12 April 2008

Urge to Merge?

There's a new commission meeting in Trenton as part of Governor Corzine's plan to urge municipalities across the state to consolidate. Their mission is to come up with strategies, incentives, carrots and sticks - anything that will get New Jersey's 500 plus towns to merge operations.

There is no doubt that we have too many municipalities. H0me-rule is one thing, but this is ridiculous. Three hundred years ago the state was made up of several large townships and some small villages and cities. The trend over the past 200 years has been for new municipalities to be calved from old ones - a trend that continued right through the last century.

Hillsborough is a good case study. Our township was once united with Montgomery - if you can believe that - and known as the Westering Precinct of Somerset County. After Montgomery was separated, Hillsborough was a large 59 square mile farming community with several small villages - the most important one being Millstone, which served as the County Seat in the 1700s. By the late 19th century, Millstone broke away to form its own municipality.

In 1929, seventeen years after the Johns-Manville company opened its huge asbestos factory in the northeast corner of Hillsborough, the Manville village residents had had enough, and also broke with Hillsborough.

What should Hillsborough's position be with regard to town mergers? Should we lay low and see what happens? Should we proactively look to merge with one or both of our former territories?

Let me know what YOU think!

31 comments:

  1. Why was it so easy for towns to break up as recently as 1929, but it is so hard to merge now?

    Manville has grown and changed so much that I think that would be a difficult (re)merger, but I can see Millstone coming back into the fold. There are Millstone residents who think it is a good idea.

    Maybe the carrot, since no one wants to give up political power, would be having Millstone have its own elected representative on the TC although I have no idea what legislation would be required to make that happen.

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  2. Merge?

    Yes Greg, that does seem to be a possible solution to some of the costs associated with government in New Jersey. Clearly less government, less cost. Guess that’s why we Hillsborough people voted down Q3 and Q5.

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  3. Response to 08844 - please stop lying to the good people who come here to read factual and interesting information! Q3 and Q5, the ballot questions of 2005 and 2007 that could have given us a better form of government, were voted down because the politicians stole the elections by lying to the voters in a viciously dishonest and unethical display of voter fraud.

    When voters went into the voting booth, did they have ALL of the critical information - the FACTS - upon which to base their privilege of voting???

    NO!

    They were lied to despicably by our elected officials and their political pals like you, exactly as you are doing right here.

    Just as one example, precisely as I had to detail in responses to a Mr Curt Carnes on the Hillsborough Beacon forum, it is utterly ridiculous to suggest, let alone state unequivocally, that smaller government is always less costly!!!!! That is patently absurd! It would be easy to show that a single elected official, representing the smallest form of government, would be so overwhelmed and the government he or she ran, so incredibly inefficient and ineffective, that the costs would be MUCH higher than in a government that was running properly, at maximum efficiency with high accountability to the People!

    The Charter Study Commission Final Report has considerable details and facts upon which the proposed Mayor-Council was shown to be a MUCH better form of government for Hillsborough where the onetime cost to change would be offset by long term savings in higher efficiency and greater accountability to the voters!

    When voters in Hillsborough walked into the voting booths, MOST of them ONLY read the lies put out by the elected offficials and their political cronies who all said the new form of government would CERTAINLY raise spending and taxes! THAT is simply a LIE! There is NOTHING that can be argued, in full context of ALL facts involved, to prove taxes would go up. However there is powerful factual evidence to show taxes and spending would be LOWER than if we continued under the current Township form!!!!

    So please stop lying to the good people of Hillsborough!

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  4. Getting back to the topic…

    Here’s the problem I see. I grew up in Manville. I lived in Raritan for a few years. I lived in Southern California for a year (which has regional school systems). My wife and I bought a house in South Bound Brook and lived there for 5 years. Just recently we sold that house and bought a house in Hillsborough. We paid more money for this house in Hillsborough than what we would have paid for the same house in Manville and South Bound Brook. If we bought this same house in Raritan it would probably be the same or more expensive. If we bought this house in Franklin (Somerset) it would be less. I think you get the point. If we merge with Manville, then hey, I might as well have saved 10s of thousands and bought there instead. The school systems are completely different when it comes to quality which affects the price of homes.

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  5. Glenn

    You can not show one piece of data showing one town where taxes actually went down after a change in government to the MC form you say is better. You claim the Rutgers study proved that, but that study is on data derived in 1950 to 1962. You are aware that most people didn’t even have color T.V.s back then? I say that to point out the thoughtlessness of you even using data that old. Seems to me between the 5 commissioners over a period of 9 months you could have found something more in date than that study, but clearly that very old study is the only piece of data out there that supports your claim and at that it not even very well documented.

    Now you want to talk about lying to the people. Fine with me. Let’s talk about how you along with your 3 buddies on the commission loaded the deck with guest speakers who you knew damn well would ONLY chat your desired words. Of course they praised the MC form of government, because each and every single one of them had personally benefited from a change to the MC form of government and when Government benefits someone, TAXPAYERS lose, because it is us who must reach into our pockets and pay the benefited persons!

    Back to your old data. But let us replace it with new data. Date Line TODAY -- Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, changed it’s form a TC government to a split form of government 15 mounts ago and that town is now a political wreck. In FACT every thing that people here pointed out as possible negative impacts because of a change of government has happened Township employees Loss Their Jobs, Taxes Went Up, and there is so much infighting between the new split government their Police department may be over taken by the county, because for 15 mouth the two new branches of government have been fighting each other over control of the police department.

    Let me pause here Glenn and ask you --- Is any of this about Berkeley Heights inaccurate at all? Can you show me where what I just said is a lie? Did their Taxes go Up? YES! Did Township Workers lose their jobs? YES! Is the Police department in jeopardy of being taken over by the county? YES!

    Am I accurate here Glenn?

    Bottom Line --- Fact is in Hillsborough the people saw through your lies, you twisted words, your loaded commission, and your serious vendetta against anyone who voted no on Q3 and walked into the voting booth and pull the NO lever. Not because they were brainwashed as you imply. Not because the evil Hillsborough Republican party lied to them as you imply. Not because someone put up NO signs as you imply. Not because they did not have all of the critical information as you imply. BUT plain and simply because they walked into the voting booth and wanted to vote NO!

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  6. Oh and Glenn

    Before you go calling out the praises of Dr. Erock. Do NJElec records clearly show the good Dr donated money to the Democrat cause? Yes they do! Given that PLEASE do not say the good Dr. was or is Impartial, because clearly he is not! In fact, he was just another talking head in your cast invited in because you knew he’d support the form of government you prefered, long before any studing by the CSC was done. Face facts Glenn. If the good Dr. favored the TC form of government, or had donate money to the Republican cause you would have never invited him in.

    AM I LIEING HERE Glenn? Are my statement accurate?

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  7. It is disgusting to have to take my valuable spare time to combat the utterly dishonest, ignorant and innane statements and accusations by 08844. However, there is a very clear pattern of dishonesty from this character, and complete support for the Hillsborough Republican Party who coordinated a massive campaign of voter fraud - TWICE!!!

    This dishonest individual makes so many lies, so many false accusations, and so many baseless comments it would require volumes for me to offset all of it. I'll just reveal a few items to be completely inaccurate and the readers will know they shouldn't read a single thing this character ever writes!!!

    08844 wrote - "You can not show one piece of data showing one town where taxes actually went down after a change in government to the MC form you say is better."

    Typical twisting of words and subjects sicne the facts don't support this person's conclusions! The problem isn't so much that the CSC did not provide the name of any town where taxes went down after a change in govt, but the undeniable LIE told by the elected officials and their political pals that claimed taxes would go UP, if we changed.

    What proof is there that says taxes would certainly go up? More LIES from our elected officials and this dishonest person, who all claimed Jackson and two other towns had their taxes go UP - but when we asked for the details and investigated, we found that the change in govt did NOT make their taxes go up!!!!!

    Now, what about the testimony from unbiased experts - people who work for Rutgers University and elected officials from towns like West Windsor. They all stated that Mayor-Council is MUCH more efficient than our current form, which would explain why taxes are not necessarily LOWER in those towns, but where the taxes went up less quickly than they were before, due to the more efficient government.

    Our own elected officials and their lying political cronies didn't tell the voters that information. They only told the voters what they wanted the voters to hear!!!

    Now to one other significant lie from 08844 - "Now you want to talk about lying to the people. Fine with me. Let’s talk about how you along with your 3 buddies on the commission loaded the deck with guest speakers who you knew damn well would ONLY chat your desired words."

    This is utterly and patently untrue and just another despicable lie from people who already lied to the public so much that the poor voters don't have any idea what the truth really is???

    The elected officials from West Windsor don't even pay attention to political parties because their town is non-partisan! They had no reason, aside from wanting to help, to make statements one way or the other. But what they said agreed completely with a Rutgers Univ expert who also had no bias whatsoever when she said Mayor-Council is MUCH more efficient.

    I will challenge 08844 to provide the undeniable facts that prove beyond shadow of doubt that ALL of teh testimony we obtained was tainted or biased and hand-picked, because I know none of it was!

    For Dr. Ernie Reock - so what if he happens to be a Democrat. He did NOT provide biased testimony in ANY manner and I challenge this lying criminal who hides behind the fake name 08844 to tell us what video to go see where Dr Ernie Reock gave biased information!!!

    I know he won't because it doesn't exist, except in his tiny hate-filled mind! 08844 you are despicable for even suggesting this since you know it isn't true!

    In a few specific cases in fact, Dr Reock was asked for his opinion on items - and he REFUSED! He only provided expert facts and testimony about the boilerplate operating manner and laws and structures of the various availabel forms of government.

    08844 hides behind a fake name because he knows that the public would shun him even more than they do now if they knew he was the one spewing all of this false information and despicable lies.

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  8. 08844 asks - "AM I LIEING HERE Glenn? Are my statement accurate?"

    Aside from the near inability to spell properly (and it isn't typos, it's really bad spelling and lack of brain function in general) - there is almost NOTHING 08844 says that is true!!!

    Yes, Berkeley Heights is having serious problems with their change of government, but that is about the ONLY town in recent history to have ANY problems with a change of govt! Tell us the details 08844 and I'll prove to you it's PEOPLE and perhaps the defects in MCA and not the Change itself!

    Also, Berkeley Heights picked a version of the form the politicians favored, including the GOP plant who was the ONLY commissioner who lied and who was totally biased during the entire 9 months. Gloria McCauley proposed a special charter form based upon MCA!!! And it's the MCA form that is causing problems for THE PEOPLE in Berkeley Heights! Perhaps if B.H. has selected Mayor-Council instead of MCA, they would NOT be having these problems!?

    This individual who hides behind a fake name claims Dr Ernie Reock is biased - but he will NOT provide ANY facts that show in any way, that Dr Reock provided biased or inaccurate information!!!!!

    Yes 08844 is lying here with as much disgusting intent as his political pals who committed voter fraud.

    But thanks for giving me the motivation to once again list the undeniable LIES of the elected officials of Hillsborough . . .

    1. In 2005 they LIED claiming that it would cost $700,000 to change the form of govt according to "township experts". None of those experts was ever found and not one town that has ever changed has required anything CLOSE to $700,000.

    2. In 2005 and 2007, the elected officials and their political pals, including the cowardly bullies like 08844, made the proposed forms of govt seem to be the most expensive and biggest and worst that any town could ever have!

    So WHY is it then, that out of well over 100 towns that changed forms of govt, the most often selected form is Mayor-Council, which is the form proposed in 2005 and 2007???

    Are the politicians who lied to us, the ones who are correct, or are the many, many towns that switched to Mayor-Council correct?

    3. The 2007 tax increase was 10.7% but the elected officials LIED about it and said it was just 1.4% (see Township website for the facts). Beacon editorial also took them to task for this lie.

    4. Elected officials claimed they were IN FAVOR of the Charter Study - yet until CCG started the petition, they did NOTHING on this; in 2004 they held an ILLEGAL meeting to try to STOP it; they wasted $40,000 in taxpayers' money to appeal it again and again despite the clear judge's ruling; the officials who said they supported CSC actually put up signs telling voters to VOTE NO on Charter Study, which proves they were LYING when they said they wanted it; etc etc etc

    5. The elected officials and their political pals formed RAW in 2005 and RALG in 2007 and they LIED to the tune of $20,000 each time, spreading campaigns of lies into voters' mailboxes, the internet and videos on cable TV.

    6. The elected officials and their cronies ADMITTED in 2005 that "it wasn't fair, it was politics". They KNEW they LIED and couldn't hide it when questioned by the newspapers!!!

    7. In this last election, RALG aka Hillsborough Republican Party, LIED when they claimed taxes would go UP!!!!! There has NEVER been ANY conclusive evidence to support that patently false claim!!!!!

    It's tiresome since there are so many lies told to the public by our own elected officials who behave more like dictators than anything else.

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  9. WHAT?

    “7) In this last election, RALG aka Hillsborough Republican Party, LIED when they claimed taxes would go UP!!!!! There has NEVER been ANY conclusive evidence to support that patently false claim!!!!!”

    Jackson Twp – UP 39% after government change
    West Windsor – Up 16% after government change
    Berkeley Heights – Up – 12% after government change

    As far as MC as compared to MCA, you know as well as I do Mr. van Lier, that has absolutely no bearing on Berkeley Height’s problems. STOP LYING to the people of Hillsborough! It’s almost criminal that way you do that all so much.

    Oh BTW, I may not be the best speller/writer in the world, but I sure know Bull$hit when I am reading it!

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  10. Hughes, the story of Manville's split with Hillsborough is interesting - a topic I will have to write about one day. The biggest problem Manville residents had with Hillsborough was the schools. The Hillsborough BoE wouldn't build any decent schools in Manville - their schools were small, inferior, and overcrowded. It took years for a Manville village resident to win a seat on the school board. Eventually Manville was able to get 4 seats on the board, and, although it wasn't enough for a majority, Hillsborough eventually built some new - but still inadequate - schools. It was too little, too late for Manville, however, and they voted to secede!

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  11. Word Twisting

    Here’s what Glenn van Lier wrote in relation to a very simple question that could have been very easily answered in one word, just one simple name of just one town in New Jersey. Instead Mr. van Lier uses 212 words and still doesn’t answer the simple question

    The Question – "You can not show one piece of data showing one town where taxes actually went down after a change in government to the MC form you say is better."

    The Answer – “Typical twisting of words and subjects sicne the facts don't support this person's conclusions! The problem isn't so much that the CSC did not provide the name of any town where taxes went down after a change in govt, but the undeniable LIE told by the elected officials and their political pals that claimed taxes would go UP, if we changed.

    What proof is there that says taxes would certainly go up? More LIES from our elected officials and this dishonest person, who all claimed Jackson and two other towns had their taxes go UP - but when we asked for the details and investigated, we found that the change in govt did NOT make their taxes go up!!!!!

    Now, what about the testimony from unbiased experts - people who work for Rutgers University and elected officials from towns like West Windsor. They all stated that Mayor-Council is MUCH more efficient than our current form, which would explain why taxes are not necessarily LOWER in those towns, but where the taxes went up less quickly than they were before, due to the more efficient government.

    Our own elected officials and their lying political cronies didn't tell the voters that information. They only told the voters what they wanted the voters to hear!!!

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  12. 08844 displays a few more true colors in this last response -

    "Jackson Twp – UP 39% after government change
    West Windsor – Up 16% after government change
    Berkeley Heights – Up – 12% after government change"

    These are the ONLY pieces of information applied by the Hillsborough Republican Party hiding under the made-up name of RALG. But 08844 knows this is a LIE! But 08844 doesn't let a little lie stop his tirades - do you 08844???

    In general, there is NO FACTUAL BASIS for the claim that spending and taxes would go UP, whereas there is considerable evidence to show that one of the primary reasons MOST towns that changed forms of government picked Mayor-Council, is because that form is more efficient and therefore would result in long term SAVINGS, not increased spending but lower spending than would be expected in the older, less efficient Township form!!!!

    It is painfully shown on the Charter Study Commission meeting video where confirmed LIAR and former GOP mayor Steve Sireci LIED to the commission and the public, claiming that Jackson's huge tax increase was due to their change of government! When I confronted him with THE TRUTH about that, holding up a copy of the newspaper article that PROVED their budget was already $5 MILLION in the red BEFORE the change in government, Steve went on to explain more budget details to cover his false claim.

    But what did that do?

    It took us from thinking he was merely ignorant of the facts, to the TRUTH, which is that he KNEW the facts and decided to LIE to the public!!!

    This is what 08844 is doing since he knows full well that Jackson's 39% increase CANNOT be blamed on change of government.

    Similarly, NO ONE has EVER provided the details on West Windsor to be able to PROVE that their tax increase was due to the change. Like Jackson, it's entirely possible if not probable that West Windsor's increase was NOT due to the change of govt.

    So we see, AGAIN, that 08844 cannot be trusted to provide facts and to write truthfully. But it doesn't stop him from lying about me to cover for his political pals.

    More of 08844's words of wisdom -

    "As far as MC as compared to MCA, you know as well as I do Mr. van Lier, that has absolutely no bearing on Berkeley Height’s problems."

    08844, you have provided NOT ONE item that proves anything except Berkeley Heights is having serious problems with their change! However, YOU wish to blame the change itself when it can all be explained easily as one or two individuals who are causing the problems. IT can also be explained that IF they chose Mayor-Council and therefore had more specific and detailed accountabilities built into the new form, there would be no problems!!!

    Yet AGAIN, 08844 and his political cronies desperately try to hoodwink the public with false claims and baseless accusations.

    Finally " STOP LYING to the people of Hillsborough! It’s almost criminal that way you do that all so much."

    To Date 08844, you have not shown ANYTHING I've written to be false! Therefore, you are lying but worse, you are committing actionable libel because you KNOW you are lying in an effort to injure my reputation! No wonder you refuse to use your real name and to show us that you have the courage of your convictions and no reason to lie! But you cower under cover of darkness, coming out from under your little rock from time to time to commit crimes against innocent people just to TRY to act strong - but it only magnifies your weakness.

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  13. 08844 - it is a waste of time trying to isolate facts and issues with you involved because you always lie and twist facts and issues as I've proven over and over!

    08844 writes - "Here’s what Glenn van Lier wrote in relation to a very simple question . . . Instead Mr. van Lier uses 212 words and still doesn’t answer the simple question

    The Question – "You can not show one piece of data showing one town where taxes actually went down after a change in government to the MC form you say is better."

    It must be a combination 08844, that you are unable to comprehend facts and issues above a very elementary level, AND that you are pathologically dishonest. Why????

    Because I answered your question completely! I also proved you twisted the issues and facts! Note the recent evidence proving you are lying about the towns where taxes went UP because EVERYONE knows the taxes in Jackson did NOT go up because of the change in government!!!

    In my response to your question about taxes going DOWN - I provided a wealth of information, but it appears that you are unable to comprehend the meaning of simple facts.

    Facts - most towns that changed their form of govt picked Mayor-Council and their reasons included the higher efficiency of that form that would provide long term savings relative to existing less efficient form! That means that taxes might not go down per se, but that in the long run, taxes would rise LESS QUICKLY!!!!!

    The Charter Study Commission also obtained research from Rutgers showing that taxes have gone DOWN in a group of 31 towns that changed govt!!! And while you wish to dismiss this study because it's old, you CANNOT provide ANY basis for this claim, can you???

    The forms of govt in place are the same as when the study was conducted, right?

    The available forms are THE SAME now as they were then, right????

    So any changes due to structure, and the efficiencies to be gained, are STILL in effect???? Right?

    And I shall repeat this over and over and over - the biggest problem is that our own elected officials LIED by claiming the change in govt would result in the biggest govt possible with higher taxes! There is no basis for that and 08844 CANNOT rebut this simple fact - without lying again that is!

    I will reiterate the question - are the lying politicians including 08844 correct in claiming that taxes would go UP if we changed govt with not one shread of proof to make such a claim, or are the MANY towns that have changed to Mayor-Council correct?

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  14. Pathologically dishonest?

    Not me Mr. van Lier, I am NOT the one who stood behind the BIGGEST lie this town has ever heard. You remember it I’m sure, but just in case you don’t let me repeat it here for you and all the folks:

    It’s Now or Never!

    That sir was and still is a despicable LIE, a lie so dark I would think only hardened criminals would stoop so low as to FLAT OUT LIE TO THE PUBLIC and Litter the town with billboards that propagated the LIE! But that Mr. van Lier is just what you did, is it not?

    Tell me Mr. van Lier, by law was that vote “Now or Never?” Of Cource I’m being rhetorical, because we all know that by law the exact same question can be put on the ballot just four years form now. So which is it Mr. van Lier, Did you lie, or do you just consider Four Years Forever?

    I'm sure you’ll come back with your usual twist of 200+ words trying to weasel out and explain away the fact that you LIED to the people of Hillsborough, all for their own good!

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  15. Ask Sharpe

    Van Lier says: --- “The forms of govt in place are the same as when the study was conducted, right?

    The available forms are THE SAME now as they were then, right????

    So any changes due to structure, and the efficiencies to be gained, are STILL in effect???? Right?”

    Yes Mr. van Lier I believe that is correct. For example I know one of the towns studied back in the Rutgers report was Newark, and yes I think it still has the same form of MC government you so love. Oh wait --- I know! Let’s ask Newark’s Former Mayor James Sharpe, if Indead his town is still under the MC form of government. Of cource we may have to wait to talk to him because as we speak the fomor Strong Mayor is on his way to jail for having been proven to be running one of the most Corrupt gocvernments on the face of the earth.

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  16. Will Glenn Van Lier and 08844 stop hijacking this blog.

    Please go some where else.

    This blog at times offers quite refreshing and entertaining information which I for one would like to see continue.

    Dave

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  17. Dave - as soon as the criminals stop posting lies and politically motivated garbage here is when I stop responding.

    Note, as usual, I had to respond to lies from a convicted liar and I provided details and critical information that is 100% accurate.

    The only way to stop criminals like 08844 from posting lies Dave, is for people like you to come out and take a stand against it and tell him to STOP LYING and stick to the original post made by Mr Gillette.

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  18. Glenn
    I understand your passion. I would think if you reestablish you blog that all the so called miscreants would flock to your blog like white on rice. You will have all the action you could handle and more.

    Try it and see what happens. I will say that all this is getting quite old and the people that might have been siding with you in the past might be getting a little upset with this. I know I am.

    Dave

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  19. Too Funny Mr. van Lier

    Shouldn’t the label “Convicted Liar” be properly pined to your lapel after the results of the Redlawsk suit?

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  20. Two observations -

    1. Dave has not shown his displeasure for 08844's disgusting post. I add this interesting observation because people like 08844 have come up with MANY fake names, some that sound real, in order to spread their programs and agenda of hate and lies.

    2. 08844 as usual, makes a very nasty, libelous and despicable accusation but with not one fact to support the accusation, no one with any integrity or IQ over 2 should consider it to ba anything more than the filth that it is.

    So, 08844 - why does the Redlawsk lawsuit support your false and pathetic claim?

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  21. Dave - thank you for your effort.

    Huges - thank you for your insight.

    Greg - thank you for providing the historic backdrop surrounding Manville and Hillsborough from the BOE angle. More information would be very welcome and very interesting.

    The other two - do you ever give up? Run out of time??? I cannot respond to what you or him or him and you say, because I do not read the tirades.

    This is an interesting topic. Let's actually stick to it on this thread.

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  22. Problem with Merging

    It's just another form of wealth redistribution. The poorer towns will be lifted up to the average range and the richer towns will be pushed down to the average. Of course like COAH now, merging will have no effect on the big cities, because that are already too big to merger, like they are already to built-out to worry about COAH

    Sorry, while merging has a nice ring to it, ultimately it will turn out to be just another assault on the “Upper-Middle Class,” because the rich will not be effected by it and the poor will only benefit from it while we, the folks of Hillsborough, suffer on account of it, don't kid yourself!

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  23. 08844 - Are you thinking primarily about property values? I don't think merging our town with Millstone would negatively affect property values - and as far as merging with Manville, yes, maybe their property values would rise - but that may include their commercial and industrial properties also, and that wouldn't be a bad thing for property taxes.

    Regardless, the benefit is supposed to be in the elimination of duplicate services, allowing some property tax reductions - and lower property taxes are always good for home values!

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  24. Provided

    Our tax reduction does not come at the cost of our home values. But let's suppose we do merge with Manville. How much money will Hillsborough need to poor into their school system to bring it up to par with ours? Do you suppose the people in Manville will be happy paying higher taxes to support all the Hillsborough schools have? For example, our turf field. Does Manville have one? I don't think so. Given that assumption, if Manville merges into the Hillsborough system, do you believe the Manville residents will be happy playing at their football field? Why should they if they are playing the same taxes we are here in Hillsborough. Also, that field and a bunch or other things at our schools have been donated by private money and that will just turn this into a legal nightmare

    There's a lot to consider on this issues Greg. I must admit, when I first thought about it, I genuinely felt it was a good idea, but the more I looked into it, all I see are problems upon problems.

    Who will Montgomery merge with?Princeton? There are in a different county!

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  25. I could see Montgomery merging with Rocky Hill. Montgomery would finally have a library and Rocky Hill could stop contracting with South Bound Brook for police coverage.

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  26. But,

    Isn’t Rocky Hill’s contracting of the South Bound Brook Police already a form of sharing? If they dump SBB, how will Montgomery pick-up all the extra patrol areas as their police force is already too small for just Montgomery?

    What if we, Hillsborough, merge with Somerville? Somerville has a very large Police Force, will they take over Hillsborough’s just based on sheer size?

    Why don’t we just get rid of all the local police and let the State Police do it all? Just a thought!

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  27. Greg:

    Regarding your comment about property values, remember that if we merged with Manville we'd be acquiring more land in flood zones. A year after the Floyd flood Manville taxes went up quite a bit. I can’t confirm it was flood related but I’m guessing it was. This is just something to think about.

    Millstone seems easier to do…is it because those kids already go to the Hillsborough school system? When we were looking for homes to buy we saw a few in Millstone and the selling Realtor mentioned that if you buy this Millstone house your kids will reap the benefits of Hillsborough schools without the Hillsborough taxes. I forgot what the taxes were but it seemed to be about $2000 less than comparable homes in Hillsborough. Not sure how they do that but maybe we can learn from them.

    One more point. I think Hillsborough is big enough. We shouldn’t need to worry about merging when there are many towns out there that are less than 3 square miles.

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  28. Mike B wondered how does Millstone do it - that is, keep taxes down [If they do, in fact. I'm not familiar with their property taxes.]

    Off hand, they have no schools. I know they still have to pay as a sending district, but that also means no buildings and no acreage dedicated to the BOE.

    Then there is no police department (NJSP) or fire department (East Millstone) or rescue squad (?) or library(?).

    I think they contract with Hillsborough for Health Department.

    And, if you have ever had to do business with Millstone - *arghh!*. The last time I had to contact anyone there - maybe two years ago - I realized their municipal offices are manned by an answering machine and you just wait until someone checks the messages and calls you back.

    [My apologies if there have been some updates.]

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  29. Hughes - here's one I should save for the blog, but since we are on the subject....

    In 1974, Somerset County Prosecutor Stephen Champi headed over to Millstone to check on some property records. Finding the mnunicipal building closed, he went to the home of Mayor Gail Anglada. While speaking with Gail and her husband, both Rutgers professors, the conversation turned to marijuana use in Millstone. The couples comments aroused Mr. Champi's suspicions. Somerset County detectives visited the home a few days later armed with a search warrant, and found marijuana in the house, and a marijuana plant growing outside. The mayor and her husband were arrested.

    They would have been better off with the answering machine!

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  30. Hughes:

    You bring up a good point…that Millstone contracts out a lot of their services. When you think about it, corporations outsource all kinds of services that don’t relate to their core business. Instead of merging, why can’t towns just outsource some of their services? If Hillsborough, Branchburg and Somerville want to outsource their road maintenance (repairs, snow removal, etc) and they draw their collective power to get a good price with a private company (or the county?) then maybe you sort of merge services without merging names. Hillsbranchville doesn’t sound very good anyway.

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  31. Maybe

    I'm jumping the gun here and you folks are still just thinking out the possibilities of merging with whomever? But, why do you suppose we'll get to “select” who we merge with? If we do, I pick Long Beach Island!

    Remember folks, this is New Jersey and all merging will do is create more bureaucracy. I'm sure we'll just have to have a State level Commission of Merging. Staffed by political insiders pulling down hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to do nothing. Look at our lottery, where does all that money go? How about Atlantic City and gambling? Where does all that money go? Look at the parkway! If I remember correctly almost 40% of the money collected goes to the paper work bureaucracy of running the road and not the brick, mortar and maintenance of the roadway.

    Merging, at the end of the day, will truely just negatively affect the bedroom suburbs like Hillsborough, by reaching deeper into our already raped and pilfered pockets and redistributing even more of our hard earned wealth to those who typically choose not to work for their wealth.

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