| Author | Message | |||
     MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3367 Registered: 5-2001  |
On tonight's agenda, I see the following: "Resolution Authorizing a Reduction in the Performance Guarantee for The Manors at South Orange." Can someone please explain what this is? I also see "Resolution Rejecting Proposal for a Tennis Bubble in the Township of South Orange Village." I had thought the "tennis bubble" idea was dead a long time ago??? | |||
| User58 Citizen Username: User58 Post Number: 406 Registered: 8-2004 |
Did someone pop the bubble? I thought the bubble was a great idea | |||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 2562 Registered: 4-2002 |
MHD: I expect John Gross or Ed Matthews to explain before we vote on the resolution. | |||
| Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 3156 Registered: 11-2001  |
I understand that the operator was pressing for too many demands upon the village that were never envisioned when the entrepreneur first approached the subject matter of a bubble on public property. | |||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3368 Registered: 5-2001 |
Thank you, Mark. I expect you will insist that Bill Calabrese leaves the room during such discussion due to his Conflict of Interest because of the proximity of his house to the property. | |||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 8650 Registered: 4-1997  |
Is it true the "entrepreneur" was the Bubble Boy? | |||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3396 Registered: 5-2001 |
I see the Meeting Agenda for next week has been posted: http://www.southorange.org/agenda.asp?page=2006/02-27-06rm.htm I see some "interesting" topics that I can't believe are part of the "Consent Agenda" and are not going to be discussed at length: Resolution Terminating an Employee from the Employ of the Village. - I would think THIS would be a Closed Session item Resolution Authorizing the Utilization of the Boundaries of the Township of South Orange Village for the Establishment of an Eruv. - Bravo! Although I hope this doesn't spark the bigoted discussion that happened when Maplewood did the same thing a short time ago. Resolution Adopting an E-Mail Policy for the Board of Trustees of the Township of South Orange Village. - Sounds good...though I hope someone will discuss what the policy is. Resolution Authorizing the Village President to Sign an Agreement for the Fabrication of the Tony Smith Sculpture.  Resolution Reappointing James Cryan as a Commissioner of the South Orange Parking Authority. - I am pleased to see that the person's NAME is on the agenda as was discussed on 1/23. Thanks! | |||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 452 Registered: 1-2004  |
Maybe Allan/Eric/Mark can also answer/detail the following agenda item: Resolution Authorizing Application for a Grant of Green Acres Funds for Open Space Acquisition. | |||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 97 Registered: 1-2006 |
Who is making the sculpture, where, and can I watch the copy being made? jd | |||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3398 Registered: 5-2001 |
Joel, Looks like the copying is already under way:  | |||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 98 Registered: 1-2006 |
Is it one of those you can do it yourself programs? You know, remove a perfect gazebo, and fountain, replace with slabs of metal, tastefully imitating a work of metal work, (well, that's what I think it is), and call it original art. jd | |||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3399 Registered: 5-2001 |
Joel, Yes...it is kinda like a $250,000 version of this:  | |||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 527 Registered: 5-2004  |
Excuse me, but isn't it a $500,000 work of "art"? I think $250,000 is just the portion we taxpayers have to eat. The other half is reportedly being raised by people who think a very large hunk of art squeezed into a small space next to the historic firehouse (which now has really tacky cheap-looking garage doors!) will draw lots of tourism to S. Orange. | |||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 453 Registered: 1-2004 |
Wouldn't it be nice if we could be informed on how this project is being paid for before the contract is signed. | |||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 529 Registered: 5-2004 |
What?!? And put the cart BEFORE the horse? nonononon - that would mean our Village Powers that Be would have learned from their past mistakes! (The least of which was building an arbitrary and ugly fountain that never worked properly, which they now plan to remove...I still wonder what the plumbing costs were for that fiasco.) | |||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 13 Registered: 2-2006 |
Howard, would you please elaborate details of the contract you alluded to, insofar as you know them? What, when, where.....? Thanks. | |||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3400 Registered: 5-2001 |
SoRising, I believe Howard was referring to the following agenda item for Monday's Meeting: Resolution Authorizing the Village President to Sign an Agreement for the Fabrication of the Tony Smith Sculpture Sounds like this is our last chance to speak out publicly before the Village squanders $250,000 of taxpayer money on a replica of an existing sculpture. | |||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 454 Registered: 1-2004 |
Maybe Allan/Eric/Mark can also answer/detail the following agenda item: Resolution Authorizing Application for a Grant of Green Acres Funds for Open Space Acquisition. | |||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 100 Registered: 1-2006 |
Maybe in the very near future all agenda items can be set out in detail so we don't have to guess. After all, don't the trustees want us to know what they have agreed upon behind closed doors? jd | |||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 15 Registered: 2-2006 |
I don't know much about the sculpture and may even like it, unlike others who have commented here. But in light of a $3-4 million budget deficit that may increase rapidly due to several disatrously planned development projects; rising property taxes; excessive water bills that act as hidden taxes; exponentially rising natural gas prices; the time bomb of crumbling buildings that would require "balloon payments" of millions to take down, let alone restore; I think a quarter million for this sculpture is badly timed. Can't it be tabled until the fiscal crisis is dealt with? For the same reason, I would also like to know what the potential grant application that Howard mentioned is about. Specifically, I'd like to know what it is for, if it requires a match from the town, and, if so, the amount of the match needed, as well as the amount of the total project and all funding sources that would make up the total cost. I'd also like to know when the project would be executed, what plans exist for cost overruns, increases in costs due to delays or "project interruptions" of one kind or another. Whoever can answer these questions reliably, please do so. Thank you. | |||
| Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 3208 Registered: 11-2001 |
Perhaps Eric can bring forth your questions during general remonstrances. Our Trustee ombudsman...(the questions need to be asked and answers provided irrespective of board decisions. The public deserves full disclosure of policy decisions that have a financial impact)..  | |||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3401 Registered: 5-2001 |
SoRising, Your point is RIGHT ON!! However, I doubt the BOT will even listen to your rational comments unless we all march in wearing matching T-Shirts and hand the BOT goody bags like the Tony Smith sculpture people did 2 weeks ago. In the meantime, we can expect an additional tax increase this year to pay for this fabrication and additional tax increases in subsequent years to cover the shortfall that the Tony Smith sculpture people fail to raise for maintenance. | |||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 415 Registered: 6-2005 |
Also, wasn't there talk of relocating the gazebo? What about that cost? I feel that if the people who are so in favor of this acquistion would look around the town and see what this BOT's have let happen to our bonafide pieces of art...like town hall or the Baird Center or our Olmstead-era parks, or our train station, or the flat-iron Vose Ave building (no longer there), or the stone house...they will realize, that in time, this scultpure will take its place in this hall of shame. If this is a true gift to the town, then let the estate or whoever is gifting, pay all costs (including on-going maintenance), or say "thanks but no thanks". And let any money that is being raised for this sculpture be used to restore some of the luster which this town once had. The Montrose Historic folks get the idea. I'd sooner let them craft a vision of what the town needs artistically than the BOT's, and I have no idea where they stand on the sculpture project. Perhaps some of that group could weigh in. I'd like to know their point of view. | |||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 18 Registered: 2-2006 |
Aside from the fiscal questions that need to be addressed before the sculpture is seriously considered, the town should not be making a decision about art work before it has in place the kind of overall plan Trustee DeVaris described in the last BOT meeting. Proceeding the way they have is exactly backwards: the plan should be first priority, decisions about particular pieces of art follow it. It is injurious if ironic that the current procedure yields decisions of such specificity (about the sculpture) while avoiding much bigger questions in their entirety (an overall plan). I am sure the BOT can reverse itself, under professional guidance (see DeVaris'recommendation for a planning charrette on another thread), if it has the will to do so. Among the ranks of the BOT is DeVaris himself who is professionally adept at charrettes, urban planning and design. Many towns are far less fortuante in their leadership. I am waiting to see if BOT has the will to do the right thing, given the capability to do so. Many people hope that it does. | |||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 19 Registered: 2-2006 |
MHD, do you know how much debt South Orange presently carries, what rate it is paying on it, whether it is a fixed or variable rate, its term, what it will need to add shortly at what rate, or anything else related to this? Does it create muni bonds for itself? If so, where, when, how, with whose expertise? What is its bond rating? How does the rating system work; does it, for example, depend on a viable business district, among other things? I am afraid the town is being financially enslaved as we write, although I realize it may merely be the emerging visible outcroppings of years of misdirection. Please comment anyone who knows anything about this. Thank you. | |||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3403 Registered: 5-2001 |
SoRising, Your post at 9:56am is RIGHT ON again. Unfortunately, Trustee DeVaris is the leading proponent of this sculpture, so I do not think you can look to his leadership to stop this 1% increase in the Municipal Budget. Regarding your other question at 10:17am, I do not have the answers. | |||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2396 Registered: 5-2004  |
What's with the bee? | |||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3404 Registered: 5-2001 |
BEE? BEE? How dare ya!!  http://www.gojackets.com/wav/shortrr.wav | |||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 20 Registered: 2-2006 |
As I said, I am asking that the sculpture be tabled for some time, to be decided later. In the interim, a plan could be drawn up that would include consideration of public art, how to fund purchase and maintenance for them. If DeVaris is inconsistent in what he argues, he also should be held accountable. | |||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 458 Registered: 1-2004 |
SOrising: Maybe the following will help - Debt Service proposed budget: | |||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 459 Registered: 1-2004 |
SOrising: Maybe the following will help - Debt Service proposed budget:
| |||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2397 Registered: 5-2004 |
So it's a Ga Tech yellowjacket, not one of the myriad other schools with a bug as its mascot? | |||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3406 Registered: 5-2001 |
BUG? BUG? Alright, Scooby Doo...you're in big trouble now. So...did you hear that all your dog friends will now have a $250,000 potty to relieve themselves on? | |||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 534 Registered: 5-2004 |
(It's a $500,000 potty -- remember, the taxpayers are only paying $250,000.) (And MHD, don't be defensive, the yellowjacket is a bug and its O.K. I went to the UoR and not only did we have the yellowjacket for our mascot, but our school flower was the dandelion weed!) | |||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 2401 Registered: 5-2004 |
I can't wait for the sculpture. I'll feel like I'm peeing on someone "special" each time I lift my leg on it. rut r'oh... | |||
| Eric DeVaris Citizen Username: Eric_devaris Post Number: 279 Registered: 2-2003  |
SOrising, The SO Vision Plan I am proposing is meant to deal with the future of South Orange, not with the ongoing projects in town. I am not suggesting that we stop everything we are doing until we have a Vision Plan. That would not be realistic. What I do suggest is that we do not start any new projects until we have a Vision Plan; projects like Valley Street, Irvington Avenue, and parking deck(s), can wait for our Plan. The Tony Smith Project is not something new. It has been on the boards for eight years. The public has been amply informed, has fully participated in the process, and has shown a strong support for the project. Commitments have been made, funds have been raised and spent. We cannot table it until we have our Plan ready . Like we cannot table SOPAC, Beifus, the New Market, and the River Corridor just because we are now, so late in the game, waking up and realize that we need a Vision Plan. I do not believe that my effort to begin a SO Vision Plan is inconsistent with the continuation of the ongoing projects in town. | |||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 2600 Registered: 4-2002 |
Eric: Agree with what you posted except I would not be surprised if we get to include Beifus in the vision plan. | |||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 3408 Registered: 5-2001 |
As I recall, ONLY $40,000 of the $410,000 have been raised. Not even enough for a down payment on this "gift", as far as I am concerned. Not very fiscally responsible. | |||
| Eric DeVaris Citizen Username: Eric_devaris Post Number: 280 Registered: 2-2003 |
It looks like it, doesn'it! | |||
| Eric DeVaris Citizen Username: Eric_devaris Post Number: 281 Registered: 2-2003 |
Oops! MHD's post got in the middle. My "it looks like it", is addressed to Mark's remark about Beifus, not to MHD's remarks. |
