Resident will get chance to talk to township officials

By: Concetta Benuzzi Volpe
   WEST AMWELL — Resident Roger Cohen is questioning the priority of certain decisions made by township officials.
   He said Friday an ongoing process of communication recently had been established with the township, and plans to meet and discuss his concerns are in the works.
   In one of two letters to The Beacon, Mr. Cohen recently asked the Township Committee if municipal government places the welfare and benefit of local residents ahead of indulgent infrastructure projects benefiting only a few?
   Suggesting basic community service, sound economical decision-making and concern for the individual taxpayers may have been overlooked, Mr. Cohen has requested an official answer to the letter.
   In the most recent letter, Mr. Cohen asked that the committee respond to numerous pointed questions posed concerning: Police Department consolidation; municipal building use; Swan Creek bridge replacement; storm drain installation on Rocktown-Lambertville Road; limited access for emergency service vehicles during construction; trash collection as a basic community service; and extended trash drop-off period.
   Mr. Cohen is seeking answers to a variety of local issues he claims have not been effectively addressed. He said it is more reasonable to invest tax dollars in timesaving devices for residents than in large infrastructure projects of questionable benefit and cost.
   The latest letter asserted Mr. Cohen received no response to questions repeatedly posed to former Mayor Nance Palladino and township officials.
   However, Ms. Palladino took exception to the claim while addressing the committee Jan. 15, informing them the township received a letter from Mr. Cohen Dec. 28 and replied Jan. 2.
   Ms. Palladino also noted an hourlong conversation took place with Mr. Cohen Jan. 14 whereby she vigorously discussed all his concerns specifically, asking him to address current objections and provide specific recommendations but he offered none at that time.
   "Mr. Cohen has verbally had an answer to every one of the questions he posed to me from my particular point of view," she said. "I encouraged him to approach other committee members if he thought our positions might vary."
   It seems Mr. Cohen would like township officials to justify the size of the municipal building constructed in 1999, claiming it is underutilized and too large for the rural community.
   His letter also questioned why the West Amwell Police Department has not been relocated to the municipal building to fully utilize space and save taxpayer money.
   In addition, the letter suggested the bridge replacement and storm drain installation were both lengthy and unjustified projects, causing local residents a great deal of inconvenience and unnecessary cost.
   Mr. Cohen’s letter also suggested the township provide weekly trash collection as opposed to the weekly drop-off policy that has local residents waiting in line every Saturday.
   Mayor Peter Buchsbaum noted Mr. Cohen recently expressed interest in visiting the municipal building.
   In an effort to open lines of communication he suggested Municipal Clerk Betty Jane Hunt contact Mr. Cohen and offer him a tour.
   "Obviously, the building is here, and we have no plans to take it down," the mayor said.
   The committee agreed to contact Mr. Cohen to begin a dialogue.