LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

From the issue of Dec. 22, 2005.

ATV ordinance offers compromise
To the editor:
   As chairman of the ATV Advisory Committee, I’d like to clarify the two ordinances that we proposed to the Township Committee last Tuesday evening.
   I was unable to attend the meeting because I was out of the country on business. However, upon reading the front-page article in the Hillsborough Beacon upon my return, I feel that some clarification is required.
   In the proposed Off-Road Vehicle ordinance, riders of off-road vehicles cannot operate their vehicles on private property without permission, or on any public property (including streets, sidewalks or bike paths) unless otherwise permitted, or within 450 feet of an occupied dwelling in a manner that creates harsh, objectionable or unreasonable noise, airborne dust, dirt or debris. A rider can operate their off-road vehicles on private property with permission. And if the rider is more than 450 feet from another resident’s home, they can make all the noise, dust and dirt they want.
   However, if they’re riding within 450 feet of another resident’s home, and they making excessive noise, dust or dirt, they could be in violation of the ordinance. If they ride responsibly, without creating excessive noise, dust or dirt, they can ride all they want, provided their neighbors don’t file complaints.
   A rider can be prosecuted if 2 or more residents who reside in separate residences within 200 feet of your property complain to the police department about the noise, dirt or dust.
   The committee felt that this provided reasonable riders with the opportunity to continue to enjoy their sport. However, unreasonable riders who disturb two or more neighbors with excessive noise, dirt or dust can be subject to prosecution.
   So a word to the wise: be like the vast majority of riders and ride responsibly. If you do, then there will be no problems. And the irresponsible riders need to be careful — if two of your nearby neighbors complain about the dust, dirt or noise from your riding activities, you can expect a visit from the Hillsborough police. It’s simple — the choice is yours!
   The proposed Noise ordinance is intended to protect the quality of life within Hillsborough by maintaining an environment free from the excessive noises that degrade the quality of life. The proposed ordinance would prohibit excessive noise, especially between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. Excessive noise includes persistent barking dogs, personal property alarms that sound for more than 15 minutes, excessive use of motor vehicle horns, excessive noise from motor vehicle exhaust, the operation of power tools during those night-time hours, etc.
   There are exemptions for the noise created by law enforcement and emergency vehicles, church bells, legal shooting/hunting, and school activities between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.
   And just like the Off-Road Vehicle ordinance, you could be prosecuted if two or more residents, living in separate residences within 200 feet of your property, file a compliant. More words to the wise — be aware that the noise you create could disturb others. If you are responsible, there won’t be any problems.
   If you disrespect your neighbors, then you can expect a visit from the Hillsborough police.
   Thanks for the opportunity to provide additional clarification of our proposal.
   I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the committee members Mike Cascio, Tom Kelly, Rick Rizzon and Tony Risoli for their many hours and willingness to find a compromise that we believe will make life better for all Hillsborough residents.
Blair Meiser

Fern Way

Letter validates points made earlier
To the editor:
   Although this is the holiest time for Catholics like myself, I must respond to the reprehensible, inaccurate and truly pathetic letter written last week by Mike Merdinger and Fred Quick — the current and past chairmen of the Hillsborough Republican Party.
   First allow me to point out the best part: they did not even attempt to claim any of the many facts I’ve provided in my letters were not correct.
   Therefore they acknowledge that everything I’ve said is absolutely accurate.
   And the new claim can now be made that they believe it is wrong to inform the public about the truth. That of course fits perfectly with the program of lies, incompetence and arrogance that I’ve been charging them with these last three years.
   They wish to claim that I am not a Republican since it would look bad for one Republican to point out the mistakes of another one. Truth be told, I live in Hillsborough, I am truly a Republican with solid Republican values and I was the strongest defender of the Republican Party before it went downhill these last few years.
   The only bit of truth is that I am not a member of the Hillsborough Republican organization — and for that I am most proud.
   The GOP Chairmen try to make it seem like I was voted out of office in 1999 all by myself, yet they know the truth: the town’s voters threw the entire Republican slate out of office in 1999 because the Republicans were found guilty of gross conflicts of interest in the proposed Greenbriar development.
   In fact, Mr. Quick himself loaned money to the former planning board chairman, and both he and Mike Merdinger knew full well about the conflict between the guilty parties but they did nothing about it. Nothing whatsoever.
   The next lie they attempted to push through is that that I demanded the chairmanship of the planning board. That is patently false.
   When I learned that they were about to appoint a person who was found guilty of extreme conflict of interest by two attorneys in a Planning Board application, I ran across former mayor Tony Gwiazdowski, told him about the conflict and offered my services if they needed a chairman with experience, having served seven years on the Hillsborough Planning Board.
   There was no demand on my part. There is not now and was not then, any anger from me over not getting the position. I was horrified that they would appoint someone with a clear history of self-service and conflicts of interest, but that seems to be their favorite past-time — indulging in conflicts of interest.
   So, in short, I am a Hillsborough Republican. Everything I’ve said is true.
   And especially at this time of year, I remain hopeful that the conservative voters in Hillsborough will throw these abhorrent folks out of office one day so that truth and public service will reign once more for our community.
Glenn van Lier

Hillsborough