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MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 4049
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 10:46 am: | 
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It has now been one YEAR since the last election, when Ms. Abrams, Ms Jennings and Mr DeVaris joined the BOT.
How well have these new Trustees held to their campaign promises? Discuss.
Stacey
*I will offer the residents solutions
*Communicate the facts to the residents in a timely manner
*any tax increase resulting from the revaluation occur in smaller increments over time
*lessen the residential tax burden and expand commercial ratable during my term
TerriAnn
*I will work with each and every neighborhood association to ensure that your voices are heard in every decision that may affect you
*I will ensure that you are carefully listened to, and that your recommendations are vetted and followed up on.
*I will ensure that closed meetings are limited to those few items in the statute that really need to be private
*We need to create other such partnerships with Seton Hall
*I will make basic infrastructure upkeep a priority
* When we hit bumps (delays) in the road, I will keep residents informed about the problem and the timeline for improvements. I will be responsive.
*I will make supporting the Rec. Dept. and working closely with the members of the Recreation Advisory Board a priority
*I hope to be known as the “parks trustee,”
*I will make swift, coordinated and consensus-driven implementation of the river greenway and bike trail the length of the Village a priority.
*One of my first priorities... will be to request that the Environmental commission be restored to its full powers, which include commenting in an advisory way on applications before the planning board for development.
*I will work to ensure fiscal responsibility here in our Village, to ensure that department heads stay within their budgets, to ensure that bonding is kept low and in check, that our credit is good, and to ensure that any incentives that we must give to developers to build on vacant or blighted parcels are equally fair to Village residential taxpayers and business owners.
*I think it would destroy the character of our lovely downtown to locate a massive parking deck in the NJ Transit lot.
*I recommend increasing parking at the main train station to the extent possible while designing any structured parking there to be aesthetically pleasing and in context with the river greenway project and the development of the plaza area by SOPAC and the nearby restaurants.
*I will work to implement a comprehensive and connected set of bike ways and bike paths throughout the Village, and to install more bike racks to secure our bikes when parked.
*I will work with the Board of Trustees to advocate for more Midtown Direct service to and from Mountain station on Montrose Avenue, in the morning and the evening rush hours.
Eric
* Ban the issue of bonds for projects in which the Village acts as a banker (e.g. SOPAC), unless they have a detailed business plan that provides for tax revenues sufficient to cover the payment of the debt when it comes due.
* Appoint three individuals to the positions of the Village’s Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Administrator, rather than to one, as we have today.
Mr. John Gross holds all three of these positions today. As a result there is no accountability for any position, and there are no checks and balances for our financial activities.
* Strictly enforce the existing “pay-as-you-go” policy.
* Negotiate substantial “givebacks” when according tax abatements and payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTS). Limit tax abatements and PILOTS only to parcels that need such abatements for their economic development.
* Monitor existing abatements and terminate those that are not holding up their end of the bargain.
* Negotiate a share in the profits generated by the transfer or sale of abatements.
* Work more closely with the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC), providing its members with wider access to the preparation of the budget and to public records.
* Pursue aggressively our share of state grants for feasibility studies to regionalize municipal services.
* Work with the county and state representatives for a more fair tax structure in allocating burdens among counties.
* Keep closed-door meetings of the Board of Trustees (BoT) to an absolute minimum.
* Open channels of communications with the public and the local media.
* Reduce excessive centralized control from the hands of the Administrator and delegate authority to the Village’s department heads.
* Expand the use of technology in the Village’s departments and better educate the employees on the use of technology to improve their performance.
* Improve the working conditions of our police officers, firefighters, and Department of Public Works.
* Reinforce systems that will monitor responsibility and accountability for all supervisory personnel. Annual performance evaluations of all department heads and professionals should be conducted and reviewed by the BoT.
* Regain the trust of our downtown business owners and encourage their participation in the life of our Village.
* Maintain appropriate decorum and civility at BoT meetings, and always treat residents who speak at the meetings with respect.
* Establish a Downtown Redevelopment Corporation (DRC) with the goal of attracting new businesses and with the authority to negotiate (but not execute) contracts.
* Appoint a board of directors for the DRC consisting of seven people, only two of whom will be government officials, all serving only one-year terms.
* Appoint a Downtown Management Committee, as part of the DRC, with the goal of responding to the needs of the existing businesses.
* Make alternative transportation a priority issue in the downtown redevelopment zone.
* Keep a balance between commercial and residential development in our downtown, with the goal of transforming it into a destination point.
* Require all new major downtown construction projects, through negotiated “givebacks,” to provide parking for commuters and shoppers, proportionate to their own parking needs, over and above code requirements.
* A parking garage, as envisioned today in the River Corridor proposal, should be studied and incorporated in the overall master plan of the town.
* Manage municipally owned land with the goal of reducing the property tax burden.
* Create a vision for South Orange. Evaluate where we are today and, with the input of the citizenry, define where we want to be five and ten years down the road.
* Update the Village’s Master Plan for downtown redevelopment, and coordinate it with our finances.
* Reinvest the Planning Board with the powers accorded to it by state law, and prevent interference on Planning Board issues by the BoT.
* Staff the Planning Board with a balanced mix of attorneys, professional planners, civil and environmental engineers, land-use experts, and architects.
* Unify under one Recreation and Open Space Master Plan the existing plans of Recreation, Open Space and River Corridor.
* Empower the Recreation and Open Space Commission to testify in front of the Planning Board and the BoT on issues of development applications.
* Pursue aggressively Green Acres grants and use county and municipal Open Space funds to acquire new parcels for active and passive recreation space, as well as to maintain and improve existing recreational facilities.
* Maintain a balance between residential/commercial development and recreation/open space by adhering to a Village Master Plan. Negotiate with developers for “givebacks” that will provide for better or more recreation fields, open space, and the River Corridor.
* Eliminate cronyism and nepotism.
* Put controls on holding more than one public office.
* Act as watchdog for municipal campaign contributions.
* Review ethics complaints on a regular basis and transfer cases to the County Prosecutor’s Office when necessary.
* Act as a watchdog for violations of the New Jersey Local Government Ethics Law, and report such violations to the Local Finance Board of the Department of Community Affairs.
* Restore the public’s trust in, and perception of, the Village government.
* Make a priority the repair and maintenance of facilities and equipment used by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Public Works Departments.
* Build safer and better neighborhoods through community involvement. Explore programs such as NationalTownWatch.org, National Night Out or Neighborhood Watch, and encourage and facilitate the involvement of our local Neighborhood Associations.
* Assign one Trustee to act as a liaison to each Neighborhood Association, with the purpose of addressing their specific safety concerns; increase police surveillance in those neighborhoods where safety is at greatest risk.
* Fight urban gang activities by joining the Essex County Anti-Gang Task Force, and offer after-school youth-oriented activities so that children have alternatives to joining gangs.
* Work with the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) Board of Trustees and its Executive Director to address immediately the problems associated with the project.
* Promote local talent by working with their groups in organizing arts events in town.
* Encourage and support historic preservation efforts.
* Involve high school students in municipal affairs by developing programs that can use the students’ talents in volunteer activities while educating them on real life issues.
* Use the Baird Center for after-school activities that will keep students off the streets.
* Build a more effective relationship between the governments of South Orange and Maplewood and the Board of Education. Through the Board of School Estimate, negotiate the costs of providing education based on a per-pupil cost rather than on an apportionment of property valuation as defined in §54:4-49 of the revised statutes.
* Provide means for expanding volunteerism.
* Enrich support for senior citizens and promote greater inclusion of this valuable resource in our community.
* Initiate programs that take advantage of the cultural, ethnic, racial, and religious diversity of the Village.
* Reinforce ties with Seton Hall University, and develop joint programs for bringing the students into town.
* Improve the relationship of residents in the vicinity of SHU with the students rooming in private homes in the area.
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Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 310
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 10:59 am: |
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I would vote for these people in a heartbeat. They seem to really want to improve SO and our infrastructure, way of life and community involvement...They seem to want to be trustees for all the right reasons.
How come these people didn't get elected -
Oh sorry, they did.... what happened to the promises they made?
I guess Mr.Matthews wasn't joking Monday night when he said something like, you don't believe everything you hear/see/are told, during a campaign do you?
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Josh Holtz
Citizen
Username: Jholtz
Post Number: 429
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 11:29 am: |
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Who is this TerriAnn people keep talking about? |
Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 693
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 11:35 am: |
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Eric is doing an awesome job and I hope no one here puts on blinders because of his opinion with respect to Tau.
And that's all I have to say about that. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 4053
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 11:56 am: |
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Hey - didn't you just graduate? Aren't you supposed to be still celebrating and drunk somewhere? 
Congratulations, Sheena! |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 4061
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 3:43 pm: |
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Sheena,
But where is Eric? He used to post on MOL and he used to respond promptly to emails.
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Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 694
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 4:27 pm: |
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Celebrations were great MHD. Sorry I had to leave after you made your appearance on top of the bar.
In response to your question, Eric is like sunshine - he's everywhere.
MOL is a very hard place especially for elected officials because there are a million follow-up questions if you don't give the 'MOL accepted' answer. He responds very quick to emails and I email him all the time with questions.
Eric is currently working on some new creations that I think South Orange will love but I'll let him speak about it as I'm not sure if he's brought it up or not.
If you look at all the promises he has made - he has already brought up the majority of them and has casted votes based on those promises. Unfortunately, you need a majority to implement any policies you'd like to see happen and Eric doesn't really have that on a lot of his key issues.
And think of it this way - Eric helped spearhead all the new "communication" initiatives which I think have been really successful.
Eric is a very classy man and I would tend to think that some of the language and behaviors on this board deter him from trying to respond and instead uses his time more productivly. |
Diastole
Citizen
Username: Diastole
Post Number: 16
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 4:40 pm: |
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I agree with Sheena that Eric is the sort of principled gentleman we need more of in local government. I even once admitted that if he were younger, he'd be a hunk! |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 3112
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 4:44 pm: |
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age-ist! |
Mary32
Citizen
Username: Mary32
Post Number: 19
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 8:41 pm: |
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I too am a fan of Eric DeVaris and I resent the suggestion that he doesn’t fulfill his election promises. I think that in one year on the BOT Eric has accomplished much more than any of the other trustees, whether newly elected or 25 years on the Board.
To set the record straight, I called Eric (he is easily accessible) and asked him if there is anything he has done as trustee that he is proud of. He mentioned only three things: a) that soon after his election he pursued and brought to fruition the new communications initiatives, i.e. interactive remonstrances, neighborhood meetings, trustee office hours, and open e-mail and website communications with the public, b) that he pushed for and convinced the BOT to adopt a resolution establishing a regulatory Historic Preservation Commission, and c) that he convinced the Board to look into hiring a real estate attorney to conduct our real estate negotiations, and also to look into revisiting the formation of so many “planning” committees, and aim toward “one vision plan”.
I knew that there were more accomplishments by Eric than the ones he mentioned, so I searched the BOT minutes for the last 12 months, and I also checked some of the videos on the website. I wanted to create a record of his activities for his first year on the Board. Here is what I found:
As soon as he was elected last May Eric questioned the effects of the Church Street redevelopment on the downtown management and redevelopment and he was the sole NO vote against the Church Street redevelopment.
In September he proposed the formation of a Local Ethics Board, and God knows we need it, but the BOT turned him down!
Also in September he raised concerns about the process of signing a contract with Birdsall for monitoring the rock crushing in Pulte’s development without any discussion by the BOT.
In October Eric voiced his objection against paying for the condemned easements in the supermarket site, urging the hiring of a redevelopment expert for our negotiations, and he was the only NO vote against buying the easements.
In October he insisted that the tree ordinance we have be revised to include the Environmental Commission in the process of making recommendations to the Planning Board with regard to tree preservation. The issue is still being discussed by the BOT.
In December he exposed to the public the details of the Calabrese/Saiyd business relationship by reading a prepared statement asking Calabrese pointed questions.
In December he argued that performance evaluations for Gross, Matthews and Smith be done every year instead of every two years. The Board approved his suggestion.
Also in December he protested the presentation of Millennium Homes for the Valley Street redevelopment without first having a vision plan for the entire town, and in February he read a prepared statement against the Millennium proposal.
In January he protested the attempted appointment of Mary Theroux and suggested instead that a process be established for the filling of Committee/Board vacancies. The BOT adopted his suggestion and a process is now in place.
I February he introduced the idea of creating a sister city relationship with another city in the world, to enlarge the horizons of our youth and our citizens. This is still on the boards.
In January Eric protested that the closed-door meetings were taking place in the middle of the regular meetings and the system has been revised for the convenience of the residents who attend the meetings.
In March he was the only NO vote against purchasing the MAP building on Valley Street and he read a prepared statement proposing, again, to hire a real estate attorney to avoid future costly mistakes. His proposal sent Village Attorney Ed Matthews through the roof (quite a show on the video).
This is what Eric DeVaris has done in one year. All of it is in the official record of the minutes of the BOT meetings on the website. He has three more years to go. I think he will fulfill a good part of his campaign promises.
Some Tau opponents try to mar Eric's performance on the BOT because he is supporter of Tau. Eric was not on the BOT when the decision to bond for Tau was taken. He supports public art and finds Tau a unique opportunity. That has nothing to do with Eric's excellent performance as trustee.
Thank you Eric. Please keep up the good work.
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Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 695
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 8:55 pm: |
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Mary32 - That is the absolute BEST post I have seen on MOL in a very long time!
Thank you for that!
Just to add something from a SHU perspective - Eric, as trustee, has attended every single event that I have invited him to including the 2006-2007 Leadership Installation Ceremony where he got to meet the new elected student representatives, the Pirate Excellence Awards for Columbia High School students, the groundbreaking for our new science center and much more.... The students are extremely proud of Eric and thank him for giving us so much attention and caring about the community  .
Eric - you make us soooo proud! |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 4062
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 9:44 pm: |
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Mary,
To be clear, I simply posted all campaign promises & asked people to comment on all 3 new Trustees (last time I did so, I was criticized for excluding Eric, so I wanted to treat him the same as Stacey & Terriann this time)
My only "critique" was that he no longer posts on MOL and he does not respond promptly to emails. (I sent him an email on Tuesday and have not gotten a response, yet)
The rest of the issues you raise are commendable & I thank you for compiling them in one place for everyone to see.
However, I do disagree with your statement that Tau has "nothing to do with" his performance as a Trustee. Eric is a member of the "Sculpture Advisory Committee" and as such should come forward when the sculpture people put out blatently false materials with his name on it and possibly should recuse himself from future discussions on the issue due to his obvious bias. |
phd6786
Citizen
Username: Phd6786
Post Number: 20
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 11:29 pm: |
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MHD,
Your agenda is obviously to downgrade Mr. DeVaris' performance as trustee because of his support of Tau.
What I would like you to do instead, as a public service, is what Mary did: go and compile for us last year's accomplishments of the other two new trustees you are referring to, Stacey Jennings and Terriann Moore-Abrams from the public record.
This will give us a good basis for comparison of their achievements and will help us carry a discussion on your initial question: How well have these new Trustees held to their campaign promises?
I wouldn't call myself a "fan" of Mr. DeVaris, I know little of him. But Mary's list is very impressive. Sheena's additions too. I would not judge the performance of a Village trustee by whether or not he posts on MOL. MOL is not an official means of communications. Neither would I judge him by whether or not he responded to MHD's e-mail, until I know the contents of his e-mail.
All I am saying is that perhaps we have something there that we should appreciate more than MHD does.
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stefano
Citizen
Username: Stefano
Post Number: 497
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 11:38 pm: |
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Sheena,
I was not invited to the Leadership Installation Ceremony. Must have been a huge oversight, as you know how much I enjoy watching a leader being installed. I especially enjoy watching when a Leader is a bit big and they have to give the Leader an extra big push to install him or her. I think it was 2 years ago when Sbenois and myself were in attendance and someone had to run out for some sandpaper and a caulking gun to get a few Leaders installed. |
Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 696
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 12:20 am: |
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lol - I'll make sure you get put on the guest list next time around stefano. |
SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 363
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 10:30 am: |
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Comparing Trustee DeVaris and other trustees to one another may be useful. Far more important, however, is comparing any trustee to a set of independent standards, principles and needs of representation.
As a whole, any trustee may have accomplished many good things which may seem even better because of poorer performance by a colleague. But voters should take care not to have overall standards and principles of assessment degraded because “so-and-so did it”, as though a group performing badly somehow makes it okay. I think something like this has happened in South Orange. Expectations are so low, the vast majority of registered voters don’t go to the polls, leaving the responsibility of electing officials to a small minority. The result is a kind of self-immurement in vision and methods, a vision and set of practices warped by cronyism, narrow experience and costly short-sightedness. While it is not too surprising as a default of most residents neglecting their civic duties, it is also a highly degraded standard that has, without question, hurt the town.
While Eric may have done many good things, his agreeing to fund Tau in the manner in which he has, his failure to recuse himself from votes and discussions about it because he is on the sculpture committee is a huge ethical mistake. I can understand in human terms when you are in a round barrel everyone is paddling furiously in while thinking it a canoe as it drifts towards major falls, that it may be easy to lose your perspective. But even the most ardent fans should make no mistake that he and the VP made the same ethical error, as members of the sculpture committee, in voting to fund Tau.
If you really care about people, you don’t tell them its okay when they make huge mistakes just because they want to make them. You keep reminding them until they acknowledge it, initiate efforts to remedy the damage of their error (in this case, it would have to entail reversing their vote), apologize for the disturbance they caused people, and promise in good faith not to make the same error again. As things stand now, neither the VP nor Trustee DeVaris shows any sign of reversing themselves or rectifying the damage of their mistakes concerning Tau. Unfortunately, it has every appearance of them wanting to cover their mistakes by plowing ahead. This is not an admirable character trait of any leader. It is, regrettably, all too common, in multiple senses of that word.
As for trustees not commenting on MOL, it is a sure sign that despite what any one of them may say, they clearly eschew using a very powerful means to communicate with their constituents. For any who have claimed for themselves efforts to better communicate with SO residents, their avoidance of MOL has to be viewed with a great deal of skepticism.
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Mary32
Citizen
Username: Mary32
Post Number: 20
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 1:49 pm: |
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What are you talking about SOrising? As long as Trustee DeVaris has been on the Board there was never a vote taken regarding the sculpture. What vote would you like him to recuse himself from?
You say: "nor Trustee DeVaris shows any sign of reversing themselves or rectifying the damage of their mistakes concerning Tau. Unfortunately, it has every appearance of them wanting to cover their mistakes by plowing ahead."
Again, Trustee DeVaris has nothing to do with BOT's "mistake", the vote of 2004 regarding Tau, he wasn't sitting on the Board then. He is a supporter of Tau today. You consider this a damaging "mistake". He doesn't. I admire his gumption to stick to his guns despite the harassment that you and your cohorts on this board give to any one who supports the sculpture. Trustee DeVaris has given on this board a thorough explanation for his support for Tau.
And why should he recuse himself from any Tau discussion? Because he is a member of the Tau committee? But he is also a member of Main Street, of the Chamber of Commerce, of the Historic Preservation Society, of the River Corridor Committee, and probably other committees in town that we don't know about. Should he recuse himself from any discussion on everything that happens in town? C'm'on SOrising, loosen up. Don't let your obsession with Tau blind you.
And please don't try to highjack another thread with your ranting about Tau. This thread is about "one year since the election". Obviously, for you the only issue that matters is Tau and DeVaris' support for it. But us other MOLers want to stick to MHD's thread and review here the performance of the newly elected Trustees, and learn lessons for the upcoming 2007 election. We heard enough about Eric DeVaris. Let's hear as much about Terriann and Stacey. Hellooooo! Anybody out there?
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SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 365
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 2:26 pm: |
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I think it obvious to all readers who the "harassers" and "ranters" on MOL are, Mary32.
Of course DeVaris should have recused himself when voting to divert bonded money for sidewalks and street repairs to be used for Tau. It is not only unethical for him to divert public monies borrowed for another purpose to a private fundraising effort for which he serves on the advisory committee. It is also illegal for him, as an official of the town, to divert bond money, borrowed for another purpose, to Tau. "Loosening up" so that unethical and illegal behavior is somehow acceptable is something the officials of SO are far too good at. "Straightening up", in keeping with your lingo, not mine, is what the town needs to do.
If DeVaris, Mary32 or anyone else claims diverting bond money in the manner it is being diverted for Tau is fine and dandy, it doesn't become true by mere force of ignorance, indifference or willful corrupt intent disguised as "gumption." It is, and remains, unethical and illegal. Hence, the "explanation" DeVaris has given for his current support of Tau is woefully inadequate. An explanation of bad behavior is not a justification of good behavior. |
Mary32
Citizen
Username: Mary32
Post Number: 21
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 3:33 pm: |
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SOrising,
You keep repeating your erroneous assertion. Please, remove your blinders and see the facts. I repeat once more for you:
DeVaris never voted to divert bonded money for sidewalks and street repairs to be used for Tau. The BOT voted and decided on that maneuver in 2004, long before DeVaris got on the BOT, which was May 2005.
No vote has been taken on Tau since last May 2005 when DeVaris got on the BOT.
How many times does one have to tell you that?
Please let this thread go back to its topic.
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MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 4063
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 3:45 pm: |
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Mary,
I agree that the thread should go back the main topic.
However, one point of clarification, on February 27, 2006, Eric (and the other Trustees) did vote on & approve the following:
#56-06 - Resolution Authorizing the Village President to Sign an Agreement for the Fabrication of the Tony Smith Sculpture.
http://www.southorange.org/minutes/2006/02-27-06RM.pdf |
Mary32
Citizen
Username: Mary32
Post Number: 22
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 4:39 pm: |
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MHD, I stand corrected.
However this has nothing to do with what SOrising is raving about, i.e. that DeVaris voted to divert money for sidewalks and street repairs to be used for Tau. That is NOT TRUE. When DeVaris voted for the fabrication of the sculpture last February the dice were already cast: the diversion of the funds from sidewalks to the sculpture was done long before, and the funds were allocated in the 2004 budget, which DeVaris had nothing to do with.
And I repeat, in case SOrising comes back with the same argument, DeVaris didn't have to recuse himself from this last February vote, for the same reason that he doesn't have to recuse himself when other organizations of which he is a member are being discussed and voted upon by the BOT.
Now can we let the thread go back to its topic?
I am signing off for the weekend, but
I'LL BE BACK! |
vermontgolfer
Supporter
Username: Vermontgolfer
Post Number: 433
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 5:08 pm: |
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So Mary, the fact that the money was diverted for sidewalks and street repairs for a sculpture doesn't bother you? It sure as hell bothers me and a lot of other folks in town.
I happen to like Eric as well, but if he's so forthright, why did he not, to say nothing of the other trustees by the way, try to do something to stop this absurdity?
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SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 366
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 6:55 pm: |
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Moving forward with the sculpture as DeVaris and all the other trustees did meant that money borrowed for one purpose will be illegally diverted from that purpose and applied to the sculpture. Allowing the VP to sign a contract for fabrication of the sculpture meant that money that had not yet been spent illegally probably would be. Every single trustee, including DeVaris, is complicit in the illegal diversion of bond money to pay for the sculpture. The assertion that he or any of them are not responsible for their own actions in complying with the illegal use of bond money raised for sidewalk and street repair is totally absurd. The die was definitely not cast in February, Mary32, unless you are suggesting that DeVaris or any other trustee had a gun to his or her head.
If you can't see the obvious conflict of interest in DeVaris and Calabrese voting to use public monies for a private fundraising effort they publicly endorse, I doubt anyone could explain it to you. Rest assured, however, most people can see the obvious breach of ethics in it.
As for the topic at hand, the performance of DeVaris and other trustees who voted to divert bond money for an illicit purpose is exactly on topic of this thread. But, again, if you can't see that, Mary32, few would be able to clarify it for you. Rest assured, however, your false claims about what DeVaris did and did not vote on and whether he was free to exercise his authority to stop the illegal diversion of bond money to pay for a private cause he championed, are not the only things you stand corrected on. The fact that you stridently embrace your errors does little to alleviate them.
Of course DeVaris is not the only trustee at fault in this matter. But several people being wrong does not make it any more palatable, nor obviate any particular trustee's own culpability. On the contrary, it is a sign of just how commonplace eroded ethical standards among town officials is. New members of the BOT are desperately needed. |
joel dranove
Citizen
Username: Jdranove
Post Number: 484
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 10:51 am: |
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Amen!
jd |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1563
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 11:40 am: |
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Yes, rubber stamping a bad decision is not guilt-free. I'm a fan of DeVaris's on many fronts (as listed by Mary above), but this is not one of them. Seems like a double standard to give this piece of deceptive funding a pass simply because he likes the outcome. I'm still in his court, but disappointed by what I saw in this debate.
Mary, the diversion is not complete until the money is actually spent. Planning to buy an expensive artwork is not the same as actually signing the purchase contract, even if you have said that a certain pot of money is meant for it. |
joel dranove
Citizen
Username: Jdranove
Post Number: 485
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 6:06 pm: |
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Signing the contract during an ongoing, strong public debate, (albeit one-sided, against the Tau), and without a deadline for buying the "gift" for over another year, is a slap in the public's face - a stinging rebuke, and proof of taxation without representation.
jd |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 645
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 9:32 pm: |
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I think they signed so that the supporters could go into the fundraiser waving the fabrication contract. Didn't the pro-Tau people say as much in that BOT meeting wherein they stated that donors wouldn't give without proof of the village moving forward, or something to that effect? Which raises the question as to why the donors couldn't have donated on a conditional basis, i.e. if sufficient funds are raised. In such a case, money could have been put into some sort of escrow account, and then refunded if they couldn't raise the required amount? But our trustees just caved into that group as though a gun were held to their head, and we, the taxpayers, bear the burden, with some hollow promise that our house prices will go up because of this sculpture. Its absurd, and this governing body cannot be let off the hook...none of them...for this decision. They are all on the record.
Sorry to go off on a Tau rant, but when I review all the promises the newly elected made...in the words (roughly) of Ed Matthews in the last BOT meeting: "You don't believe everything you read in campaign material, do you?" I guess not, Mr. Matthews. I guess not. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 5039
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 10:12 pm: |
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Mary
These are the EXACT reason he should remove himself from the discussions!!!
"And why should he recuse himself from any Tau discussion? Because he is a member of the Tau committee? But he is also a member of Main Street, of the Chamber of Commerce, of the Historic Preservation Society, of the River Corridor Committee, and probably other committees in town that we don't know about."
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Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 5040
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 10:14 pm: |
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Mary
You won't hear much about the other two because they've done, well not much... |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 5041
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 10:23 pm: |
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JayJay-
From what I understand their gala last weekend didn't sell as many tickets as they expect. |
phd6786
Citizen
Username: Phd6786
Post Number: 21
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 10:32 pm: |
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JTA: "You won't hear much about the other two because they've done, well not much..."
Do you blame them?
When they see that DeVaris, who according to Mary's post has done very much, gets the treatment he gets on this board because, according to some, he allegedly erred once why should Stacey and Terrian bother doing anything? They play it safe. I don't blame them.
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Sheena Collum SHU
Citizen
Username: Sheena_collum
Post Number: 697
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 11:01 pm: |
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1) I think Stacey has done a good job.
2) There are plenty of threads with respect to Tau... can we attempt to maybe not have the same discussion 100 times with the same people saying the exact same argument (on both sides). I think at this point, everyone on MOL knows how everybody else feels about the Tau situation... I don't know how many more times we can beat a dead horse. |
talk-it-up
Citizen
Username: Talkitup
Post Number: 218
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 12:15 am: |
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What is it she has done a good job at???? |
jayjay
Citizen
Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 646
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 8:28 am: |
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Talk-it-up-
You're right. What has Stacey Jennings done? Proposed a SID that the business community doesn't want? She went to the town meetings, but to what effect? Has she addressed any of the issues brought forward? She's in discussion with the Board of Ed about the Middle School parking lot for village use? Should she even be the one to do that given her husband's role in the school? Has she actually done anything but comment on her single-minded new demographic agenda?
As for Abrams, she hasn't attended enough meetings to count. She ought to be recalled for dereliction of responsibility. But instead she'll probably be rewarded with a judgeship. The last time she expressed an opinion, it was about the new demographic or she took on DeVaris for suggesting we need a real estate attorney to negotiate real estate development deals. Thanks, Abrams for looking out for taxpayer interests!(hah!)
And as for DeVaris, while he has spearheaded the move to better communications, his stand on the sculpture has tarnished him as an independent thinker. It is unfortunate that he could not take a stand against the shoddy, maybe illegal, processes that lead to the action to proceed with the sculpture. He should have recused himself from the debate as a memeber of the committee, or at the very least stood up against the other memebers who just rolled over on the issue. Even his love of art should have yielded to proper government. |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 3114
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 9:55 am: |
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SORising, what illegal diversion of bond money are you speaking of? |
Mary32
Citizen
Username: Mary32
Post Number: 23
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 11:51 am: |
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SOrising, wow what a copout! You like to pontificate and expound on your inane arguments over and over again, but when you are challenged to explain your absurdities, all you can come back with is:
I doubt anyone could explain it to you, and
if you can't see that, few would be able to clarify it for you.
I gave you a rational explanation as to why DeVaris has absolutely no ethical conflict with the Tony Smith sculpture issue, and the best you can do is come back with these quotes?! I thought you would be one of the few who would be able to clarify your irrational statements for me, since you made them. I guess I overestimated you.
Wow! is your obsession blinding your judgment!!! I am wasting my time with you.
Vermontgolfer, I am as upset as anybody else that the money was diverted the way it was (I pay high taxes too) and that some trustees lied to the public about it. But I wouldn’t blame DeVaris for it, as he wasn’t there when all this happened. DeVaris would have been against the methods used to divert the money and the lies of the other trustees (I know that because I know him as an ethical, principled, and honest man, his actions have shown this repeatedly), but he is not against spending money for public art. If what you call an “absurdity” is the sculpture itself, remember that DeVaris has said that he believes the sculpture will be good for the Village, and based on his conviction he voted to contract for the fabrication; I’d say this is pretty forthright. You just have a difference of opinion. He cannot go back and correct the lies and the procedural mistakes that other trustees have done in the past.
Mary |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 3319
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 12:21 pm: |
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What frustrates me is that the "new" trustees who were not involved with the initial "money game" regarding the TS Statue have not had the courage to step up and say Wait. It only takes 4 votes to stop this endeavor in its tracks until a more resasonable method of funding is presented. It makes no sense to remove something we havent' finshed paying for and replace it with a new object and additional debt. I just wish one of the three new trustees had the courage to challenge the status quo (on a number of things). |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 3121
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 2:22 pm: |
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phd, I doubt anyone is doing anything (or not doing anything) because of what is posted here. We have been told time and again that we are not a representative sample of South Orange views.
Besides, inaction is an action of sorts. Being a toadie takes action. At every meeting, they have a choice. Go along, or take a stand for what's right. Every trustee has the same options. The only reason I fault Stacey and Terriann more than others is because they said things would be different.
I do respect Eric taking a stand for something he believes in. However more than one person here (including our esteemed moderator) has supported the sculpture until they found out about the financing fraud. Part of being a good leader is recognizing when the good of the town outweighs your personal preferences. Often, the integrity of the administration must be put ahead of something that you might believe is good for the town. |
vermontgolfer
Supporter
Username: Vermontgolfer
Post Number: 434
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 9:55 pm: |
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Mary32,
You make my point exactly.
"He cannot go back and correct the lies and the procedural mistakes that other trustees have done in the past. "
Eric had the opportunity to question this whole situation prior to voting on the fabrication, as did all the other trustees to be fair. However, he chose not to bring it up or present a dissenting opinion. Why, because he believes the sculpture will be good for SO. Frankly, that's subjective. I feel differently, does that make my opinion carry the same weight?
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jeep
Citizen
Username: Jeep
Post Number: 119
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 2:23 pm: |
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I am very disappointed in all three. Devaris especially is totally clueless. He has accomplished absolutely nothing. He repeats the most un important thing several times to get his useless point across. For instance last night when he was asking that all the e-mails be made available he repeated this 10 times to make his point. Total waist of time. |
JoRo
Citizen
Username: Autojoe51
Post Number: 114
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 3:00 pm: |
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eric has continuously pushed for greater communication (he helped spearhead the neighborhood meetings for one), and he's right to push for the e-mail addresses to be posted online. they were promised at one point to be added by april, yet nothing. the public needs better access to their officials, and this is a reasonable place to start. he's also pushed for the BOT to take control of the development process, which if you ask me is the greatest problem facing our town. as long as we're stalled and waiting for all these committee reports to trickle in, the downtown decays, the real estate market softens and the chances for a real recovery evaporate. we're years behind the curve on development. he's raised some unpopular ideas and should be commended. he's not perfect, but he's an important voice for the town. |
jeep
Citizen
Username: Jeep
Post Number: 122
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 3:10 pm: |
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He acts like a glorified town clerk. He has accomplished nothing in this past year. We are in a mess here and we need someone to stand up and take control of the the town! I would love to see some real emotion in a meeting. A trustee standing up in their seat and screaming! Something to show that someone is fed up with the crap that has been going on. |
JoRo
Citizen
Username: Autojoe51
Post Number: 115
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 5:20 pm: |
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it would appear eric is outnumbered on some controversial issues (obtaining outside development counsel, third-party planning help, defining vision from BOT top-down) that could well help improve the town. is screaming going to help? doubt it. could he deliver better? sure. but the content matters more to me than smoothness or emotion. |
Mary32
Citizen
Username: Mary32
Post Number: 24
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 5:25 pm: |
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So jeep, Eric has accomplished nothing in the past year? Which of his accomplishments I listed in my above post 19 on May 12 do you consider nothing? |
vermontgolfer
Supporter
Username: Vermontgolfer
Post Number: 436
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 5:33 pm: |
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Mary32,
Still waiting for your reply!
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susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1569
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 6:34 pm: |
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I admire Eric's ability to NOT resort to the shouting that is often heard from some other areas of the table. Given he is a vocal minority on some important issues, his ability to keep his cool while others lose theirs is a valuable asset. I'm not yet sure that he is the coalition builder who will move opinions of others on the board, but I am glad to have him there willing to state unpopular opinions on many issues.
I don't agree with him on everything (including his ignoring the funding issues on Tau, as I've said before), but am glad that he is on the board. |
Mary32
Citizen
Username: Mary32
Post Number: 25
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 6:34 pm: |
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Vermontgolfer,
Sorry I missed your post.
“he [Eric] chose not to bring it up or present a dissenting opinion. Why, because he believes the sculpture will be good for SO?
Yes.
Frankly, that's subjective?”
So? Is he wrong for expressing his opinion? Isn’t that why I and some other 1,000 voters voted for him? Because we respect his opinion?
I feel differently, does that make my opinion carry the same weight?
Yes. But you can't do anything about it because you were not elected by the 1,000 other residents to speak for their interests. He was. I am sure he would listen to you but he also listens to many other residents like myself.
Mary
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vermontgolfer
Supporter
Username: Vermontgolfer
Post Number: 437
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 8:18 pm: |
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Mary32,
I voted for Eric, my point is that he, along with some of the other trustees had the opportunity to bring up the issue of funding Tau and attempt to make it right, unfortunately none of them did a thing about it.
I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this.
PS, thanks for replying. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 5059
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 10:03 pm: |
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P
Terri Ann seems to have a one track mind. Do I blame them for not doing much, you bet I do. But hey, it's better then the crummy job most of the rest of the BOT does.
As for Eric-
While I have no problem with his support of public art, I do have a problem with him going along with it being funded in the way it's being funded. If you're saying since the means (the dishonest way the funding for Tau was aquired) justifys the end (Eric's support of public art) that's pretty sad. |
SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 368
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, May 18, 2006 - 9:35 pm: |
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Rastro, diverting bond money raised for one purpose to another is illegal under NJ statutes. In the case at hand, money being used to pay for Tau was borrowed for sidewalk and street repairs/improvements. They would have to make ALL needed repairs/improvements to streets and sidewalks in SO before they could even think about using anything left over for another purpose. The only way around this, would be to argue legally that Tau expenses qualify as a sidewalk or street repair or improvement. Given the state of sidewalks and streets in South Orange which actually need repairing, it would be very hard if not impossible to convince a judge that Tau was a necessary repair to the sidewalk on Sloan Street which so obviously is not in disrepair.
In addition to state prohibitions against the intended diversion of bond money to pay for Tau, there may also be federal prohibitions as well. Stay tuned. And thanks for being concerned about whether the BOT is endorsing illegal activity. So few people are and this situation will only invite further harm to the town by people willing to do whatever they can get away with with no one stopping them. |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 3161
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 9:00 am: |
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SOrising, but it was spelled out (in the fine print) when the bond ordinance was originally approved. It was not diverted without "public knowledge" in the sense that had people studied the bond ordinance thoroughly (who actually would do that?), someone would have seen the line item for it. It was not "borrowed". It waws explicitly identified.
Yes, it was sneaky and IMNSHO unethical, but I am not sure why it is illegal.
Again, the money was not diverted. It was just "hidden". |
SOrising
Citizen
Username: Sorising
Post Number: 369
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 9:23 am: |
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RAstro, I've seen no evidence that it was spelled out in fine print. The notes from meetings MHD obtained are so incoherent about what is being said, the bond money can only be identified as being for "sidewalks and streets."
It would get down to which particular document you think "spelled it out (in fine print)" The only one I've seen indicates the money for Tau would be covered by a CDBG, which they later learned was also illegal. HUD called them on that one. In any case, the legal documents that were submitted for raising the bonds would be determinative, not so much notes from BOT committee meetings. Have you had an attorney review these (bond) documents? |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 4081
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 9:30 am: |
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Rastro,
That is actually not true.
The bond ordinance has NO reference to the sculpture.
The ONLY reference is in a passing comment from John Gross in the minutes from a Budget Workshop. A meeting which was not attended by the public, was not televised and the minutes of which did not appear online until AFTER this controversy began. |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 3165
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 9:50 am: |
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MHD, can you point me to those minutes? I distinctly remember reading about Tau under the sidewalk & road repair, but I cannot find the original reference. |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 3166
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 10:01 am: |
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MHD, I thought I read a line item about Tau, under the Sidewalks and Road Repair banner. I cannot find it on MOL because I am obviously not using the search function correctly (it keeps giving me a 500 error). I have tried to trace back in the Tau Facts thread as to when the discussion of the sidewalks first started, but that's not helping.
I am sure it was not just the PDF that you posted there. |
MHD
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 4082
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 4:20 pm: |
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Rastro,
The Bond Ordinance is in its own "sub-thread" under Tony Smith Sculpture FACTS:
http://www.southorangevillage.com/cgi-bin/show.cgi?tpc=3133&post=572944#POST5729 44
The Budget Workshop minutes are on the Village Website at: http://www.southorange.org/minutes/2004/02-18-04BW.pdf |
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