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Letters
New Firehouse - Yes. Just One Location -
No. I just wanted to say that I am all for the Fire Department getting a new and desperately needed firehouse.
My concern is from a public safety standpoint, if we have only one firehouse in a town that is separated by a bridge, that is a logistical and safety nightmare. Especially if they build the proposed housing on Ford Avenue.
I think we should also keep the firehouse on Cottage Avenue and at least keep one or two trucks there in case they are needed. They can have their meetings, etc. at the new firehouse and just keep the trucks in good working order on Cottage Avenue.
I just hope that everyone will consider keeping the Cottage Avenue
firehouse in good, working order. Barbara O. Milltown
Milltown Leaders Strive to Keep Our Taxes
Low Congratulations to Milltown Mayor Gloria Bradford, Council President Randy Farkas and the entire Milltown Borough Council. They generated $119,000 for taxpayers by auctioning off a small parcel of property (approximately 0.2 acres) that was a nonperforming asset of the borough. Instead of maintaining this parcel, the borough will now be collecting taxes on it. The capital raised will help offset potential increases in property taxes.
In these very difficult times, with all of the cuts in state aid for smaller towns, and state-mandated increases in costs, this money will represent a tax savings of 2 cents per $100 of assessed property value. This is obviously only a small part of their overall plan to keep property taxes low, but I like it. I applaud the officials that worked so diligently on finding an unconventional way to provide tax relief to those who need it. It will be greatly appreciated by everyone who owns a home in Milltown.
It's refreshing to hear
something so positive about local government these days, and I'm glad we
have such competent officials serving our community. Andrew S. Misura Milltown
Explanation for Once a Week Garbage Pickup In answer to questions/comments regarding twice a week garbage, this action was taken based on our tough financial situation.
Last year, our second day trucks traveled to the dump only half full, if that. With the limited manpower we are working with, combined with the increase in gasoline prices (trucks not only travel to the dump, but they are forced to idle for quite a while after they arrive), this action was taken.
I am concerned about the feelings that this action was taken without public input. All Boro action is done by Ordinance. This ordinance was discussed at agenda meetings on 3/24 and 4/14. The ordinance was then introduced to the public on 4/14. It was published in full on 4/17. The public hearing and adoption was held 4/28. Notice of the adoption was published in the newspaper on 5/1.
The action was also discussed at Finance Committee meetings in February
and March. All Council meetings where this action was being taken were
televised on Channel 15, as well. Gloria Bradford Mayor of the Borough of Milltown
Resident Thankful to Milltown's Police,
Sanitation Depts. So often we as citizens can find a lot of things wrong with our government provided services. As a resident of Milltown, I wanted to take a moment to thank two departments in our town that provide outstanding services.
First is the Milltown Police Department. On a few occasions I had to call with non-emergency matters, and they responded quickly, graciously and politely. On one occasion when it was an emergency, they responded with concern and went above and beyond their duty to make sure I was all right. I love the small-town feel that is demonstrated by a police department that shows what community policing means to its citizens.
Second is our Sanitation Department, and those that serve as garbage collectors are considerate and friendly, and do their best to satisfy the residents by picking up enormous amounts of trash and keeping the area as clean as they do. These departments and the Borough Council must be given credit for being sensitive to the needs of their constituents and for providing services that make Milltown a great place to live. Ruth Lupo Milltown
A letter sent to the Mayor and
Borough Council Dear Honorable Mayor Bradford and Distinguished Council;
On behalf of the Milltown Fire Department I would ask that the Borough start the process to evaluate the procedures to build a much needed firehouse in Milltown. For several years we have done our best to maintain and use the buildings we currently occupy; unfortunately these buildings are so far out of date and deteriorating quicker than standard repairs can be made. As ever changing safety standards imposed by OSHA and other agencies become more complex, we are at the point where these buildings can no longer be modified to meet certain requirements.
We understand the difficult monetary concerns facing the Borough at this time but there is never a good time to do these types of improvements. Our New Firehouse Committee has been working for well over five years to find the best solution to suit our needs and the best interests of the Borough. It is obvious to us, that building the firehouse on property that the Borough already owns is the most economical, as there really is no Main Street property available that would meet our needs.
So you understand our current situation and why this must be addressed at this time. The current Main St. firehouse was a school from 1889 – 1907. It was Borough Hall from 1907 – 1956. It has been the home of the Milltown Fire Department since 1911. The Cottage Ave firehouse constructed in 1925 is limited by the lack of property and has several of the same issues that the Main St firehouse does. Both structures are just not capable of complying with the demanding codes and regulations, nor can they support today’s firefighting equipment. After extensive internal evaluations, it is just not possible to alter these structures to meet the need; a new building is the most efficient path to take.
To that end, we are proposing that a new firehouse be built adjacent to the existing South Main St. Firehouse on the site currently occupied by the Milltown Historical Society. The two buildings that currently exist would be moved to the rear of the existing firehouse and the current Fire Museum would be razed and its contents moved into the existing firehouse. The existing firehouse would then house sections of the Milltown Historical Society, the Eureka Fire Museum and the Milltown Exempt Firemen’s Association; all while preserving a building that has been a fixture in Milltown for over 119 years. I have met with the Historical Society and they are in full support of the proposed plan.
We ask that the Borough Council
begin the process of assigning professionals to investigate the
referenced property for possible building layouts and site
limitations. I also ask that this issue be seriously made part of the
future of Milltown as it is not a desire it is a serious need that must
be addressed now, for the good of the members of the Milltown Fire
Department and the citizens of Milltown that we serve. Jules Dekovics Deputy Fire Chief – Borough of Milltown Chairman – Milltown Fire Dept New Firehouse Committee
No More Circulars Littering Our Neighborhoods I’ve been trying for months to stop home delivery of circulars in plastic bags. I printed out the online form from the Milltown website and personally delivered it to the borough hall. When I saw the
deliveries hadn’t stopped, I called the number on the bag six weeks in a
row. The response to my calls has ranged from mock concern to
indifference to annoyance when I asked to speak to a manager. When it snows, they jam
snow blowers. On windy days, these circulars are blown all over the
neighborhood.
I propose the council ban the delivery of these circulars and the thousands of environmentally unfriendly plastic bags that litter our sidewalks and lawns.
These are some of the
same circulars we get with our junk mail. For the very small percentage
of residents who actually use them, these circulars can be found at the
stores they advertise for. Sal Zaffuto Milltown
Take the 'sex' out of 'Middlesex County' I would like to urge lawmakers, senators and other politicians if they can think about changing the name of Middlesex County to "Middle County" instead of keeping it as Middlesex.
The word "sex" in the
current name looks weird and does not look appropriate in our society. Taj Ahmad Parlin
Higher Cleanup Standards Preferred
As the president of Chapin Engineering, I have been acting as a technical adviser to the Milltowners for $ensible Redevelopment and Edison Wetlands Association since May 2005 on the proposed redevelopment of the former Michelin site in Milltown. I'm writing to raise an important issue about the Ford Avenue redevelopment in Milltown that must be addressed: cleanup of the former Michelin site to residential soil standards. At a public information session held on March 6 in Milltown, Kenneth Kloo, state Department of Environmental Protection assistant commissioner for brownfields redevelopment, made two very key statements: The DEP does not select the cleanup standards for any site. The responsible party makes the selection and proposes it to the DEP. The DEP will provide funding, via its brownfields program, to clean up a site to residential soil standards, even if a cap and cleanup to the less restrictive nonresidential standard would be protective. As an aside, the vast majority of all funding for the former Michelin site has been and will be provided by the DEP. For this specific Milltown project, the redevelopment agency has selected a cap and cleanup to the less restrictive nonresidential soil standard. This selection is apparently based solely on costs. But if the DEP will provide funding for a more thorough cleanup of a proposed residential development to residential soil cleanup standards, why won't the redevelopment agency take that funding and do a better cleanup? Richard W. Chapin Chapin Engineering
Republicans Announce Candidates for Borough
Council Harknett / Citro '08 Tom Harknett moved to Milltown 20 years ago where he and his wife Joan raised their children, Dan and Alison. Over the years, Tom has volunteered his time and talents on numerous projects and boards. He has served as chairman of Milltown’s Zoning Board of Adjustment, run for council, and even worked as a census taker. Currently Tom is vice-chairman of the Milltown Planning Board. Tom is a professional engineer employed by Stantec Consulting Services in New York City for 30 years. He has volunteered his consulting services on traffic management for Milltown under Duke Graulich’s administration. Tom has always been active with the Knights of Columbus, chairing both the “Christmas Tree Sale” and the 4th of July “5K Race” for the past several years. Tom believes that the confidence Milltown voters have placed in Mayor Gloria Bradford and the republican council members represents a very “positive change” for the borough. He has seen the positive change that the last two years’ elections brought, and Tom would like to bring his wealth of experience to the leadership team and add further to Milltown’s progress.
Larry Citro is an attorney for Biancamano & DiStefano, PC in Edison. He and his wife, Sheryl, moved to Milltown in 2001. They live on JFK Drive with their children Francesca, 5, Alexis, 3, and Caroline, 18 mos. Larry has been active at council meetings with suggestions for the mayor and council on a number of occasions. He co-coached his daughter’s Fabulous Fours Soccer team. Larry is running because he believes there are very pressing issues which will have a tremendous impact on the future of Milltown. He is anxious to serve the borough in a meaningful way, and wants to insure that Milltown remains a safe community that will continue to be a place where people will want to raise their children.
Tom & Larry are ready to bring their “professional experience” and “concern for our borough” to Milltown’s governing body. They pledge to work for all of our residents. Tom and Larry want to keep our residents safe, maintain the character of the borough, do what is best on Ford Avenue, and figure out how to deal with decreased funding from the state and the pressure by some to reduce services and increase taxes. Press Release Milltown Republican Organization
What Exactly Does Obama Mean by Change? Barack Obama is an empty suit. I cant believe the stupidity of some people who will waste their vote on a politician who is making promises that have no meaning.
I spoke to an avid Obama supporter and asked what Obama means by change. I asked him why is he wasting a vote on a bumper sticker slogan that has no meaning. I never heard Obama answer that question either.
For all you know, he
may mean you'll be left with nickels and dimes. Charles Breitweiser Milltown
Senior Citizens Centers Offer Lifeline to
Many I am writing in response to the March 7 (Home News) editorial referring to the cuts in state aid, especially to our smaller municipalities.
As president of the Milltown Senior Citizens Club, I'd like to address one of the options you recommended to reduce the tax impact on our local residents — that being reduced hours at senior citizens centers.
Bob Skarzynski
A Healthy Living Tax? My gym membership has gone up because of taxes. If I am going to be taxed for good behavior by keeping myself healthy and out of the health-care system, then taxes should be raised on all foods that are unhealthy. It is said that if you tax a behavior enough, be it good or bad, the behavior will slow down or stop. Working out and eating healthy is my lifestyle. Those who choose not to and end up being a strain on our health-care system should be charged for their burden accordingly.
Todd A. Williams
Protect, Preserve and Restore Forney House I read the most recent article concerning the Forney House (Sentinel,Feb.21) and the legal struggle to save it from demolition.
Csilla E. Dougherty
Milltown's Borough Council is Listening
Listening: the act of hearing attentively. I applaud the Milltown Borough Council for listening to the residents and coming up with a plan to refund us for the overages on the December electric rates. I believe this current council will truly listen to our opinions and concerns, and take them into consideration. I also understand that they can't be all things to all people. For example, the recent discussions in regards to letting the liquor stores open one hour earlier on Sundays. I personally have no problem with the request, yet I know several residents spoke out against the proposal. In my opinion, the council listened to both sides and voted the way they thought best. Isn't that all we can ask for?
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. ~ Winston Churchill
Editorial
Opposing Views are Good, Internal Strife is
Not
What’s with all the constant bickering between certain members of the Borough Council? When is the last time they got through a meeting without sniping at each other, or playing he said – he said, or just plain being rude to one another. I’ve come to expect this type of behavior during audience comments, but now it’s all meeting long.
And poor Mayor Bradford, she is now Mayor, referee
and kindergarten teacher all rolled up into one. I’m half expecting her
to put one of the
Whether the topic is a tree, or a piece of property, the electric rates or a Sunday afternoon beer – you can be sure a snide comment is not too far behind.
These are our elected officials, and I guess therein lies the problem. It’s like our own version of Barack-Hillary. Election Day is more than ten months away, but it seems like Milltown’s political posturing is already under way.
Which brings us to the real interesting point, with the two Dems up for re-election, next year there could conceivably be an all Rep council. The good news if that happens is there will probably be a lot less arguing, especially if the two new ones are as serene as the two just elected ones.
But is having a Council made up of entirely one party good for our town - or any town for that matter? I believe opposing views are a necessity, if they could just debate the issues and tone down the heckling.
Until the next council meeting . . .
Ann Onamus
Scouting Teaches Kids to Aid Community
In honor of the recent anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, I wanted to share a bit about Scouting.
Noah Paladino - Cub Scout Pack No. 33
We Need More Planning, Less Debating It seems to me that all of the back and forth political bickering that took place around the electricity rate increase took valuable time away from establishing a plan that might help alleviate this crisis (I got my most recent bill too, and yes, this is going to be a crisis come the heat of July).
Personally, I would have rather seen a property tax increase (at least that is a deductible expense), but once this rate hike was inevitable, the discussions should have shifted from finger pointing to easing the burden.
How about equal payment programs, credit card payments for those in a pinch, any type of assistance programs for those meeting certain qualifications.
I realize that we're all in the same boat, and the Council must pay the price as well. However, with a little compromise and some creativity, this situation doesn't have to be half as bad as it is (and is going to get once we switch the thermostat from heat to A/C).
Anthony C.
School Has Come A Long Way January 28th was the beginning of Catholic Schools Week, a time when we celebrate all that is positive in our Catholic schools. It was very distressing, therefore, to see an article published that day in which the writer gives the very distinct impression that Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School in Milltown continues to struggle for its very existence. Two years ago, Our Lady of Lourdes School and parish developed a
strategic plan for the school. As a result of that plan, committees were
formed. The committees dealt with recruitment and retention, finances
and tuition, curriculum and instruction, physical facilities, public
relations, parish stewardship, the religious education program and
fundraising. The Diocese of Metuchen identified this plan as a model for
other Catholic schools to use. A School Advisory Council, made up of
parish and community members, was established with the help of the
diocese. So, the future is very bright and exciting for Our Lady of Lourdes School.
Jim Lukach
Stand Up and Say Enough! I think it is sad that even after the electric rate hike has been voted in, people on the council are still pointing fingers instead of fixing the problem.
I recently received my electric bill & even after switching to fluorescent light bulbs, getting a digital thermostat plus other energy saving means my bill was still 63 dollars more than last month. How do you expect the elderly people or those on fixed incomes in this town to afford to turn on their lights, just wait till summer when the rescue squad is running themselves ragged for people who can't afford to turn on their air conditioners when is is 100 degrees out.
Now I read the Mrs. Madison wants more money for the school budget! Where does it end? At what point do the people of this town stand up & say ENOUGH! Stop pointing fingers & fix the problem!
Raising electric rates was not the way to go! Did anyone even contact PSE&G about purchasing our electric the way it was suggested? At least then people can go on the equal payment plan & not have a surprise waiting in their mail box each month. I realize that the people on the council live in this town & are also paying the elevated rates, but you really need to consider people who are retired & on a fixed income.
As councilman Cruz said back in January this is a blue collar town. I
hope that this issue is not going to be pushed to the side now that the
rate hike has been voted through, you as our elected officials need to
represent the people the best way you can & that means keep looking for
ways to lower our rates. Milltown
Ford Avenue:
Land of Skull and Crossbones Once again Ford Avenue is in the news. This time the discussion is the concern for how to best remediate the land to clear it for the residential and commercial redevelopment plans that pend. The current suggestion by the Redevelopment folks is to cover contaminated soil with two feet of clean topsoil and put an orange plastic fence around the covered areas. Gee, sounds like putting a band aid on an open knife wound with the blade still in.
The so-called activists (I don’t like that word or the images it conjures up either but they are right in this case) believe it is not a good way.
In truth, the DEP uses this approach for commercial properties. A zoning technicality allows such a poor attempt at remediation along with development that is inconsistent with such remediation. Sounds to me like the fix is in. We are getting the housing and business redevelopment we do not want, along with the traffic and congestion and further environmental damages.
Is anyone sick and tired of this? I sure am.
For one thing, whether you put clean soil on top or not (where one finds clean soil in NJ I have to wonder), building on that site will shift things, including soil and its contaminants and a plastic fence is no barrier to literally tons of building weight and disturbance. This will affect us negatively in the longrun and the shortrun and the debate over whether it is happening will continue.
The activists put forth an equally disturbing idea. It involves heating the soil to rid it of contaminants. Seriously, isn’t that just going to turn a soil contamination concern into an air quality problem?
There is a simple solution: Stop the cancer that is redevelopment. It is a bad idea. It is that simple. The citizens of this town will not get tax relief from it as more services will be required by the residents there and on top of that we will get further contamination and inconvenience.
The mayor, the council and the engineers will be long gone by the time
the cost of this project to all of us can be properly calculated but we
will certainly pay a heavy toll in the end.
Milltown
Convert Those P.C. Grinches It is that time of year again when the Grinch who keeps trying to steal Christmas is back. He tries either in a school district or on municipal property because of a complaint from someone who finds anything about Christmas offensive. Did anyone ask if all the Christians are offended by the stupid politically correct nonsense. After all, the traditions we have enjoyed for so many years have been around far longer than being politically correct.
Then there are the
stores that don't mind capitalizing on Christmas, because — as they
admit — 50-70 percent of their profits for the year are generated during
Christmas, yet they refuse to use the phrase "Merry Christmas" and
prefer the generic "Happy Holidays." Hello? Jesus is the reason for the
season. Milltown
Team Vows Honesty, Integrity, Accountability This is an open letter to the residents of Milltown. We were humbled by the tremendous support you showed us on Election Day. Be assured that the trust you place in us is well-founded. We intend to use all of our energies to do the very best we can for all of our residents. Gloria
Bradford - Mayor Milltown
Thank You for Getting the Referendum Passed Thirteen years ago my husband Joe and I bought a house and moved to Milltown with our 3-year-old son. It didn't just happen, it was a conscience decision to live in a small town and give our child a place to grow and flourish. Within hours of moving into our home, neighbors bringing cakes and cookies for the “baby” greeted us. We had offers to just walk into peoples homes to use their phones until ours was hooked up. I felt like I stepped back in time to a place where people cared for people and neighbors helped each other. I was so happy because this was the life I wanted for my family. This is the true meaning of community.
The past couple of months have reinforced what I already know about Milltown. Neighbors are more than the people that live next door; they live across town, around the corner, or over the bridge. They are people you may or may not know, but who band together for the greater good and work tirelessly to get a job done. They are the people that support our schools and our children whether or not they have children that attend them.
Over three years ago, the Board of Education and Administrative Team began working on a plan for a referendum. Over and over I was asked how I expected something so ambitious to pass. I responded by saying that it is what needs to be done and what I was elected to do. We worked hard to insure that the project was clear, concise and fiscally responsible. We opened the schools for tours and tried to provide useful and factual information in our mailings and infomercial. Over and over I said, no matter the outcome, we did all we could have done. The jubilation and satisfaction of its overwhelming passage makes all the hours given to this project worthwhile.
There are so many people that deserve thanks for their hard work in helping the district on this project; the GOTV Committee, the MEA, the MEF, the PTA, MLL, the Mayor and Town Council and too many more to mention. But, I will say that we all wake up each day wanting to make a difference and we have accomplished something very important for the future of our children, school district and community. We have accomplished something we can forever take pride in being a part of.
On behalf of the Milltown Board of Education and the entire school community, thank you for taking part in helping to get our referendum passed! May you enjoy all the joys of the Holiday Season and the New Year and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for being my neighbor.
Barbara Pietanza
President Milltown Board of Education
We Must Invest in Our Children As a senior citizen in Milltown and a former Milltown Board of Education member and president, I take great pleasure in watching Milltown’s children grow and learn. My three children attended Milltown public schools and graduated years ago. It was and still is a great school system that offers a top-notch education to all children in Milltown. This is a hallmark of our reputation, and if we intend to stay on that path, we face an important hurdle on Tuesday, December 11.
Milltown School District is eligible for state funds as debt service aid, which is a form of tax relief. If the referendum passes on December 11, the State of New Jersey will provide 33% of the cost of the project. George G. Macaronis Milltown
Politicians Missing the Big Picture Well, here we are, just weeks from Christmas and New Jersey is considering increasing tolls on everything. The state is in debt up to its eyeballs and our bridges need millions of dollars of repairs. And what about property taxes? These are just some of the real problems New Jersey faces. And what does Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan, D-Middlesex, think is really important? My God, how could I have missed it? Downsizing our automobile insurance cards. What is the matter with me?
This is but one example of what New Jersey politicians have on their minds. Numerous polls have found very few of our citizens think our politicians are honest or care about the state. How many times have we learned that this judge or that politician was arrested for unethical or illegal activities? People say vote out the corruption. How can it be voted out when the parties keep putting forth members of the old boys club for various offices? Kortbawi Milltown
Worthwhile
School Project Heads to Voters Residents of Milltown have an important decision to make at the polls Tuesday. The school district is seeking funds for necessary projects that are in the best interests of schoolchildren and taxpayers alike.
Editorial The Sentinel
Police Serving Milltown Well A few weeks ago I was involved in an automobile accident in Milltown. The local police responded promptly to my cell phone call for help. The officers who arrived at the scene were courteous, caring and professional. The people of Milltown can be proud of their fine Police Department. Peter J. Spaulding Parlin
School Referendum: Vote Yes Milltown has been offered a very generous contribution from The State of New Jersey towards the School referendum in December. An offer that we simply cannot afford to refuse. Pending the passing of this resolution, The State will contribute over 33% of the construction cost for the much needed upgrades to both of our schools.
During my recent campaign for Borough Council, I heard many people ask how the condition of the schools was allowed to get to this point without gradual repairs. A fair question, but water over the dam.
Having been involved in the engineering end of previous projects at both schools, I can attest to the fact that the Electrical and Mechanical systems at both schools, have major deficiencies. The bottom line is, these repairs / upgrades need to be made, and they will be made one way or another. But if this referendum is voted down, we most likely will never see a contribution from the State as large as this one.
This town has a history of voting down such bonding, only to approve a newer plan later on giving us half of the original designs, for twice the money. (IE: 1980's Joyce Kilmer School, Municipal Building)
I, like most of you, cringe with every tax increase, but this one makes sense.
Please vote YES on
December 11th. Brian E. Harto Milltown
What Goes Around, Comes Around 16 months have passed and I now feel vindicated.
In July of 2006 I stepped down (was forced out) as the webmaster of Milltown’s “official” website. Now the three councilmen responsible for my departure have been rejected by the Milltown voters and have been ceremoniously removed from the Borough Council.
Last year Councilman Bosworth lost his re-election bid by 400 votes, and this past Tuesday both Councilmen Deinzer and Steeber lost by 500 votes each. The three men that were determined to force me out, have now been forced out themselves.
Sweet justice.
While I am not claiming responsibility for their departure, I do feel justified – and a bit happier too.
MilltownNJ.org – A Look Back
I had truly enjoyed creating and maintaining the Milltown website, until that day in October 2005 when I was asked to remove the letter.
The letter was from a former borough employee who claimed to be unfairly terminated. Shortly thereafter, Councilman Deinzer was appointed as the liaison to the website committee. This was the first step by the council to take total control of the site. - Strike One.
In May 2006, Councilman Bosworth introduced an ordinance that set guidelines to govern content on the website, www.milltownnj.org. The ordinance read: "There will be no editorial, letters, voice or any other broadcast editorials section on the Milltown Website." It also stated that the appointed webmaster will be a paid position, with the mayor and council being the negotiating authority. - Strike Two.
At a council meeting in June 2006 I was told by Councilman Steeber that my actions were asinine, I was wasting too much of his valuable time with this website nonsense, and then he stated that Milltown has gotten along just fine for the past 150 years without a website so why do we need one now? - Strike Three.
After nine months of bickering, and banging my head against a wall, maintaining the site was no longer any fun for me. Add to that the blatant disrespect the Borough Council (other than Councilman Collins, who was willing to hear the committee out) showed to the Media Committee, I just decided my time was done.
And now, 16 months later, all is right in Milltown.
“Karma . . .
We sow what we reap. We reap what we sow. The law of cause and effect.
And we are all under this law.”
-
Nina Hagen Chris Grotkopf The Milltown Voice
Mudslinging In God’s Little Acre It’s that time of year again when our peaceful town becomes a forum for mudslinging. Before I begin I want to say this: I know none of the candidates personally, have dealt with some in town on rare occasions and none would know me if I fell into them.
Once again Ford Avenue Redevelopment is the topic D’jour. Mr. Lewycky, an independent, provided an informational Milltoon that, if accurate, was both enlightening and disturbing. By the time this hits the paper, if it even makes it, the election will be over and the issues will remain unresolved. I have a few things to vent about, including the Milltoon, so here goes:
The initial discussion of the latest fiasco where we may now not get solely age-restricted housing was ridiculous. My hair began to curl when I read all of that “fabric of our community” nonsense. There is plenty of age restricted housing in East Brunswick so it is likely that we cannot stick to that for the pending Ford Avenue project and a judge will likely decide that eventually, preferably sooner rather than later so we are not stuck with a bigger bill. As for the low-income part, people really need to get over themselves. What happened to Milltown - A friendly community? If you are that worried about it pick the nicest poor people you know who you deem worthy of living over top of environmental waste and ask them to come live in our town. It will be cheaper than paying to keep people out. What will be costly are the lawsuits that will likely come when people start dropping like flies after they move in over there. See, when it was just the elderly I guess they thought they could disguise the impending illnesses with the age excuse. Bottom line: we should not be in this mess. As much as I am for property rights, that site, in my opinion, is an environmental and health disaster that is best left undisturbed. Mr. Lewycky is right in this case. Historic preservation is cheaper, will preserve the small community we have, not drive up tax bills only for the developed site to have issues retaining tenants, require additional emergency and policing services, creating traffic issues, adding to the overburdened schools, etc.
As for the Milltoon, I hate when people who make good points do it in a way that is, at best, very grammar school-like in behavior. As an independent I guess Mr. Lewycky had to use his craft to grab our attention but I still found the caricature of Mr. Crabiel disrespectful. Mr. Crabiel is yet another person I do not know but it was wrong. I have heard the puppeteering argument mentioned in the past with his name attached to it. Whether that is true or not I cannot possibly know. What I do know is that if the councilpersons are puppets serving persons other than our town we have the ability to continuously call them on it and get our needs met. It requires a group effort and mass attendance at all meetings. Admittedly I was uninterested until recently but unless we take an interest we probably can’t complain about the result.
I would like to know if the allegations in the
Milltoon are true. If so I’d like them addressed and explained. If the
allegations about Councilman Steeber speaking on our town’s behalf
regarding the Forney Clinic to the feds without authorization are true,
that needs to be addressed. This is a small town and things should not
be so “behind closed doors.” It is time we know what is going on and
have a say in how to fix it. Liz Peter Milltown
The Facts About A Historic District, Part 2 I just want to confirm what Stacey Waters said in her letter entitled "The Facts About A Historic District". The fact is, the Democrats lied on their brochure, plain and simple. While Stacey has presented the true facts. If you want to confirm what Stacey stated, go to the two web sites listed below and read what the Federal Program is all about. Here are some Highlights, the facts speak for themselves:
• Preservation an
opportunity to comment on the project and its effects on the property.
Eugene Guerra Milltown
No Time For a “Flip-Flop” in Mayor’s Office Let’s quickly review timeline of recent events on the Ford Avenue Development project:
The responsible development of Ford Avenue is one of the most important projects the next Mayor and council will complete. It will have a profound impact on the future of our community, as well as future generations of Milltown residents. We cannot afford to have a mayor that would “flip-flop” on this extremely important issue, solely for political gain.
Let us also not forget that Mr. Skarzynski, as acting Mayor in 1998, was responsible for giving the developers of the East Mill Plaza the 30 Year Tax Abatement. This amounted to over $25 Million of lost tax revenue to the borough of Milltown, as well as the Milltown school system. Is this the type of decision-making we want at the top of our governing body as we work through this development?
Mayor Gloria Bradford has the experience and leadership skills that are required more so than ever to oversee the borough through this development process. She needs a team of strong and talented council members to get this development done in the most responsible manner possible. Brian Harto and Stacey Waters are ready to work with Gloria on keeping Milltown a wonderful place to live and raise our families.
Please remember to get our
and vote tomorrow, Tuesday, November 6th. Ed Winant Jr. Milltown
Steeber Wants Forney House Torn Down Shocking Turn of Events Federal Agency (OCC) moving closer to approve Valley National Bank's application to immediately demolish Milltown's historic 1860's Evans-Forney House despite a recent on-site inspection by the State recommending the House and Clinic continue in its current use as a residential/commercial property. The acc disregarded the recommendation of the State's professionals and that of Preservation New Jersey, as well as resident's letters, emails, phone calls and petition signatures. Supporters of the house were shocked to see open disregard for the rules and procedures which protect historic properties, while the bank dictated the process and prevented any negotiation or resident representation. But Wait, There's More Councilman Eric Steeber joined the effort, appearing to do all he could to support Valley National Bank's desire to tear down the home of Milltown's first mayor, and the clinic which has served Milltown's medical needs for 100 years. He stated that the Bank chose the "only and best site in Milltown" for their branch. The Mayor stated, from the beginning of this review with the acc, that the town would neither be represented nor participate on any conference calls. But, at the request of the Bank's attorney, Councilman Steeber decided to represent the town and seemingly provided any statement he could to ensure the bank's success in getting the house and clinic demolished. At this point, any preservation effort must be done through Federal appeals and by going through the court system. Valley National Bank should not be able to run the Office of the Comptroller and run over our residents' right to be heard. If you believe in preserving Milltown's historic structures, the character of our wonderful borough, and the rights of citizens to fairly challenge actions of corporations such as Valley National Bank, please consider a financial donation to the John C. Evans Project. We are a nonpartisan group of concerned citizens, working diligently, and remaining committed to prevent the loss of this historic and distinguished house. Your financial support is urgently needed If Valley National Bank is defeated, the property can be put up for sale by the owner so people who care about preserving the home are able to come forward and buy it on the fair market. Donate: John C. Evans Project, Inc, 19 Yarnell Ave., Milltown, NJ 08850 Call: Debora at 732 253 0287 Email: evansforney@aol.com Visit: www.geocities.com/evansforney/ for more on how you can help. John C. Evans Project, Inc. Milltown
The Facts About A Historic District Dear Property Owners,
I am saddened by tactics of my democrat opponents to try to scare the property owners of Milltown in regards to the creation of a historic district. Let's get the real facts: Fact # 1
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