Mike Kassick, Manville
I’m writing in response to Councilman Ed Komoroski’s letter of April 17.
He accuses a resident of misleading the public with “half-truths and outright lies.” Well, I attended the meeting, and after reading this resident’s letter, it was right on the money about what took place. It was also reported in the newspapers the exact same way, so I’m not sure if you were paying attention to what happened at the meeting yourself.
As far as the inappropriate hiring practice you and your fellow Democrats attempted to slip by the public, it appeared to myself that once you had realized that one of your fellow Councilmen was absent from the meeting, you were not going to have the votes to force this issue through. In other words, you were caught and had to abandon the issue.
In a time when there are hiring freezes, this Democratic-led council have hired too many people, to a point of being out of control. On top, there are vehicles being purchased that we don’t need, abuses in the overtime system and officials being allowed to take taxpayer vehicles home, putting more costs on the out-of-control budget and further increasing risks to our town.
The letter stated that “we have had two of the lowest tax increases in our history.” Have you included in your numbers the outrageous amount of bonds you have taken out over the last two years? To me, bonds are fancy words for borrowing money you don’t have, that the taxpayers can’t afford to pay for.
Maybe there wouldn’t be so many tax appeals if you stopped spending money we don’t have. In my opinion, when residents massively appeal their taxes, it shows that the town’s leadership has failed miserably to do the right thing.
Then you wrote about “doom and gloom” statements by two councilmen. Mr. Onderko, Mr. Szabo and Ms. Asher are constantly talking with many residents, and listening to their concerns, so they are explaining the feeling people have about our town’s direction and their worries.
Remember, you and your fellow Democrats have controlled this council for three years allowing tax increases, debt, lack of progress, poor judgments in decisions, covering up illegal activities in town and just plainly being out of touch with taxpayers.
In January 2013 at a council meeting, the mayor told a resident who inquired about the Rustic Mall that by March a shovel would be in the ground. Just this past January, during the reorganization meeting, the mayor told the public that our town is safer than it has been in many years, while hours earlier on that same day, there had been a shooting in town.
Maybe if you also made it a point to greet the residents after the meeting, you would know who was there and their concerns about the constant increases in property taxes.
Republicans have voted no to unnecessary, out-of-control spending. Republicans also want to work on a way to stop the overspending. Why don’t you sit down with the Republicans and work with them in getting this outrageous spending under control, without the mayor sitting behind you telling you what to do.
Mike Kassick
Manville

