Lack of a payment plan for turf field concerns resident

Once again, Marlboro Mayor Robert Kleinberg is attempting to mortgage the future of the Marlboro taxpayer for his own political gain.

In the Sept. 19 issue of your publication, a story appeared concerning the turf football field in Marlboro. The approval for this field was rushed through the Republican Township Council by Mayor Kleinberg in an attempt for him to open the Pop Warner football season in full campaign mode.

No real thought was put into the field other than “Let’s get it in build in time for the election.” The major problem here is that Mayor Kleinberg and the Republican Township Council approved this project without knowing how to fund over one and one-half million dollars necessary to construct and install the field.

This newspaper wrote:

“Marlboro’s chief financial officer, Al Steinberg, explained that at the present time it has yet to be determined how the turf field will be paid for, in terms of whether bonds will be issued by the township or revenue from the sale of a liquor license will be dedicated for that use. The decision on exactly how the turf field will be paid for most likely will not be known until April or May, when the 2008 municipal budget is developed, according to Steinberg.”

The chief financial officer of the township admitted that neither Mayor Kleinberg nor the Republican council knows how this field will be paid for.

In our personal lives, we have been taught that purchasing goods or services without knowing how we are going to pay for them is financially irresponsible. So why should Mayor Kleinberg and the Republican council be permitted to be financially irresponsible with one and one-half million dollars of our taxpayer money?

This is just another example of Mayor Kleinberg and his Republican council spending our tax dollars in order to get re-elected.

Mayor Kleinberg is willing to mortgage Marlboro to get re-elected. Bonding is borrowing and borrowing needs to be paid back with interest. Interest and principal payments must be raised by tax revenues. The voters of Marlboro have two choices: Watch your wallets in 2008 or vote more responsible people into office in November.

Steven Glickman

Marlboro