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                                                                 EXHIBIT (10)(q)

                              SECOND AMENDMENT TO
                             REPUBLIC BANCORP INC.

                            1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN

As authorized in Section M of the REPUBLIC BANCORP INC. 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
("Plan"), Republic Bancorp Inc. ("Company") amends the Plan as described below:

1.   Subsection 1 of Section C of the Plan is amended to read:

       1. Subject to the provisions of Section L of the Plan, the maximum number
     of shares of Stock that may be optioned or sold under the Plan is 2,375,000
     shares, comprised of

          (a)  1,375,000 shares (resulting from 1,000,000 shares authorized at
     the Plan's inception, adjusted under Section L for subsequent stock splits
     and stock dividends) plus

          (b)  1,000,000 additional shares authorized effective February 17,
     2000.

     Such shares may be authorized but unissued shares of Stock of the Company
     or issued shares reacquired by the Company.

2.   Except as amended above, the Plan continues in full force and effect.

The foregoing Amendment was approved by the Company's Board of Directors on
February 17, 2000, and shall take effect as of that date upon approval of the
Company's stockholders.

                                         ATTEST:

                                         /s/ Dana M. Cluckey
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Dana M. Cluckey
                                         President and Chief Executive OfficerMERCHANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
1430 BROADWAY
NEW YORK, NY 10018

TEL (212) 840-7575
FAX (212) 869-1752

July 11, 2000

Harvey Westbury Corp.
12 Andrews Drive
West Paterson, NJ 07424
ATTN:  Ronald Shaver, President

Dear Mr. Shaver:

Merchant Financial Corporation ("Merchant") has approved a financing arrangement
for Harvey Westbury Corp. ("Borrower"), on the following terms and conditions:

REVOLVING CREDIT LINE.

     1.  Credit Line

     During the term of this Agreement, Merchant hereby agrees, subject to the
     terms and conditions set for the herein and the Security Agreements
     referred to herein, to make loans, advances and/or extensions of credit
     ("Advances") to or for Borrowers' benefit up to a sum which will not in the
     aggregate, exceed the lesser of $400,000 (Four Hundred Thousand Dollars) or
     the sum of the amount available as per paragraph #3 below.

     2.  Term

     One year from closing, subject to renewal and terminates as per the terms
     of the Security Agreement referred to herein, ("Security Agreement").

     3.  Advance Formula

     Advances shall be made on a revolving basis with the following collateral
and advance rates:

     a)  Up to 75% (Seventy Five percent) of eligible commercial accounts
         receivable. Ineligible accounts receivable are defined in the Security
         Agreement including, but not limited to, those that are older than 90
         (ninety) days from invoice date and/or other receivable deemed to be
         ineligible by Merchant in its sole discretion, including cross-aging
         and a concentration cap of 30% (Thirty percent) of eligible accounts
         receivable; plus

     b)  Up to 40% (Forty percent) of eligible inventory, up to a maximum
         advance of $100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Dollars). Advances on
         inventory may not exceed 50% (Fifty percent) of total advances
         outstanding at any time, however, for presold inventory Merchant may,
         at its sole discretion, increase this percentage.

     4.  Charges

              a)  Facility Fee

              In consideration of Merchant's agreement to extend financial
              accommodations to Borrower hereunder, Borrower agrees to pay
              Merchant an annual Facility Fee of $4,000 (Four Thousand Dollars),
              which shall be paid to Merchant upon the signing of this agreement
              or as a charge to the loan account in conjunction with receipt of
              the first assignment schedule of sales. For each subsequent year
              thereafter the agreement remains in effect, the fee which shall be
              1% (one percent) of the maximum credit line will be charged
              directly to the Borrower's loan account on or about the
              anniversary date of the signing of this agreement. In any event,
              the fee is non-refundable to the Borrow.

              b)  Interest

              As set forth in the Security Agreement.

              c)  Usual wire transfer fees, currently $30 (Thirty dollars).

              d)  Letter of Credit Fees
              As set forth in Letter of Credit Agreement

              e)  Minimum Annual Income

              The minimum annual income (defined as the annual credit line fee
              plus interest earned above prime rate plus Letter of Credit Fees)
              payable to Merchant shall be $15,000 (Fifteen Thousand Dollars).

COLLATERAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.

In no event shall Merchant be obligated to provide any financing to the Borrower
until the following conditions precedent have been fulfilled to Merchant's
satisfaction:

     a)  Merchant shall have a first priority perfected security interest in all
         assets of the Borrower, which assets would be subject to no other liens
         or security interests, excluding fixed assets subject to other liens,
         as per Security Agreements in form and substance satisfactory to
         Merchant.

     b)   Personal unlimited guarantees of Eugene Chiaramonte, Jr. and Ronald
          Shaver, in form and substance satisfactory to Merchant, guaranteeing
          all the obligations of Borrower under this agreement.

     c)  In addition to items specified in the Security Agreement, Merchant
         shall receive: (i) all personal guarantors' financial statements
         annually, or within 60 days of renewals, in any; (ii) copies of federal
         tax returns of Borrower and The Auxer Group, Inc. all within 30 days of
         filing; (iii) annual projections in a form satisfactory to Merchant, at
         least 60 days prior to renewal date; (iv) monthly accounts receivable
         agings, prepared on an invoice date basis; accounts payable aging by
         not later than the 10th day of the following month; and detailed
         inventory listings as requested by Merchant.

     d)  Corporate Guarantee of The Auxer Group, Inc. ("Auxer")

Borrower covenants that the Tangible Net Worth (including subordinated loans and
net of intangibles and loans to related parties) of Borrower shall be at least
$500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) at all times.

Auxer covenants that it is Tangible Net Worth (as defined above) shall be at
least $400,000 (Four Hundred Thousand Dollars) and that it shall be in
compliance with all Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, at all
times.

Borrower further covenants not to make any payments to or enter into
transactions with Auxer, related parties and affiliates outside the ordinary
course of business without prior written consent of Merchant.

By signing below, Guarantors and Auxer consent to the terms and conditions
hereof.

IN WITNESS HEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
by their officers thereunto duly authorized.

Very truly yours,
MERCHANT FINANCIAL CORPORATION

/s/ Neville Grusd
--------------------------
Executive Vice President

Read, Agreed & Acknowledged:

HARVEY WESTBURY CORP.               THE AUXER GROUP, INC.

By: /s/ Ronald Shaver               By: /s/ Eugene Chiaramonte, Jr.
-----------------------------       ------------------------------------
        RONALD SHAVER, President            EUGENE CHIARAMONTE, JR, President

------------------------------------------------------------
RONALD SHAVER, Personally

/s/ Ronald Shaver
------------------------------------------------------------

EUGENE CHIARAMONTE, JR., Personally

/s/ Eugene Chiaramonte, Jr.
------------------------------------------------------------EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                                     BETWEEN

                             CLIFTON TELECARD, INC.

                                       AND

                                 MUSTAFA QATTOUS

AGREEMENT dated this 19th day of September, 2000, between Clifton Telecard,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter the "Company") which will have its
corporate office at 12 Andrews Drive, West Paterson, NJ 07424, and Mustafa
Qattous (hereinafter the "President of Operations").

WHEREAS, the Company desires to acquire the services of the President of
Operations because of his special knowledge and skills in the marketing and
selling telecommunication goods and services; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the following is agreed:

1.   DUTIES

The Company hereby employs Mustafa Qattous as President of Operations which has
been conveyed this day to the Company, having the duties in that capacity as set
forth from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer and/or his designee.
President of Operations shall devote his full time and best efforts to the
Business of the Company. Said duties shall basically correspond with his present
functions at Clifton Telecard Alliance, Inc.

2.   COMPENSATION

As compensation for his services to the Company, in whatever capacity rendered,
the Company shall pay to President of Operations once every two weeks the sum of
$10,000 as gross salary. This salary shall be paid over the term of this
Agreement that is THREE (3) years.

In addition, the President of Operations shall be granted the options to
purchase 150,000 shares of The Auxer Group, Inc. common stock, $0.001 par value
per share, at an exercise price of $0.08 under an options plan to be filed upon
the Company completing its first fiscal quarter with collected net revenues
exceeding $7.5 Million and a Gross Profit of a minimum of 4%.

The President of Operations shall be granted the options to purchase 150,000
shares of The Auxer Group, Inc. common stock, $0.001 par value per share, at an
exercise price of $0.08 under an options plan to be filed upon the Company
completing its first fiscal quarter with collected net revenues exceeding $10
Million and a Gross Profit of a minimum of 4%.

The President of Operations shall be granted the options to purchase 200,000
shares of The Auxer Group, Inc. common stock, $0.001 par value per share, at an
exercise price of $0.08 under an options plan to be filed upon the Company
completing its first fiscal quarter with collected net revenues exceeding $12.5
Million and a Gross Profit of a minimum of 4%.

The President of Operations shall be granted the options to purchase 200,000
shares of The Auxer Group, Inc. common stock, $0.001 par value per share, at an
exercise price of $0.08 under an options plan to be filed upon the Company
completing its first fiscal quarter with collected net revenues exceeding $15
Million and a Gross Profit of a minimum of 4%.

Such options set forth above shall only be granted upon the company initially
achieving the revenue set forth above and shall not be granted in any fiscal
quarter thereafter that the company maintains the revenues previously achieved.

This Agreement shall be renewed for an additional year or remain in effect after
the term of this agreement provided that all material terms of this Agreement
are performed by President of Operations and provided that both mutually agree.

3.   EXPENSES

The President of Operations may incur reasonable expenses including expense for
travel, entertainment and similar items. All expenses must be pre-approved. The
Company will reimburse the President of Operations for all such expenses upon
the presentation by the President of Operations, from time to time, of an
itemized account justifying such expenditures. Such reimbursement shall be
provided within 30 working days of such presentation by President of Operations.
If the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that this method allowing
expenses is not in the best interest of the Company, the Company may impose such
other method, if any, for allowing such expense, including elimination of the
same.

4.   TERMINATION

This Agreement may be immediately terminated in any one of the following
manners:

     1.   The death of President of Operations;

     2.   The failure of the company, as evidenced by filing under the
          Bankruptcy Act for liquidation, or the making of an assignment for the
          benefit of creditors;

     3.   A material breach of this Agreement executed between the Company and
          the President of Operations; or

     4.   The Employer may immediately terminate for Just Cause. For purposes of
          this Agreement "Just Cause" shall mean only the following: (i) a final
          non-appeal able conviction of or a plea of guilty or no contest by the
          President of Operations to a felony or misdemeanor involving fraud,
          embezzlement, theft, dishonesty, or other criminal conduct against the
          Company; (ii) habitual neglect of the President of Operations's duties
          or failure by the President of Operations to perform or observe any
          substantial lawful obligation of such employment that is not
          immediately remedied, or (iii) failure of the President of Operations
          to comply with the policies and procedures of the Company. Employer
          must notify employee of any such breach in writing and employee will
          have thirty (30) days to remedy such violation. In the event of
          termination of this Agreement other than for death, the President of
          Operations hereby agrees to resign from all positions held in the
          Company, including, without limitation, any positions as a director,
          officer, agent, trustee or consultant of the Company or any affiliate
          of the Company.

5.   NONCOMPETITION, TRADE SECRETS, ETC.
----------------------------------------

During the term of this Agreement and at all times thereafter, President of
Operations shall not use for his personal benefit, or disclose, communicate or
divulge to, or use for the direct or indirect benefit of any person, firm,
association or company other the Company, any material or information regarding
the business methods, business policies, billing and collection policies and
procedures, techniques, research or development projects or results, trade
secrets, or other knowledge or processes under or developed by the Company or
any names and addresses of customers, or any data on or relating to past,
present, or prospective customers or any other confidential information relating
to or dealing with the business activities of the Company, made known to
President of Operations or learned or acquired by President of Operations while
in the employ of the Company.

Any and all writing, inventions, improvements, processes, procedures and/or
techniques which President of Operations may make, conceive, discover or
develop, either solely or jointly with any other person or persons, at any time
during the term of this Agreement, whether during working hours or at any other
time and at the request or upon the suggestion of the Company which relate to or
are useful in connection with any business now or hereafter carried on or
contemplated by the Company, including developments or expansions of its present
fields of operations, shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company.
President of Operations shall make full disclosure to the Company of all such
writings, inventions, improvements, processes, procedures and techniques, and
shall do everything necessary or desirable to vest the absolute title thereto in
the Company. President of Operations shall write and prepare all specifications
and procedures regarding such inventions, improvements, processes, procedures
and techniques and otherwise aid and assist the Company so that the Company can
prepare and present applications for copyright or Letters Patent wherever
possible, as well as reissues, renewals, and extensions thereof, and can obtain
the record title to such copyright or patents so that the Company shall be the
sole and absolute owner thereof in all countries in which it may desire to have
copyright or patent protection. President of Operations shall not be entitled to
any additional or special compensation or reimbursement regarding any and all
such writings, inventions, improvements, processes, procedures and techniques.

6.   APPLICABLE LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey and
shall be enforceable only in the Superior Court of New Jersey for Bergen County.
If any provision of this Agreement is declared void, such provision shall be
deemed severed from this Agreement, which shall otherwise remain in full force
and effect.

7.   BINDING EFFECT

This Agreement shall have binding effect upon the parties hereto, when approved
by the Board, and upon their respective personal representatives, legal
representatives, successors and assigns. Any waiver of any breach of this
Agreement shall be made in writing and shall be applicable only to such breach
and shall not be construed to waive any subsequent or prior breach other than
the specific breach so waived.

8.   SUPERSEDES EARLIER AGREEMENTS

This Agreement supersedes all earlier agreements between the President of
Operations and the Company with respect to President of Operations's employment
by the Company.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement the date first
written above.

/s/ Ronald Shaver                               /s/ Mustafa Qattous
--------------------------------                ---------------------------
Chief Executive Officer                         President of Operations
Clifton Telecard, Inc.

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