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Apr
28
Hillsider: Clueless at Township Hall
Filed Under In The News | Leave a Comment
The Township Council wants to build a new public library. That we know.
But did you know the proposed multi-million dollar library is smaller than the current library?
Here’s something the township didn’t know, or forgot: the land under the current Community Center is a known contaminated site with polluted ground water.
Second Ward Councilwoman Shelley-Ann Bates broached the topic this week when she asked whether cleanup had been factored into the redevelopment plan, which calls for a new library on the site of the former War Memorial Building, repairing drainage under the current library and expanding police headquarters into there, and then renovating and expanding the William H. Buie Community Center.
….more on theHillsider.com
Apr
24
Hillside, Hillside. Quite contrary. How does our garden grow?
Filed Under From Where I sit, Happenings, Home | Leave a Comment
Every once in a while I may take a diversion from politics and talk about a new favorite pastime that strangely enough I really didn’t get involved with until after I began campaigning last year. As I walked from door to door meeting my neighbors, I saw that a number of Hillsiders have fantastic gardens. I’m not talking a rose bush here, an azalea there, a tomato plant tucked in the corner. I’m talking master class type showplace gardens; Martha Stewartesque vegetable plots and flower beds. I got inspired.
That inspiration drove me to plant more than 100 daffodil bulbs in the front yard last fall. I admit I had a little help digging the trenches to plant those sunny little harbingers of spring. And, you will have to take my word for it that for three weeks I had a beautiful wave of sunshiny yellow large-cupped daffodils swaying in the wind. It was wonderful `welcome home’ greeting after work.
But now that the blooms are spent, the yard looks a bit tired and drab. However, I am determined to work my personal little corner of Hillside and make it shine! So in a couple of weeks, I’m going to seek the advice of experts at Rutgers Gardens annual Flower Fair on May 9th - 10th and pick a few more plants to spruce the place up.
In the meantime, I am going to continue to weed, fertilize, water, beat back invasive plants and take care of the yard so that it will be ready for a new crop of beautiful flowers.
Who would have thought that gardening and politics would have so much in common!
Apr
23
Beware the “R” word
Filed Under Leonard Gilbert, The Leadership | Leave a Comment
“Redevelopment” has been the mantra or the “R” word for the municipalities surrounding Hillside for nearly a decade. And now, after the housing boom has petered out and the economy is on the brink of the more dreaded “R” word (if I don’t say it, maybe it won’t happen) the Township Council Majority is extolling on the virtues of redevelopment. But at what price?
Tuesday night, the Council Leadership unveiled its concept for a new library. Though the proposed redevelopment would occur in the Second Ward – the Ward I was elected to represent, the Council Majority didn’t deem it necessary to share the plans with me until the regularly scheduled Council meeting nor did it seek my input. Enough said on that topic, lets move on.
In theory, a new library is a good idea. What better way to encourage academic pursuits and achievements than to provide Hillsiders of all ages with a comfortable, modern facility? And, by all appearances there is more happening at the library than ever before; however, the facility itself is woefully outdated, has structural deficiencies and can no longer accommodate the growing technological and programmatic needs of the community.
According to the Council Leadership, the library will be Phase 1 of the redevelopment plan of the municipal building that will include the existing library, town hall, police station and community center. Phase 2 of the redevelopment will be the municipal building that will include the expansion of the police station into space formerly occupied by the library. And lastly, Phase 3 is an expansion of the community center to include a regulation sized indoor basketball court and other amenities. Sounds good…on paper.
In reality, the Leadership has yet to identify the funding for this massive undertaking. According to the Leadership there is $2.6 million in reserve to help pay for the new building. Anyone who has followed the building industry, built a home or purchased a new home can appreciate that $2.6 million will barely cover the pouring of the foundation of such a building. The Leadership asserts that the remaining funds will be raised via “grants” and floating a bond. In other words, the majority of the funds to complete Phase 1 will have come from an unnamed benefactor(s) and from a bond issuance that will have to be paid back by homeowners and business owners in the form of even higher taxes. Can the average Hillside taxpayer afford this kind of redevelopment?
Is redevelopment good for Hillside? The answer is an unequivocal and resounding YES! Can Hillside afford a new library right now? I’ll hold judgment until after I see a funding formula where the heaviest burden isn’t dropped on the shoulders of the present day or future Hillside homeowner.