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

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

So are you advocating that by ticket splitting, one should vote for a Democrat and a Republican for Township Committee? There are two seats available. Edgewater Park voters have NEVER done this. One party has always won both seats when they are contested. Not that the generally poor economy over the past 5 years or so is a complete explanation of the tax increases but it does come into play. Seems to me that no matter who was/is on office that the taxes would have increased by some amount. Be realistic, everything increased in cost over the years.

Anonymous said...

I think the blogger means that no matter who you choose to vote for at County State & Federal level you could split your ticket at the local level to make a change for better management at the local level. In other words vote for both seats on committee to change not one of each. Hope this explanatiopn helps.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 8:09 am,

Realistically everything has increased but not to the high percentages that it has in EP. We have gotten hit with rate increases in EP that far exceed the normal cost of living increases that some of us get as wage increases. This is wasteful spending and poor decision making like evicting the sewer office from the township building resulting in revenue loss to town of $12,000 and higher expenditures to the sewer dept. which you will probably see next year as they will try to hide the increased costs by eating up their surplus then tell you they have no choice but to raise sewer rates down the road. This is mismanagement, when their own auditor told the sewer board in the first quarter of 2008 that they should raise rates if they continur to spend the way they were. Willingboro is sucking in alot of EP's money needlessly by handling our operator's duties yet we pay an operator/administrator with no equipment just to be a middle man to subcontract work out. Committee lets this happen so they are to blame too. Nobody's watching the store in EP, so you need the opposing party to have a couple seats just to be watchdogs of taxpayer money. Five Dems on comittee is like taking inventory in your own department, you'll cover up whatever you can so others won't find out. Vote for change.

Anonymous said...

brings me back to what I have said before, people should be made to take an IQ test before they are allowed to vote. It's just easier for them to vote down one row in the voting booth rather than having to read the other lines. The idiots will be out voting Obama (b/c that party throws pizza parties and give's free rides to the polls)and have no clue other than to vote straight down his column.

Anonymous said...

We should have watch dogs on all levels. That's why the Congress is split. It's working well there. We also need watchdogs on the County Freeholders Board. The opposition should be elected there too just to keep an eye on wasteful spending and practices.

Anonymous said...

What you need is elected officials (any party) that look out for the taxpayer's hard earned tax dollars responsibly. I don't care what party they belong to. I think we have given Mr Pullion enough time. I am looking foward to his retirement in November.

Anonymous said...

What do you expect from a CAR SALESMAN? I am sorry but most people like a person who tells them what they want to hear, and that's how people end up coming home with a different new car then the car they wanted to buy. Mr. Pullion the Car Salesman is predicted to win? I hope you are wrong. I can't wait to read how many wonderful things he has done and how he will FINALY THIS TIME bring tax saving ratables to Edgewater Park. Didn't he tell us in his last election how we (Township Taxpayers) would see how great the Burlington Coat Factory DEAL was going to be (in the future) and how it was going to lower our taxes. I believed him and voted for him, no longer- he is a true USED CAR SALESMAN, and I bought his line hook, line and sinker. I will be splitting my vote. Say no to tax thieves.

Anonymous said...

Check this link out; http://74.125.45.104/search?q=cache:ksTTLBFUJeIJ:www.coat-shop.co.cc/coat-fa
ctory/coat-factory-info.htm+Pullion+edgewater+park&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=33&gl=us

It is part of the Coat Factory Web Site I think. You need to scroll down to see the Edgewater Park Story.

Anonymous said...

I see the Pullion-Booker Signs are out.
Who is Booker? I thought Tom was running with Jim Daley. Didn't they run together the last time?

Anonymous said...

Here is a quote from Darrell Booker that is on the EP Dems Web Page.

"My aim is to make sure our town gets the best services available with the resources we have and not burden the Edgewater Park tax payers to the brink of extinction."

Booker may be to late, Tom Pullion and his crony buddies buddies have already pushed us to the brink of extinction!

He shows that he is as sharp as our Mayor and the rest of her Committee. Boy do they think you all are stupid! I not because I am out of here, to a State that will at least let you keep the cloths on our back.

Check out the Phila Enquirer front page above the fold article "Dems in NJ doled out millions" "Evidence in former Sen. Wayne Bryant's trial says tax money went to fund pet projects."
I thought Tom Pullion was good friends with Assemblyman Conners and Conaway, so how come we didn't get any goodies in Edgewater Park. Instead we were told our tax increase was because of the State Aid cut. I think the EP Reporter's picture of the little piggies is soooo appropriate.

Anonymous said...

Have you noticed that Tom Pullion and Darrell Booker are endorsed by a dead former committeeman Richard Tucker on the EP Dems Web Site. I would check on the absentee votes Republicans. This is Chicago 1960 all over again in 2008 Edgewater Park with the dead endorsing and voting for Democrats.
Do not support incompetence with your vote, if you do it will cost you.

Anonymous said...

Well I just looked at the EP Dems website. It looks like they run the website the same way they have run our Township into the ground. If Mr. Booker is an IT professional and allows Mr. Daly’s and Mr Johnson’s bios to be co-mingled what will he allow in the township government? Where does he work and for who?

They even have dead people endorsing the candidates. Richard Tucker was dead before Mr. Booker even announced his running. They have him as endorsing the candidates for this years election! I copied the whole site just so when it disappears there will be some proof of just how messed up these people are. For God's sake, wake people and take back the town! Don’t vote party vote for the person.

Anonymous said...

I found this written in the paper and I thought it very fitting for any election. Thanks to "Joe" for the words of wisdom.

"I believe any vote cast for a candidate based solely on party affiliation, race, or gender is flawed. A principled vote in my view is one that is fully informed on the issues and on the voting record of the candidate. What a candidate may say on the campaign trail or even in a debate is not as reliable as the voting record. In other words, don't listen to what he or she says; look at what they've done."

Anonymous said...

Can anyone give me the Edgewater Park Republic ans website so I can learn about the candidates or is this the site?

Anonymous said...

More about the NJ $128 million Democratic Legislative Slush Fund in the Phila. Enquirer today (10/7/08). It is in Section A page 1 & 8. and is a must read if you want to know why the State is broke and why our local taxes are exceeding the rate of inflation.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj/20081007_Adler_s_special_help_sought_for_Cherry_Hill__Haddon_aid.html

The article on page A-8, tells how Officials in Cherry Hill and Haddon Townships invoked State Sen. John Adler's name when they sought $20 thousand worth of grants from the slush fund. Guess whose wife is a Cherry Hill councilwoman- JOHN ADLER. I guess the only way a town can get slush fund tax money is to have a councilwoman/councilman sleeping with a State Senator or Governor. Oh I am sorry for that last statement, if it offends your politically correctness sensitivities.

Anonymous said...

The Edgewater Park Republican's do not have the money for a web page because they didn't get and won't except thousands of dollars in campaign payoffs from the several engineering firms hired by the township. You can check it out on the NJ State Election Commission Web Site. The link is on this blog. You need to look at the past 4 years and you will be blown away by how much money the Democrats received. To bad they didn't use this money for tax relief by not borrowing to pay for the projects that these Engineering firms were paid for.

Anonymous said...

The Edgewater Park republicans can not afford a website b/c they do not receive kick backs and donations from the various professional services hired by Edgewater Park township.

You see voters b/c the township is run by all democrats and the democratic committee selects the professionals for township contracts, those professionals re-pay the democrats by donating thousands of dollars (that they make thanks to our tax dollars) to the democrats campaigns. They also like to give the committee members free tickets to Phillies, Eagles, Sixers & Flyers games and not just ordinary seats either, they like to let them sit in their corporate paid for box seats. And guess who helps pay for those box seats? Yup you guessed it, us taxpayers. New Jersey politics and corruption at it's best.

Gee I wonder what kind of kick backs Tom Pullion got from the Coat Factory?

Please voters remember this at election time and vote the incumbents out! We need CHANGE and we need it NOW!

Anonymous said...

Looks like the democrats have already changed their website. I just checked and did not find the reference of Tucker supporting the new candidates. I'm sure the democrats thank whoever brought this oversight to their attention. How embarassing that this had to be pointed out to them.

On another note, the democratic candidates make 3 promises on their website that are just out right lies.
1. They claim they are for more business rateables and Rt. 130 redevelopment. Well if thats the truth how come since they've been in power the last several years Edgewater Park seems to be the only town not cashing in on the redevelopment along Rt. 130? I've watched all the other towns cash in on this re-development and not a new thing has changed along Rt. 130 in Edgewater Park except for the 45th Street Pub (which has changed owners and names more times in the last few years).

2. They claim smart growth managements & open space preservation. Aren't these the same people who voted again the open space and wanted MORE Apartments and affordable housing to come into our town?

3. Improve quality of life, services and home values. Well do I really need to say anything about this claim? Come people do you think you've had an improvement in quality of life since these clowns have been in office? Do we have an improvement in services? What has happened to your home values? I don't think you can say one positive thing about these claims. Our home values have gone down, our taxes have gone up, we have no new services and no improvement on the current ones, and the quality of like sucks. Yeh lets keep voting the same clowns into office. That makes sense when we want change.

Anonymous said...

Looks like the democrats have already changed their website. I just checked and did not find the reference of Tucker supporting the new candidates. I'm sure the democrats thank whoever brought this oversight to their attention. How embarassing that this had to be pointed out to them.

On another note, the democratic candidates make 3 promises on their website that are just out right lies.
1. They claim they are for more business rateables and Rt. 130 redevelopment. Well if thats the truth how come since they've been in power the last several years Edgewater Park seems to be the only town not cashing in on the redevelopment along Rt. 130? I've watched all the other towns cash in on this re-development and not a new thing has changed along Rt. 130 in Edgewater Park except for the 45th Street Pub (which has changed owners and names more times in the last few years).

2. They claim smart growth managements & open space preservation. Aren't these the same people who voted again the open space and wanted MORE Apartments and affordable housing to come into our town?

3. Improve quality of life, services and home values. Well do I really need to say anything about this claim? Come people do you think you've had an improvement in quality of life since these clowns have been in office? Do we have an improvement in services? What has happened to your home values? I don't think you can say one positive thing about these claims. Our home values have gone down, our taxes have gone up, we have no new services and no improvement on the current ones, and the quality of like sucks. Yeh lets keep voting the same clowns into office. That makes sense when we want change.

Anonymous said...

Looks like the democrats have already changed their website. I just checked and did not find the reference of Tucker supporting the new candidates. I'm sure the democrats thank whoever brought this oversight to their attention. How embarassing that this had to be pointed out to them.

On another note, the democratic candidates make 3 promises on their website that are just out right lies.
1. They claim they are for more business rateables and Rt. 130 redevelopment. Well if thats the truth how come since they've been in power the last several years Edgewater Park seems to be the only town not cashing in on the redevelopment along Rt. 130? I've watched all the other towns cash in on this re-development and not a new thing has changed along Rt. 130 in Edgewater Park except for the 45th Street Pub (which has changed owners and names more times in the last few years).

2. They claim smart growth managements & open space preservation. Aren't these the same people who voted again the open space and wanted MORE Apartments and affordable housing to come into our town?

3. Improve quality of life, services and home values. Well do I really need to say anything about this claim? Come people do you think you've had an improvement in quality of life since these clowns have been in office? Do we have an improvement in services? What has happened to your home values? I don't think you can say one positive thing about these claims. Our home values have gone down, our taxes have gone up, we have no new services and no improvement on the current ones, and the quality of like sucks. Yeh lets keep voting the same clowns into office. That makes sense when we want change.

Anonymous said...

Where can we find what the republican candidates will do or what their position is on various issues?

By the way the newspaper is the Philadelphia Inquirer not Enquirer. The Enquirer is a supermarket tabloid and is not a reliable source of information.

Anonymous said...

Charles R. Ryder (Chuck)
331 N. Arthur Drive

Personal Data: Age 50
Married 25 years to wife Kathleen (Kathy)
Three sons, Robert, Joseph and Charles

Graduated from Burlington City High School - 1976
Graduated from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA - 1981 B.S.

Resided in Edgewater Park from 1966 until marriage in 1983
Moved family back to Edgewater Park in 1995

Employment History:
Charles Jacquin & Company, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
Assistant Plant Manager 1993 - Present
Research & Development Chemist 1987 – 1993

C. Schmidt & Sons, Inc. Philadelphia, PA
Plant Chemist 1981- 1987

Memberships:
New Jersey State Exempt Firemen’s Association
Niagara Fire Co., Burl. City – Member since 1985
Niagara Fire Co., Burl. City – Bd. of Governors 1985 -1997
Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, PENNJERDEL Council, Vice-Chairman of PCB Regulatory Control Committee, 1985 -1986
Member St. Paul’s Church and Choir

Candidacy Goals:
Reduce Taxes through better fiscal responsibility to contain costs.
Prevent Residential Overdevelopment, which strains municipal services.
Work to attract businesses to revitalize Rt. 130 border.
Institute Ethics Reform Policy to have best qualified people on Advisory Committees & Boards.
Work to delay Revaluation until housing market stabilizes.



Joseph Galgoci (Joe)
26 West Franklin Ave

Personal Data: Age 38
Married 14 years to wife Laura
Two sons - Jonathan and Alexander

Graduated from Holy Cross High School 1987
Graduated from Rutgers University 1992
BA in Political Science

Have lived in Edgewater Park since 2001

Employment History:

Penn Color Inc. Hatfield, PA
Warehouse/Logistics Manager 2003 to present
1999 to 2003 Night Shift Plant Foreman

Jet Plastica
Warehouse Manager 1995 to 1999

Community Activities:
Volunteer with EPAA
Volunteer with Little Green Football
Member Riverfront Historical Society
Chaperone various activities at Ridgway Middle
School


Candidacy Goals:
Utilize managerial skills to reduce budget.
Rebuild relationship with County Redevelopment Program to improve town image.
Work to end selective enforcement
of township ordinances.
Assist EPAA with its future objectives.
Work to prevent loss of open space
to overdevelopment.
Work with other municipalities in fighting the new COAH regulations.

Anonymous said...

Hello

Our names are Joseph Galgoci and Charles Ryder and we are running for the two Township Committee seats that are up for election this November.

We are knocking on doors with the hopes of meeting you, to ask for your input and support to make our local Edgewater Park government more responsive to your needs.

We know that we need to earn your support.

We are running for this office because we see the need for changing the direction of our local government in how it fails to serve the residents of Edgewater Park equally.

We believe that our local officials should work harder for you, and not make you work harder to pay their constant property tax increases that exceed the rate of inflation.

We know that our integrity and character will lead to an open local government that will change the way you are treated by town officials when dealing with them.

Please help us to make the much needed change for a better Edgewater Park by supporting us on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4th.

We thank you for your time and are truly sorry if we missed you. We can be reached at 239-2976 with any questions.

Joseph Galgoci and Chuck Ryder
The Two Candidates for Change in Edgewater Park

Anonymous said...

Thank you Chuck & Joe for the information. It is very helpful. I am an undeclared voter who is looking for change in Edgewater Park. I wish you two the best of luck. I will be voting republican in Edgewater Park.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe that a 74.5% tax increase over nine years doesn't have more people up in arms. This record is actually worse than that because in one of the nine years (2003) the municipal tax rate went down 3%. Why would any taxpaying voter ever support the re-election of a councilman, Tom Pullion who voted for all of the tax increases and was responsible for the municipal budgets that required the 74.5% increase of our municipal property tax? Please explain that to me if you can Tom and don't tell me about the cut in State Aid, because you received the amount of the State Aid cuts for the sale of township owned property.

Anonymous said...

I found last years Election 2007 Report for Kevin Johnson's Campaign. It list the following Engineering, Law Firms and Auditing Firms and the donations made to his campaign. This might explain why our professional cost have jumped so much and is one of the causes for our large tax increases. Its called payoffs for business. I will check on the campaign reports for the past eight elections, to see how much was contributed in those campaigns and by who. This report only list the campaign contributions over $300.00. The law doesn't require a report for under $300 dollars. I guess that is why Phil Aaronson campaign showed no contributions in excess of $300 dollars.

Campaign Contributions to Democrat Kevin Johnson;
1. Remington, Vernick, Arango, Engineers $2,600
2. Environmental Resolutions, Engineers $1,750
3. Richard A Alaimo Assoc., Engineers $2,500
4. Holman & Frenia, PA, Twp Auditors $500.
5. Quinlan, Dunne & McConnell, Solicitor Sewer
Authority, $1,000

Thats $8,350.00 in professional services contributions that under the NJ law do not require the township to have competive bids. These firms were all rewarded with payoff contracts for this year.

Anonymous said...

Either that or the Republican Committee did not file the reports.

Anonymous said...

I would think if a party could get away with not filing reports then the Dems would too else why would they volunteer the information that all the township professionals give kickback donations to the E.P. Democrat Party or E.P. Demorat campaign funds. The professioals overbill the township a few thousand dollars then give it back next year to the Dem. party, gee why not tell them to reduce their charges to the township and pass it on to the taxpayers like the Repub. would do. That's better fiscal management and a way to reduce taxes if even a little but you got to start somewhere. Vote for change.