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Message |
    
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 756
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 10, 2003 - 11:12 am: | 
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Nwyave: I agree with Allan that you should try and make the effort to serve on the CBAC. We need people who are willing to make the effort and in the long run, I think you will find that Allan is right and that we did follow most of the advice when the CBAC was more active. |
doublea
Citizen
Username: Doublea
Post Number: 349
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Monday, November 10, 2003 - 12:26 pm: |
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How long have the trustees known that the cost of the clean-up was $1.5 million?
If mayhew hadn't brought the subject up on this thread, would the public have even known the cost?
Patrick: In your post above, you state that the contract with the developer provides that the developer is responsable for a small part of the clean-up. What contract and how is the developer's portion of clean-up determined?
I strongly urge that the BOT discuss this whole subject in depth this evening to maintain what little credibility remains on the part of the Village as far as its residents are concerned. I'm sure that the Village Counsel will say it can't be discussed for reasons of confidentiality
but I think it's time that the residents know what's going on.
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mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 555
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 11:44 am: |
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Mark/Allan/Patrick,
I see that Monday's meeting agenda has been posted. http://www.southorange.org/agenda.asp?page=agendaRM.htm
First, I want to thank you all for having this done regularly prior to each meeting. I think it is a great service for people to see in advance what will be discussed.
As usual a couple questions on items to be discussed:
1) Resolution Authorizing the Village President to Submit Applications for Essex County Community Development Block Grant Funding - could you help us understand what this is? What are the grants targeted to be used for?
2) I see that the "Villager of the month" is going to SENATOR RICHARD J. CODEY, STATE ASSEMBLYMAN MIMS HACKETT AND STATE ASSEMBLYMAN JOHN F. MCKEON. Do any of them even live in South Orange? I was under the impression the award was intended to recognize regular residents.
3) Could you see if more recent meeting minutes can be posted online? I notice they have not been updated since June & I do not believe additional Closed Session minutes have been posted since they first appeared earlier this year.
Thanks!
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patjoyce
Citizen
Username: Patjoyce
Post Number: 43
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 3:26 pm: |
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MHD -
1) The cbdg request will be and has been for many years a grant to offset cost of construction of the Arts Center. SO has a difficult time getting cbdg money because of the relative wealth of our citizens. A couple of years ago we had obtained a grant for Irvington Avenue but it was subsequently disallowed due to the ecomic bracket of the citizens in that area. The BOT has been told by our grantsperson that this is the best way to insure geting some money out of cbdg.
2) at first I was against this nomination and award. I agree that I thought that this award was intended for residents. After some thought, however, I did realize that we have received a significant amount of money from the state recently. Although I only personally know John McKeon I'm sure all three of our reps have worked hard to get us this money. Sometimes saying thanks to someone is a worthwhile endeavor.
3) will inquire.
Patrick |
Allan J Rosen
Citizen
Username: Allanrosen
Post Number: 32
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 3:49 pm: |
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Mhd: 1) The CDBG funds for many years will go largely to funding the SOPAC construction and amortization.
2) I'm not sure it's appropriate for the reason you suggest, but the CRC wanted to thank our current representatives for all the extra funds we have received the last couple of years, including this year's "extraordinary aid", which we had never previously received.
3) I'll inquire into updating the minutes on Monday when everyone is back from AC. |
mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 556
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 4:09 pm: |
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Allan/Patrick,
Thank you both for the responses (I'm sure Mark would have responded too...but he's been MIA on MOL today) 
As for Villager of the month, I understand what you are saying...just be careful not to go down the proverbial slippery slope. Hopefully this month is the exception and not the rule. |
noracoombs
Citizen
Username: Noracoombs
Post Number: 31
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 7:17 pm: |
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Patrick Joyce wrote:
"A couple of years ago we had obtained a grant for Irvington Avenue but it was subsequently disallowed due to the ecomic bracket of the citizens in that area."
I hope that is not the same grant referred to in this excerpt from the Village web site's section on Irvington Avenue redevelopment:
"The construction cost is anticipated to be $1 Million dollars, with the Village receiving $720,000 in grants to finance the project."
Are we talking about two different grants here? |
Allan J Rosen
Citizen
Username: Allanrosen
Post Number: 33
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 10:03 am: |
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Two different grants. |
mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 569
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 1, 2003 - 5:42 pm: |
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I noticed that additional BOT Meeting Minutes have been posted online through October 2003. (http://www.southorange.org/minutes.asp?page=2003minutes.asp) Thank you, Mark/Allan/Patrick.
It definitely is interesting to see the progress (or lack thereof) in the updates on Beifus, SOPAC and the Supermarket over the past few months.
Can additional Closed Session minutes also be posted? I see that minutes for only 14 meetings over the past 10 years have been posted. (http://www.southorange.org/minutes.asp?page=closed_session.asp) Considering there must be close to 20 Closed Sessions per year, that's not a very meaningful percentage.
Thank you. |
mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 588
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 8, 2003 - 11:54 am: |
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I know that Mark is out on vacation, but perhaps Dr. Rosen or Trustee Joyce can answer the following questions about tonight's meeting agenda:
Resolution Providing for the Filing of a TWA-1 Permit Application for Sanitary Sewer Extension for Alexan at South Orange (Pulte Homes/Quarry Site). What streets will be torn up for this & who will be responsible for the cost of the repaving & repair?
The Community Relations Committee has recommended that Angelo Bianchi, Past Chairman of the Planning be awarded the Villager of the Month Award on December 15, 2003. Now that he is moving, who will be the new chair of the Planning Board?
Resolution to be Voted Upon at December 15, 2003 Regular Meeting- a Resolution to Increase Mylan’s Contract Could someone please explain what this is & what the financial implication is?
Any progress on getting additional minutes from Closed Session Meetings posted online? |
mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 611
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 4:15 pm: |
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Now that Mark is back from vacation & I see the same items above on the agenda for Dec 15, perhaps someone can address the questions above?
I also see "Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of a Sport Utility Vehicle from State Contract Vendor Warnock Dodge, Inc.". Could someone explain what this would be for? With all the "controversy" about the SUV provided to a Village employee earlier, I am curious if this is related?
P.S. Before some of my "fans" out there state that I should simply attend the meeting...I think it is important to understand what the issues are BEFORE the meeting, so people can make an informed decision whether or not to attend and/or speak on these issues. |
Washashore
Citizen
Username: Washashore
Post Number: 118
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 4:42 pm: |
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MHD: Your P.S. comment above should be acknowledged and accepted by one and all. No need to be defensive about the needs of citizens in a democracy. You probably felt the need to make that comment, though, because of the level of secrecy in which BOT doings, dealings, and decsiions are kept that make it extremely difficult for people to know IN ADVANCE what is going on, and to be able to participate in the decision-making process in a timely fashion. Our Farrell Field Friends are the latest case in point.
Keep asking the questions. Democracy, and any hope for improving South Orange, demand it. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 829
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 12:43 pm: |
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MHD: In no particular order ....
1. The planning board selects their own chair. I do not know as of now who that will be.
2. There was some additional work added to the original plans and the renovations are being done in seperate. Originally they quoted the job based on it all being done at once. I think it was done this way because we could qualify for more than one grant as well as spread the costs out over more than one year/budget.
I do not know who the SUV is for, but will ask tonight. It might be a replacement for one of the vehicles we already have.
Washashore: Despite your implications, I have always encouraged questions (as have other trustees). |
mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 612
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 4:45 pm: |
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Mark,
Thanks...and welcome back.
Perhaps you missed the other item: Resolution Providing for the Filing of a TWA-1 Permit Application for Sanitary Sewer Extension for Alexan at South Orange (Pulte Homes/Quarry Site).
What streets will be torn up for this & who will be responsible for the cost of the repaving & repair?
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Washashore
Citizen
Username: Washashore
Post Number: 119
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2003 - 9:28 pm: |
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Mr. Rosner: You responded to me with the following quote: "Despite your implications, I have always encouraged questions (as have other trustees)."
You wrote that, I assume, in response to my comment to MHD that he need not appologize for asking questions "because of the level of secrecy in which BOT doings, dealings, and decisions are kept that make it extremely difficult for people to know IN ADVANCE what is going on, and to be able to participate in the decision-making process in a timely fashion."
Your coment about the BOT encouraging questions is beside the point: If no one knows what the "doings, dealings, and decisions" of the BOT are, then it is difficult if not impossible to ask appropriate questions, in a timely fashion, that allow residents to partiicpate in the decsiion0-making.
Why, for example, was the information about how contaminated the Shop Rite site is only fully revealed AFTER the last BOT election in May of 2003, when the extent of contamination was known well before that date? Residents were intentionally not privvy to the extent of the contamination because that knowledge, and the lack of due diligence that led to the Village becoming the owner of such a swamp, may well have affected how some people would have voted for BOT representatives.
If we don't know enough about what's going on, we don't know enough to ask the right questions, in a timely fashion. Your and the BOT's "encouragement" of them therefore, as I said above, is beside the point. When you become a true aedvocate for OPEN GOVERNMENT, then your encouragement of questions might make some sense. We need to KNOW before we can ASK.
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Allan J Rosen
Citizen
Username: Allanrosen
Post Number: 44
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 11:15 am: |
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Mhd: The SUV was for the police Dept. The sewer tie-in into the Joint Mtg will be paid for by Pulte.
Sorry, but I wasout of commission for a little over a week.
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Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 24
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 7:29 am: |
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Alan/Mark:
I would like to make a suggestion that for future BOT meetings that an ongoing agenda item be the status of the current redevelopment projects.
This will allow some level of communication to the community and an opportunity for questions and answers. |
Allan J Rosen
Citizen
Username: Allanrosen
Post Number: 46
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 10:47 am: |
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Howard: Essentially that is already being done. President Calabrese reports on redevelopment updates at least once a month at Trustee meetings. Perhaps we can request that the item be formally put on Conference Agenda as an item so that the public will be better aware that the topic is being reported on. |
Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 25
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 11:01 am: |
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I agree. It would also be helpful if it were updated on the SouthOrange website.
Thanks |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 836
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 12:16 pm: |
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The website has been updated. |
Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 26
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 5:35 pm: |
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I must of missed something but
http://www.southorange.org/redevelopment_html.asp
does not look like it has been updated in some time!
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mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 839
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Friday, December 19, 2003 - 9:44 am: |
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Howard: I was wrong, I thought it had been updated. It should be done on a regular basis.
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mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 621
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, December 19, 2003 - 11:31 am: |
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Mark,
Nice to see the willingness to admit mistakes...that's one out of 4 of my constructive suggestions from the other thread.http://www.southorangevillage.com/cgi-bin/show.cgi?tpc=3133&post=183137#POST1831 37
Let's hope some progress is made on the other 3 suggestions! |
woodstock
Citizen
Username: Woodstock
Post Number: 508
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, December 19, 2003 - 2:16 pm: |
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MHD,
I didn't get a chance in the other thread to say that I thought the suggestions you made were both positive and doable. I'm glad to see that we can go in a positive direction, rather than complaining - myself included.
Waiting For The Electrician, Or Someone Like Him
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Howard Levison
Citizen
Username: Levisonh
Post Number: 28
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, December 20, 2003 - 10:26 am: |
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Thanks to John Gross for updating the status of redevelopment projects on:
http://www.southorange.org/redevelopment_html.asp
Bloggers should review and participate in an active dialogue. I look forward to seeing both this site being current and BOT meeting discussions.
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mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 682
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 9, 2004 - 5:16 pm: |
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I see the agendas have been posted for Monday's meeting. (glad to see that is still being done regularly)
One simple question this week: I see several entries for "Resolution Requesting Approval of the Director of Local Government Services to ..."
Who is the "Director of Local Government Services"?
I've never seen that term used before in S.O. |
Allan J Rosen
Citizen
Username: Allanrosen
Post Number: 53
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 7:04 am: |
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mhd: The Director of Local Services is a state functionary in Trenton (Finance Department) who in these cases is being asked to approve our receipt and use of monies that are not easy or possible to guess the amount of in advance. |
Mayhewdrive
Citizen
Username: Mayhewdrive
Post Number: 685
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 7:44 am: |
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Thanks, Allan. I was afraid S.O. had hired ANOTHER person. |
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