Letters to the Editor

For the April 28 issue.

Family remembers departed loved one
To the editor:
   Matthew Childs: March 27, 1972-May 2, 2004
   It’s only been a year since you left us and yet it feels more like an eternity.
   Matt, we miss you more than you could ever imagine.
   When we feel we can’t go on any more we remember…
   That beautiful smile that lit up a room and your sense of humor that would make everyone around you smile.
   We will always remember the man you became and even though your visit with us was short it left a great impression on us all.
   Until we meet again, know that you are sadly missed and dearly loved by us all.
   Love always,
   Mom and Dad, Mark, Beth, Brandi, Rich and family, and your dogs, Jessie and Timber.



   The Childs family

Bordentown



Re-elect commissioners for four more years
To the editor:
   I would like to add my voice to the many who have expressed their thoughts on next month’s election for City Commission. I wholeheartedly endorse the re-election of Bill Collom and John Wehrman to the City Commission.
   In the last four years, these commissioners have grappled with some of the difficult issues that face any town and chose action instead of inaction. As a small city, we don’t have a lot of spare dollars in our budget. Instead we look to grants and state aid to help us. During the last four years, our commissioners have obtained over $1.85 million in grants to get the jobs done.
   But looking further than the necessary and important maintenance and upkeep issues, Bill Collom and John Wehrman are also working for the future. The creation of Bordentown City Environmental Commission creates a steward for the city’s environment and a caretaker for its natural resources; the update of the city’s Master Plan sets out how we want to grow and what we will look like in the future and the ongoing work on our public places like the Veterans Memorial and the various parks in town creates places all city residents can use and be proud of.
   Much still needs to be done, and that is why we must re-elect Bill Collom and John Wehrman. They have the dedication Bordentown needs, the ability to get the job done and a steady eye for the future of our little city.


   Margaret O’Gorman

Bordentown City



Candidate addresses issues in city
To the editor:
   This is my fourth letter to the editor during my campaign for Bordentown City Commissioner. I previously wrote about the sweeper, the environment, and the late budget.
   This correspondence is of a subject I have strong feelings towards, municipal information. For decades I have been longing for easy access to public knowledge. Not much has changed over the year. For instance, at the city meeting on Monday, the mayor asked me, "Mr. Csapo, are you recording the meeting tonight?" I replied, "Yes, sir." The city (commissioners) said, "Can you please put the recorder up where we can see it?" My response was, "It’s right there (pointing to the window sill). I’ve been recording meetings since I was young. I playback and check my notes to see if they are correct."
   I believe any public meeting is just that — public. This means I may voice record at any time in any way I want. When elected commissioner, the city will have the duty to:
   1. Use the bulletin board as I originally called for 20 years ago. We should use both sides of the board to post minutes, resolutions, ordinances, etc., along with community news.
   2. Broadcast meetings on cable television with no cost to the taxpayers.
   3. Develop a city website with as many current details as possible.
   Finally, I would like to thank the community for reading my letters and paying attention.


   Al Csapo

Bordentown



Resident asks governor to take action
To the editor:
   The following is a copy of a letter sent to Gov. Richard J. Codey.
   In the Regional News, a community newsletter of the Northern Burlington County Regional School District, Volume 8 Issue 2, Spring 2005, it was stated on page 4 that Northern already uses consortiums to reduce cost. In my opinion, there is an additional duplication of services and staffs, especially in Mansfield Township, as the schools are in extremely close proximity as show in the attached photograph.
   You, along with many other elected officials, continue to advocate "shared services" between communities to reduce cost. Shouldn’t this also be emphasized for the educational programs and staff sharing?
   I am sure that this situation is not unique to Mansfield Township, but that it is prevalent throughout the many school districts of New Jersey.
   It is time that the elected officials of New Jersey take action to eliminate situations such as those depicted by the superimposed facts on the attached photograph. Consolidation of administrative and support services should not affect the quality of education provided to the students and it would reduce overhead cost leaving additional funds for education. However, any consolidation would require incentives, mandatory or optional, as the current system of "jawboning" has not been effective.
   The spiraling cost for education, especially in Mansfield Township which is assessed 48.9 percent of the regional school’s budget, is placing an excessively heavy burden on Mansfield’s residents because of this inequitable distribution of the regional school’s budget assessments. This is especially hard on senior citizens, the majority of whom are on fixed incomes, who pay 34 percent of Mansfield’s property taxes.



   Ernest Dubay

Columbus