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Health & Fitness

A Candidate's Blog: Transcript One

Have you had enough of one-party rule in Gloucester Township? Does it bother you that township contracts are awarded to political campaign donors?

[Disclosure: This blog is written from my perspective as both a candidate for a seat on Gloucester Township Council and as a concerned citizen with questions and concerns about business as usual in Gloucester Township.]

 

Below is part of Dave Mayer’s message to Gloucester Township upon taking office in 2010?

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"…People are losing their jobs and families are cutting their budgets so that they can make their next mortgage payment. Government is not the solution to all problems, but it can do less to compound the problems faced by people. It must continue to provide vital services to our residents with greater efficiency and less resources. With your cooperation, participation and frankly help, I will work with members of the Township Council to achieve that goal.

“I understand that over the years people have lost touch and confidence in government. We can change that by bringing greater accountability, transparency and community involvement. In the coming days, I will be discussing ideas with the residents to bring greater financial discipline in government operations. These ideas can help lessen the future tax burden of homeowners. Further, I will be presenting proposals to increase public safety, generate economic growth in the township and consolidate government services to bring about efficiency.”

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Consider “Resolution: R-10-01-028”…passed on Jan.2, 2010, at the Council Re-org meeting.

“The first public portion will be limited to agenda items. (Total of 15 minutes)”

“The second portion will be open for any item of public concern. (Total of 30 minutes)”

“A total of thirty (30) minutes shall be permitted at any public portion of the meeting.”

 

In the face of the mayor’s promise to grant citizens a greater voice in government, the new mayor with council in tow, proceeded to stifle any dissent from their agenda by re-ordering the public portion of the council meetings.

I have seen council president, Glen Bianchinni, cut the public portion when he thought it had gone on long enough, based on the change in order as established in the resolution noted above, even though citizens still desired to speak. In contrast, I have seen award ceremonies extend up to 45 minutes at the beginning of council meetings. I would ask which is more pertinent to the business of council, providing citizens with an opportunity to be heard on concerns over township business or giving awards to various groups and organizations throughout the township?

So much for accountability, transparency, and community involvement while rebuilding the waning confidence in government of the township’s citizens.

Case in point, was there any discussion with the concerned residents of Gloucester Township when it was discovered that GT was purchasing an armored BearCat for a quarter million dollars while the county has one standing by and parked in Gloucester Township? What did that mean for the concerned families making do with less and wondering if the next mortgage payment would be paid on time? What about the promise of the township working with greater efficiency thereby cutting resources? I don’t know about you but the purchase of an armored BearCat for $250k seems like reckless spending for the accumulation of more resources. Does that represent “greater financial discipline” while a county vehicle sits nearby at the ready? Where are the discussions over this “greater financial discipline?” Where is the lessening of our tax burden? Has anyone worried about paying their mortgage seen their tax burden decrease?

Our current leadership uses logic that says, if the county vehicle is out and a need arises, what will we do? I say, why stop at one? What if the county vehicle is out and the township vehicle is out and an emergency arises that calls for another vehicle? How is my logic any less sound than the township’s logic for purchasing this vehicle when the county has one standing by?

Yes, Mr. Mayor, you are correct, “Government is not the solution to all problems…” Ronald Reagan informed us of that many years ago. He knew it, many of us understand it, but I’m not quite sure you understand it as he meant it.

It’s time for a change in the leadership team in Gloucester Township and a move away from one-party rule. It’s been said over and over again that we need bi-partisan participation to come up with working solutions to our problems. With one party running this township who cares about bi-partisan solutions to anything?

On a night when special awards are being handed out at council meeting there can be over 150 people in attendance in township council. As soon as the ceremony ends, however, the room clears out and a paltry 8 to 10 people will remain. I know why my attendance has been spotty; because my words are usually met by blank stares and what appears to be apathy by our council and mayor. As soon as the public portion and citizens are “out of the way,” township business goes on as if nothing had ever been said. The council votes in lock step as a good one-party group should regardless of what was said just minutes before by the citizens. It’s as if we’d never spoken so one might wonder, why bother?

I am running for a seat on township council as part of the team running for mayor and three township council seats under the banner of “Gloucester Township FIRST.” It is our desire to return to the people a voice in government. I believe in the first principles established by the founders that government is to be “of, by, and for the people.” I believe that we can shrink the footprint of government and that the people can be trusted with self-rule.

See you in November.

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