From the June 14 edition
Open Space Council says thank you
To the editor:
The Open Space & Farmland Preservation Council, along with the Agricultural Advisory Council, would like to thank everyone for their support of our Clambake for Open Space. The event netted more than $9,800 and will be used toward our municipal open space & farmland preservation efforts.
We would especially like to thank the following financial sponsors: Halka Nurseries; Lomurro, Davison, Eastman & Munoz, PA; Leon S. Avakian; The Tiger’s Tale & The Chapter House restaurants; Harris Surveying; Michael J. Hennessy & Associates, LLC; Coppola & Coppola Associates; William E. Antonides & Co.; Yorkanis & White, Inc.; Michael B. Steib, Esq.; Johnson Realty Services; Gerry Baldechino; Dr. Scott Palmer, NJ Equine Clinic.
A big thank you to The Clarksburg Inn for letting us use their facilities at a minimal cost. Without the support of the sponsors, we would not have netted what we did.
The day would not have been a success without the volunteers who proudly manned the reservation table, grills, clam bar, lobster and dessert station. There was great fellowship amongst the volunteers and attendees.
We do have a few of the "soon to be collector item" tee shirts for sale. Please see Kathy Naugle in Town Hall to purchase.
Once again, thank you to those who came out to support the clambake. We could not have done it without you.
Cory Wingerter,
Millstone
Mr. Wingerter is vice chairman of the Millstone Open Space & Farmland Preservation Council.
Know the facts, watch out for spin
To the editor:
In Mayor Ron Dancer’s June 4 "Town Talk" column he states, "Preliminary projections indicate that a vast majority of all homeowners in Plumsted Township, with household earnings of $100,000 or less, may have no increase or a reduction in their 2007 total property tax bill, as a result, of the new Property Tax Credit Act program."
What the mayor fails to tell you in this misleading column is that the State of New Jersey recently raised the sales tax by 1 cent with at least half going toward homeowner’s property tax relief from the Property Tax Credit Act program. This program was designed to start removing the burden of property taxes (a regressive tax that is not based on your ability to pay) to a more fair method of taxation (sales tax, which is based on the ability to pay). The intention of this program was to reduce the net property tax for home owners as a temporary measure until a better funding method is legislated to more permanently ease property taxes.
Mayor Dancer appears to be using his column as yet another opportunity to hide his doubling of our municipal taxes by stating that property owners "may have no increase or a reduction in their 2007 total property tax bill," when the plan from the state was clearly for homeowners to see a reduction in property taxes.
As a community, we need to start challenging the misleading statements made by Mayor Dancer and his administration. We need to view all the political "spin" with a skeptical eye and start investigating to get to the truth. When we all go to pay our newly increased property taxes from Mayor Dancer’s municipal tax increase, it will be a painful reminder.
Mitch Geier,
Plumsted
Ex-business owner defends property
To the editor:
I resent The Messenger-Press’ picture of our property and the comments of Mayor Dave Freid in the June 7 edition. We have been working for more than three years with a qualified developer, under contract, who by now has over $300,000 invested, plus plans and designs of mixed use, senior housing, and commercial with no tax impact on the town and provides an estimated $1,000,000 in tax revenue. When Mayor Freid first saw the plan he indicated to me that it was a great plan, but it would require change. Mayor Freid and Township Engineer Jack West reviewed 12 revisions and now consider eminent domain as a means to that end. My Question is, why?
Pat Tammaro,
Washington
Mr. Tammaro is the owner of the property that once housed his family’s banana facility on Route 130 South.

