supplement state money
Upper Freehold would bond $950,000 to
supplement state money
By jane meggitt
Staff Writer
UPPER FREEHOLD — A vote on a bond ordinance that would provide for the acquisition and development of lands for outdoor recreation and conservation purposes was almost delayed by an angry outburst from a resident.
At last week’s Township Committee meeting, Open Space Committee member Sue Kozel, a self-described "strong advocate for the preservation of open space," said the 10 parcels identified by the two environmental organizations chosen to analyze undeveloped parcels in town reflected "an interesting mix of land."
She cited land that was owned by farmers and a golf course company.
She stated that she was uncomfortable being asked to support a list after Mayor David Horsnall, Open Space Chairman and Township Committeeman John Mele, and Township Administrator Barbara Bascom had already agreed on the selection list and appended the list to the ordinance.
The ordinance would appropriate $2 million for outdoor recreation and conservation and authorize the issuance of $950,000 in bonds or notes for the township to finance part of the cost.
While Kozel kept insisting that there were "controversial pieces" on a list Mele had, Bascom explained that the list was put together by the Monmouth Conservation Foundation (MCF) and D&R Greenways, two nonprofit groups.
"The list was Planning Incentive Grant highlighted," said Bascom. "We named almost anything that was open land as possible land to acquire. We asked two nonprofits [MCF and D&R] to pursue certain landowners, especially those in jeopardy of being developed.
"It’s not the same list as the bond ordinance," she added.
In response to Kozel’s insinuation that the Township Committee had something to hide, Mele said, "The list of a number of different properties [is] on file at town hall. Certain properties were raised to the top [of the list]. Owners had expressed interest in their [property] being preserved; they had applied [for preservation] but had not been acted upon, or they were critical to being lost. Those five were given first to the nonprofits. Under the grant, we’re better off having the properties listed in the program and be able to move them through, rather than add them later. It may be on a first-come, first-served basis."
Township Attorney Granville Magee told Kozel, "The town entered one and half months ago into an agreement with Green Acres. We must match funding with them. Hopefully, Trenton will change its present course and send money down for open space for Monmouth and Ocean counties because now it’s a trickle."
Added Bascom: "This money goes back for years. This is only setting up an account for us with Green Acres so then we can negotiate. The mayor, John Mele and I did not meet and choose properties. D&R and MCF got the entire list, and are making decisions."
Magee concurred, "This was sent to Green Acres two years ago. The open space list was sent to Green Acres as part of a program that allowed us to be certified by them."
Bascom gave a brief history of the list Kozel referred to: "I was asked by then-Mayor Richard Osborn to send a letter to every large property owner in town. It was the ‘call-first’ letter. The state has many programs, so before you decide to sell or subdivide, call us first and give us a chance. We had some responses. Those are the people they’re negotiating with — the nonprofits negotiate with them, not the township.
"We’d be happy to get any on this list," Bascom added.
Kozel was unsatisfied, wanting to know the status of the negotiations.
"The final and only decision is the Township Committee’s," replied Magee.
When dealing with open space or farmland preservation, negotiations are "supposed to be confidential. If you gave the information out, a developer would stay away or leave, and leave the property owner open to suing the township," Magee said.
Bascom noted, "Adopting a bond ordinance tonight is not purchasing anybody’s property; it’s giving assurance that Green Acres has $1 million set aside for Upper Freehold Township."
An emotional Bascom told Kozel, "It becomes harmful, your insinuations: always looking and seeing conflict."
Kozel accused Bascom and the township administration of making it difficult to get information.
"I take that as an insult," responded Bascom. "People who have worked with other municipalities say [Upper Freehold] is one of the most open."
Later in the meeting, Kozel gave a report on an Environmental Commission meeting held on Sept. 9.
She had asked the commission to get behind a resolution supporting 4-acre zoning with a cluster option.
She said that Douglas Totten, an Environmental Commission member and leader of the United Landowners of Upper Freehold, "indicated that the town’s bylaws, as he called them, prohibited a discussion on matters other than open space.
"Of course, this is nonsense," Kozel said.
Other members asked for an attorney’s opinion on whether the commission could discuss, debate and ultimately take a position before the Planning Board.
Deputy Mayor William Miscoski stopped her: "Do you have a secretary on the Environmental Commission?"
Kozel replied that she was not the secretary.
"Should we be receiving a report from someone who is not the secretary and is not the chairman? You indicate this is a report — no one else’s name is on it," Miscoski said.
Kozel then began asking Township Committee members if they or any family members belonged to the United Landowners, or had ever given them money.
Committeeman Paul Burke said, "I think this is very offensive."
Kozel shouted, "I think the United Landowners are offensive!"
Attorney Magee interjected, "This is not a hearing. There aren’t many towns in this state where you would get this much time to speak."
Kozel then brought up possible time limits on speakers for the master plan hearing, saying it was unprecedented for the town.
Miscoski informed her, "When we had the Hovnanian development, you weren’t a resident of the town [then]; we had 12 years of hearings. We had time limits."
Magee pointed out, "You have to have a system when you have 200 or 300 people to speak."
"You amaze me, all of you!" said Kozel.
Bascom told Kozel, "I’m not an elected official. I’m a professional.
"I don’t know what group anybody belongs to. Many people gave up the rights to develop their land. There are those people who promoted farmland preservation and made it the rural community you all wanted to live in.
The township administrator said that the current Township Committee, prior committees, planning boards and environmental commissions helped to develop the character of the township as it is today.
[Without them], this township would be [like] Hamilton Township," Bascom said.
"Who made it what it is today?" she asked.