New Trustees 60 day review

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Author Message   MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 2642 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 9:53 am:        red_alert's earlier post inspired me to look at ALL the promises made by the new Trustees and compare them to the reality of what we have seen so far. Unfortunately, I haven't watched any meetings where Eric has been in attendence, but here is my grade for the other 2 new Trustees: Stacey *I will offer the residents solutions F *Communicate the facts to the residents in a timely manner D *any tax increase resulting from the revaluation occur in smaller increments over time TBD *lessen the residential tax burden and expand commercial ratable during my term D TerriAnn *I will work with each and every neighborhood association to ensure that your voices are heard in every decision that may affect you D *I will ensure that you are carefully listened to, and that your recommendations are vetted and followed up on. F *I will ensure that closed meetings are limited to those few items in the statute that really need to be private F- *We need to create other such partnerships with Seton Hall D *I will make basic infrastructure upkeep a priority D * 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. F *I will make supporting the Rec. Dept. and working closely with the members of the Recreation Advisory Board a priority D *I hope to be known as the “parks trustee,” D *I will make swift, coordinated and consensus-driven implementation of the river greenway and bike trail the length of the Village a priority. D *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. F *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. F *I think it would destroy the character of our lovely downtown to locate a massive parking deck in the NJ Transit lot. F *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. D *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. D *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. F So far, not an impressive first 60 days....   Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 268 Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 10:03 am:        MHD - that is ridiculous and you know it. Not a very impressive post I give it an F- 60 days is not enough time to get anything accomplished on a board that has not accomplished much in the 14 years I have lived here. I generally think your posts have raised good issues and points to be discussed but this one is a cheap shot. It must be the heat.   MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 2643 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 10:30 am:        Hoops, Fair enough. You are right that certain things cannot be accomplished in 60 days. However, a campaign promise like "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" is pretty tangible and to my knowledge has not been raised ONCE. Also, with regard to bonding, on Monday night the Trustees bonded for an ADDITIONAL $3 million dollars with barely any discussion...again contrary to campaign promises, and costing US alot of money.   Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 1343 Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 11:02 am:        Actually, she didn't promise no new bonding. Just that it would be kept low and in check. All relative terms... Or as we like to call in the business, weaselwords.   jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 103 Registered: 6-2005 Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 12:24 pm:        MHD- Thanks for posting the promises. They should be reviewed after each BOT meeting to see if they are upheld. At the lastmeeting, there was very little evidence suggesting that these promises are front and center to the candidates who made them. Ms. Morre-Abrams promised to "ensure that you are carefully listened to, and that your recommendations are vetted and followed up on", then proceeded to tell a resident who made an emotional plea for a solution to a neighbor who consistently created bon fires in his yard, that he was "out of line". Not much empathy there.   Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 1345 Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 12:52 pm:        And as much as I like Eric, to be fair, shouldn't his promises (and grades on such) be listed as well?   Sheena Collum SHU Citizen Username: Sheena_collum Post Number: 317 Registered: 4-2005 Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 1:04 pm:        jayjay - that resident also started making references to other resident's homes (by name) who were not there to defend themselves. When she said he was out of line - she was referring to that...   Just The Aunt Supporter Username: Auntof13 Post Number: 1893 Registered: 1-2004 Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 9:59 pm:        MHD- Not that I want to stick up for her in anyway, but -I posted a note a few weeks ago that I was told by a reliable source, once the repairs are made to Mountain Station, Midtown Direct would be stopping at Mountain. I think my post was in response to someone asking about parking at Brick Church.   Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 1351 Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 11:49 pm:        JTA, I wonder which midtown direct will stop there. The stops vary from train to train.   sullymw Citizen Username: Sullymw Post Number: 744 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2005 - 9:26 am:        wow, that would be big news   talk-it-up Citizen Username: Talkitup Post Number: 172 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 1:33 am:        I think all of these thoughts, for me, were summed up when that poor man from church street that had his water shut off by the water provider and came home to find "NO WATER" was told during a Board of Trustees Meeting to go to Essex County for help by Terri'ann. Along the way it was also implied that he probably was not telling the truth, whatever that might have been, as Stacy was attempting to end the discussion. (Alan was the only one that actually appeared to be listening and trying to address him.) Anyway - that is not what I expected from Stacy and Terri-ann. There was no attempt for either one to just help. Meanwhile everyone went home to water and a shower - but not that man.   bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 2157 Registered: 6-2001 Posted on Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 1:43 am:        Thank you, talk-it-up. I so agree and am really disappointed in our new "government under glass" trustee who doesn't bother to post (though I'm sure she reads) on Maplewood online. At least she's aware that South Orange has a village president, not a mayor as Stacey apparently believes. But, there's nothing to be done about it. The Magical Mystery Tour is in full force.   SouthOrangeNanny Citizen Username: Sonanny Post Number: 82 Registered: 3-2005 Posted on Saturday, July 30, 2005 - 1:50 am:        (bets it's almost 2am go to bed)   red_alert Citizen Username: Red_alert Post Number: 153 Registered: 3-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 - 10:32 pm:        Great job MHD! Hopefully the grades will be better in the next 60 days.   red_alert Citizen Username: Red_alert Post Number: 154 Registered: 3-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 - 10:41 pm:        Hoops. How much time is needed to prove oneself? 6 months, a year, a term? Think about that when the tax bill comes in. As citizens and taxpayers we should demand action immediately. I agree change can't change overnight. Instead in the first 60 days they should have: + Set objectives + Established a process + Communicate the plan + Gather and attain resources for implementation. The path of change is a long one. Unfortunately, after 60 days, Terriann and Stacey have yet to take that first step.   red_alert Citizen Username: Red_alert Post Number: 155 Registered: 3-2005 Posted on Sunday, August 7, 2005 - 9:13 pm:        Comments? Am I far off base here?   Sheena Collum SHU Citizen Username: Sheena_collum Post Number: 338 Registered: 4-2005 Posted on Monday, August 8, 2005 - 12:05 am:        lol - red_alert, you're on the ball I'm interested in what everyone has accomplished as well but it's only fair to put Eric into the mix as well. He should be held to the same standards as the other two trustees. I think we all adore and respect Eric but he can't be "exempt" from following through on his platform because he's a favorite.   Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 294 Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Monday, August 8, 2005 - 10:09 am:        red - I think you are a concerned resident and have every right to expect something positive coming from the BOT. My only issue was MHD has given failing grades based on campaign promises after 2 months and I felt that was unduly harsh. The standing members on the BOT have had years to make change and make their presence felt. The new members are probably still feeling out where they can make change and where they have to make compromise. We all hope for the best. Why not phone Terri Ann or Staci to find out what they are trying to accomplish?