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Message |
    
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 4727
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 9:55 pm: | 
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As a semi lifelong Maplewood resident, Fred P. has been amazing. I am sure that Vic, David H, etc. are also very dedicated, hard working guys, but I have seen more positive things happening here as a direct result of Fred's hard work that has truly inspired hope for me and others in our decisions to remain here in Maplewood. Fred grew up here and has an innate love and knowledge of our town, as well as true altruism for its success and well being.
Thanks Fred, we know you'll keep up the good work. I just wish you were allowed to fix the parkway, cause I know you could. |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 520
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 10:03 pm: |
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i have been here a year and other than this board i can find no other info on what happens in this town. i work at night and weekends so cant go to meetings. i couldnt tell you the mayors name. |
cjc
Citizen
Username: Cjc
Post Number: 3252
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 10:25 pm: |
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mem -- what recent improvements to the town have you so positive? |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 4731
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 10:46 pm: |
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One example of many is the new police station. People complained about the original decision, he took a poll and went the extra mile to make a better choice. There was no "this is what we decided and screw you" like with the reval. He actually fixed it. He also cares about the whole town, not just the east side. He's fair, he uses his intelligence and business sense (and please - we need business sense) instead of his ego. Very refreshing. He is pro gay marriage and sensible about racial issues (CCR member).
You should meet with him - very impressive, and no sense of ego politician at all. |
sbenois
Supporter
Username: Sbenois
Post Number: 13341
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 11:01 pm: |
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They pushed for the Universal Chain settlement after years of inaction, netting 700k for the town. The best that their critics could muster on this issue was that Frederico wanted to apply the 700k towards immediate tax relief. Dave the Rave thought that this was reckless accounting. But in my book, the reckless accounting was by those who allowed the property to sit idle for years. Frederico and Ian should have been given medals for turning this negative into a positive.
They closed the X-rated shop on Springfield.
They pushed for a cap on school spending as members of the BOSE last year - something that was a huge symbolic victory for taxpayers. In fairness, Vic DeLuca did vote down, as a member of the BOSE a school budget in 2001(?) saying that it was not affordable. But Frederico and Ian (and Ken) get bonus points for the way that they laid down the law. They framed the discussion in terms of what taxpayers could afford - with clear targets for what was acceptable.
They've certainly done a great deal in terms of making the TC meetings and the TC more accessible. You can actually hear the meetings now. The Sbenois Lip Reading Service for TV Viewers of TC Meetings is on the verge of bankruptcy.
They've pushed us towards getting a new police station. Some might not agree with the site. Some might not have liked the process. But they've steered us towards remarkable progress in just a couple of years. It's hard for me to believe that a site has been picked and agreed upon already.
They've created a positive vibe with the police - and I can tell you that I had a lengthy discussion with a Sgt. on the force two weeks ago who told me point blank that this TC is interested in rolling up their sleeves and getting things done in a "very businesslike" manner. He made a point of saying how impressed he was with Frederico and especially "Mr Grodman". He also praised Mr. Pettis for his honesty and integrity during negotiations. He constrasted this with past years when discussions were overly contentious. It also didn't go unnoticed by me that he spoke with pride about how strong our force is right now and how great it was that the TC recently held a ceremony for promotions and recognition.
Even Frederico's and Ian's most vocal critics have a difficult time arguing that they've not got a very impressive list of acomplishments. |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 522
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 11:39 pm: |
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where do you all get this info? |
Straw & manure
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 4641
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 8:47 am: |
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Sbenois is actually Fred... |
lumpyhead
Citizen
Username: Lumpyhead
Post Number: 1183
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 9:38 am: |
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Not to mention the man has organized a dinner dance at the Maplewood Country Club in order to raise money for renovations to the High School gym. He is MATCHING the money collected. He is tireless and he is the best. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5798
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 9:48 am: |
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local, you should get a subscription to the News Record. If MOL is the only source you read, it will be the only source where you get your information. Also, you can tape the broadcasts of the township meetings from channel 35, if you get cable.
MMS put on "Once Upon A Mattress" last month. Fred gave a speech before the play. He went to MMS, when his mother was a teacher and guidance counselor there. He presented to the school a brand new grand piano he bought with his own money! What a class act. We learned a bit about his mother, who sounds like she was a great woman. There was a story about a boy who was failing, and she saw his potential. The boy now teaches at Harvard. So Fred (um, or was it someone else?) presented an award to his mother, who was also attending.
After the show, Fred told me personally about how when he was an MMS student, a boy punched him in the face because his mother gave the boy a low grade. |
D.
Moderator
Username: Dave
Post Number: 5553
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 10:20 am: |
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Was it behind the library? That's where all the fights happened. |
sbenois
Supporter
Username: Sbenois
Post Number: 13352
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 10:25 am: |
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That explains why the last time I saw him and I mentioned that I had a low grade fever, he ducked before I could finish my sentence. |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 2133
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 10:50 am: |
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it was most likely a gang-related incident. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5801
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 11:03 am: |
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Also, local, you can read the town's official website: http://www.twp.maplewood.nj.us/. From there, you can download the Leaflet, which ought to be arriving in your home. |
gj1
Citizen
Username: Gj1
Post Number: 132
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 11:45 am: |
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local - for someone who seems to believe so highly in the importance of a well informed citizenry, your knowledge of township affairs is sorely lacking. Perhaps you should heed your own advice and do some independent research instead of complaining about how your schedule doesn't allow you to attend meetings. |
growler
Citizen
Username: Growler
Post Number: 456
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 11:49 am: |
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Wasn't the poll taken only after there was public out cry to not take the Betty White site? |
gj1
Citizen
Username: Gj1
Post Number: 133
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 12:05 pm: |
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Yes, but mem noted that. Still, it's to the mayor's credit that the poll was taken as it was a move that could have undermined his credibility. It cleared the way for the current proposal which seems to be much more popular. |
Straw & manure
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 4643
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 12:27 pm: |
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Fred sucks crap...I'm voting for Vic. |
gj1
Citizen
Username: Gj1
Post Number: 135
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 12:35 pm: |
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The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 523
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 12:35 pm: |
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Perhaps you should heed your own advice and do some independent research
that is why i asked where everyone gets their info. so there, smarty pants! |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 550
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 9:50 pm: |
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ok, so i got the leaflet. not a great source of local governmentl issues. anywhere else? |
anon
Citizen
Username: Anon
Post Number: 1687
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 12:21 am: |
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Mr. Libertarian: You have to read the N-R even though it is often so badly written that it supplies little information. But try to follow the letters to the editor which may give a little more insight. Keep reading MOL. Talk to neighbors. Talk to local merchants, especially the ones who live in Town. Try to get out and about a little more. Join the CBAC.
It's not easy to get involved and knowledgeable when you've been here a short time, but keep your eyes and ears open. |
fredprofeta
Citizen
Username: Fredprofeta
Post Number: 89
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 12:37 pm: |
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Libertarian:
I agree with anon. The News-Record is the best place to start. The most important issues currently confronting the town are usually described in the first several pages. I disagree with anon about the quality of the writing - it is much improved over former years and, as the source of some of that information, I think that, in general, it is accurately conveyed.
With that background, you should be able to profit from following the discussions on MOL. Of course, the trick here is to weed out the bias and the agendas (no mean feat, especially when fueled by anonymity). My advice is to note who grounds their posts in historical fact and who does not.
You should also be getting your information directly from the Township Committee. The 5 of us are very accessible. We meet the first and third Tuesdays of every month, at 8 PM, in town hall. If you can't attend in person, watch us on channel 35 in Maplewood. Since becoming Mayor, I begin every meeting with a Mayor's Introduction, in which I summarize the business we will transact that night and the issues we will discuss. If you hear me describe an issue in which you are interested, show up at the Public Comment portion of the meeting and give us your views.
Also beginning last year, the Township Committee estabished a Talk to the TC program. We set up a table once a month on a Saturday morning, alternating between the Post Office in the Village and the corner of Prospect and Springfield Avenue. We are there from 9 AM to 12 noon, and we are there to answer questions and get input. On March 26, we will be in front of the Post Office.
Most of the TC members have office hours. Mine are on the first Thursday of each month from 7 PM to 8 PM at town hall. Check the News-Record for dates and times.
If all else fails, get in touch with me. My email is FRP713@aol.com. My home phone is 762-0905.
I'm sure you'll be up to speed in no time. |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 557
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 12:51 pm: |
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thank you much. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5139
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 7:26 pm: |
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Local:
No one expects you to be able to follow all the ins and outs of local government after having been here for only a short time.
Since you are unavailable most evenings and weekends, it is probably difficult to impossible for you to experience TC meetings and meet the TC weekend mornings first hand. I have also noticed that most TC members tend to have their office hours in the evening when most of the rest of us are home from work but I think at least one of the TC members has early morning office hours before catching the train to the City.
I disagree with Fred about the coverage of local events by the News Record. If you already know the details the newspaper is reporting you may be able to fill in some of the blanks but our dear local newspaper often leaves a lot of blanks in their coverage. At least one of the 5 Ws and the H are generally missing from each story and unfortunately some of the stories don't get printed at all.
The best way to get to know the community is to become involved. The CBAC is a great way to get to know about local government and local issues. Being around during the day, when the town government is open, is a huge advantage because you would be available to meet with department heads when many of the other CBAC members are not.
There are opportunities during the daylight hours which should not interfere with your sleep schedule and will give you an opportunity to get more involved and therefore better informed in town issues.
Reading and posting to MOL is decidedly an art; but, from what I have read of your posts, you seem to be well on your way to mastering it. The nice thing about MOL is that you can always ask questions or start your own thread and people will jump at the chance to try and keep you informed. Others will then jump in and quickly inform you of any bias the previous poster(s) may have had, making it easier for a novice to evaluate the material and reach his or her own conclusion. Another advantage to MOL is that it is usually there 24/7, which means you can join in on your own schedule. |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 570
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 8:07 pm: |
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thank you all for the info. it has been warmly received. i do however have one more stupid question, CBAC? |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5143
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 8:19 pm: |
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The Citizens'Budget Advisory Committee is a committee of volunteers which gets to review the town's preliminary budget every year, meet with the heads of town departments, and come up with a series of recommendations for how the town should best spend its money. The CBAC also makes programmatic recommendations, some of which have been implemented by the town to the town's benefit.
The CBAC is proken down into subcommittees, each of which examines the budget of one or more town agencies. Now that our own George Berkeley is in charge, membership on the CBAC has been made more widely available to MOL participants. George usually announces the time and date of the CBAC general meeting in the section of the Message Board devoted to Maplewood Issues and then provides a sign up sheet so people can state their preference. George can correct me if I am wrong, but I am not aware of anyone having been turned down for participation since George started this process two years ago. |
Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 815
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 8:51 pm: |
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Let's step it up a level:
The CBAC is composed of volunteers and are not appointed by the Township Committee.
It is unique in that very few communities anywhere in the USA, have a citizens group who reviews the budget and makes recommendations to the elected officials responsible for the budget.
The elected officials may or may not accept the recommendations.
It is a:
a) great citizen input to the elected officials, and
b) great learning experience for the volunteers, a number of whom have run for the Township committee or the Bd of Education.
I am not aware of anyone who wants to participate being turned down. |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 571
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 9:12 pm: |
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thanks! |
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