The letter below, written by Middletown resident Paul Jansen, was sent to me accompanied by a link to the video below, showing Mr. Don Watson handing a DVD recording of various township meetings to Township Administrator Tony Mercantante, for airing on Middletown's public access cable channels, Comcast 20 and Verizon Fios 26.
Even though these recordings have been made by community volunteers, at no cost to the Township, Middletown's governing body refuses to add them the limited playlist that runs on its public access channels.
Many excuses have been made over the past few years as to why the township couldn't or wouldn't record these meeting on their own for public airing ranging from the cost of producing the recordings to the possibility of persons "grandstanding" for the cameras, to the possible cost of litigation due to persons being recorded without their consent. None of these excuses however hold water.
If anyone has taken the time to watch one of these videos they can see that NO grandstanding has ever taken place (other than by Township Committee members themselves). No one has ever objected to being recorded, after all it is a public meeting and all comment are recorded already and it has been shown that these video can be made for little to no cost (provided for free).
So what's the issue?
There really isn't one other than the Township's governing body would rather keep the resident in the dark about how their town is run - No transparency equals uniformed voters who vote for the majority incumbents.
Editor,
In a recent article in the Asbury Park Press about the two candidates running for Middletown Township Committee, Committeeman Massell stated that airing township meetings would cost $100,000. This is untrue. A group of people led by Don Watson have been video recording township meetings for the last 9 months. Mr. Watson and other volunteers, myself included, have recorded Township Committee meetings, library board meetings, and sewerage authority board meetings, among other public meetings. At each Township Committee meeting Mr. Watson presents a DVD with the previous meeting. This DVD could be shown on the township's own municipal access television station viewable 24/7 on Comcast channel 20 or Verizon FIOS channel 26. The township refuses to show the meetings, even though the recordings are provided free and unedited.
Paul J Jansen
Middletown, NJ
At every Township Committee meeting since March, the Township has been presented with a digital copy of the previous Committee meeting. For years the Committee has provided every excuse they could think of to not video record meetings and make them available for public viewing. The latest reason was that it would cost the Township over $100K to do this and it was cost prohibitive.
A small group of residents, from all party affilliation and some with no affilliation, came together and purchased a camera to record these meetings. The recordings presented are now available for the public to request their own copy or watch over the Internet. This is the only avenue available because the Township Committee continues not to broadcast the recordings even though there is no cost to the Township in doing so.
Showing posts with label Don Watson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Don Watson. Show all posts
Monday, October 22, 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Sayreville Officials State, “No Shadow Lake Dredged Materials Will Becoming To Sayreville”; What Is Middletown’s Plan?
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
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
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
It's Your Town - Video Newsletter 2/6/12
As I announce last month, the It's Your Town newsletter was going to be changing. It's author Don Watson, had decided that it was time to stop writing about what goes on at Township Committee meetings each month and start showing residents what actually happens during Township Committee meetings.
Mr. Watson has announced he will no longer be presenting the newsletter in its current form recapping Middletown Township Committee meetings as he has done for the past few years. Instead however, it is with great delight that he now will present video recordings of the Middletown Township Committee meetings
Below is the first video which he recorded held on Monday, February 6, 2012.
"... It was an impressive meeting to launch the first recording. The Middletown Swim and Tennis Club community showed up to make their case for keeping the club off the auction block. The mayor thanked the past president of the library board, Randall Gabrielan, for his years of service. This of course was after the mayor asked for Mr. Gabrielan’s resignation the previous week. Also, something that rarely happens, the Committee voted on each new resolution individually.", Mr. Watson stated in an email announcing the format change to subscribers of his newsletter.
It is hoped that this video starts a new era in Middletown, an era of transparency. This first recording shows what really goes on at Middletown Township Committee meetings. If readers of this blog take the time to watch this video and any videos that come later they will see and hear how our Township Committee deals with its citizens.
"... Current and previous Middletown Committees said the people who want meetings recorded have a political agenda. They said recording the meetings would cost too much. They said giving the public video access would allow them to grandstand. You decide if videotaping the meetings is worthwhile..., Finally, I want to extend my personal thank you to the many concerned citizens who made this recording possible with their support. By uniting we triumphed over those who said it couldn’t be done. Many thanks. And as always, thank you all for taking an interest in your local government.", stated Watson.
Don Watson will be offering the Township Committee a copy of this recording with the hope that they will post it on our Township’s public television access stations.
The video runs over two and a half hours, the first few minutes of the video you will hear a lot of noise. There are no guns being fired. It is a malfunction of the sound system.
As a companion to the video Mr. Watson has put together a PDF document that contains the meeting agenda and the resolutions that were voted on during the meeting. A box around an item is a link, bringing you further into the document to that resolution or ordinance. At the end of the resolution there will be a link bringing you back to the agenda. It is a little easier to follow along when you can see what is being voted on.
While watching the video pay attention to who speaks and who doesn't speak from the dais, Township Attorney Brian Nelson is sitting next to mayor Tony Fiore. Nelson is an appointed official, not an elected official, yet he speaks as if he is!
It should be pointed out that although Nelson isn't an elected official, he is a high ranking member of the Middletown GOP who makes a living off the taxpayers of the Township.
Watch closely for the arrogance and distain he shows for those that stand in front of the Committee. He rolls his eyes, laughs and snickers at the very residents that he makes his living off of.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
It's Your Town - Newsletter Volume 4, Issue 1- 1/01/12
A new year and a new addition of It's Your Town newsletter is now available.This first issue of 2012 covers the annual Reorganization meeting of the Middletown Township Committee which took place on New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 2012 and includes all of the resolutions that appoint people to various Boards, Commissions and Committees in town. However, of all the appointees listed only about 25 were present to be sworn in.
This issue is the 56th newsletter published since the first issue debuted back in December of 2009 which covered the December 7th Township Committee Workshop meeting.
Due to the time that it takes to put the newsletter together, it's author Don Watson, has decided that he will be take a break from writing it on a regular basis shortly. The next issue that will cover the January 17th Middletown Township Committee meeting may be the last issue for a while.
But don't fret over the loss of the newsletter, Don Watson still plans on keeping the public informed of what transpires down at Town Hall. Don plans on videotaping the bi-weekly township meetings and posting them online so that resident can watch the Middletown Township Committee in action for themselves instead of reading about them.
The Township Committee meetings have often been described as the "best show on earth" by Don who now feels that the newsletter, which is written very matter of factly, hasn't been conveying properly what really goes on at Township meeting. He feels, why write about a meeting when he can provide people the opportunity to watch them?
Don will be announcing soon via email to all those that have subscribed to the newsletter,when and where they will be able to see the recordings. If possible I will also post the videos here for reader of the blog to look at.
So until then, enjoy reading the last few issues of It's Your Town newsletter by clicking onto the link.
Friday, January 23, 2009
With A Down Turn In the Ecomomy, Middletown Hires Second Lawyer And Doubles Legal Fees
The following is a letter from Middletown resident Don Watson.
Mr Watson is addressing his concern over Middletown's hiring of a second Municipal Attorney which would essentially double the cost of legal fees that the Township could incur:
After all of the whining by Republicans about unfunded mandates being imposed on the Township by Trenton, the Republican-controlled Township Committee voted to appoint not one, but two attorneys this year. Their actions do not follow their words, leading residents to assume they are not really concerned about reducing costs to keep our taxes low.
Former Township Attorney, Bernard Reilly, will retain his position on the payroll to perform litigation duties for the town at a rate not to exceed $310K. Mr. Reilly has been the Township's single attorney for the past 20 years. This year, however, the Township felt it necessary to retain Mr. Reilly's services and hire Brian Nelson, 31, as Township Attorney. Mr. Nelson has only six years of total law experience and no municipal law experience. The Committee rationalized Nelson's appointment because he works for a law firm that has some experience in this area. It is too bad that Middletown did not hire the law firm instead of its very junior member.
Middletown is not a training ground for future lawyers. This is the largest township in Monmouth County and deserves the kind of representation that does not require colleague oversight. We need someone that knows the game and can come out swinging. Little League players may be future big leaguers, but Middletown is already in the big league and needs seasoned players.
Mr. Reilly and Mr. Nelson have different experience levels and should not command the same salaries. Retaining two lawyers has the potential to bring legal fees to over $600k per year, doubling what taxpayers paid last year for the same service.
Don Watson
New Monmouth, NJ
After all of the whining by Republicans about unfunded mandates being imposed on the Township by Trenton, the Republican-controlled Township Committee voted to appoint not one, but two attorneys this year. Their actions do not follow their words, leading residents to assume they are not really concerned about reducing costs to keep our taxes low.
Former Township Attorney, Bernard Reilly, will retain his position on the payroll to perform litigation duties for the town at a rate not to exceed $310K. Mr. Reilly has been the Township's single attorney for the past 20 years. This year, however, the Township felt it necessary to retain Mr. Reilly's services and hire Brian Nelson, 31, as Township Attorney. Mr. Nelson has only six years of total law experience and no municipal law experience. The Committee rationalized Nelson's appointment because he works for a law firm that has some experience in this area. It is too bad that Middletown did not hire the law firm instead of its very junior member.
Middletown is not a training ground for future lawyers. This is the largest township in Monmouth County and deserves the kind of representation that does not require colleague oversight. We need someone that knows the game and can come out swinging. Little League players may be future big leaguers, but Middletown is already in the big league and needs seasoned players.
Mr. Reilly and Mr. Nelson have different experience levels and should not command the same salaries. Retaining two lawyers has the potential to bring legal fees to over $600k per year, doubling what taxpayers paid last year for the same service.
Don Watson
New Monmouth, NJ
Thursday, October 16, 2008
If We Are Talking About Records…
In a recent letter, Republican candidate for Middletown Township Committee Tony Fiore said that we should look at a candidate’s record to judge his or her qualifications for office. I couldn’t agree more, so let’s look at the record of this year’s Republican candidates.
Although Mr. Fiore is running for the Committee and is currently a member of the Middletown’s Planning Board, he rarely shows up for Committee meetings and has failed to distinguish himself as a leader or innovator on the Planning Board.
Mr. Fiore’s biggest campaign issue is school taxes, yet Middletown’s excellent school system is the reason Money Magazine listed our town in their Top 100 Places to Live. If Mr. Fiore was more in touch with Middletown residents, he would recognize that Middletown should not decrease revenue for its schools; it should decrease spending on frivolous expenses, such as the multi-million dollar renovation of the Middletown Cultural Art’s Center that Republicans have championed in the past.
Moreover, while Mr. Fiore is attacking taxes that benefit our schools, his running mate, Pamela Brightbill, is responsible for keeping our municipal taxes high. As a current member of the Committee, Ms. Brightbill voted to approve tax increases of 5.7 percent in 2006, 3.1 percent in 2007, and 7.1 percent in 2008; a total of 15.9 percent over the past 3 years! Middletown cannot afford to elect these individuals to our Committee.
Yet, what is most disconcerting is that Ms. Brightbill promised in her last campaign to keep taxes low if elected. She also promised to preserve open space, yet she approved transforming the Conifer tract of land into a huge development, even though it was purchased with open space funds. Ms. Brightbill’s silence on the soil contamination issue at the Cultural Arts Center and Town Hall has also misled the public. The cleanup could cost taxpayers millions, yet she kept the contamination a secret instead of taking the lead to get rid of this public health concern.
How can voters trust the Republicans to follow through on what they promise? Ms. Brightbill’s actions have already proven that Middletown cannot trust her to follow through. Mr. Fiore has already lied to voters about his resume, what else will be next?
I believe Middletown residents are looking for candidates who are honest and ready to act in residents’ best interest. I know that Pat Walsh and Jim Grenafege have the honesty, integrity, and leadership to transform our Township Committee into the responsive and dedicated body we need in these tough times we all face.
Don Watson
New Monmouth
Although Mr. Fiore is running for the Committee and is currently a member of the Middletown’s Planning Board, he rarely shows up for Committee meetings and has failed to distinguish himself as a leader or innovator on the Planning Board.
Mr. Fiore’s biggest campaign issue is school taxes, yet Middletown’s excellent school system is the reason Money Magazine listed our town in their Top 100 Places to Live. If Mr. Fiore was more in touch with Middletown residents, he would recognize that Middletown should not decrease revenue for its schools; it should decrease spending on frivolous expenses, such as the multi-million dollar renovation of the Middletown Cultural Art’s Center that Republicans have championed in the past.
Moreover, while Mr. Fiore is attacking taxes that benefit our schools, his running mate, Pamela Brightbill, is responsible for keeping our municipal taxes high. As a current member of the Committee, Ms. Brightbill voted to approve tax increases of 5.7 percent in 2006, 3.1 percent in 2007, and 7.1 percent in 2008; a total of 15.9 percent over the past 3 years! Middletown cannot afford to elect these individuals to our Committee.
Yet, what is most disconcerting is that Ms. Brightbill promised in her last campaign to keep taxes low if elected. She also promised to preserve open space, yet she approved transforming the Conifer tract of land into a huge development, even though it was purchased with open space funds. Ms. Brightbill’s silence on the soil contamination issue at the Cultural Arts Center and Town Hall has also misled the public. The cleanup could cost taxpayers millions, yet she kept the contamination a secret instead of taking the lead to get rid of this public health concern.
How can voters trust the Republicans to follow through on what they promise? Ms. Brightbill’s actions have already proven that Middletown cannot trust her to follow through. Mr. Fiore has already lied to voters about his resume, what else will be next?
I believe Middletown residents are looking for candidates who are honest and ready to act in residents’ best interest. I know that Pat Walsh and Jim Grenafege have the honesty, integrity, and leadership to transform our Township Committee into the responsive and dedicated body we need in these tough times we all face.
Don Watson
New Monmouth
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