October 2, 2017 Middletown Township Committee Meeting

Before it gets much later and the next Middletown Township Committee meeting comes and goes, I think I should post the Oct. 2nd meeting.

Here are the highlights:

Annual presentations were given by TOMSA, the Housing Authority and the Green Team. The Green Team presented methods in which the Township could realize energy savings by entering into various government programs designed to save energy.

Ordinances were introduced to repeal the snow shoveling registry and to amend planning and development regulations governing electronic signs and clarifying that microbreweries and micro distilleries are permitted use in certain zones, while establishing standards for them.

Discussion items on the agenda did not generate much discussion among the Committee members, but the Administrator mentioned that 2 bids were received for the microgram feasibility study, there is a need for the Township to apply to the Green Acres program to change the use of the school at Croydon Hall to a community center and that more security cameras need to be installed to combat vandalism at parks.

As always you can download a copy of the Meeting Agenda that contains the discussion items and the proposed resolutions and ordinances that were voted on or presented 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. Attached to this agenda is also the monthly bill list, so that everyone can see how the Township is spending our tax dollars.

October 5, 2015 Middletown Township Committee Meeting

At the Oct.5th workshop meeting of the Middletown Township Committee, the Committee heard reports from TOMSA and the Housing Authority as a requirement in the state Best Practices program. Also an ordinance to set fees for activities at Poricy Park was adopted. Also a presentation was given by the Police Department on the status of local pawn shops and how the police are trying to have them comply with a new program to tract potential stolen goods that may have been pawned at their shops




As always, you can download a copy of the Meeting Agenda that contains the discussion items and the proposed resolutions and ordinances that were voted on or presented 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. Attached to this agenda is also the monthly bill list, so that everyone can see how the Township is spending our tax dollars.

The Making of a Republican Candidate in Middletown...

1) Plump a bio with appointments 2) Conceal employment

by guest blogger Linda Baum

Stephanie Murray is this year’s new republican candidate for Middletown Township Committee, and, as usual, her bio touts appointments to various boards & commissions, including the Housing Authority and Zoning Board.

You might be wondering what qualifies Ms. Murray for her role on these boards. Probably nothing. She was appointed by our republican-run Town Committee for only one reason, to pad her bio and fool us about her credentials. My guess is that she didn’t even have to bother filling out an application for membership, which I recently learned can be the case for appointees who are hand-picked. Ms. Murray most certainly took the spots deserved by more qualified candidates.

In fact, room was made for her on the Housing Authority in January 2010 by bumping the then Vice Chair of the board, a highly regarded, dedicated individual with a real estate background who, unfortunately, is not a registered republican. The former Vice Chair had also successfully completed the five courses required for Housing Authority board membership. It’s not clear if Ms. Murray has. She had 18 months from the date of her appointment to do so, which means she should have completed the requirements by July 2011. I’ve been told that if the deadline is not met, past practice has been to promptly terminate board membership. However, per the Department of Community Affairs, that decision is left to the discretion of the Housing Authority Chairperson, another member of Middletown’s republican party.

Ms. Murray was added to the Zoning Board in January 2011, but as a 3rd alternate, not a regular member. As a 3rd alternate member, she has voting rights only on those rare occasions when more than one member of the Zoning Board cannot attend a meeting.

Another detail that Ms. Murray has failed to reveal to the public about her background is that she writes fantasies under a pen name and has for many years. Her skill at story-telling should serve her well in toeing the party line.