Committee to Recall Michael Spekhardt

Reasons to Recall Michael Spekhardt

92 Fox Hollow Trl. Sparta NJ 07871

Home (973) 729-6065 Cell(973)271-5050

(1022 votes) Faulkner Election (05/09/2006)

(1252 votes) Run-off Election (06/13/2006)

Mrs. Ailish Hambel

(1030 votes) Faulkner Election (05/09/2006)

(1242 votes) Run-off Election (06/13/2006)

Malfeasance:

• In our opinion knowingly colluded to pass a special vending machine ordinance which would only cover Deputy Mayor Brady’s four (non-compliant) vending machines in Station Park. (TC Minutes 6/26/07 pg.2, 10/23/07 pg.1, 11/27/07 pg.2, 12/11/07 pg.2&3, 1/8/08 pg.2, 2/26/08 pg.3&4)

• Voted in favor of the ($2.45 million) Limecrest Quarry purchase without due diligence, and without the voters knowledge or approval. The resulting (21 count) down now to (17 count) lawsuit will ensure us huge legal expenses (on both sides) for years to come, in addition to any settlements that may come from the pending lawsuit.(Purchase Agreement Dated 8/28/07)

• Over the past year, in 24 of the 26 Township Council sessions, the public was excluded under the Open Public Meetings Act. We were told the "subject matter would be made public when deemed appropriate." Evidently, none have been so deemed. (TC Minutes)

• In our opinion Mayor Spekhardt used the Sparta Township website to assert his political views and opinions regarding the municipal garbage utility, and his recall–in both written and videotaped form. (Mayor's corner February 08)

• While serving as Mayor, promoted and allowed the unauthorized expenditure of taxpayer dollars for the mailing of a letter to the public on December 20th 2007, following the public hearing on the garbage issue. No motion was made and no vote taken.

Unethical:

• Mayor Spekhardt arrogantly and repeatedly interrupted the petition organizer on December 27th, 2007 and had the floor taken away from him several times while he was trying to explain the ramifications of a closed garbage utility to the people of Sparta. (TC CD 11/30/07 & 12/1/07 & TC Minutes 12/27/07 pg.2)

• Mayor Spekhardt voted to double the cost of animal licensing fees–but only for the residents of Sparta. The other Townships we contract out our services to as of 12/07– Fredon, Hardyston and Ogdensburg did not see an increase. (TC Minutes 2/27/07 pg.4, New Ordinance Adopted 2/27/07)

• On Mayor Spekhardt’s watch, numerous petitioners were harassed by police outside local stores and in the public library, in response to at least one phone call by Town Hall, and a personal visit by another council member. (Police report & TC Minutes 12/11/07)

• At an October 9, 2007 Council meeting, Mayor Spekhardt asked for the final tally of the overall costs of the new Municipal building. It was never mentioned again in public, and at least one OPRA request on this matter was DENIED. (TC Minutes 10/9/07 pg.12)

• Mayor Spekhardt informed us that the whole Council had authorized Mr. Underhill to send out the garbage proposition for bid. However, both Councilmen Murphy and Seelagy have stated they were not asked for their input, nor did they authorize that bid. (TC Minutes 12/1/07 pg.2 & 12/27/07 pg.3)

• At the last public meeting on the proposed garbage ordinance (12/1/07), the Mayor responded, when asked why the rush, that the bid HAD TO BE SIGNED by December 2, 2007. As of this writing, it is still not signed. This, and all the above create in our opinion a crisis of confidence in our Mayor. (TC CD 11/30/07 & 12/1/07)

• While serving as Deputy Mayor helped promote bid splitting as a means toward hastily constructing a retaining wall, that omitted planned steps as a way of circumventing the bid process, for the front lawn of the Municipal Building, solely for the sake of appearances and expediting the Mayor’s insistence on a ribbon-cutting ceremony at tax payers expense. (Councilman info)

• While serving as Mayor, promoted and allowed the unauthorized expenditure of taxpayer dollars for the mailing of a letter to the public promoting the YES vote on March 6, 2008.

Broken campaign promises:

"Business as usual and 'no bid contracts are not acceptable.'

Also, in the same article, "my other priorities include being THE Council Person that is responsive and that listens to the people of Sparta while working on their behalf." Sparta Independent 5/4/06

Spekhardt said they hope to keep the workings of the council "transparent" for the people of Sparta. We were hoping that, too! Sparta Independent 7/19/07

Despite his call for "a more open dialogue" during the 2006 campaign, as mayor, Spekhardt behaved to the contrary. Last July, he refused to allow any but ONE of the approximately 50 residents in attendance at a Council meeting to even address the meeting with their concerns. See Advertiser-News 7/26/07

As Mayor, Spekhardt has failed to have a dialog with the community, choosing instead to operate behind closed doors--and violating the state's Open Public Records Act--in an attempt to make the details of the sale of Limecrest secret. NJ Herald 10/23/07

Mayor Spekhardt said of the petition drive "It's part of the process. People have the right to assembly peacefully, they have a right to speak and do whatever they want." Star Ledger 12/6/07

As the petitions for the legal recall of three council members were being circulated, Mayor Spekhardt falsely accused Jesse Wolosky of fraud over a technicality with his address. Evidently, the Mayor had already contacted Sparta's Postmaster, and the Board of Elections Administrator--who both confirmed Wolosky's address. These implied threats were leveled at Mr. Wolosky because he was exercising his rights as a citizen of New Jersey to circulate any petition of his choosing. Sparta Independent 3/13/08.

As NOT reported in the Sparta Independent: On March 25, 2008, Jesse Wolosky attended the Township Council meeting. Upon taking the floor, Mr. Wolosky gave his name and address, just like everyone else had done, and proceeded to speak to Mayor Spekhardt regarding his recall petition. Although Mr. Wolosky had the floor, the Mayor continued to speak in a low drone into his microphone, and crumple papers next to it, and then, accompanied by his wife and friends in the gallery, all started forcibly coughing--very loudly--so that Mr. Wolosky could not be heard. NOTE: No Township Council minutes have been posted for this date.

“The trust is on loan, because it needs to be earned everyday" (NJ Herald 7/7/06)

"First, (we should) start communicating" (NJ Herald 6/11/06)

"We should be able to get more information online and to the public." We are still in the dark. The garbage ordinance itself has been taken offline. (NJ Herald 6/11/06)

Mayor Spekhardt, when running for office, promised fiscal accountability. (NJ Herald 6/11/06)

Betrayed the citizens’ trust:

• In our opinion Mayor Spekhardt has abused the trust that the citizens of Sparta have placed in his hands. He has been anything BUT fiscally conservative, with his approval of the purchase of the White Lake property ($1.45 million) and its concomitant $1 million in improvements, and the Limecrest Quarry for an additional $2.45 million. That price will obviously explode with the ongoing litigation. Mayor Spekhardt is apparently unfazed by the $71.5 million high school bill that we Spartans have not yet started to pay off–for he also approves the idea of building a new stadium complex ($1-2 million) and a huge P.A.L. building large enough to house two gymnasiums and room for a community center. He is squeezing the low and mid income citizens out of Sparta. (TC Minutes 7/10/07 pg.2, 11/8/07 pg.4, 11/27/07 pg.8, 12/11/07 pg.1, 1/8/08 pg.2&3

Unanswered Questions?

-WHY did Sparta authorize the issuance of $13,973,865 in bond anticipation notes on May 15, 2008? How much is THAT going to cost us? Are we so broke that we can't carry on the business of the Township on our tax receipts alone? TC minutes 5/15/08

-WHY is it that Byram can purchase $4.25 million worth of land, and spend only $212,000 of their own budget; but when Sparta buys land (like the $2.45 million Limecrest Quarry), we pay full fare? The reason seems to be that Byram spent much time and effort in obtaining monies from the Sussex County Open Space Trust Fund, the NJ Green Acres Program, the NJ Conservancy Foundation, and the Morris Land Conservancy. WHY DIDN'T SPARTA? (NJHerald 5/7/08)

-WHY didthe Township Council complain about spending $17,000 for a public referendum, and one month later pass an ordinance giving themselves--the non-union municipal workforce--a salary increase of $355,000? Paid for, compliments of us, the taxpayers! (TC 2008 Budget Message)

-WHY is it, that when THREE Councilmen asked Manager Underhill on October 9, 2007 for a statistical report showing numbers and response times of our Police Department, he responded "That is more information than should be made privy to the public!" (This information is NOT available in the Town Council minutes--you'll have to get the CD and listen to the unedited text). Our Police Dept. is some 40 strong, and WE pay for their Police Academy training, their uniforms, their vests, their guns, their cars and accompanying equipment, and some very nice salaries and benefits, too. WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!!! By the way--in the February 13, 2007 Town Council minutes, Chief Reigstad told the Council that the average response time was, at that time, SEVEN MINUTES. Why is it a big secret, some eight months and two more policemen later?

-WHY is it that Councilman Brady in November of 2006 (when they were deciding to merge our health department with that of the County) stated that a lot of people felt that the Town's ability to communicate was lacking and that people wanted to be more involved. He stated at that time that he "saw it as the community giving ideas to the governing body." We're STILL trying to communicate--and they're STILL not listening!!! (TC minutes 11/21/06)

-WHY is it that on November 21, 2006 Mayor Goldberg specifically said that "because of the recently approved school referendum, the Council had to be careful about spending more taxpayers dollars on expensive projects," and then went on to purchase White Lake for $1.45 million, put another $1 million into its "phase I" updates, and purchase the Limecrest Quarry for yet another $2.45 million (PLUS lawsuit)--just months before the tax bill for that new high school addition is put onto our tax bills?

-WHY when as Mayor, Goldberg proposed using the Township website to communicate with the people via a "Mayor's Corner"--that all the Township Council agreed that the column would be informational only, and would NOT be used for political purposes. (See TC minutes 11/21/06) Yet, our current Mayor Spekhardt used it for exactly that purpose! Township website--oh, no--they've taken it off the website!!

-WHY is it, that during the break in the garbage meeting on December 1st at the High School, Deputy Mayor Brady can be heard telling someone in the background that "This may have been a mistake; it may get them better organized." This discussion has also been "cleansed" from the Town Council minutes, so please, do get the CD--and listen to it yourself unless the official copy gets somehow 'damaged.' But we have one!

-WHY did the council raise the tax cap from 2.5% (allowed by law) to 3.5% by approving an ordinance that states "The township council hereby determines that a 1.0% increase in the budget for said year, amounting to $135,458.37 in excess of the increase in final appropriation otherwise permitted by the Local Government Cap Law." The answer might be, so they could up the property tax increase to 7% this year! (Sparta Independent 4/19/07)

-WHY does the 2008 budget utilize 100% of the available fund balance--meaning that there could be a cash flow difficulty in July? Perhaps we've purchased too much land this year? (Sparta Independent 4/10/08)

-WHY when considering a merger with the county's health department, did one woman feel she had to comment to the council "Are you (council members) really hearing us out here? I feel you're just looking at me and saying 'Okay lady, go away, the vote is already settled.'" (Sparta Indpendent 1/25/07)

-WHY was that same feeling re-iterated at the garbage proposal discussion, on December 1, 2007, when another woman asked the Council if their assertions that they definitely had NOT made up their minds yet were actually true, then WHY was there a police presence in the room--for the first time ever? Not in TC minutes--you'll have to hear it on the CD for yourself!

-WHY would we need to build a community center at all, when Dr. Morton himself said that the new high school would become a "true community center," with spaces for community groups and events." (Star Ledger 9/17/06)

-WHY did our Township Council vote to close the Township's Health Department to save between $7 and $9 a year in property taxes-- yet supported the synthetic turf proposal at the high school, which would raise our property taxes $27 a year (for a $300,000 home)? (Sparta Independent 5/4/06)

-WHY according to Ralph D'Aries, did Manager Underhill ORDER Mr. D'Aries NOT to speak at an open town council meeting? Certainly, he had the right to address the public! (TC minutes 1/9/07)

-WHY is it, that when Mayor Goldberg addressed the issue of opinion polls, he stated that ANY kind of survey needed to have AT LEAST 1,000 replies for it to be useful to the Council. (TC minutes 2/13/07) But, when the secret garbage survey was all tolled, there were fewer than 900 votes to be counted, and that was considered a valid study? (TC minutes 11/8/07)

-WHY is it, that if you go back into the Township Council minutes to October 9, 2007, you can see where Henry Underhill had already gotten two garbage bids, and he proposed that it would cost a flat $215 per house, and he anticipated "no more than $10 in administration costs (per house)! The administration costs are already up 150%--currently standing at $25 per household. That's almost $100,000 extra profit yearly!!

-WHY did the Mayor and ONLY two Councilmen meet at 7 o’clock in the morning at Town Hall on Tuesday 11/13/07 and approve over $4 MILLION worth of expenditures? Where was the public oversight? (TC Minutes 11/13/07 pg.1)

-WHY can’t we get a thorough accounting of the EXACT price that WE PAID for our new Municipal Building? Mayor Spekhardt asked for a price at the Council Meeting of 10/09/07, but the matter was never mentioned in public again. A subsequent OPRA request was submitted, and Denied by the Township clerk. We have a right to know! (TC Minutes 10/9/07 pg.12)

-WHY did the Township remove the original garbage ordinance from its "Recent Township Ordinances" page, and replace it with their own news letter interpretation (which had already been mailed, at our expense, to every "Postal Patron" in Sparta on 12/20/07)? We should be able to read the ordinance ourselves, as it is written. (Removed the week of 3/11/08)

-WHY does the Township have a "Recent Township Ordinances" page showing thirty (30) new ordinances in 2007, when we, the taxpayers, can only access seventeen (17) of them? Why can’t we view the other thirteen (13)? (Township web page)

-WHY did Judge Bozonelis the highest Judge in Sussex/Morris County have to admonish Sparta for not complying with the Open Public Meetings Act and the Open Public Records Act? This is OUR town, and we have a right to know everything that’s happening in it! (NJ Herald 3/6/08)

-WHY is it that Sparta Township bought 172 acres of Limecrest Quarry, but when you add up only the Blocks and Lots in Sparta that were purchased, the acreage is closer to 205 acres? Not including the parcel in Lafayette which will bring the acreage even higher. Perhaps a little more time should have been spent doing their due diligence before entangling us in this legal nightmare?(Purchase Agreement Dated 8/28/07)

-WHY doesn’t Sparta Township ask for or accept any input regarding the outrageous spending going on here in our Town? Why aren’t they required to go to a public referendum before spending such large amounts of OUR money? (Nj Herald 5/7/06 & 6/11/06)

-WHY did Sparta start doing its own financial audits? Wouldn’t it be smarter to have someone outside the organization checking into its accounting practices? (TC Minutes 4/24/07 pg.7 & auditors letter 6/15/07)

-WHY is it that while the Council was still debating whether or not to buy, or rent a pump for Sparta to have in case of emergency, that the Township Council removed $280,000 from OUR General Capital Surplus Fund for this purpose. But, when it was decided NOT to buy the pump, that only $15,000 was returned to the Fund? Where is the other $265,000? (TC Minutes 8/28/07 pg.10)

-WHY is it that on June 26, 2007, Mayor Goldberg received 150 signed petitions from the residents of Sparta Commons regarding their inordinately high sewerage bills to find their plea fell on deaf ears? If those who use the White Deer Sewage System pay ONLY for how much they use, WHY are the people of Sparta Commons (and Main Street, and Glen Road, and Woodport Road, and Round top, and Sparta Ave., and Newton-Sparta Road) charged $306 per EDU (that being a 3 bedroom home), per 90 day cycle, assessed at 250 gallons a day? That comes to OVER $1220 yearly! (TC Minutes 6/26/07 pg.9)

-WHY are our Township leaders deciding what to do with the old Firehouses? Should we sell, or rent, or use them for a community/teen center? We want some input! (TC Minutes 10/9/07 pg.4&5, 11/8/07 pg.3)

-WHY is it that Township Manager Henry Underhill instructed the Fields Use Task Force to look at building a synthetic turf field in Station Park, and leasing it to the BOE? The answer seems to be that "the BOE could then avoid a referendum and capital project, and vote on this lease as a line item in its annual budget!" If we give Sparta the tax dollars to put this turf in, who is going to pay the BOE to pay the lease? WHY shouldn’t the citizens get to decide if they want to spend this money once, twice, or NOT AT ALL! (BOE Newsletter 10/07 & TC Minutes 12/11/07 pg.1)

-WHY has the Township Council invoked the Open Public Meetings Act in 24 of the last 26 Council meetings–thus excluding the public from any and all discussion–stating that the "subject matter will be made public when deemed appropriate." WHEN will it be appropriate? Who decides WHEN we’ll be told how much money we just spent for another land purchase? We want to have these records be made public! (TC Minutes between 10/10/06 & 9/25/07)

-WHY is it that--when Sparta provided the animal control services for Ogdensburg, Fredon and Hardyston, as well as for ourselves–that WE were the only ones who ended up with a 100% increase in our cat and dog licensing fees? Isn’t that inequitable? (TC Minutes 2/27/07 pg.4)

-WHY is it that, after we Americans fought so long and hard for our civil liberties, that the Police were summoned, and hassled both petitioners and those just handing out informational flyers–when it is a right granted to us under the First Amendment? This freedom of speech is not a new idea–we’ve have had these rights since 1791! (US Bill of Rights)

-WHY would one not think that if Sparta Township is able to increase the water Utility fees from $3.50 per thousand gallons to $4.40 per thousand gallons a 25% increase in March of 2007 (PLUS their hefty quarterly service charge) in one stroke of the pen– that they won’t do the same to the price of a Garbage Utility in the future?(TC Minutes 3/27/07 pg.5, New Ordinance passed 3/27/07)

-WHY is it that even when you go to the official minutes of the Township Council, that the ordinances are so sketchy that you’re not really sure what they’re talking about? As in, "an ordinance to amend Chapter 7, traffic?" Or, an ordinance pertaining to Block___ and Lot___? One motions, another seconds, and voila! It’s another new ordinance perpetrated upon us (and right in front of us)! WHY don’t we have LIVE streaming video online, that we can watch from our homes and know what’s going on in our own local government? Wasn’t that another campaign promise from back in 2006?(NJ Herald 6/11/06)

-WHY are we expected to fork up another $169,000 for a grandiose "People’s Plaza" in front of the Municipal Building? The stairs, lighting, and asphalt should all have been factored into the grand total price of a new town hall. Are they hoping to address the people from up on high?(TC Minutes 12/11/07 pg.3&4)

-WHY is the Township Council passing an ordinance with a minimum range for salaries for non-union employess in Sparta? When the post of Township Manager BEGINNING at $115,800 (without benefits added)–it is cause for alarm. Hopatcong just hired a Township Administrator–for $95,000. Why would we offer to pay $20,800 more than what we had to for competent help?(New Ordinance passed 4/8/08)

-WHY is the Township Council now spending another $1 million for upgrades to White Lake, after just having spent $1.45 million to purchase it? WHY are they planning on building a stadium complex to the tune of $1-2 million and a 15,000 square foot building to house P.A.L. gyms, community center, kitchen, and storage space–all at Station Park (isn’t that where the toxic plume is)? – all WITHOUT our approval? (TC Minutes 7/11/07 pg.2, 11/8/07 pg.4, 11/27/07 pg.8, 12/11/07 pg. 1, 1/8/08 pg. 2&3)

-WHY should we spend $4,000 to buy two bicycles for two intermittent policemen to peddle around town? If the idea was to interact with the citizens, wouldn't it be better if they walked, instead of whizzed by on bike? It sure would cost less, too! (TC Minutes 2/26/08 pg.5)

-WHY would we want to spend thousands of dollars for our own cable TV channel, when all we really want is to be able to watch Township Coucil meetings two times a month? (TC Minutes 3/25/08)

CONTRIBUTIONS

CONTRIBUTIONS

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If you would like to contribute funds to aid in the Recall of Brian Brady, Michael Spekhardt and Manny Goldberg, you can mail a check for one; two or all three of the Recall officials.

Each check must be made out separately to the committee for the person you would like to Recall. (Brian Brady, Michael Spekhardt and Manny Goldberg). All checks can be mailed in the same envelope at the same time.

At this time to contribute funds to the Committee to Recall Brian Brady or Committee to Recall Michael Spekhardt or Committee to Recall Manny Goldberg, please make checks payable to a committee in the amount of: $300 or LESS.
We will not accept checks over the $301 threshold at this time.

Any and all contributions would be gratefully appreciated.

TO RECALL BRIAN BRADY
Committee to recall Brian Brady

TO RECALL MICHAEL SPEKHARDT
Committee to recall Michael Spekhardt

TO RECALL MANNY GOLDBERG
Committee to recall Manny Goldberg



Paid for by:
Committee to recall Brian Brady

Paid for by:
Committee to recall Michael Spekhardt

Paid for by:
Committee to recall Manny Goldberg