I must admit that when I walked to the microphone at Wednesday's Charter Study Commission public hearing, I was quite nervous. Committeeman Carl Suraci had just finished addressing the Commission, mostly concerning the validity of their conclusions regarding the Township Committee form of government. Mr. Suraci's main concern was that the testimony of the current township committee was discounted during the Commission's evaluation of our present government.
What reporter Pamela Sroka-Holzmann described in the Courier News as a "heated debate" actually included much gavel-pounding, arguing during the ensuing recess, and, eventually, commissioners abandoning the dais. Ms. Sroka-Holzmann is decidedly NOT a sensationalist reporter!
After the recess, Mr. Suraci concluded his remarks by pointing out the inclusion of Hillsborough as No. 23 in Money Magazine's list of the top 100 places to live in the U.S. This is what I was thinking about when I got up to speak.
Nostalgia is a wonderful thing. Looking back fondly on by-gone days can give one a sense of happiness and peace. The problem with the "good old days" is that you can never recognize them until they're gone - although there are often clues.
Could it be that we are living in the good old days right now? One clue certainly is that Money Magazine ranking. Can't you imagine people looking back on Hillsborough 30 years from now saying, "I remember when this was the 23rd best place to live in the country, they didn't know how good they had it".
Another clue just might be our form of government. The Township Committee form is a living piece of history that has served this town well for 236 years. There is no doubt in my mind that one day it will need to go - vanish like the buggy whip and washboard - and that is going to be a sad day. But there is a reason that it has lasted so long - from Washington drilling his troops on the mountain, to the heyday of the railroads, and beyond - and that is because it works.
Until Hillsborough becomes so complex, so populous, and so full of problems that we need a full-time professional mayor to run the town, we should be very careful about losing what we have - a simple, effective, and responsive government, of the people, by the people, and for the people - just like in the good old days.
Well Said, Greg --- Well Said!
ReplyDeleteThank you 08844. I think this is what they call "revising and expanding" one's remarks. In other words, I'm not sure if I got all of this out Wednesday night, but this is what I meant to say.
ReplyDeleteI also said on Wednesdsay night that I would never fear a decision made by an educated voting public. I just don't believe, at this stage, that the public understands what is required to "vote for their own mayor".
As it was with Q3
ReplyDeleteI can only hope the residents will received enough factual information before the November elections to make a well informed vote concerning the CSC’s finial recommendation.
Unfortunately, I believe anyone who has objectively followed this entire process has realized very clearly that Commissioner Ostergren came to the Commission with very pre-conceived ideas and has not been objective, same can be said about Commissioner & Co-Chair Van Lier, however, while Commission Ostergren, clearly wants Hillsborough to have a divided government and full time mayor, Co-Chair Van Lier’s pre-conceived ideas seem more on the line of simply just forcing a change (any change) of the current government’s form.
I believe, also, Commissioner & Chairman Jensen is siding with Co-Chair Van Lier in the pre-conceived idea that there must be a change of government form, regardless of type of change along with Commission Bill Page, leaving Commission McCauley, as the lone truly objective Commissioner on the Commission.
With just three CSC meeting left, I hope each commissioner can understand the truly wonderful honor just bestowed on Hillsborough as we were rated by Money Magazine as the 23rd Best Place to Live in the entire Nation. I hope that mark of distinction helps each commissioner to realize that indeed Hillsborough is and always has been a wonderful place to live and their final recommendation along with their five names will have significant impact on that mark of distinction for years to come.
Let us all hope they make a well informed, logical, and educated decision that is proper for this town and not a decision based on their own personal political beliefs.
Thanks for you efforts on highlighting all the lovely parks in Hillsborough. I’ve lived here for over 20 years and consider myself fairly well educated about the township, but I have to be frank with you, your Blog has opened my eyes to many parks and lovely places Hillsborough has for us all to simply take a much needed time-out, sit down on a park bench and stop to smell the roses. No wonder we are number 23.
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ReplyDeleteI have watched all the meetings. At least I think I have. Might have missed one or so as there have been problems with channel 25. And I just finished watching that marathon meeting last Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteI think some important aspects were left out of the blog and I think some of the comments here can use a response.
Committeeman Suraci complained that the commission did not answer his questions. But that is not true. If you watch that sequence, someone on the commission answered everyone of his questions.
Secondly I think 08844 is incorrect about Ostergren. It would be foolish to argue that he did not come to this commission with his mind made up, but I challenge 08844 to point to a single meeting with Ostergren adocated a full time mayor. I also think that this blog entry is misleading for the same reason. To talk about the fact that we do not need a full time mayor suggests that a full time mayor is being considered. Challenge 2 for greg or 08844 is to come up with a single instance where any commission member has advocated a full time mayor.
That being said, I agree with you both that we do not need a full time mayor. Not now, maybe never.
08844 is wrong. All commissioners advocate a change. They have all advocated an elected mayor and that requires a change. Even Mayor Ferrera when he spoke advocated a change via special charter. A change via special charter would have to cost more than other changes. You have the same recodes, the same reappointments, etc. But you also have to write the legislation for the special charter, write the law for the special charter and push it through the legislature and governor. Finally you have get that approved again in an election. All that means more money. Probably quite a bit more money.
Thank you spokey for commenting. Like you, I also just finished watching the meeting on Channel 25, as I only stayed Wednesday to around 9:15.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct in your characterization of Mr. Suraci's time at the microphone. The Commission was responsive to his questions. The main concern he had was that in the Beacon editorial, it seemed to him that his own testimony and the testimony of the other current committee members was not given due consideration.
Thank you for pointing out my lack of clarity on the issue of full-time/part-time mayor. You are correct in that the CSC has not advocated for a full-time mayor. In the blog entry, I never intended to imply that the CSC had made any recommendations either way, for full-time or part-time.
Perhaps I rushed too quickly to get to my final paragraph. Here is what I intended to say: I don't believe we need a full-time mayor now, but some day we will. As long as we don't need a full-time mayor now, we should be very cautious about changing our form of government, because we may lose what we do have. Changing to a mayor-council form, while still having a part-time mayor, frankly doesn't seem worth the risk. To me, one of the best things about mayor-council is that you can have a full-time professional mayor. Unfortunaely, or fortunately, there is just not enough work in Hillborough for a full-tuime mayor right now.
I am going to write another blog entry about the idea of full-time/part-time mayor in the next couple of weeks. I will try to remember to be clear about the CSC's position, or lack thereof, on this issue.
Stay tuned.
Sounds good, looking forward to it
ReplyDeleteSpokey
ReplyDeleteGeorge Ostergren has been pushing for a --- “Go To Guy,” ---- for over a decade. A “Go To Guy,” at least in my mind is a Full Time Mayor.
Also, I don’t care if President Bush says Hillsborough needs a directly elected Mayor, the fact of the matter is a Charter Study Commission, is supposed to be UNBIASED, and clearly this Commission wasn’t. Also bear in mind, while many people expressed interest in directly electing a Mayor, as far as I know ABSOLUTLY no one expressed interest in PAYING Higher Taxes to elect that Mayor. Maybe if the CSC had come forth and told the people changing to a government form that allows a directly elected Mayor will cost us addition tax dollars instead of defending the cost as acceptable, the CSC would have more credit at least in my mind. After all there job was to study and inform us of the facts, NOT defend their personal political positions.
All politicians are opportunistic in nature. If we give them the key to open a door to allow a highly paid full time Mayor someone will use that key as soon as possible and we the citizens will have absolutely no control over that, unless we step up today and vote – No Change.
As far as I’m concerned, if we ever have another Charter Study Commission, it should be picked at random. Let’s start by putting all the names of all the voters in Hillsborough in a hat, but first let’s take out any name that can even lightly be associated with any political activities in the township, then my friend, maybe we’ll get a group of people who actually execute the real intent of a Charter Study Commission and really STUDY our Charter to see if it can be bettered.
I’m sorry Spoky, but the CSC, and as far as I’m concerned their “expert” Dr. Reock has been nothing more then a shame from the very beginning. A Shame directed at want government does best, dig itself deeper into the citizens’ pocket and make itself bigger, again at my and everyone else in this town's expense!
First of all, a full time mayor is a red herring. There is absolutely no difference between any suggested form and the current form in this regard. Under the current or any proposal we can have a part time mayor or a full time mayor. The one exception COULD be the unspecified details of Commissioner McCauley's special charter. I imagine that could have something that would require or preclude a full time mayor. But that would surprise me.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that no one came up and said that they wanted to spend more money to elect their mayor but no one said they did not. I think it would be quite valid to ask each resident they were willing to spend 50 cents, a dollar, 2,3 etc to elect their mayor. But that was not done and I think cost prohibitive. I don't see any evidence that there is any substantial money here. The town is continuing to grow its government staff and this will probably continue.
Oh, and here is one data point. I am willing to spend $1 to elect a mayor. I'll think about anything higher. I'll let you state your choices for data point 2.
I’m Flabbergasted.
ReplyDeleteJust got done watching the last Hillsborough CSC Public Hearing. It is available on the web at Hillsborough Township’s Home page. I can’t believe how first Commissioner Ostergren and then Commission Van Lier WALKED out of the meeting when it was still in progress.
I must say, my hat is off to both Commission McCauly and Commission Page for clearly doing their homework and I was also impressed with Chairman’s Jensen stepping up to the plate and acting like a Chairman in some very difficult conditions including but not limited to use of vulgar language by one of the commissioners and the previously mentioned walk out by two Commissioners.
That said, I must also say watching that meeting does not inspire much confidence in the entire process or Commission. I’m really hoping Commissioner McCauly’s presentation of her “Special Charter” proposal can breathe some new found confidence and hope into this now seemingly strife torn Commission.