To the editor:
Friends of Hillsborough Open Space has stated repeatedly that our opposition to the diversion of up to 20 percent of open space money is non-partisan. Here is the reason why.
If the ballot question is approved as written, it will give this and future township governments, regardless of political affiliation, the ability to raid up to 20 percent of the proceeds from the open space fund for poorly defined purposes.
The public will have no recourse, as the ballot question has been vaguely worded. This was deliberate. How do we know? The May 2, 2013, Open Space Advisory Committee minutes state that, “Mr. (Township Committeeman Carl) Suraci was adamant that the wording on any referendum be the same vague wording as the county’s referendum.” If our township wants to follow the same measures as Somerset County did in 2005, then it should be noted that a needs assessment was provided to the public in July 2005, four months before the November vote. FOHOS has a copy of the Recreation & Park Association’s commendation of Freeholder Fontana’s efforts to seek public input before people voted.
Our members are focused on the lack of transparency in the open space ballot question. We are focused on disseminating the actual ballot question, explaining why it’s not the right time to divert up to 20 percent of Open Space Trust Fund monies for unknown purposes, and making voters sufficiently aware of this issue so they can make their own informed decision.
FOHOS is focused on an issue that is important to all taxpayers in Hillsborough: where will our open space tax dollars be going?
It is regrettable that the effort to gain more transparency on the ballot question has been diverted into a political self-serving issue by Mayor (Frank) DelCore. Mr. (Keith) Richmond and I have addressed accusations in a separate letter so that we are not distracted from the important goal of questioning the intended use of the diverted funds.
Since Mayor DelCore felt compelled to mention my volunteer service on the Hillsborough Board of Education, the relevance is that open space reduces developments thereby reducing school-related taxes and stabilizing class sizes. If Amsterdam School had not been built by a developer, taxes would have had to increase because the existing elementary schools did not have enough room for the influx of students. It should also be noted that the 9-member board has a healthy representation of our town’s population, which leads to thought-provoking discussions of our differing opinions, for the benefit of our school district.
I am keeping my eye on the ball. The Open Space Advisory Committee approved May minutes that state that “Mr Suraci was asked about a needs assessment. He said none had been done.” The June 6, 2013, Open Space Advisory Committee minutes under old business states, “This referendum (ballot question) should specify what is meant by ‘development and improvements.’ List specific projects so voters know what they are voting on.”
Clearly, the Township Committee did not take the advice of its appointed Open Space Advisory Committee because they voted 5-0 in favor of placing the deliberately vague question on the November ballot.
Can residents be confident that we will have input regarding the use of diverted money? Residents of Hillsborough do not have enough information about the Township Committee’s intended use of up to 20 percent of the Trust Fund, duration of use, and level of transparency for the intended purpose. Can we make an informed decision then?
Anyone who has volunteered alongside me over the years would probably have a hard time believing that I am launching a “cynical and reckless political attack…” I have worked with Mayor DelCore and former Mayor (Gloria) McCauley during my four years on the Sustainable Hillsborough Committee, of which I was chair and vice-chair during three of those years. I don’t recall any concern of reckless behavior when I organized the Sustainable Hillsborough Family Fair and the regional Sustainable Conference on Best Practices at Duke Farms. It also takes someone who is optimistic to run events, not someone cynical. Was I considered political when I supported our town’s efforts to be more sustainable no matter which party was in power?
My motivation has always been to simply make a positive contribution to my town.
The FOHOS Facebook page (www.facebook.com/FOHOSNJ) will add facts about the Hillsborough open space ballot question every day until Nov. 5 so that residents have the knowledge that they need to make an informed vote. Our non-partisan team welcomes volunteers of all denominations to help spread this information. Contact us at [email protected].
Let’s keep focused on the lack of transparency in the ballot question for Hillsborough’s Open Space Trust Fund monies.
Thuy Anh Le
Hillsborough
Editor’s note: Ms. Le notes she is a member of the Hillsborough Board of Education and this letter is solely her own, not authorized or written on behalf of the board.
