By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Mayor Carl Suraci raised the possibility Tuesday night of using the township’s open space fund to pay for maintenance or recreation equipment.
He asked fellow Township Committee members who are liaisons to recreation and open space committees to research the idea and report back. Any change in the spending would have to be approved by voters, and the earliest that could be done is the fall of 2013.
Township property owners pay 2.8 cents for each $100 (or $28 per $100,000) of assessed valuation into the fund, which is used to buy open space or farms for preservation. It will raise $1.6 million this year.
The mayor said modifications to disbursements or reallocated money could be used to build playing fields, improve walking trails or other ways to make improvements so residents can actually enjoy the open space.
Currently, money to build or maintain facilities comes out of the operating budget, usually in public works or recreation departments.
He said he did not expect a quick turnaround of the idea, and called for a long and thoughtful discussion.
Resident David Brook applauded the idea, saying that after the critical phase of acquisition the township has to put money into the land in other ways.
Gene Robbins

