By: centraljersey.com
While reading about the search for a site for the senior (and possibly youth) center, I was puzzled as to the need for such center(s) with the YMCA planning to construct a facility sometime in the future.
Why should our municipal government be adding services when we cannot afford our current services. It seems to me that the "Y" offers a much lower cost solution to a perceived need that will serve only a relatively small portion of our residents.
While it appears the township erred in buying the Pennytown location, why don’t we offer that property to the "Y" if they are not contractually bound to either of the sites previously discussed as possible locations.
The township and the boroughs could avoid staffing for nonessential services. There is only one way to bring property taxes down over the long run and that is by saying no to any nonessential services.
My wife and I are senior citizens and we have eight grandchildren in Hopewell, so we also would be sacrificing access to these services.
Harry B. Fowler Pennington
Pound drum harder
To the editor:
Regarding David Sandahl’s recent Op-Ed and last week’s rebuttal by our three mayors, I agree with Mr. Sandahl and only wish that he would pound his drum even harder. The HVRSD and Mercer County should also be part of the discussion.
The mayors are well-intentioned, but as evidenced by Pennington’s recent debate on night-shift police, the politics of overcoming home-rule are daunting. They clearly understate the cost savings that would be realized through consolidation. And they don’t acknowledge the mediocrity of services that we endure under home rule, such as the agonizing wait for the mere two hours per week of office hours served by some borough officials. It’s not helpful that the mayors are surrounded by professionals who have a vested stake in preserving the status quo.
Both articles mention the multiple police forces and public works departments, but those acknowledged inefficiencies barely scratch the surface. It’s time for many more tough questions. Here are just a few examples:
– Why does the HVRSD still own the administration building? Can’t they find a suitable and considerably less expensive solution for their modest office needs? Wouldn’t selling it generate significant cash proceeds and a meaningful reduction in annual expenses? And wouldn’t putting the property back onto the tax rolls generate substantial new revenues?
– I love libraries, but why do we need three of them (including the one at HVCHS) less than one mile apart? Wouldn’t we save money and have a better product if we put all of our energy into just one library?
– What about disposition of other no-longer-needed municipal properties and placing them back onto the tax rolls? Couldn’t this include the two borough halls?
– What are the baseline annual costs of having a municipality in the first place and satisfying the monstrous administrative requirements? Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands?
An intelligent person arriving here from the Planet Krypton would look at the way we provide local services and would be astounded at the waste and the chaos. It’s time to fix that. The mayors criticize Mr. Sandahl’s call for consistency in budget reporting, but his aim is to avail information in a workable format so that the potential savings can be quantified. He’s not wrong about that. Only when we have that data and then superimpose some out-of-the-box thinking will we truly realize the extent of the inefficiencies. The potential savings are enormous.
The status quo is always cozy, and our mayors raise valid points about some of the obstacles. It won’t be easy. But they are very wrong to downplay the enormous cost savings that are achievable and they are wrong to ignore the fact that the quality of virtually all services would be elevated. A better product for a much lower price sounds like a good plan to me. What are we waiting for?
George Ackerman Hopewell Township
Make a difference
To the editor:
Now that we are in the new year, Hopewell Township’s Environmental Commission would like to recommend an easily implemented resolution. As we regularly sit down and make plans in January, with varying degrees of success throughout the year, we would like to challenge township residents to save money, energy and wildlife, all with one simple act – turn off the lights.
Many of you may not be aware that Hopewell Township has led the state in creating and implementing the EQ Challenge. A program designed to track your energy use, it offers you the opportunity to compare to previous year usage and try and reduce. With your January energy bill fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to register online. The information is private, with a bonus – Hopewell Township will recognize those who most successfully reduce their energy usage over the year. And it’s a challenge open to all residents in the Valley, which includes Hopewell and Pennington boroughs, as well.
Why engage in the EQ Challenge? It makes you more conscious of your personal energy use. We all want to reduce our expenses and improve the quality of life for our children and our community. What better way than through reduced use of fossil fuels? Besides saving money through reduced energy use, we can make a difference. So sign up now at www.townsurvey.com/Hopewell/HopewellEQchallenge.php.
An additional benefit of turning off the lights, especially any that are readily visible outdoors, is that you will help the migratory birds. It’s hard to believe right now in the depths of winter, but we are rapidly approaching the spring migratory season for birds. Starting in mid-March, the birds begin to return north from south and central America. Traveling primarily at night every year, thousands die on the harrowing journey. Exhausted and confused by light from buildings, towers and roadways, birds fatally collide with man-made structures all along the route. New Jersey is in one of the major migratory routes, and we can make a difference. Turn out the lights. Teach your children about the importance of making the Hopewell Valley a safe highway for migratory birds. To learn more about the problem, read about the Fatal Light Awareness Program at www.flap.org.
And with spring on route, can summer be far behind? Many of the stunningly beautiful nighttime moths, like the polyphemus and luna moths, are virtually extinct around here. These nocturnal creatures are drawn to light and will exhaust themselves battering against lit windows and exterior lights. So join the Valleywide EQ Challenge and make a difference.
Nora Sirbaugh, on behalf of Hopewell Township Environmental Commission

