I just returned from the Town Council meeting. In all the years I have been on a public board, I have rarely seen anything like tonight (and I was the President of a BOE that held a public forum to discuss closing two neighborhood schools). The screaming back and forth between the Council and the speakers at the microphone was not only juvenile, but also a downright disgrace. I felt as if I wanted to call the Principal to discipline the class. Is this the group of officials who are running our town?
It is my opinion, and my experience, that elected officials assume the mantle of decorum, even when an audience member is making inflammatory remarks aimed at them. It is the job of the President of the Council to keep order, not to jump into the fray with the other Council members. What we had tonight was a free for all. If, in the judgement of the Council President, a question is inappropriate or out of order, he or she must rule on that before everyone on both sides starts screaming at each other and calling each other names. Save that for elementary kids who will then be disciplined by their teacher.
In spite of all this, there were some issues addressed. The spraying for gypsy moths is a dead issue. The Council, in its infinite wisdom, once again sited lack of money for failure to act on this serious problem. Apparently, the state is cutting our aid, and there is not enough money in the budget for anything more than the one state aerial pass the Council voted for. I am sure I heard a note of defensiveness on the part of the Council members. So, if I get it right, township residents can cry over their dead trees while they play basketball on the new half-million dollar lighted courts in Johnson Park.
Cablevision is the lucky recipient of a 15 year contract. According to Mr. Martin, there is an escape clause somewhere in there, but why in the world tie our hands to one company for 15 years? And, why blame the "previous administration" for not signing a contract they thought was inadequate?
You will NEVER hear me address the public the way our Council addressed them tonight. Actually, as an audience member, I will never address the Council that way either. A former BOE member who served before my time was known to say, "You can disagree without being disagreeable." I hope I remember that if I am elected to the Council.
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Bobbie, you are absolutely right about last night. I have been stewing about what I want to do in order to make myself heard. I was going to get up and voice my frustration but why? None of those people up there care. Besides, I was afraid that I'd wind up stooping down to their level if they started with me. I have decided that once I cool down I will either email the mayor and Angelo Stallone to voice my disgust at the way they, our elected officials behaved, or I may even send a letter to the editor of every paper available to Jackson residents informing them of what I witnessed last evening. They are a disgrace to the Township of Jackson. If they don't have a thick enough skin then maybe they shouldn't be sitting where they are sitting. They should not engage in a shouting match with a resident for any reason whatsoever. I have held the position of president of a parent group here in Jackson and never, did I ever talk to a member of our group like that. They should be ashamed of themselves, especially Seda who has no business saying anything as he's only an invited guest. Phil DelTurco never screams at anyone and he's as invited as the mayor. The kids in the elementary school in which I work behave better than what I witnessed last night. Shame on them!
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