An open letter to the North Brunswick Town Council
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
On Friday January 27th you were all emailed, through the North Brunswick Online web site, that a petition was put online to protest the nature of the development of the property bordered by Bennett's Lane, Veronica Avenue and RT. 27 in Franklin Township.
I find it absolutely amazing that none of you have signed the petition in support of our cause and only three of you have contacted us. None have expressed why you are reluctant to support us.
This project is entirely situated in Franklin Township and provides no benefit to North Brunswick, save for a marginally shorter trip to a hardware store. This behavior can only lead to one conclusion; the Democrats on both sides of the North Brunswick/Franklin border are answering to a higher authority. Now I'm not about to point fingers, but it's the Democrats in Franklin that are pushing for the project and the Democrats in North Brunswick are sitting idly by while our quality of life in NB is destroyed by this project.
I am asking you, our elected officials, to represent our interests, and not those of the regional democratic party. We cast the votes, not them.
Respectfully
David S. Zahler
Comments
Dear Mr. Zahler:
We have been in discussion on this problem for months. Mayor Womack has not only attended 4 meetings but he has also been in contact with Mayor Levine. Mac will be attending the meeting tonight but due to illness, I will not be able to attend.
With all due respect I do not appreciate the negative remarks in your e-mail. The Mayor and Council are also residents of North Brunswick and I can assure you that you are not any more upset about this then we are. The only higher authority that we answer to in these situations are the residents of North Brunswick. Our only concern is the welfare of our residents and it will always remain that way.
Respectfully.
Bob Davis
Council President
Posted by: Bob Davis | February 1, 2006 01:19 PM
Nice website David! Two points of clarification. First is that only part of what Mr Davis said is true. I have been to every Planning board meeting and workshop since November regarding this plan. Mayor Womack only attended one. According to Mayor Womack he did speak with Brian Levine on the phone but their schedules didn't work out to meet. At the meeting the Mayor did attend I implored him to come out publicly. His last response was "I just might". He still hasn't.
As for Mr Davis' comment about "they have been talking about it for months" I would ask him "to whom?" At my first meeting on the issue in November, I asked the Planning Board Chairman if they had discussed this project with North Brunswick. The entire board concurred that they did not nor had there been any communication on either side. But they did say that they would consider North Brunswick's input should they give it. I then came to our council meeting the week before our referendum vote in December. I informed our council of the planning boards comments which included later in the meeting the Planning Board Co-chair Dr. Michael Orsini's comment "We have to watch out for Franklin, not North Brunswick. Did they ask us when Georgetown Apartments were built?". I suggested to our Mayor & Council that they attend the actual planning board meeting and be heard on the issue. It was after that the Mayor came to the meeting. They have yet to provide any input to my knowledge up to this date. Perhaps tonight will be the night.
Posted by: Pete Maimone | February 1, 2006 07:31 PM
The Mayor and Council supports the North Brunswick residents who will be affected by this development. We (Mayor and Council) are working hard at trying to prevent this development from happening. We will keep you aprise as this case unfolds.
Rhonda C. Lyles
Councilwoman
Posted by: CouncilWoman Rhonda C. Lyles | February 2, 2006 09:40 AM
Karen I just noticed Councilwoman Lyles post and noted the timing of her first public comment on it. It came the morning after the planning voted to accept the councils plan and reverse its correct origninal plan to keep Morris out.
You should ask: "what specifically defines 'working hard to stop it'?" It's quite convenient that they come out publicly after everyone knows it was a done deal prior to the planning board vote. They were silent prior to that.
Please be aware that Councilwoman Lyles is up for re-election this year. Her initial run was funded directly and indirectly by John Lynch's PAC money (New Directions for responsible Leadership) along with his pay to play friends (CME Associates- our now township engineers & Alfred Decotiis' law firm who does all legal work as well as our township attorneys). to name a few. I can provide NJelec filings to back it up.
It's only a warning. don't take everything they say at face value. Rickey sumter and others pulled off the snow job in their election runs.
Posted by: Pete Maimone | February 10, 2006 08:12 PM
The members of the NB Township Council have expressed to me personally and through emails that they don't want this development built.
Of course action will tell whether they are sincere.... I encourage that all keep on top of our elected officials and make sure that something is done.
Posted by: Karen Ramsden-Zahler | February 12, 2006 08:20 PM