| Author | Message | ||
     Jerry Ryan Citizen Username: Gerardryan Post Number: 1134 Registered: 5-2001 |
The Township Committee will meet on Feb 18, 2003 at 8:00 PM in Maplewood Town Hall. The meeting is simulcast on Comcast channel 35. The preliminary agenda is below. Post any questions that you have here and I will try and get them answered. Jerry Ryan ----- AGENDA TOWNSHIP OF MAPLEWOOD FEBRUARY 18, 2003 1. SALUTE TO THE AMERICAN FLAG 2. STATEMENT 3. ROLL CALL 4. BOARDS AND COMMITTEES 5. PROCLAMATION – Black History Month 6. PROCLAMATION – Read Across America 7. PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNING BODY – Springfield Avenue Partnership S.I.D. – 2003 budget 8. DH/FP INTRODUCTION OF NEW ORDINANCE (Read by Title)(Ord. No. 2206-03) AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 123 OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MAPLEWOOD ENTITLED “FEES” MOTION SECOND – Roll Call (hearing to be held March 4, 2003) 9. PUBLIC COMMENT – For items not associated with the South Mountain Peace Action 10. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Verizon Building on Burnett Avenue 2. Parameters for a Zoning Ordinance on Cell Tower Restrictions 3. Recommendations by the EDAC Regarding Redevelopment Zones 11. PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNING BODY – South Mountain Peace Action 12. PUBLIC COMMENT 13. DISCUSSION BY TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE – Regarding presentation by South Mountain Peace Action 14. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS A. Michele Meade, Township Administrator B. Roger J. Desiderio, Esq., Township Attorney C. Peter Fresulone, Chief Financial Officer/Tax Collector D. Douglas Ball, Township Engineer E. Elizabeth J. Fritzen, Township Clerk 15. REPORTS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS 16. PUBLIC COMMENT 17. IG/FP CONSENT AGENDA 18. ADJOURNMENT – To meet again March 4, 2003 CONSENT AGENDA FEBRUARY 18, 2003 1. RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-03 INCREASING CHANGE FUND FROM $100.00 TO $200.00 FOR TAX COLLECTOR’S OFFICE 2. RESOLUTION NUMBER 27-03 TAX OVERPAYMENT 3. RESOLUTION NUMBER 28-03 TEMPORARY EMERGENCY BUDGET 4. RESOLUTION NUMBER 29-03 AWARDING BULK PICK-UP 5. Special Permits for Social Affairs A. Columbian Club of Vailsburg for Social Affair to be held at St. Joseph’s Church on February 28, 2003 from 7:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. B. Columbian Club of Vailsburg for Social Affair to be held at St. Joseph’s Church on March 23, 2003 from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Both approved by the Township Clerk and the Chief of Police 6. Approval of the renewal of United Livery’s license to operate a livery/taxi service and the renewal of United Livery’s drivers license’s within the Township of Maplewood. Approved by the Maplewood Police Department. 7. Approval for the following raffle licenses, all approved by the Maplewood Police Department; A. RL #1271, for a 50/50 by St. Joseph’s Church to be held on May 11, 2003 at Youth House, 245 Hilton Avenue B. RL #1272, for a gift auction by Court Patricia #1254 to be held on April 25, 2003 at 765 Prospect Street. C. RL # 1276 for a 50/50 by Court Patricia #1254 to be held on October 26, 2003 at 765 Prospect Street. 8. Approval of the following minutes; December 3, 2002 February 4, 2003 9. Bills and Claims | ||
| mck Citizen Username: Mck Post Number: 448 Registered: 5-2001 |
Jerry: would you post the text of the SMPA resolution so that the public can get a look at it before tonight's meeting? | ||
| Jerry Ryan Citizen Username: Gerardryan Post Number: 1138 Registered: 5-2001 |
Mary: I received this in email on Sunday: ----- WHEREAS the Constitution of the United States (Article VI) states that "all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States shall be the supreme Law of the Land" and WHEREAS the United States has signed and ratified the United Nations Charter, which is itself a Treaty, and which proscribes the use of force against any state, except in cases of self-defense, or in cases authorized by the United Nations Security Council, and WHEREAS the Maplewood Township Committee has received a petition, signed by [more than 500; number to be supplied] residents of Maplewood that says: We the undersigned residents of Maplewood, New Jersey, oppose a war against Iraq and its occupation by US soldiers without the authorization of the United Nations Security Council. We are concerned about the enormous cost -- both human and financial -- of a war against Iraq and a subsequent occupation by US soldiers. Tens of thousands of lives, both American and Iraqi, are sure to be lost. The cost of the war has been estimated at $200 billion, and will likely lead to cuts in medical care, education, housing and other human needs. We urge you to express these concerns on our behalf to the President and Congress. WHEREAS the Township of Maplewood cannot speak for all residents but has been asked by hundreds of residents to speak out on this momentous issue facing our nation, NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Township Committee of the Township of Maplewood Recognizes the long and proud history of the residents of Maplewood in defending our nation during times of war and crisis; Honors the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women in the United States armed forces; Urges the President and Congress to uphold the United Nations Charter and to refrain from acts of war against Iraq, except in cases of self-defense or in cases authorized by the United Nations Security Council; Agrees to forward this resolution and the above-mentioned petitions to President Bush, Senators Corzine and Lautenberg, and Representatives Pascrell and Payne. | ||
| Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1183 Registered: 9-2001 |
I strongly oppose the resolution. It does not represent the majority view in Maplewood. It is counter to the best interests of the United States of America. It is inappropriate for the Council to even consider it. The TC is elected to govern Maplewood not to second guess the President of the United States who is our Commander in Chief. In my opinion, the TC should summarily refuse to entertain the resolution, and move on to the business of running the town. Please read my statement if the opportunity permits and/or read it into the record. Ed May | ||
| mck Citizen Username: Mck Post Number: 451 Registered: 5-2001 |
I'll read it for you, Ed. | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 1392 Registered: 5-2001 |
I agree with Ed that it is not within the purview of the TC to take a position on national foreign affairs. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 870 Registered: 9-2001 |
Me too Ed! The only problem I see here is this thing about the 500 signatures, what's that all about? Listen, maybe as many as 12,500 signatures, over half the town’s population might carry a little weight. But, even then I'd still have to agree with you Ed.... However, in all “Fairness in Dealing”, I also have to agree with Jerry that the TC should at least give time to listen to all of us that have something to say about the pending war. Hey, you know how it is, sometimes it just feels so good to get something off your chest...  | ||
| Dave Ross Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 4189 Registered: 5-2001  |
Who's bringing the popcorn tonight? | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 2595 Registered: 5-2001 |
I will be passing out "Make War, Not Love" signs in the parking lot before the meeting. Also, I have it on good authority that The Great Strawberry will be changing his/her name to The Great Raspberry and making the signature noise throughout the presentation. | ||
| lseltzer Citizen Username: Lseltzer Post Number: 1342 Registered: 5-2001 |
Count me in with Ed too. I'll gladly sign a petition urging the township committee not to spend any time on such resolutions. | ||
| Dave Ross Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 4190 Registered: 5-2001 |
I feel the people bringing the petition forward have been dishonest about their true position to the signatories on their petition. Here's a recent transaction:
So the truth is that the UN means nothing to their viewpoint. Their entire petition and resolution is basically a lie. | ||
| johnny Citizen Username: Johnny Post Number: 550 Registered: 5-2001 |
I am opposed to any and all statements made by the Town Committe concerning this issue. 500 signatures out of 20,000 is not any justification to pass this measure. Let alone the fact the TC has absolutely no right to be even considering this their business. | ||
| Ed May Citizen Username: Edmay Post Number: 1184 Registered: 9-2001 |
Thank you MCK Ed May | ||
| mck Citizen Username: Mck Post Number: 453 Registered: 5-2001 |
Dave: if you watched the proceedings last night you would have seen that their petition and resolution was a big sham. None of the SMPA speakers mentioned UN Resolution 1441. None of them will support a war even if the Security Council does. It was left to Vic - Vic! to insist on a clause in the resolution requesting that Saddam obey. It apparently never occurred to the SMPA people to mention Saddam's malfeasance while insisting the US defer to France. Am I a sore loser? When the winning side features as its wind up speaker a guy who repeatedly equated Bush and Saddam - you bet. | ||
| Steven Brent Citizen Username: Sbrent Post Number: 89 Registered: 9-2002  |
I didn't even realize how dishonest and duplicitous the SMPA had been in formulating their petition until I attended the mtg. I wanted to give those people the benefit of the doubt, but after hearing that disgraceful "presentation", all my worst fears have been confirmed. | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 1399 Registered: 5-2001 |
I want to take this opportunity to thank the TC for the commendable way in which they conducted the portion of yesterday's TC meeting devoted to consideration of what turned out to be a resolution in support of letting the UN take the lead in establishing world policy regarding the situation in Iraq. The TC did not place a cap on the length of time given to the speakers individually or collectively, no opinions of TC members were given until after the last speaker was heard. Each of the TC members then gave what was clearly a well thought out position on the matter before them. All of the TC members showed that they had put a considerable amount of time into researching the surrounding issues before appearing at the meeting last night. Did I agree with the decision they finally made to adopt a revised version of the original petition? That is totally beside the point. My objection has always been that a regular TC meeting is not the proper venue for such a discussion. Deliberation on the resolution took approximately three hours of time at Town Hall and countless individual hours of soul searching prior to the meeting. As Fred said last night, this is time that could much better have been devoted to local issues which are sorely in need of TC attention - NOW. | ||
| Joan Citizen Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 1400 Registered: 5-2001 |
Dave: There is nothing dishonest about the content of the position stated in the proposal regarding the Iraq situation which was brought before the TC last night. The wording was a compromise position taken to gain at least some official action by the TC regarding the present situation in Iraq. I am sure that all of those signing the petition which lead to the adoption of this resolution would agree with the proposed wording as far as it went. Based upon what most of the speakers in favor of the petition said, I think they would have liked to have the wording in the adopted resolution go much farther than it did. If anyone was short changed in all this, they were. Interestingly, most of the speakers against the proposed resolution questioned the appropriateness of the process rather the wording of the resolution itself or the ideology behind it. I left the meeting with the feeling that most of the people on both sides of the aisle individually agreed with the wording of the proposed resolution. | ||
| annettedepalma Citizen Username: Annettedepalma Post Number: 227 Registered: 11-2001 |
If the resolution Peace Action put together had less strong language than they may have favored, then I wish they could transfer some of their diplomacy and consensus building skills and long-term vision to our own head of state, whose course of conduct seems bent on setting back US foreign relations fifty years. The TC did the right thing. No one ever comes to ask me whether I support any of the many resolutions the TC passes. Passing resolutions is part of their job, whether they do so regarding local, county, state, federal, or social business. They do so regularly, as our elected representatives. And even if it wasn't. War is different. | ||
| johnny Citizen Username: Johnny Post Number: 551 Registered: 5-2001 |
The TC voted on this measure at approximately 11:45 pm. Not a waste of time? | ||
| mck Citizen Username: Mck Post Number: 455 Registered: 5-2001 |
I disagree with Joan and Annette. This was not "diplomacy", or consensus building. Virtually every SMPA speaker explicitly contradicted the actual content of their own resolution!! The petition/resolution was A Big Lie right from the beginning, perpetrated in order to get in front of the TC and state their mostly extremist, bordering on fanatical, positions. |
