line 2005 GMC Yukon Danali -- which Habel received as part of his contract with the school district, along with a monthly gas allowance of $150.

The loaded black SUV has 117,000 miles, was impeccibly maintained by Board of Education mechanics and has every option available to that model, according to Tom Polo, a district employee.

The SUV is not short on amenities. It has a Bose surround sound system, leather seats, duel climate control, heated seats, rear DVD player with two sets of wireless headphones a towing package and numerous other creature comforts.

Habel's former car is available for inspection at the bus garage, located behind the Board of Education offices on 18th Avenue. The necessary forms to bid on the vehicle are available there, Polo said.

Bids will be opened at 11 a.m. on Oct. 4 at the board offices, according to a public notice advertisment.

Habel, who left the district in January for a six-month medical leave before his contract expired in June, is under investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

No charges have been filed and Acting Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni has been tight-lipped about the scope of the investigation.

Investigators from the Prosecutor's Office on Sept. 13 raided Habel's Point Pleasant home. Days prior, Habel hired fomer First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Robert A. Honacker Jr. to represent him.

In addition to free use of the car, Habel in 2010 received $14,250 in allowances, $7,600 in stipends, $15,716 in extra insurance, and $49,932 for a pension annuity as well as his base pay of $200,273, according to the Department of Education.

. School board President John Tavis has said that Habel reported he did not take a sick day during his tenure as schools chief, which began in 2003.