Letters-Oct. 27, 2005

Just answer

the question
To the editor:
   I write regarding the tenor of the current dialogue between City Council and the citizens of Lambertville.
   Specifically, I refer to the response from Councilman Stegman in a letter to the editor questioning the sewerage authority’s "no strings attached" $150,000 payment to the city.
   The question posed was "Why is the LSA contributing $150,000 to the City of Lambertville?" Councilman Stegman’s response was this was not a "no strings attached" gift, but prepayment for five years of rent for meeting space at the Justice Center.
   The majority of the remaining comments are spent tossing disparaging remarks at the current Republican candidate running against the Democratic- controlled City Council.
   Even the headline, "reckless charges made by candidate," is off the mark, considering the candidate didn’t even write the original letter. It seems like a straightforward question and deserves a straightforward answer without the character assassination.
   At the risk of suffering a similar response, I still have the following questions:
   • Why are we charging another public entity rent for meeting space in a public building?
   If the LSA facilities are inadequate let them use the Justice Center for a nominal fee.
   • Why would the LSA pay $2,500 to use the Justice Center for one meeting a month?
   • Why wouldn’t the LSA just rent a meeting room at a local hotel for $300 if they need a better place to meet?
   • Why did our sewer fees just go up $40 per year if the LSA has $150,000 sitting around they can afford to prepay rent with?
   Instead of attacking the questioner and supplying half answers, the City Council would be better served responding to the people’s legitimate concerns of how our tax dollars — and sewerage fees — are being spent. Without answers, people may simply assume the council members and Democratic Party regulars that sit on the LSA board are supplementing city operating funds to repair the still-useless Justice Center instead of City Council having to bite the tax increase bullet.

Hunt supporter

of farmers
To the editor:
   When election time rolls around, the issues most voters are concerned about get played on by the candidates.
   Now the hot issues are "the environment" and "open space and farmland."
   We are on our fifth generation on our farm in West Amwell. We have helped keep West Amwell a rural farming community, and we are thankful our township is still a great place to raise our children.
   Farmers are the first true environmentalists. We care about our soil and water quality. It is our future, we want to protect it, and we have.
   When agriculture and farmland are supported, the whole community can enjoy its benefits and beauty. If all you have is "open space" and no farmland or farmers, who will take care of the land? You will have big fields left fallow, overflowing with weeds, unattractive to all.
   The planting and harvesting of crops adds to the aesthetics of our area, and the locally grown farm products are desired by consumers.
   Some recently adopted ordinances promoted by Betty Jane’s opponent will be detrimental to agriculture and its future in West Amwell. This ordinance will affect all landowners’ rights to their property.
   We as a farm family know beyond a shadow of a doubt Betty Jane Hunt is the only candidate who can represent the agricultural interests on our committee. Farmers and farmland are rapidly decreasing in New Jersey as well as around the country.
   We need balance and representation in our community and as agriculture is a big part of our township, we need someone who will address agricultural concerns as well as educate other decision-makers so those in agriculture will have a voice.
   Betty Jane not only has a farm background but has promoted agriculture around the state. She has been a 4-H leader to the oldest dairy club in the country for many, many years. She supports and encourages the youth to be the future farmers and leaders of our country. Betty Jane has worked with dairy promotion and the Dairy Princess program.
   She is the true epitome of a role model for the youth by living her life with dedication and passion and clean living. A vote for Betty Jane will give not only our agriculture, but all land owners its well-deserved representation on our committee.
   Betty Jane Hunt is a great leader; a moral and ethical person who has many more years of experience in West Amwell than her opponent.

4-Hers respect

Hunt’s dedication
To the editor:
   We may be too young to vote, but we have concerns and a voice about the upcoming election.
   We are all West Amwell residents and members of the Mt. Airy Dairy Club.
   First off, we would like to voice our concerns about politics. Why do some candidates feel the need to talk negative and to smear a person’s good name?
   Hurting someone for the sake of a vote is wrong. Maybe if more candidates would work on a positive note and actually talk about the real issues and their views on them, we as young voters would not be so turned off about politics.
   We are in support of Betty Jane Hunt for West Amwell Township Committee. We have known Betty Jane (B.J. as we call her) most of our lives. She is a great person.
   We feel she would be the best candidate for our township. She has many wonderful qualities, and we really admire her for her dedication and commitment, not only for us as 4-Hers, but to the community. She is always there to help us, even when we mess up. She is hard-working, honest and a good friend.
   There are a lot of kids in our 4-H Club now, and most of them do not have any farm background at all. B.J. never turns anyone away. She is always willing to put in the extra work it takes to handle all of us kids, especially the teenagers.
   We sometimes make it a little hard for her, but she always handles us with a lot of humor and patience. She really loves this township, and it shows in everything she does.
   That is why we support Betty Jane Hunt for Township Committee. Because of her dedication, knowledge, honesty and love for West Amwell, she is the best person for the job.

Trying to set

record straight
To the editor:
   I share with Linda Wilson, whose letter appeared in The Beacon Oct. 20, the intent of crossing party lines to vote for Township Committee.
   Unlike Linda, I will vote for Betty Jane Hunt, and I take exception to the allegations about her made by Ms. Wilson and Mr. Shapella.
   Linda Wilson is highly qualified to belong to a Council on Affordable Housing Committee. Her impressive credentials include her work for the state Housing and Finance Agency.
   Her sister-in-law Sue Molnar, who was acting chairperson of the committee when Betty Jane was a member, would have had ultimate responsibility for the way the committee conducted its business. I understand the committee had no appointed secretary; members rotated minute-taking duties.
   If there were problems with recordkeeping, why didn’t Linda or Sue correct them when they occurred? Why wait until election time to air these grievances? Why blame one member for all that might have gone amiss?
   Unfortunately, this pattern of pulling out and twisting the past for political advantage is characteristic of Mr. Shapella’s campaign. I know it’s easier to distort than to convey the true complexity of local politics, but I feel I have to try to set the record straighter.
   Betty Jane does not object to a stream corridor ordinance. West Amwell has had one for years, and it has worked well. People who know the old ordinance say it’s stricter, fairer and more enforceable than the new. It could have been updated to meet state requirements, without opposition, by simply increasing the stream buffer setbacks.
   The new Master Plan, like the stream corridor ordinance, was cobbled together hastily and presented for approvals, full of mistakes and omissions. Betty Jane didn’t object to a Master Plan. In fact, she was instrumental in the drafting of our previous Master Plan.
   She did object to a poorly written document that left out key elements required for real future planning. She wanted a better plan.
   Fear of development is a powerful campaign tool. There were no secret plans about a 200-unit development. The dreaded sewer planning area was only a blip on an out-of-date state map. It meant nothing unless the township activated it.
   West Amwell hasn’t done so; it was never in the works. While it is important to remove the sewer planning area from the state plan, we should not give away our local rights to do so.
   In the past, various meetings were taped only as required by law and used primarily as a backup for minutes. They were occasionally lent out to committee members who could not attend the meetings. The approved minutes served as the permanent record of the meeting.
   The missing Board of Adjustment tape was admittedly lost (stolen from his parked car) by the board member who borrowed it. If a resident asks for a tape, and it turns out to be blank, it is probable a machine malfunctioned.
   If minutes of the meeting are readily available, no information is lost or hidden. I agree with Betty Jane that taping all meetings is needless and discourages free exchange of ideas. Our municipal attorney has advised against it.
   Finally, I feel privileged to vote for Betty Jane Hunt Nov. 8. Most members of the Open Space Committee are of the same opinion because she firmly supports equitable and strategic land preservation. Many former mayors will vote for Betty Jane because they know what a competent administrator she is.
   Most of our farm community supports her because they know her as an agricultural proponent. Other supporters include parents who know her through her volunteer work with youth groups; township employees, volunteers and residents who know her from her years as clerk.
   We are Democrats, Republicans and Independents, and we are proud to be her supporters.
   I worked with Betty Jane to get our Open Space Committee and plan up and running in the township, and she is a wonder at making administrative tasks flow smoothly. I have worked with Ron Shapella on the Open Space Committee, where he briefly served, and on the Fulper GDP Committee, and in both instances, he was a logjam waiting for a bend in the stream.
   I just hope the real issues in this campaign are not so complex and varied people do not take the time to understand and vote for experience, good sense and progress.

Candidate has

board experience
To the editor:
   The purpose of my letter is to provide clarity around one candidate for school board director for the New Hope-Solebury District in particular, Megan O’Brien.
   There have been statements made about the six incumbents as having no school board experience. That is incorrect. Megan O’Brien, an incumbent, comes to this election with two years of school board experience when she was a resident of Chicago.
   Having lived in Chicago as well, I can state without a doubt if someone has served on the school board in Chicago, he or she is equipped to deal with just about every scenario a school board director could face.
   Additionally, what made her and will make her an excellent school board director is her commitment to the education of children through her over 20 years as a professional educator in the following capacities:
   • Adult education instructor for high school credit and GED.
   • Language arts teacher at an alternative high school in a suburb of Detroit.
   • Counselor and administrator for a high school talented and gifted program for the state of Michigan.
   • Eighth-grade teacher in Chicago.
   • Communications lecturer at University of Maryland in London.
   • High school theater and English teacher in Catonsville, Md.
   • Career counselor at Middle Bucks Institute of Technology.
   • Literacy and ESL coordinator for Bucks County prison facility.
   • Case manager for Bucks County Opportunity Council.
   • National board-certified counselor.
   • Middle school guidance counselor at Reading-Fleming Middle School, Raritan Township.
   Her community service is shown through her volunteering as a Girl Scout troop leader, library volunteer, crisis counselor for the state of Pennsylvania and educational theater director and producer.
   You may wonder why I know so much about this particular candidate. Megan O’Brien is my mom.
   On a personal note, I am in my second year of teaching high school ESL and French in the Bronx, and my mom’s advice, support and experience has been invaluable to my own professional growth as an educator.
   Finally, further testament to Megan O’Brien as a candidate is the fact, in addition to widespread community support, she is the only candidate officially endorsed by both Republican and Democratic parties.
   Please join me in supporting Megan O’Brien by voting for her Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Wine tasting

benefited LEF
To the editor:
   This past Saturday evening, the Lambertville Area Education Foundation held its second annual wine-tasting fundraising event at the Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and Rescue Squad banquet hall.
   On behalf of the LEF, I would like to thank the many members of our community for coming out and supporting our efforts to raise funds so we may continue to help to enrich the public education experience of the children who attend Lambertville Public School, South Hunterdon Regional High School and West Amwell Elementary School.
   Events like this not only serve a good cause, but also provide an opportunity to have our wonderful sense of community reaffirmed. The banquet hall was transformed into a very cozy autumn atmosphere thanks to Tony Szwed Inc. for his donation of mums and Ed and Debbie Closson of The Homestead Farm Market who graciously provided hay bales, corn stalks, pumpkins, gourds and mums.
   I also want to thank Nora Lewis, Jimmee Schulz and Ruth Foster for generously donating the exceptional door prizes, The Sneakey Caterers for the delectable food, Phil Faherty of Walker’s Wine and Liquor for sponsoring the event, and, of course, our friends at the squad, who couldn’t have been any more helpful and cooperative.
   We are very grateful to you all.

More details needed

for expansion
To the editor:
   Monday, Oct. 17, I attended the New Hope-Solebury School board meeting.
   Middle Bucks Institute of Technology made a presentation explaining its plans for changes and improvements to its building.
   I want to reiterate my agreement with the board as to the importance of MBIT for the larger community. MBIT is important to many students, particularly those that need to tap into a strength other than traditional academia.
   It’s clear MBIT needs some improvements. The school must be safe.
   However, I did not hear justification with supported detail for the specific program expansions they suggested. Students should be able to deal with the materials that will help them be competitive in the job market.
   While our board needs to support MBIT, I feel our community needs to push back for more reasoned-out statistical information regarding the need for different program expansions when it comes with such a large price tag.
   MBIT discussed plans for increased student enrollment. However, there is no reason to believe growth will occur.
   If you check the State of Pennsylvania’s records regarding MBIT’s enrollment, in 2000, when the director stated there were between 400 and 500 students, there were actually just over 800. Presently, they only have 70 to 80 more students over five years from four districts all experiencing continued growth.
   That is not the growth that was depicted by the executive director of MBIT at the meeting. Their enrollment has been at a plateau.
   Another concern is our district being charged more based on our taxes and taxpayer incomes. Why should our district’s share be inflated especially when we use very little of MBIT’s services?
   We need to look hard at the NH-S enrollment at MBIT over time. We represent 2 percent to 3 percent of their student population. Yet we are charged for 8 percent.
   It’s time to push back and pay a 2 percent to 3 percent share and no more.

Rayner pulling wool

over voters’ eyes
To the editor:
   I continue to be amazed by Republican Marcus Rayner’s attempts to pull the wool over the eyes of Lambertville’s voters with his disingenuous claims about our city’s leadership.
   His chameleon-like efforts to change from a GOP operative working as the right hand of Mike Ferguson — one of the most unapologetically conservative and pro-Bush congressmen in Washington — into a self-styled "independent" are truly laughable.
   Cindy Ege and Ron Pittore are the leaders we should entrust with moving Lambertville forward. We do not have to guess where they stand. All we have to do is look at their records of protecting open space, working to tame traffic and promoting the wise use and investment of tax dollars in our city to know they are on our side.
   Lambertville is thriving and moving in the right direction. Cindy Ege and Ron Pittore are major forces behind that strength. They have earned our trust and deserve our votes for City Council.

Candidate not

‘good steward’
To the editor:
   This has been a very interesting year for the residents of West Amwell.
   Missing records in the clerk’s office, secret discussions held out of view of the public about introducing sewers and high-density development into our township and an ongoing criminal investigation are just a few of the things that have occurred.
   I’ve noted in the paper and elsewhere there has been a lot of talk about "good land stewards" from Betty Jane Hunt and some of her supporters. Have they seen the dump full of junk, including rusting automobiles, on Betty Jane Hunt’s property?
   In the Oct. 20 issue of The Beacon, Betty Jane states, "I trust our residents to be good stewards of their land and its resources."
   Is maintaining a personal junkyard really being a "good land steward" in Betty Jane Hunt’s opinion? What type of example does she set for our community?

Support Lockwood

and McCarthy
To the editor:
   This Nov. 8, there are two positions to be filled on the Delaware Township Committee.
   I am writing in support of Susan Lockwood and Kristin McCarthy. They will end the political divisions that have torn our township apart, making us sitting ducks for development.
   Their goals are simple — open up township government so all of us can determine how we grow and return to managing your tax dollars responsibly.
   Susan and Kristin will stop the recent practice of awarding vital committee appointments to campaign supporters. They will recommend open seats be filled by residents who are committed to preserving open space and who will treat the public with respect.
   In an effort to encourage more public participation in township government, Kristin and Susan will hold "office hours" twice each month. These sessions will allow residents to express concerns or offer suggestions about the township.
   In addition, they will rearrange the agenda of Township Committee meetings so the public comment time will come early in the meeting, not at the end.
   In the past year, more land has been approved for development than has been preserved. It is easy to talk about preserving land, but cute signs alone won’t do it.
   By opening up our finances and involving you in decision making, Susan Lockwood and Kristin McCarthy will allow Delaware Township’s residents to determine our future.
   Please vote for Lockwood and McCarthy Nov. 8.

Hunt has long

history of service
To the editor:
   Betty Jane Hunt has a long history of service to the town of West Amwell, a history that has touched the land as well as the residents and their children in a very positive, long-lasting way.
   Ron Shapella also has a record of service, but it is not as long as Mrs. Hunts’ or as favorable as he attempts to paint. His contributions, too, have touched the land, our residents and their children in a long-lasting way, but not at all in a positive fashion.
   It is worrisome to me those projects in which Mr. Shapella has claimed a key contribution or leadership — such as the Master Plan and the stream corridor ordinance — have produced results that are divisive and burdensome in nature.
   These are projects Mrs. Hunt worked on as well, but she could not support them because they were poorly drafted and ultimately would not serve West Amwell’s best interests.
   Based on many people’s opposition to the stream corridor ordinance, it seems Mr. Shapella does not seem to be willing to listen to or compromise with other volunteers on the boards on which he sits or with the people he wishes to govern.
   I also find misleading Mr. Shapella’s claims he wants to prevent sprawl and he supports agriculture and farmland preservation. This is due to his desire to push for more regulations of land as well as his conspicuous lack of support for the Open Space Program at a recent Township Committee meeting.
   Recently, the Township Committee voted down an Open Space Committee request to assist in the preservation of a local farm worked by the same family for three centuries. Mr. Shapella, present at that meeting, did nothing.
   Over the years, West Amwell taxpayers have consistently voted in favor of our open space and farmland preservation programs, which offer fair compensation for building rights as a way to give farmers viable alternatives when faced with increasing bureaucratic regulation and financial worries, especially to protect those farms that are in eminent danger of sale to commercial developers.
   Without a fully operational Open Space Program, Mr. Shapella will facilitate the very sprawl he vows to prevent.
   When I compare Mr. Shapella’s short record to that of Mrs. Hunt’s, I can only conclude Mrs. Hunt is the best candidate for a seat on the Township Committee. When she retired from her job as township clerk last December, she left the clerk’s office in excellent shape.
   Mr. Shapella’s involvement with township projects always seems to be full of controversy. I want to elect someone who will get the job done in a thoughtful way. That’s why I will vote for Betty Jane Hunt Nov. 8.

Reader favors

term limits
To the editor:
   It is refreshing this election year there is a choice of new candidates for Lambertville City Council.
   I applaud public commentary regarding term limits at the local level. It is long overdue.
   Taking time to meet each of the candidates and listen to their ideas and positions despite their political party affiliations is part of the democratic process. I am confident Lambertville voters are motivated to elect candidates that offer a fresh approach to debate and compromise.

LSA’s hard work

has ‘real’ results
To the editor:
   We have been working hard over the past four years to make improvements to the Lambertville Sewerage Authority, and that hard work has brought about real results. That is why we write to respond to former Lambertville Sewerage Authority Chairman Eugene Lelie’s unfounded criticisms.
   First, contrary to Mr. Lelie’s assertions, the existing meeting room at the authority is ill-designed for public participation and too cramped for the increased citizen involvement we have been encouraging. The Justice Center space is far better suited and more accessible to foot traffic than the LSA complex.
   Further, we have made strides in fixing the long-standing odor problems that occurred under Mr. Lelie’s tenure as well. A new carbon scrubber has been installed, and other improvements have been make. A 24-hour hotline and Web site is available for any sewer-related problems or odor complaints.
   Finally, we inherited from Mr. Lelie a facility that was in extremely poor condition. We have upgraded and modernized it mainly through the use of low-interest loans.
   As a result, we are well-positioned to serve Lambertville’s needs now and in the future.

Shapella for large,

costly government
To the editor:
   As former member of the Township Committee, I watch this upcoming election in West Amwell with much interest.
   At the end of the day, I am convinced Ron Shapella is not a good choice for West Amwell.
   Most recently, his actions as chairman of the Environmental Commission demonstrate what he intends for our township future.
   With his controversial stream corridor ordinance, Mr. Shapella advocates a larger, more-costly form of local government, which presumes landowners are not capable of caring for their property without municipal supervision.
   In the drafting of the ordinance, Mr. Shapella ran up the tab for professional fees, which could have been avoided it had he only gauged community reaction before pushing to get the ordinance passed when everyone was away on summer vacation. As a result, he pitted one side of the township against another, successfully splitting a community over an issue, which, had it been kept simple, could have been embraced by all.
   In a recent letter to the editor on these pages, Mr. Shapella stated he does not trust large landowners with the future of West Amwell. This is consistent with his drafting of the ordinance, which places the lion’s share of restrictions on those who own six acres or more.
   Recently, I filed two OPRA requests for minutes 2004 and 2005 of the Environmental Commission proceedings. Much to my amazement, I learned the commission is not required to keep minutes of its meetings, and the summaries I received were released without review or approval by its own members.
   Only after Mr. Shapella’s sloppy recordkeeping on the commission is made known does he ask the Township Committee Oct. 5 for permission to tape all meetings in the name of openness.
   Now, who must we taxpayers pay to transcribe all those tapes?
   Based on these event, I can only conclude Mr. Shapella will advance a politicized local government that is overly bureaucratic and costly to residents.
   Our Township Committee need not resemble our state legislature, so often mired in petty politics and mismanaged finances.
   What we need in West Amwell is the small, consistent and efficient form of government, which has long been West Amwell’s strength for decades.

Hunt would be

honest rep
To the editor:
   We sincerely regret the national trend toward negative politics, half truths and character assassination finally has arrived at the local level in West Amwell Township.
   In response to this trend, we would like to highlight the positive strengths, which we feel Betty Jane Hunt, candidate for Township Committee, possesses.
   Collectively, we worked with her for 24 man-woman years while serving on the Township Committee, including a total of eight times as mayor.
   During those years, we found Betty Jane to be honest and trustworthy, completely responsive to our needs and requests. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of the township, which was a great resource to us. Never once did she step out of her role as township clerk to try to influence ordinances or the decisions of the committee.
   Betty Jane has a firm commitment to the township. She has been active many years in community organizations such as the fire company Ladies Auxiliary, the 4-H and Old Rocks Church. Betty Jane personifies the statement: To be a representative of people in government, one must be willing and able to selflessly serve the people’s interest.
   A vote for Betty Jane Hunt will be a vote for an honest person who will serve the people, be responsive to their concerns, evaluate the facts and make an independent decision based on those facts.

Woman grateful

for compassion
To the editor:
   A special thank you to all my friends and relatives who remembered me in a time of sorrow — the loss of a sister — with beautiful cards and flowers.

City’s contested

election good thing
To the editor:
   Nov. 8, Lambertville voters will have the opportunity to make a choice in one of the first highly contested elections for city council in recent memory.
   Whatever one’s political affiliation, I hope everyone can agree this spirited campaign is a good thing for Lambertville. Long thought of as a one-party town, I have often been concerned we lacked the competitive campaigns in Lambertville that offer true choices and different ideas. That has certainly not been a problem this year.
   City Council candidate Marcus Rayner has been running a strong campaign with fresh, new ideas for Lambertville. His candidacy presents an opportunity for anyone who wants change in Lambertville to give a qualified new voice a chance to invigorate our city government.
   His reform agenda to increase citizen participation, his right-minded criticism of errors by the current administration and his promise to hold property taxes down are all solid reasons to vote for Marcus Rayner for Lambertville City Council.
   I hope my fellow residents will give him a chance.

How it is

in Delaware
To the editor;
   Ken Johnson’s campaign signs say "Keep Delaware Township Just As It Is."
   That sounds good. But in the last year, more land has been approved for housing developments than has been preserved. Mr. Johnson has used the township’s contingency fund to keep from raising taxes so there’s hardly any money left, and his appointments to the township boards are all political supporters whose advice he routinely ignores.
   Sue Lockwood and Kristin McCarthy say that if that’s how it is, then it’s time for a little change. Lockwood and McCarthy would continue to apply for annual Green Acres funds. Ken Johnson has taken a pass on this source of preservation money.
   They would hold evening office hours at town hall to listen to residents’ points of view. Ken Johnson barely listens to residents in the few minutes left for public comment at the end of Township Committee meetings.
   And they would appoint a balanced group of board members who would work to preserve farm land and open space.
   Sue Lockwood has been mayor of Delaware Township, and her administration was successful in farmland and open space preservation — 800 acres in 2003, compared to a little over 100 in the last year under Johnson.
   Her running mate, Kristin McCarthy, serves on the township’s Council on Affordable Housing committee. Together they will put Delaware Township’s financial house back in order and let all residents participate in the management of township government.
   Vote Lockwood and McCarthy for Delaware Township Committee, Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Volunteers waited

but no call came
To the editor:
   Not long after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, a task force of 100 volunteer EMTs and 50 paramedics equipped with 50 ambulances, rescue equipment, boats, lighting and generators was prepared to mobilize to the disaster area.
   We waited two weeks for a call that never came.
   The Emergency Management Assistance Compact required us to stand ready and await formal request from Louisiana and federal officials. Had we mobilized without EMAC’s blessing, neither our liability nor considerable expenses would have been covered.
   As reports from the disaster zone indicated much more help was needed, and infants and senior citizens died from lack of assistance, we remained in New Jersey, horrified and paralyzed by EMAC’s bureaucratic delays.
   Meanwhile, utility repair vehicles, which are not dispatched via EMAC, arrived in the stricken area ahead of many ambulances.
   The woefully inadequate response highlighted the communication breakdown not only at the federal level, but also between New Jersey’s Department of Law and Public Safety and Department of Health and Senior Services. This haphazard response warrants thorough review and assessment at all levels before disaster strikes again.
   That said, the New Jersey State First Aid Council’s EMS volunteers remain ready to respond should the need arise again.

Ms. Van Orden is president of the 76-year-old nonprofit New Jersey State First Aid Council, which represents more than 20,000 EMS volunteers throughout the state.
Vote Shapella

for West Amwell
To the editor:
   Ron Shapella is an untiring advocate for West Amwell’s environment that we residents so much enjoy.
   He has served on no less than seven committees and chaired the Environmental Commission in his advocacy.
   He has also served as a member of the township governing body, the Township Committee, for which he now seeks your support. His efforts and service are outlined in his mailings, which I urge you to read and consider.
   There is also another good reason to vote for the Democratic candidate, Ron Shapella, for Township Committee. One-party government in West Amwell hasn’t worked very well for the taxpayers. There are only three members of the township governing body to represent the citizenry. When the committee members are all of the same party, differing ideas are not aired nor considered, and that does not serve the residents very well.
   I would caution about returning the governing body to one party. In the not too distant past, unilateral one-party decision-making cost the citizenry direly. One only has to look at the Calton Homes debacle when a single-party decision cost the taxpayers several million dollars.
   The township not only gave the developer permission to build, they awarded him more than three million dollars of your tax money to boot. Well, that is, the courts awarded these monies after a poor decision by the township to litigate the issue.
   For many years, West Amwell enjoyed a reasonable tax rate, but one-party government has cured that by squandering tax monies through its poor decisions. How much lower would your taxes be if ill-advised litigation, both yesterday and today, had been mediated? Plenty!
   For the sake of better government and better decisions regarding township issues, I urge you to vote for a dedicated and experienced individual — Ron Shapella.
   Let’s return West Amwell to two-party reasonableness and elect Ron Shapella to the Township Committee.