For Immediate Release:
August 1st, 2012
(Middletown, NJ) The Middletown Township Committee announced earlier this month they will move forward with plans to dredge Shadow Lake, even though there does not seem to be agreement on where the arsenic-contaminated soil will go once extracted.
The Department of Environmental Protection supposedly approved of the former National Lead industrial site in Sayreville as the final resting place for the estimated 150,000 cubic yards of Shadow Lake sediment; however, the Sayreville Economic and Redevelopment Agency (SERA) has not agreed to accept the shipment and will not accept contaminated soil. The Sayreville site is scheduled to become the future location of The Point, a redevelopment project that will include housing, retail, office and entertainment uses.
Sayreville residents have expressed concern over the possibility of the dredged material passing standards and remained skeptical about the soil transfer.
The Middletown Township Committee has not proposed a back up plan, or what it might cost in new bonds or (worst case) our own open space land to pay for an alternative dumping site. Yet, they press forward potentially at our later expense.
Fellow citizens, this summer, as you pack up with your children for the quintessential family road trip, do not make the same mistake as our Township Committee. Plan the route from start to finish, check your itinerary, and make reservations for lodging at your final destination. Even if your desired hotel is AAA- approved, don’t start driving unless you know they will have room for you when you arrive. Your family should expect nothing less. As Middletown residents we should expect nothing less, also.
Don Watson, Chairman
Middletown Democratic Executive Committee
16 comments:
The undisclosed purpose of this proposed project is: create patronage and show the Shadow Lake community that the Republican Party is trying to do something for them and their VOTE in November. This is how the local Republican power brokers have been working this vote getting project for at least the last six or seven years. They don't need a real plan to successfully execute the dredging because that isn't their primary objective. And, why should the local Republican coven change when it comes to any kind of planning whether it be strategic or tactical. It is about following orders delivered by Carton and Nelson and then just making-it-up as they bumble along. How quickly voters and taxpayers forget the Middletown Cultural Arts Center fiasco -- big bucks went to Sodon Electric. Before that the Town Center project -- township attorneys pocketed even bigger bucks for that mess. And, let's not forget the turf fields and the $400,000 plus Master Recreation Plan, which is the only workable plan the township committee ever put together because it was put together by outside professionals.
The only reason this is being presented at this time is for political grandstanding. These Republicans pull it every year at election time.
The sum of money to dredge Shadow Lake would better serve the people in this town if it was used constructively over in the Bayshore where some really critical needs should have been addressed long ago.
Read the comments on the article on this blog from earlier about Sayreville's rejection of the dredging materials from this prospective project. Makes for interesting reading also.
Is it time to flash the LARRY LOIGMAN signet into the night sky? Even though Loigman's arch enemy, The Reilly, has been reduced as a threat, The Nelson, seed of The Carton, has risen in his place as string master controlling The Puppet Crew.
Well, if you want to talk about the Township spending its (our) money on the wrong things, how about this: I heard a GPS system was going to be installed in all Township vehicles. At a cost of several hundred bucks each, I think that money would better serve us taxpayers being used somewhere else. These people can't think of enough ways to waste our hard-earned money.
Guess that's what the voters get for electing this trash.
Time for change and some intelligence in town hall. None there now.
As for the GPS units -
The units will help make their jobs easier and safer while allowing them to increase their response times.
Win win to me, and less gas riding all over town, closest cop gets the call.
Nice job mike not posting certain information that has been previously published on this site. That is pretty low not to post a comment cause it doesnt further the story and your position. Nice job
I'm not talking about GPS's in cop cars - of course I would expect them in there. I mean DPW trucks and vehicles driven by township employees. Seems a little paranoid/Big Brother-esque to me. I'd rather they save the money on that and apply it somewhere else.
This must be an issue that Middletown Republicans are worried about -- very quiet, very few comments.
Anon 12:19 AM,
Response time is the same from Point A to Point B. How will the GPS make employee jobs safer? Employees shouldn't be riding all over town and the most availble cop not he closet should make the call.
"Seems a little paranoid/Big Brother-esque to me"
Seems more like where have you been, what have you done all day, to me. Is it wrong to hold employees accountable for the time they are "supposed" to be working? Is it wrong if employee ABC is told to go to X to do something and goes to three different places on the way and "wastes" time when they should be doing? It would be even better if they put them in without telling anyone and just see where everyone is going and who is being honest and who isn't. You would probably catch a few, but not many. Also it is a good way to know where the snowplows are during a snowstorm. Are you making this a money issue or a big brother issue??? I am confused? I think accountablity is good and an honest employee would welcome these GPS's to be able to prove they are where they are, doing exactly what they are supposed to be, as in you don't got anything on me.
Interesting that MTPD is one of the only towns in the area not to have video cameras in the cars? Maybe that would be a good idea to look into also...
Anon 12:21 AM,
What are you talking about? If I missed a comment resubmit it and I will post it.
11:21,
I'm making this a money issue. Maybe in a better economic climate extras like GPS's might be considered. But now? When money is tight? I think it's frivolous. Probably the idea of some monkey trying to make points with the higher-ups.
Employees are hired because it is a given that they are honest and will do the job as described and trained. The supervisors are supposed the provide oversight not GPS -- unless the town plans on reducing the number of supervisors and replacing them with GPS to save money.
Will the Township Committee members be required to carry GPS so the taxpayers can know what they are up to?
Anonymous 8:32 a.m.,
Speaking of issues....
What do GPS systems in township vehicles have to do with the spoiled soils from Shadow Lake and where Middleton puts that dirt ?
Anon 9:04 opened the door on the GPS's. Not me :-)
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