Wants committee
to address issues
To the editor:
This is a letter written to former West Amwell Mayor Nance Palladino:
Having recently written two open letters to you and the Township Committee, which were published in The Beacon, and not having received a response to the questions raised there, I am writing to you personally to ask that these questions be addressed.
The overarching issue I am raising is one of priorities; on what basis do you and other committee members decide in favor of investing tax dollars in large expensive infrastructure projects in lieu of improved basic community services?
Some specific questions along this line are as follows:
What was the justification for the size of the new municipal building?
Even allowing for future growth, it seems far too large for a rural community of only 2,400 residents.
Is the new municipal building fully utilized?
As a nearby resident, I can tell you that I routinely see only a few cars, sometimes none or one, parked there during normal business hours.
As a side question, why are the police still stationed in the old Mt. Airy building?
Other townships typically co-locate their police with other municipal functions. Why can’t we do this consolidation and realize cost savings and efficiencies?
Why did the replacement of the Swan Creek bridge on Rocktown-Lambertville Road take six months to complete?
I have observed other similar or larger projects around the county take far less time. This extended period greatly inconvenienced Rocktown-Lambertville Road residents, many of whom were forced to go several miles out of their way to get to their workplaces or access needed services.
What was the justification for the large new storm drains on Rocktown-Lambertville Road?
These conduits, several feet in diameter, reflect an overkill approach to a modest infrastructure need. A simple drainage ditch, such as installed on many neighboring roads would have done fine.
Since there is no pressing need for such a large investment, I would like to know who benefits from this project. Certainly it is not the local residents, who have been forced to endure yet another long period of extreme inconvenience, including missed deliveries, inability to receive basic services, risk of damage to vehicle tires and suspensions and times when local residents literally could not leave or return to their homes.
The contractor informs me that the project will not be finished until the spring, making this a fiasco of nearly a full year’s duration. I will hazard a guess that if you and other members of the Township Committee were affected in this way, you would not have accepted it.
How would you react to not knowing whether a heating service contractor will be allowed past roadblocks and heavy equipment to service a failed furnace in mid winter.? How would you react to not being able to leave your home to purchase food and supplies for Christmas guests?
What provisions are made by the township to allow continued access of emergency fire and medical units during extended periods of limited ingress and egress as a result of township-commissioned infrastructure projects?
Why can’t the township provide trash pick up as a basic community service?
This would be far safer and more efficient than the central location drop-off system we have now. If the township can afford to invest in oversized storm drains, why can’t it provide this important basic service?
If pick up is not practical for a good reason, why can’t the township extend the drop-off time to a second day or extended hours on Saturday so as to do away with the waiting lines currently experienced every Saturday?
For the same tax dollar, it seems more reasonable to invest in time-saving devices for residents than large infrastructure projects of questionable benefit but assured inconvenience and cost.
I am asking that you respond in writing to these questions. As I stated at the beginning of this letter, the key issue is whether the municipal government places the welfare and benefit of all of its residents ahead of indulgent infrastructure projects benefiting only a few.
Designing and implementing Master Plans are fine, but only after basic community services, economically sound decision-making processes and a track record of concern for individual taxpayers are established and meet appropriate standards.
If the new mayor wishes to make "positive and lasting changes" (The Beacon, Dec. 26), he can start here.
West Amwell
Volunteers made
dinner success
To the editor:
I take this opportunity to thank the many volunteers, organizations and churches that made the Delaware Valley Council of Churches 2002 Community Thanksgiving dinner such a great success.
It would be impossible to mention every volunteer by name, but may I salute a few of the many dedicated people and groups that made it all possible. First, I would like to thank Father Leon Kasprzyk, pastor, Father Louis Mattina, Deacon Joseph Masterson and the parish family of St. John the Evangelist Church for hosting the dinner in their parish hall and for their generous sharing of the parish facilities. Both fathers assisted on Thanksgiving Day: greeting people, serving guests and welcoming one and all.
We are grateful for the special support of the clergy and members of the First Presbyterian Church of Lambertville, the Centenary United Methodist Church of Lambertville, the United Methodist Church of Titusville, Old Rocks Church of West Amwell, Solebury Friends Meeting, St. Magdalen’s Church of Flemington, Stockton Presbyterian Church, St. Phillips Chapel, Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church and the New Hope Baptist Church of Metuchen.
May we also thank the following community organizations and groups for the donations of money and volunteer hours: Combined Charities, West Amwell Girl Scout Troops 345 and 359, the Lambertville-New Hope Rotary Club, the sixth-grade class of Lambertville Public School, the youth ministry of St. John the Evangelist Church and the South Hunterdon Municipal Alliance.
The following businesses and individuals deserve special mention: Marie and Al Varga of Blue Ribbon Flowers, Ed and Debbie Closson of Homestead Market, Joe Perry of the Stage Depot, Elva and Henry Brusca of Lambertville Gallery of Fine Art, Kathy and Rick Buscavage of Rick’s Restaurant, Richard McDonough of the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, our hostess, Barbara Stires, our carver, Chris Colt, Joanne Steffanelli, Dottie and Michael Welsh, the Gray family, the Rev. Daryl Wilson and family, Marcia Anderson, Phil Pascoe, the Rev. Greg Faulkner, Tom Foltin, John and Connie Frangakis, Dr. William Mills and Peg and Morgan Van Hise.
I know that I have not mentioned everyone by name but please know that all your help was most appreciated.
May God bless you and your families in this new year.
committee chairperson
Lambertville

