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| INGE APPLICATION SPARKS HEATED COMMENT AT TOWNSHIP MEETING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 8/7/08 |
During the second public comment period, township resident Steve Skulimoski accused
Patriarca of conspiring with two other Planning Board members to deny Inge’s application.
Skulimoski’s allegations centered on two executive sessions of the Board that took place in
December of 2007. He said what transpired during the two sessions “rose to the level of
deplorable”.
Skulimoski gave Council members copies of the minutes of the two meetings. After the meeting,
he said he obtained the documents after filing an OPRA request (Open Public Records Act - http:
//www.state.nj.us/grc/) with Burlington County Court officials. Skulimoski said state statute gave
council the authority to conduct an investigation into charges against appointed members to local
boards. He asked officials to take that step.
At the end of the public comment period, Councilman Rick Pickett said Council needed to address
the controversy. “A lot of these details are new to Council,” Pickett said. He asked solicitor Jake
Archer to look into what the governing body could do. “I’d like you to look into this and get back to
us with a report,” Pickett said. “I’d like to hear this and address the concerns of the residents on
this matter.”
During the Committee Comment portion of the meeting, Councilwoman Sherry Scull agreed. “I am
very disappointed in what I was hearing here tonight,” Scull said “I do think there should be an
investigation, we have to find out exactly what the correct information is and get that out to the
public.” Scull said the rumor and innuendo surrounding the issue was hurting township residents.
“Council should be working together to do what’s right for the township,” Scull said. “I’m
disappointed that we are spending so much time on these issues.”
Inge’s application was the topic of additional discussion during the public comment session. “It
seems he got right up to the brink,” resident Ray Wells said. “And then he was thrown under the
bus.”
Wells took the discussion a step further alleging that Council reaction to comments Inge made
last month protesting an administration order to remove contractor trucks from his Lakehurst Road
property – smacked of racial bias. At last month’s Council meeting, Inge alleged the warning was
just part of a continuing pattern of harassment directed against him by the administration.
Last night Wells questioned Council’s lack of response to Inge’s comments. “He was discriminated
against, and it was a horrible way to treat a gentleman because he is black, I was embarrassed for
my community.” Both Inge and Council President Diane Stinney are African American. Inge’s sister
Edna Inge took the microphone next and called for the Hornet’s Nest to be approved. “I do think
there is a lot of disparity being shown here, “Ms. Inge said. “And it should be looked into, and it
should be addressed.”
During the committee comment session, Scull took issue with the race allegation. “Not in
Pemberton Township, not here, “Scull said. “We are a giant melting pot, and race had nothing to do
with it.” Scull said she felt it was inappropriate to comment publicly on Inge's charges last month
because they involved administration decisions, and did not fall within Council's jurisdiction.
While Inge did not explicitly state he felt racial bias was a factor, he said published comments
earlier this year attributed to Patriarca could be interpreted that way. When Scull stated she would
not view the comment as racially motivated, Inge testily took issue with her response, saying she
could not speak to his reaction.
Stinney, in her position as Council President, at that silenced the discussion. “We are not playing
the race card here,” Stinney said.
Inge, the lone Republican on Town Council purchased the former township library building on
Lakehurst Road in Browns Mills in 2005, with plans to build a sports bar and
restaurant on the site. After the project was 90% completed construction came to a screeching halt
early last year when township officials pulled building permits for the project.
Officials said at the time The Hornets Nest was a "change of use" for the Lakehurst Road site,
and under municipal land use laws needed an approved site plan. Officials have said the
construction official who issued Inge's permits without one made a mistake. Township Officials said
state law required Inge to get Pinelands Commission approval, before the town could give the go
ahead to complete the project.
In published comments, Inge’s supporters alleged at the time his permits were only pulled after he
voted against the democratic administration’s plan to replace the township police chief’s position
with a public safety director post.
The Planning Board voted October 4, 2007 - after a public hearing to deny Inge's application for
a waiver of the site plan requirement. The matter went to court earlier this year. The judge ordered
township officials allow Inge to resubmit his application.
Patriarca of conspiring with two other Planning Board members to deny Inge’s application.
Skulimoski’s allegations centered on two executive sessions of the Board that took place in
December of 2007. He said what transpired during the two sessions “rose to the level of
deplorable”.
Skulimoski gave Council members copies of the minutes of the two meetings. After the meeting,
he said he obtained the documents after filing an OPRA request (Open Public Records Act - http:
//www.state.nj.us/grc/) with Burlington County Court officials. Skulimoski said state statute gave
council the authority to conduct an investigation into charges against appointed members to local
boards. He asked officials to take that step.
At the end of the public comment period, Councilman Rick Pickett said Council needed to address
the controversy. “A lot of these details are new to Council,” Pickett said. He asked solicitor Jake
Archer to look into what the governing body could do. “I’d like you to look into this and get back to
us with a report,” Pickett said. “I’d like to hear this and address the concerns of the residents on
this matter.”
During the Committee Comment portion of the meeting, Councilwoman Sherry Scull agreed. “I am
very disappointed in what I was hearing here tonight,” Scull said “I do think there should be an
investigation, we have to find out exactly what the correct information is and get that out to the
public.” Scull said the rumor and innuendo surrounding the issue was hurting township residents.
“Council should be working together to do what’s right for the township,” Scull said. “I’m
disappointed that we are spending so much time on these issues.”
Inge’s application was the topic of additional discussion during the public comment session. “It
seems he got right up to the brink,” resident Ray Wells said. “And then he was thrown under the
bus.”
Wells took the discussion a step further alleging that Council reaction to comments Inge made
last month protesting an administration order to remove contractor trucks from his Lakehurst Road
property – smacked of racial bias. At last month’s Council meeting, Inge alleged the warning was
just part of a continuing pattern of harassment directed against him by the administration.
Last night Wells questioned Council’s lack of response to Inge’s comments. “He was discriminated
against, and it was a horrible way to treat a gentleman because he is black, I was embarrassed for
my community.” Both Inge and Council President Diane Stinney are African American. Inge’s sister
Edna Inge took the microphone next and called for the Hornet’s Nest to be approved. “I do think
there is a lot of disparity being shown here, “Ms. Inge said. “And it should be looked into, and it
should be addressed.”
During the committee comment session, Scull took issue with the race allegation. “Not in
Pemberton Township, not here, “Scull said. “We are a giant melting pot, and race had nothing to do
with it.” Scull said she felt it was inappropriate to comment publicly on Inge's charges last month
because they involved administration decisions, and did not fall within Council's jurisdiction.
While Inge did not explicitly state he felt racial bias was a factor, he said published comments
earlier this year attributed to Patriarca could be interpreted that way. When Scull stated she would
not view the comment as racially motivated, Inge testily took issue with her response, saying she
could not speak to his reaction.
Stinney, in her position as Council President, at that silenced the discussion. “We are not playing
the race card here,” Stinney said.
Inge, the lone Republican on Town Council purchased the former township library building on
Lakehurst Road in Browns Mills in 2005, with plans to build a sports bar and
restaurant on the site. After the project was 90% completed construction came to a screeching halt
early last year when township officials pulled building permits for the project.
Officials said at the time The Hornets Nest was a "change of use" for the Lakehurst Road site,
and under municipal land use laws needed an approved site plan. Officials have said the
construction official who issued Inge's permits without one made a mistake. Township Officials said
state law required Inge to get Pinelands Commission approval, before the town could give the go
ahead to complete the project.
In published comments, Inge’s supporters alleged at the time his permits were only pulled after he
voted against the democratic administration’s plan to replace the township police chief’s position
with a public safety director post.
The Planning Board voted October 4, 2007 - after a public hearing to deny Inge's application for
a waiver of the site plan requirement. The matter went to court earlier this year. The judge ordered
township officials allow Inge to resubmit his application.
| PATRIARCA GIVES STATE OF THE TOWNSHIP ADDRESS continued from page 1 8/11/08 |
..Council must approve the new officers by amending the existing police ordinance, according
to Patriarca. A pedal boat program has been launched at Mirror Lake, with the crafts
sponsored by area businesses; they will be available for use by residents at no charge.
Patriarca said officials hope to expand the program at some point to all township lakes.
Patriarca said a major change to township services started at the top. “My first job as Mayor
was to replace our previous business administrator, and I’ve watched Chris Vaz handle each
project he has been given with passion and experience,” Patriarca said. A major project has
been a revamping of the Township Human Resources Department, to make news of job
openings available to the largest pool of people. “The days of being hired in Pemberton
Township because you knew someone in town hall are over, “Patriarca said, “Under this
administration is it not who you know, its what you know.”
Patriarca said the master plan revision process was well underway, but he said the project was
far from over. “We have had master plans before but they have failed because of the lack of
strong leadership, “ Patriarca said. “We must put the best interests of the township center
stage, even if it means some of us may be disappointed.”
In addition to the rising cost of providing service, Patriarca said the township was hampered by
development restrictions that restricted the ability to pay the tab. “Future development in
Pemberton is limited by Pinelands and Wetlands regulations,” Patriarca said. “The owners of
non pinelands properties have expressed interest in developing them, and if development isn’t
the answer then responsible development must be part of the solution.”
Patriarca said it was important to remember the past in order to plan for the future. “Difficult
challenges lie ahead but I believe our future can be great, “Patriarca said. “We must look to
the past to learn what’s been holding us back from reaching our full potential, I believe we can
reach our goals together.”
to Patriarca. A pedal boat program has been launched at Mirror Lake, with the crafts
sponsored by area businesses; they will be available for use by residents at no charge.
Patriarca said officials hope to expand the program at some point to all township lakes.
Patriarca said a major change to township services started at the top. “My first job as Mayor
was to replace our previous business administrator, and I’ve watched Chris Vaz handle each
project he has been given with passion and experience,” Patriarca said. A major project has
been a revamping of the Township Human Resources Department, to make news of job
openings available to the largest pool of people. “The days of being hired in Pemberton
Township because you knew someone in town hall are over, “Patriarca said, “Under this
administration is it not who you know, its what you know.”
Patriarca said the master plan revision process was well underway, but he said the project was
far from over. “We have had master plans before but they have failed because of the lack of
strong leadership, “ Patriarca said. “We must put the best interests of the township center
stage, even if it means some of us may be disappointed.”
In addition to the rising cost of providing service, Patriarca said the township was hampered by
development restrictions that restricted the ability to pay the tab. “Future development in
Pemberton is limited by Pinelands and Wetlands regulations,” Patriarca said. “The owners of
non pinelands properties have expressed interest in developing them, and if development isn’t
the answer then responsible development must be part of the solution.”
Patriarca said it was important to remember the past in order to plan for the future. “Difficult
challenges lie ahead but I believe our future can be great, “Patriarca said. “We must look to
the past to learn what’s been holding us back from reaching our full potential, I believe we can
reach our goals together.”
| DEBORAH'S FUTURE COULD HINGE ON STATE DECISION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 8/13/08 |
| In a letter sent yesterday to Commissioner Howard, the 8th district legislators said the introduction of a new angioplasty provider would divert paying patients with medical insurance from Deborah and could threaten the facility’s ability to remain open. Deborah Heart and Lung Center opened in 1922 as a tuberculosis sanatorium. Today the facility is the only cardiac and pulmonary specialty hospital in New Jersey. “Deborah Heart and Lung Center is a special facility, not a general hospital, and that makes Deborah particularly susceptible to program declines like the one that will be the inevitable result if this application is approved,” said Assemblywoman Addiego. |
In addition to providing cardiac and pulmonary care to patients regardless of their ability to pay, Deborah consistently ranks in the top tier of medical facilities in the both in the state and nationwide, officials said. “Deborah is a health-care success story,” said Assemblyman Scott Rudder. “They are a national leader in cardiac care, and their expertise has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades. We need more hospitals like this. With this kind of medical care available, mere miles from Toms River, why would we put that in jeopardy?” State County and Municipal officials are circling the wagons to fight any threat to Deborah’s future. The hospital is one of the largest employers in Burlington County, with close to 1,400 employees. In an address to Town Council last week, Mayor Dave Patriarca said layoffs or the possible closure of the hospital posed a major threat to the township. After the closure of the LANXESS Sybron Chemicals Plant in the Birmingham section of the township earlier this year, Patriarca said the township could not absorb another major loss of jobs.. In their letter to Howard, Haines, Addiego and Rudder said granting Community Memorial’s application would harm all of Burlington County… “by allowing Community’s participation in this study, you will most certainly be putting at risk the jobs of over 1,000 current Deborah employees. As stated previously, cutting into the ability of Deborah to attract paying patients will further compromise Deborah’s financial standing, forcing it to make tough choices so it can survive in the face of new competition. " "These tough choices may mean immediate cut backs in services which may result in targeted layoffs. Eventually, a Deborah which is unable to compete against a facility like Community may close and be forced to layoff all of its workers which today have well-paying jobs with benefits and contribute to their communities. Layoffs of this magnitude will have a ripple effect throughout Burlington County, hurting not only families directly affected by the layoffs, but also those local communities which over the years have come to rely on Deborah as an economic engine which brings them dependable tax revenue and business income." Anyone wishing to comment on the proposal can visit: http://www.state.nj.us/health/feedback.shtml or contact Commissioner Howard at 609-292-7837. A spokesperson for Deborah Hospital yesterday urged anyone concerned about the situation to contact their state legislative offices to press for support for Deborah’s position. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp |
| file photo - TheVillageGreen |
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