THE
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TITLE: Letter to the editor - Cl Twp Mayor Race
DESCRIPTION:
Time: 11:19:36
The Whole Truth
The second major reason given why Clinton Township needed to
immediately purchase a new town hall last year was that we were
subsidizing the North Hunterdon Municipal Court to the tune of $65,000
a year. It was stated repeatedly, that if we set up our own court,
that others would flock to join, and it would become a profit making
venture for the Township.
I expressed concern in five areas. First, the notion of breaking up a
relationship which had served the Township well for some fifty years
was disturbing. Second, the cost of a court, when divided by ten, would
certainly be less than the cost of a court when divided by one. Third,
the notion of making a profit off our neighbors did not sit well.
Fourth, we would be moving against the tide of history in which shared
services among communities is the coming trend. Lastly, it seemed that
a $65,000 problem was preferable to the proposed $2,000,000+ solution.
All in all, why the rush?? The reply was that we were opening our own
court on January 1st no matter what, and so it was.
Remaining curious, I filed yet another Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
request asking: “Identify any residual financial obligations the
Township may have as of January 1, 2008 relative to the North Hunterdon
Municipal Court.” The reply received was: “This request is overly broad
and cannot be fulfilled as written as it does not specify any
particular document.”
My esteemed and learned opponent for the Office of Mayor, indicated
last week that the cost of our new town hall “... is carried by the
$150,000 savings we realized when we withdrew from the North Hunterdon
Municipal Court.” At present, I have no basis on which to either accept
or deny this assertion; so I will for now, accept it as true. Maybe I
should file yet another OPRA request.
When we are called in court to testify, we all take the following oath:
“I swear to tell the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the
Truth;” for Truth is the basis of our justice system. If my learned and
esteemed opponent were on the stand; I would conclude that he has told
the Truth. But the question of whether he has told the Whole Truth
remains. While I am at present, unable to provide documentation, I have
it on very reliable authority that we remain obligated, in 2008, to pay
our share of the lease for the North Hunterdon Municipal Court
building. This obligation is in the vicinity of $100,000. Apparently,
the administration is refusing to pay. I don’t know about you, but if I
sign a lease for a building and then move out; I remain responsible to
meet the terms of that lease.
So here we have it, a $65,000 problem, a $2,000,000+ solution, a
$150,000 savings, and a $100,000 lease obligation. Pick your numbers.
Do we have the Whole Truth and nothing but the Truth? Time will tell,
but the essential fact remains; we could have talked this out as a
community for a whole year as we remain on the hook for the 2008 lease
money anyway.
It’s Your Money. It’s Your Government. It’s Your Decision.
Spencer Peck
Clinton Township