Officials commended for ‘staying the course’

Renee Ferguson, Bordentown Township
To the editor:
   This letter is in response to Bordentown Township Committeeman William Morelli’s guest opinion printed on Oct. 16.
  The Turnpike expansion is a huge issue to more than 1,300 homes in Bordentown Township that border the Turnpike. We need to know that our elected officials are protecting our interests. If Committeeman Morelli has a different take on the Turnpike expansion he should be working with his team. We trust that our officials will make wise and prudent decisions that are in the best interest of their constituents.
    To date, Bordentown Township has only been presented items that the TPA (Turnpike Authority) is legally obligated to offer. The reason that the TPA is still talking to us is because the current committee has not accepted their conditions. The offer to give us trees and land that the TPA didn’t want is not acceptable to those of us who will be affected by the expansion. (Bruce) Hill, (Robert) Delaney, (Anita) Di Mattia and (Marl) Roselli heard that message. The reason that the TPA is balking is because we are the one community that is going to be affected the most.
    Bordentown Township is a community that houses one of the largest truck depots. The TPA is going to have to lay out money in order to accommodate us. This is the key issue. It’s all about money and what it will cost. A wall, a berm or rubberized asphalt are all viable and reasonable suggestions. The question is whether these alternatives were ever pushed by Morelli. Apparently not, since they were never discussed by representatives of the TPA at a meeting in August.
    The residents of Clifton Mill went to our Township Committee and asked for their help regarding the expansion. We were concerned about our property values and our quality of life. Committeeman Morelli assured us that the Township Committee was behind us and would fight for us. He agreed that the expansion was going to have a detrimental affect on our lives and he would not allow that to happen. He told us to be patient. Not make waves. We would get our sound barrier.
    We asked to participate in a walk around with the TPA, but they did one without us. We asked for a monthly update and a sit down with the TPA and were told that things were proceeding in our favor. Then Committeeman Morelli hit us and the other members of Township Committee with the bomb. No sound barrier, no rubberized asphalt. Be grateful you are getting some trees. It was also apparent to those attending the Aug. 25 Township Committee meeting that Morelli never discussed or involved Hill, Delaney or Roselli in these discussions or negotiations. Fortunately for us, Hill, Delaney and Roselli reiterated their commitment to do what is best for the residents of Clifton Mill and Bordentown Township.
    The residents of Clifton Mill were insulted when we were “scolded” by Morelli and told that we were complacent. Volunteers walked our community, got signatures, attended a rally and stuffed thousands of envelops. Many of us attended committee meetings and were shocked to find out that the majority of the committee had no idea of the pending meeting with the TPA. When over 70 people showed up at the Aug. 25 committee meeting, it certainly didn’t look like complacency. The people in attendance were professional and courteous, they knew what they were hearing from the TPA was not acceptable.
    I commend Mayor Hill, Deputy Mayor Delaney and Committeeman Roselli for staying the course and fighting the difficult battle. It has not been won, but with the support and backing of the residents of Bordentown Township, we will have our voices heard.