Sunday, November 30, 2008

The 2001 Cell Phone Records of Committeeman Pullion and Daly

The following link will allow you to download the 201 pages showing the 2001 cell phone records of calls made and received by Committeeman Tom Pullion and Jim Daly. Tom and Jim were the only Township Committeeman to have cell phones paid for by the Taxpayers of Edgewater Park. Both committeeman paid for some of the personal calls only after a big stink was made about them having township issued cell phones, and the cost of the those phones. None of the other township employees came anywhere near the the call charges made by these two committeeman. They claimed that the cell phones made them more accessible to the residents of Edgewater Park.
The only problem with that explanation is they never published the phone numbers for the residents, and if you check the numbers they called or were called from you will see that very few of those calls were from or to Edgewater Park residents. 
I just wanted you to see the type of people who are running our town and maybe you will understand why our taxes have gone up 76% in the nine years Tom and Jim have been on Township Committee.

You will be able to download the pdf file by clicking on this link http://www.4shared.com/file/73679900/7c77daf9/doc20081010163539_ALL.html

When the 4shared window opens, click on the Download Now button and the file doc20081010163539_ALL.pdf (201 pages) will be downloaded to your computer for you to look at. You will find some of the pages hard to read do to the poor quality of the copies.

The Edgewater Park Reporter 

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Edgewater Park Voters Rewarded for keeping 5 Democrats on Committee


NEWS FLASH EDGEWATER PARK!!!!
Subject: READ

http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/news/bct/edgewater-park-may-pump-up-water-rates/>
Posted in News http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/news/bct/category/news/> on November 18th, 2008 at 4:13 pm by BCT staff writer Dave Maccar | The Edgewater Park Township Sewerage Authority is considering raising its sewage rates for residents and businesses.
The proposed increase would raise flat fees for residents by $40 to $240 per year and would change the billing cycle to quarterly payments of $60 rather than the current semi-annual payments.. Billing dates would be in December, March, June and September.
For commercial accounts, a flat rate of $70 has been proposed with a cost of $4 per gallon over 12,000 gallons. This is an increase from the current annual minimum payment of $52.50 and a cost of $2.55 per gallon over 13,000 gallons..
The current rates have been in place since 1995.
The Authority will hold a public hearing on Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. at the Edgewater Park Township Municipal Building to discuss the proposed rate changes.
BCT staff writer David Maccar can be reached at 609-871-8068 or dmaccar@phillyBurbs.com mailto:dmaccar@phillyBurbs.com>

I guess the Sewer Authority Chairman Lied (check his comments in the Beverly Bee this summer) about how the Sewer Authorities Spending and Lack of Fiscal Control wasn't going to result in higher Sewer Taxes and the sewer rates were last raised in 2002 not 1995 as the article states. It is bad when the Authority lies to the BCT about when the rate was last raised. Why would you lie about this?
This is what happens when the party in  total control of the township, doesn't have to answer for their actions (Increased Sewer Taxs and Property Taxes) because the voters of Edgewater Park rewarded them with the election of five members of one party year after year. They just sent you, their thanks! 
Stupid is as stupid does.
  
The Edgewater Park Reporter

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Edgewater Park Property Tax Deals



Are you behind on your property tax payment?
 

Is your home on the Tax Sale List? 

Well you can apply to the Township Committee for a waver of the interest owed and promise to make the past due tax owed sometime after the township tax sale. 

This is the deal the Township Committee voted on and approved, at the November 11th Township Committee Meeting. The deal was for a Rt. 130 business. Township Committee also went into executive (closed) session to talk about making the same deal with another business, but did not act on it in the open meeting.

If the Township Committee can legally wave interest on past due taxes for a business property, then should they do the same for every homeowner who has paid interest on past due taxes? I think so, because you must treat everyone the same right! Oh, I forgot our Township Administrator and Committee do treat people differently, depending on your (Farm inside joke) relationship with them.

If the Township Committee will let this business property owner, pay his past due taxes (2-yrs) after the scheduled tax sale for that property, and order the removal of that property from the scheduled tax sale, then Township Committee should do the same for all owners, whose properties are on the tax sale scheduled by the Township.

Somehow I don't think you would get this same deal, because you are not a neighbor of a Township Committeeman (check the minutes of the Nov. 11, 2008 when published to see who). 

How many senior citizens have had their homes sold at tax sale in Edgewater Park? Shouldn't they get the same type of deal? 

I think it would be finically smart for all property owners in Edgewater Park not to pay the taxes  on their properties for two years, then ask for the same deal (a waver of interest for the two years), then make the past due tax payment after the tax sale. You would make interest on the withheld taxes by investing that money and after two years withdraw the original amount (past due tax) and pay the township without interest. You would keep the interest earned for yourself. 

No wonder our Township is raising property taxes in excess of 6% average per year, for the past ten years.

The Edgewater Park Reporter

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Fw: concerned



----- Forwarded Message ----
From: @gmail.com>
To: edgewaterparkreporter@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 5, 2008 1:54:56 PM
Subject: concerned in Edgewater Park

I am a lifelong Edgewater Park resident and for the most part am happy to admit that. A few years ago, tragedy struck myself and family when my brother was killed on Delanco Road by a speeding motorist. For several years after the accident, due to several incorrect police reports, we had to fight to say that his death was caused by speeding. Once this was accepted by all, myself and a few family members approached our township about placing a blinking light (originally we requested a 4 way stop) at the Delanco Rd/Perkins Ln intersection. We also petitioned the county to lower the speed on Delanco Rd and make the several hundred feet before the intersection non-passing along with leveling the grade of the road. We had many people on our side luckily, and we did receive resolution to the issue of the intersection dangers as best we could.
My concern now is that with all the effort myself and family put forward for people to slow down and be more cautious seems to have been in vain. I am now a resident on Perkins Lane where the speed limit is 25 mph. On average, cars do between 40 and 50 mph down my road (including municipal vehicles) let alone, the 50-60 mph cars travel down Delanco Rd. And where might our police officers be? My children are now of school age and are waiting for the bus in the morning and playing outside in the afternoon while these motorists blindly speed and endanger my children. I feel as though I need to stand roadside to make sure passing cars recognize there are children present. I am sure that this is a concern to parents throughout the township along with myself, however I fear that tragedy may strike again if someone does not put the fear of God, or at least a heavy fine, into these people. Thanks for letting me bend your ear.
Name withheld

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

FW: Percentage Tax Increase

I received this email message and think it may help to explain some of  the reasons why the tax record of Tom Pullion's last nine years, did him no harm in his re-election. 

After you read the emailed question from C.D., I will explain how to figure percentages using the rules for math.

The Edgewater Park Reporter


------ Forwarded Message
From: CD
Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:35:45 -0500
To: EdgewaterPark Reporter <edgewaterparkreporter@yahoo.com>
Conversation: Percentage Tax Increase
Subject: Percentage Tax Increase

Dear E.P. Reporter,

I was told by Bee Holley last night that the reason the local republican
candidates lost was the voters were mad about the republican campaign
literature stating that Tom raised taxes 74.6%. She said this was a lie and
that's why the voters reelected Tom.
I went home to check this and came up with a smaller percentage. I was only able to go back to 2002 with my tax records and saw that my property tax was lower in 2003 from 2002.
I personally know Chuck Ryder and can't believe he would distort a fact like this. Could you please help and clear this up for me and the many others, Bee Holley spoke to about this. I understand Mr. Daly was saying the same thing to people.

Thank you

C. D.

------ End of Forwarded Message


This is how you go about figuring the percentage increase of your taxes, between 1999 and 2008.

In 1999 the average home in Edgewater Park paid  a local purpose tax (municipal tax) of $559.53. 

In 2008 the average home in Edgewater Park paid a local purpose tax of $973.15.

You subtract the 1999 tax of $559.53 from the 2008 tax of $973.15. You should get $413.62

Divide $413.62 by the 1999 tax of $559.53 for a total of 0.739227565.

Multiply 0.739227565 by 100 and should get 73.9227565, an increase of 73.9%

I did not add the open space tax of 1 cent, because it did not exist in 1999. If you add this in then the local purpose tax increased 76% since 1999

The statement by Mrs. Holley and Mr. Daly is false, if you follow the rules for math. 

Ask them to get their property tax from 1999 and compare it to the 2008 tax bill. Then all they need to do, is the math. 

I hope that any voter who was told by Mrs. Holley and Mr. Daly, the 74.6% stated in the Republican Literature was a lie and then voted for Tom because they believed Bee and Jim, will check the facts with their own tax records. 

The 76% tax increase truth will then be exposed! Mrs. Holley and Mr. Daly were right the Republican tax increase charge was incorrect. It was to low (74.6%) instead of (76%)! Bee is right, that is why you lost the local election Republicans.

I don't think this issue, was the reason the two Republican Township Committee Candidates lost. If you were at the polls when they opened, and looked at the election results in the BCT, you would realize that very few African American Edgewater Park residents voted for any republican candidates. Look at the vote for Freeholder Aubrey Fenton, an African American (1,249 votes), compared to President Elect Barack Obama (2,553 votes), a difference of 1,304 votes (104% more). 

The Republican Party has not been able to attract Edgewater Park African American voters, to vote for its candidates or run as a candidate. If the Edgewater Park Democratic Party is to have any serious republican competition, the Republicans or any other third party, need to convince the Edgewater Park African American voter, they are being taken for granted by the Edgewater Park Democratic Party. 

If the Edgewater Park African American voters are shown the facts of who is responsible for the local purpose tax increasing 76%, I am sure they would vote their pocket book by voting in candidates that would not allow the local purpose tax to increase at a rate exceeding 6% each year. 

Maybe next year Republicans, you will do a better job in reaching out to the Edgewater Park African American Voters with the tax facts. Nobody likes being taken for granted!

I do have a question for any old-timer resident like myself who voted early, did you know many of the people in line with you? Have we had that much of a turnover in residents? Let me know if your impressions are the same. 

Bottom line; the Local Purpose Tax on homes in Edgewater Park did increase 76% between 1999 and 2008. Even if you use the new math, it still is a 76% local purpose tax increase! 

Don't be fooled by using the overall tax rate. The overall rate, is a combination of all taxes, County, Library, Schools and Fire. Those tax rate increase are not the responsibility of the Township Committee, only the Local Purpose Tax is. 

I have not forgotten about the Cell Phone Records. I will be posting them soon.


The Edgewater Park Reporter

Friday, October 31, 2008

Fw: just a question

I received this question from Donna. If anyone has the answer please post your answer as a comment.

The Edgewater Park Reporter

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Donna
To: edgewaterparkreporter@yahoo.com
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 12:33:51 AM
Subject: just a question

Hello, I read your blog once in a while and I was wondering if you could answer a question that I have.  I see that you seem to know much about our town and I was wondering if you happen to know what is in the old bank building on Cooper and Green Streets.  If I am bothering you with my question, I apologize, however I just thought maybe you knew and would be willing to share the information.  I happened to notice the decorations in the windows of the bank, however I have not noticed a sign.
 
Either way, thank you for informing the community.
 
Donna



Tuesday, October 28, 2008

REVALUATION UPDATE LETTER FROM THE EDGEWATER PARK TAX ASSESSOR

EDGEWATER PARK  REPORTER NEWS FLASH

See information and email sent to me this morning from Candidate for Township Committee, Chuck Ryder, concerning a Revaluation Order from the Burlington County Board of Taxation.

Please read my comments at the end, E.P. Reporter





----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Chuck Ryder
To: edgewaterparkreporter@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 7:56:10 AM
Subject: FW: REVALUATION UPDATE

 



Dear Edgewater Park Reporter:
 
    I would appreciate if you would publish the attached copy of a letter sent to the County Tax Board from Edgewater Park's Tax Assessor on behalf of Township Committee to request a postponement of the Reval Order.  I don't know why the Township didn't appeal the order back in June when they had the legal opportunity to do so, as Mt. Laurel and Hainesport did.  A day late and a dollar short, all of a sudden they have concerns about the housing market and our declining home values.  These issues were just as bad back in June when they had a legitimate recourse to do the right thing and file an appeal. Missed opportunities seem to be the forte of our governing body.    
Thank you,   
Chuck Ryder 
 _____________________________________________________________________________________
*********************************************************
 The Residents of Silver Park (Dennis this means you) should read this letter. It reveals the true position of the Township Committee on the Burlington County Tax Board's Order to conduct a Revaluation of properties in Edgewater Park. 

Mr. Ryder also has copy of correspondences from the Tax Board that shows the Tax Board has been warning the Township Committee during the past two years that Edgewater Park needed to do a revaluation. The Burlington County Tax Board is presently comprised of two members who are both Governor Corzine Democratic Appointees. 

The Burlington County Tax Board is supposed to have five members, according to the State of NJ,whose membership majority reflects the political party that controls the Governors Office, so the Burlington County Tax Board has three vacancies. I have verified this information with the links highlighted, so that you can verify this information.

The Edgewater Park Reporter

Monday, October 27, 2008

Part 2; Tom Pullion's Dismal Nine Year Economic Record for Edgewater Park


Tom Pullion was first elected to office in Nov. 1998 and started his service as our Committeeman in 1999. Tom's platform was the redevelopment of Edgewater Park's Rt 130 corridor for tax ratables and restarting the stalled Silver Park residential development. 

Tom Pullion also pledged to see that no additional high density housing (apts., condos & townhouses) would be approved by the Township, as long as he was serving on Committee. Tom Pullion also supported the proposed Open Space Tax for preserving the remaining open space in Edgewater Park. Tom Pullion later turned his back on this, by voting not to use the Open Space Tax to preserve the remaining open space in Edgewater Park but to use it on field maintenance instead. Tom Pullion has pushed for the residential development on the properties slated in the Open Space Plan for preservation.   


Tom Pullion's first term of office (2000-2002) record;


1. Tom pushed the Planning Board (was a member), to fast track the approvals for Phase 2 & 3 of Silver Park West. This fast tracking required the Planning Board to issue numerous variances and changes due to the Developer not building the project according the the approved site plans. These and many other inspection items, are the cause of the many issues in litigation between the builder, the township and the Silver Park West Homeowners Association. Our taxes are still paying (check the Edgewater Park Meeting Agendas for this year) the legal cost for Tom Pullion's pushing to fast track this project. 


2. The Dunken Donuts, and Super Wawa were built during Tom's first term.


3. The Burlington Coat Factory received their 30 Year Tax Abatement deal from the 2001 Township Committee, that has proven to be a bad deal for Edgewater Park. The proof that this was a bad deal are the statements made by Tom, in answer to the many criticisms of this tax abatement. Tom said (in his 2002 campaign) that the municipal taxes would be lowered because of this deal and that we would see the positive effects very soon. It is six years since his 2002 promise. We are also waiting for the two Pad sites owned by the Coat Factory on each side of the Rt 130 entrance to be developed. The only so called benefit to Edgewater Park is the increased COA obligation due to the number of employees working at the Coat Factory. The additional ancillary support businesses that were to be generated because of the Coat Factory have not materialized.


4. The Open Space properties were identified that the Township Committee wanted to preserve as part of our Open Space Plan that was adopted by Tom and Committee.


Tom Pullion's second term of office (2003-2005) record;


1. Tom objected (2004) to working with the Burlington County Freeholders with their (the County) efforts to redevelop the Rt. 130 Corridor. The results of this decision are very apparent, just look across the highway to Willingboro, or ride north to Burlington Twp or south to Delran and Cinniminison to see the difference.

2. Tom was behind the hiring of  Management and Government Resources, Inc. for $30,000 to market the Edgewater Park Rt. 130 Corridor, instead of using the Burlington County Economic Development Office (free) as Willingboro and other towns did. The $30,ooo fee cost one cent per $100 dollars of assessment on our local tax rate. Now what business did this contract bring ? None what so ever. Instead M.G.R., Inc. pushed the committee to change the zoning to allow for the building of condos, apartments and townhouse along Rt 130 as well as the areas adjacent to the rail line.

3. Tom Pullion and Committee signed an agreement of sale for the township owned property (Old Drive Inn) without getting any appraisals, to establish the value of this property. Tom knew that the buyer planned to build multifamily senior housing with some affordable units on. Thank god the deal fell apart! but beware Tom Pullion and Committee are still trying to push this residential idea for the Rt. 130 property. Did you ever sell property and not get a appraisal to establish the value for it from your broker? Well Tom Pullion and Committee did.

4. Tom Pullion and Committee turned down a NJ Green Acre Grant that would have covered the cost of several parcels of open space land that the Township purchased and planed to pay for with this grant. Tom Pullion and Committee rejected this grant because as Tom Pullion said, the public use of the open space properties would have to be open for anyone. This rejection has required Edgewater Park to borrow the money to pay for these properties instead of the grant. This has reduced our borrowed money (Municipal Bonds) that we  could have used for additional street paving projects. Not now, just ask. The township can issue more bonds, but this would increase the outstanding loans (Bonds & Notes) requiring much more of the township budget to be dedicated to principal and interest payments and not  for municipal services.

Tom's third term of office (2005-2008) record;

1. Tom Pullion pushed to change the Master Plan (Just upgraded) to allow high density multi-family housing on Rt. 130 along with commercial  instead of the Master Plan's just commercial development.

2. Tom Pullion along with Committee and the Administrator are pushing the Sewerage Authority to pay for sewer lines to be installed in areas of town that lack them now, with the sewer rate (tax) payers paying for this cost, not the developers. This has never been done by the Sewerage Authority for any of the developments previously built in Edgewater Park. Tom wants this to be done now for the developer who has received approvals to build a shopping center next to the RV Dealership as well as Perkins Lane so that residential developers will build houses on the tree farms.

3. Tom Pullion voted for a tax abatement ordinance for developers, and this was passed in September 2008.
 
4. Tom Pullion voted with the Mayor and Committee to evict the Sewerage Authority costing the tax payers an additional 1/2 cent on the property tax increase.

5. Tom Pullion voted, to not use the Open Space Tax colected to  purchase the last remaining farms, thereby ignoring the voters who overwhelming approved this tax in 2000, to be used for that purpose. 

If you want to see what Tom Pullion has accomplished with his nine years as a Mayor and Township Committeeman in attracting good ratables and the economic development of our town, just ride up and down Rt. 130 and compare the Edgewater Park section to the other towns along Rt. 130.
 
You have, or will receive, several election mailers from Tom Pullion and his friends, asking for your vote on November 4th, to support Tom and to keep his development progress going, and he will tell you again, how his plan will lower your taxes. Are you going to beleive Tom Pullion again?

Just look at Tom Pullion's past dismal nine year record to see what you can expect for the next three years if Tom is re-elected. 

Don't take my word on  Tom's  record, just take a ride on Rt. 130 and look at what other towns have accomplished with the Burlington County Freeholder's help. A picture is worth a thousand words.

The Edgewater Park Reporter    

Friday, October 17, 2008

NJ Environmental Federation Visits Edgewater Park to Solicit Funds and Support for Adler. They are comming to your door!

Have you been visited by members of the NJ Environmental Federation (NJEF)? They are going door-to-door and asking for contributions as well as support for John Adler for Congress. The member who came to the door claimed that Mayor Hall and the Administrator Dougherty gave them permission to solicit funds. She had a copy of a Solicitors Permit signed by Mayor Hall and Ad
Administrator Dougherty.

The following is a copy of the handout left with me.

Please read the next to the last sentence in the box at the bottom of the Flier. It states "NJEF member groups with 501 (c) (3) tax status do not participate in decisions or activities to support political candidates."
After reading this flier, how can the NJEF expect you to support them with money, when they are violating the Federal 501 (c) (3) Tax Exempt laws? 

I will be sending this to the IRS and the NJ Election Enforcement Commission as a complaint.

Anyone soliciting for funds in Edgewater Park must have a photo ID as well as a permit, with the persons name on it as well as the name of the organization they are soliciting for. If they cannot show this ID and permit, then call 911 and report them to the dispatcher who will send a Police Officer out to investigate.

I couldn't believe that a reputable organization would stoop to this level and solicit funds as a tax exempt group, and while doing that hand out a flier endorsing a candidate, and that flier indicating its 501 (c) (3) status. 

Do not give one cent or one minute of your time to these liars, who are masquerading as an environmental group to cover what they really are; a political action organization trying to circumvent the law. Shame on any politician who uses this groups endorsement for their campaign. Don't vote for them!

Check out who is on the NJ Environmental Federation Staff at  http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=43087937

The Edgewater Park Reporter     

Friday, October 3, 2008

Depressed In Edgewater Park

I think we who criticized the Beverly Free Library Board actions concerning the way they handled the rental of the old pharmacy, have made our point on how the bad decisions and the attempted cover up of those decisions, hurt the Library, the public and the community in general.

Time to move on to a very depressing troubling development in Edgewater Park.

This depressing development is the fact and my prediction, that in the upcoming election for two township committee seats, the past record of the incumbent Committeeman Pullion will not stop him from being reelected.


Nine Year Committeeman Tom Pullion
Gee why is he smirking?

I will be doing a multi-part post article on the record of Committeeman Pullion, who is seeking reelection to township committee this November.

The voters of Edgewater Park have reelected Committeeman Pullion twice and he has served for nine years on township Committee. Of those nine years, Committeeman Pullion's party (Democrat) has had township committee control for eight of those years.

I will expose the record of those eight years to see if you think he deserves another three years on township committee.

I will have a Blog Poll on this question and would like very much to encourage your comments concerning Committeeman Pullion's record as your representative, and manager of your tax dollars.

Edgewater Park voters in the past, usally never voted for the party candidate in local elections, but for the person based on his/her record, no matter what the voters party affiliation was. Edgewater Park was known for its ticket splitting. Sadly this is no longer true as the past several elections have shown.

Part One: Ten Year Edgewater Park Local Purpose Property Tax Record; Committeeman Pullion's Legacy

We have had one party control for the past nine out of ten years. During this time, our municipal tax has increased 74.5%, from $557.53 per year for an average home, to $973.15 for the same average home. This 74.5% increase is the largest percentage increase of any of the taxes that make up your property tax bill, including the school district which went up 40.2% during the same time.

Did you receive a 74.5% increase in pay from your 1998 wages?

So this begs the question, why are you going to reelect a committeeman who voted to raise taxes 74.5% during the nine years he has been on committee? Your continued support for the reelection of a committeeman who has proven that he is not capable of good management of your hard earned tax dollars, will guarantee that our town will end up like Willingboro, Beverly, and Pennsauken.

These towns were once lovely, thriving and wonderful communities to raise a family and now are communities people avoid moving to if they can afford it. This disdain is reflected in the prices of the homes sold in those communities, verses the prices of homes in the communities right next door. To check this just simply check out the real estate section of the newspapers.

Of course you will hear how committeeman Pullion's taxes also increased, but how he had no choice but to support the tax increases, because to do otherwise would have decreased municipal services. If this is true, then how come our municipal services have not improved by 74.5% ?

In today's 10/5/08 BCT front page article "Property taxes in 30 towns increase" it states that "Edgewater Park was one of the towns with the "largest tax rate increases". The towns are; Burlington City, up 20.3 cents; Evesham, up 18.5 cents; Mt. Holly, up 17.5 cents and Edgewater Park , up 14.3 cents followed by Fieldsboro, up 12.9 cents and Palmyra, up 12.3 cents. Could it be a coincidence that five of the six towns are governed by Democrats with Mt. Holly the exception. Edgewater Park's Municipal Local Purpose Tax ($.981) is the 10th highest out of 40 towns in Burlington County. This puts Edgewater Park as one of the top leaders in property tax increases in the county. Is this something we want our town to be a leader of?

Do you continue to reward a poor nine year record of fiscal management with your vote this November for Committeeman Pullion even if he is on the Democratic Ticket?

My bet is yes!- the majority of Edgewater Park voters today, cannot separate their vote locally and will continue to support a proven bad manager of our tax dollars, because Committeeman Pullion is a Democrat. Hence our town will continue its decline in quality of life and will probably advance upward in the 'Highest Municipal Tax Rate' standings. Who knows, if Committeeman Pullion, as I predict, wins this November, we may even reach number one on that list next year.

Prove me wrong! Do somthing to change our 'Township Committee's taking your vote forgranted- split your vote- show that you will not reward the poor management with your vote!

The next Post Article will be on; The Failure of Edgewater Parks Economic Development under Committeeman Pullion's Nine Year Term of Office.

Please send in your comments,

The Edgewater Park Reporter

Friday, September 19, 2008

Edgewater Park Reporter's Thoughts on KH's Facts or Lack Of


This picture, sums up KH's comments and arguments about how the Beverly Free Library Board is being slandered by this Blog. 

He hopes that if he talks around the facts enough, people will believe him. 

He certainly claims to be much more intelligent than anyone who disagrees with him.
The picture also represents my thoughts as to how well you are being served by your City Council and the group that controls it. The smell is a result of their rule for the past 20 some years.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Can you guess what City Councilman this is?

Can you guess the identity of this Beverly Councilman?
Please send your comment.
Beverly Guest Tax Payer

Lets see where this guest post takes us. I have removed the email account name due to threats made against this blog via the Edgewaterparkreporter@yahoo.com mail box. I am not concerned but I understand that someone in Beverly is trying to create an atmosphere of fear, so that people don't look into the actions or question the actions of certain elected officials. Boy this sounds like Edgewater Park.

The Edgewater Park Reporter

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Why what happens in Beverly Effects Edgewater Park

I received several emails (edgewaterparkreporter@yahoo.com) that complained about the Posts concerning the Beverly Free Library. The emailers said that this Blog is supposed to be about Edgewater Park not Beverly. We (blog owners) decide what gets published. If you don't like it start your own blog and we will link to it.

It is very naive to think what happens in Beverly doesn't effect us here in Edgewater Park. 

If you are observant to the decay of the once very nice homes that lined Cooper Street from the Railroad to Oak Street (Beverly), you should see how this decay, is having a negative influence on the Cooper 
Street homes in Edgewater Park. 
There are maybe four or five well maintained
 homes in the Railroad to Oak Street stretch of Cooper Street (Beverly). If you don't agree, then send me the pictures to prove me wrong. 


Why is the Beverly City Council allowing this to happen? Could it be that the foxes (check out who are members) are watching the hen house? If you don't understand the last statement then I hope you are not registered to vote.

This brings me to the issue of the Library Board renting out the old pharmacy. The Library Board is a Beverly landlord and as a landlord, is responsible to keep the property in a well maintained condition under Beverly City Ordinances as well as the 2005 Mortgage terms between the City of Beverly and the Beverly Free Library. 

Have you looked at the condition of the old pharmacy? 

In all honesty, is this building being being well maintained? What did the Beverly Free Library do with the $17,402.00 dollars they borrowed (Mortgage) in 2005, that was to be used for rehabilitation under the terms of the 2005 mortgage? If you know, please email me. 

If the City of Beverly hasn't enforced the terms of this 2005 Rental Housing Rehabilitation Mortgage, then I wonder how many other properties who's owners received Mt. Laurel money, are not fulfilling the terms of their Mt. Laurel Agreement Mortgages? Probably a lot judging by the decay of housing quality taking place.


Since some members of the Library Board are also members of the Beverly City Low Income Housing Over site Committees, then why should we be surprised that the terms of the Rehab Mortgages are not being enforced! 

If this lack of over site and enforcement is not changed by your Beverly City Council, then you Beverly City residents need to change  your members of City Council or expect Beverly City to continue its quality of life decline and what for most of you is your largest asset, your home, to continue its decline in value. 

Your city will never attract any quality developers whose developments could help bring your city back as a desirable place to live and raise a family, unless you change your leadership and/or stop allowing your leadership to appoint people who have vested interest in the areas they were appointed to oversee. This atmosphere will keep the quality developers from looking at Beverly as a good place to build. You will only attract the bottom fishing scumbag developers, who like dealing with governing bodies that make deals that are not in the best interest of their community, but for themselves. 

What happens in Beverly will not stay in Beverly, it will effect us here in Edgewater Park. If you doubt this, just look at what has happened to Pennsauken because of Camden's influence.

By the way, who does appoint the Beverly Free Library Board Members? Themselves? 

Why does the Library Board who receives public tax money, think they do not have to open their records to the public? 

I can't believe that members of the Beverly Free Library Board think this attitude will promote public confidence, in the decisions made by this board. I have asked an expert in the area of public financing to look into this, and will report the findings in a future Post.

The Edgewater Park Reporter

 

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Edgewater Park Mayor Said that Business Abatement Needed for RV Dealership


The Mayor stated during last nights Township meeting that the Abatement Ordinance was needed to allow businesses to freshen-up like the RV place because it is looking tired. That hopefully the Business Abatement Ordinance will encourage existing businesses to expand and attract new businesses to move here. 

I don't disagree, she is right. I question why the Mayor and Committee didn't do this long ago. The Mayor and Committee chose not to join with the County to jointly market Edgewater Park or to follow the recommendations made by the County to encourage the commercial development of Edgewater Park's Rt 130 Corridor. Instead the Mayor and Committee pushed for building high density residential housing. 

Thank god that deal died. But wait did it die, or is this Abatement Ordinance a way to bring the high density residential project back to life? I don't trust our existing Township Committee and Administrator to do the right thing for the taxpayers of Edgewater Park because of their past shenanigans. For an example just look at the Coat Factory Give-a-way Tax Abatement deal and the misuse of the Open Space Tax for maintenance of existing fields. By the way, did you know that the township is only receiving $115,001.00 dollars from the Coat Factory in-lu-of taxes this year? What a great deal for us taxpayers, and remember this is the same group that now wants to make similar deals with other businesses.

Reminder;
The Beverly Free Library Board will hold a public meeting tomorrow night, 7PM at the Library on Cooper St. Do you think that the Pharmacy will be repainted after the Political Party using the building is finished using it? Or will this become part of the local color for Cooper St. I admit you can't hurt the Cooper St. atmosphere much more than what you have there now. What a great gateway to welcome people to your town.

The Edgewater Park Reporter 


Friday, August 29, 2008

Edgewater Park Township Committee to give more business tax abatements

Breaking News


This picture is blurred to hide the identity of the pigs

The BCT posted a story today 8/29/08 that the Edgewater Park Township Committee will vote on an ordinance that would provide an incentive to businesses owners to locate in the township, or to improve and expand existing business.


This ordinance will be voted on for adoption next Tuesday, Sept. 2nd during the Committee Meeting.





The Mayor said that "We were trying to figure out why it hadn't been extended to the business". She was speaking about tax abatements. I guess Mayor Hall forgot about the give away tax abatement given to the Burlington Coat Factory by fellow committee members Tom Pullion and Jim Daly.





Most of the township's zoned commercial areas, already exist in the redevelopment zones that allows for tax abatements.





Administrator Dougherty said that "We are looking to stir economic development we feel that this is a mechanism to hopefully attract business to our community, Willingboro is doing a great job over there attracting business. We wanted to do the same over here."





The Mayor, Committee and Administrator had a chance to partake in the redevelopment help that was provided by the Burlington County Economic Development Office and Burlington County Freeholder Board, that benefited Willingboro's Rt. 130 successful redevelopment efforts. Instead back in 2004 Edgewater hired their own consultaint who was paid $30,000 (1 cent on the tax rate) to attract businesses to Edgewater Park. He produced nothing except another give away residental multifamily project that fell apart, thank god.





I like how this proposed abatement ordinance was placed on the township web site for the public to see and how the final vote will take place the evening after a holiday and the first day of school .





If approved by committee it will take place Sept. 8, 2008. I bet the vote to approve will be 5 to 0 by committee.





Do we trust this township committee with Tom Pullion and Jim Daly, who voted for the Burlington Coat Factory Abatement giveaway deal, Mayor Hall who defended the Coat Factory Deal as a great benifit for Edgewater Park and Donna (Atzert) Mount who's brother Darren Atzert was a member of committee that approved the Coat Factory deal, to look out for us taxpayers on future deals? I don't think so. Look for a deal shortly on the old Drive Inn/Kings property that will benifit from this abatement ordinance.





See you at the developer's feeding trough (Edgewater Park Committee) Tuesday, Sept. 2nd. 7PM.





The Edgewater Park Reporter