(The Star-Ledger Archive)
Date: 2002/05/08
By JIM LOCKWOOD
STAR-LEDGER STAFF
In a rare move, some
But the council is asking residents not to sign either of two petitions being circulated, saying they would only delay much-needed ballfields by a year.
The controversy, which has been brewing for a month, is the latest surrounding council plans to build a recreational complex on 180 acres of town-owned land on
That tract includes the 40-acre "Black Creek" Native American site that on April 1 was designated historic by state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley Campbell.
On April 8, the council approved an $8 million bond ordinance for several capital expenses, including $4.7 million for the first phase of
However, because some residents said they would petition to withdraw that bond, the council rescinded it April 10, and split it into three separate bond ordinances that were adopted April 29, including:
$1.4 million for football fields and parking on the 40-acre historic section.
$3.3 million for some 10 other fields on the remaining 140 acres, for soccer, lacrosse, football and baseball, as well as an outdoor roller hockey rink, a bocce ball court, a snack bar/pavilion, parking and restrooms.
$3.7 million for various non-controversial capital and equipment items that are not targeted by the petition drive.
Two separate petitions aimed at withdrawing both park bonds were launched last week by Jessica Paladini, Dennis Miranda, Chris Fuehrer, Carol Gunn-Kadish and former mayor Jim Kilby.
On Friday, Mayor John Logan, Councilman Neil Desmond and Freeholder Howard Burrell, who live in
"I feel it is just a mean-spirited attempt to inject politics into what should be a positive event,"
Paladini disagreed, saying the park project has become larger and more expensive than originally envisioned. She also cited voters' defeat of the
"We're not opposed to ballfields or a park. We're for a referendum. This park has taken on a life of its own. The cost has now skyrocketed," Paladini said.
The annual tax impact from the park bonds would range from $8 to $39 for a homeowner with a $150,000 property tax assessment, depending on how much revenue could be raised,
He questioned why proponents of preserving the Black Creek Native American site would circulate a petition that deals with the rest of the property, and why there was no outcry for a referendum when the 180-acre tract was purchased by the council two years ago.
"It's all the people we beat in the last election and their supporters,"
But Paladini called the council's approval of a bond ordinance for fields on the historic section "arrogant," because construction there cannot readily take place without first going through state review and approval.
"How irresponsible is this to borrow money for land that can't be developed?" Paladini said.
Each petition needs about 865 signatures of registered voters to be valid. If the petitions are successful, the council would have to rescind the bonds or put them before voters in a referendum, probably in November.
Municipal ordinances are enacted after a series of actions are taken over several weeks, including a first vote for introduction, a public hearing and second vote for adoption. An ordinance then takes effect 20 days after it is officially published, unless there is a petition to recall it within that time frame.
Such post-adoption petitions are not unheard of, but they are rare, according to the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
The Star-Ledger Archive
COPYRIGHT © The Star-Ledger 2002
Date: 2002/05/31 Friday Page: 039 Section:
Local News Briefs
Petitions to withdraw a pair of bond ordinances totaling $4.7 million for a recreational park in
Now, the township council has to rescind the bond ordinances or put them before voters in a public referendum, Ragno said.
The council also could rescind the ordinances and adopt substantially similar ones or rescind them and place its own park referendum question before voters, he said.
The petitions submitted May 21 contained about 1,756 signatures - nearly double the 864 signatures needed - and stemmed from council plans to build a recreational complex on 180 acres on
That tract includes the 40-acre Black Creek Native American site that was designated historic on April 1.
The bond ordinances, which were adopted April 29, include $1.4 million for football fields and parking on the 40-acre historic section and $3.3 million for some 10 other various fields on the remaining 140 acres, an outdoor rink, bocce ball court, a snack bar/pavilion, parking and restrooms.
The petitions want to place the bonds before voters in a referendum.
The Star-Ledger Archive
COPYRIGHT © The Star-Ledger 2002
Date: 2002/06/12 Wednesday Page: 023 Section: MORRIS Edition: MORRIS Size: 406 words
Petition drive leads council to reconsider
By JIM LOCKWOOD
STAR-LEDGER STAFF
The Vernon Township Council, in response to a petition drive, is planning to rescind a pair of bond ordinances totaling $4.7 million for a park, officials said yesterday.
The petitions, submitted last month, contained about 1,756 signatures - nearly double the 864 needed - and stemmed from council plans to build a recreation complex on 180 acres on
After being deemed valid, the petitions left the council with several options: withdraw the bond ordinances; place them before voters in a public referendum; rescind the ordinances and adopt substantially similar ones; or rescind them and place the council's own park referendum question before voters, Township Attorney Joseph Ragno said.
On Monday, the council introduced an ordinance to rescind the two park bond ordinances, and a public hearing on the withdrawal measure will be held June 24.
"We will unveil on the 24th a plan that addresses the concerns by all those who signed the petitions," Vernon Mayor John Logan said. He would not be more specific.
The Maple Grange tract includes the 40-acre Black Creek Native American site that was designated historic on April 1.
The bond ordinances, which were adopted April 29, include $1.4 million for football fields and parking on the 40-acre historic section and $3.3 million for some 10 other various fields on the remaining 140 acres, an outdoor rink, a bocce ball court, a snack bar/pavilion, parking and restrooms.
Ragno said there likely would not be a referendum on the rescinded bonds, and he and the town's bond counsel and engineer are working on a new proposal.
"A plan has to be made for the ultimate development of
One of the petition organizers, Jessica Paladini, said, "Should the council insult the residents by rescinding the original park bonds and replacing them with slightly lower dollar amounts, we will circulate a petition for an initiative (to) once and for all put a park question on the ballot for voter approval.
