http://www.pennjersey.info/forums Cumberland-Salem County (856 area code southern half) Related Discussions en Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:10:32 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.pennjersey.info/forums http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/13116-cp-police-officers-honored.html Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:51:44 GMT Once again Carneys Point stands head and shoulders above Penns Grove. The recent ceremony honoring the CP officers and showing appreciation for their efforts was a class act. It's a damn sight more than our PG officers ever get.

What I find difficult to believe is that the supposed leadership of PG will not come out in support of our officers in a crisis or even just showing the appreciation they earn in every day service to this town. Not a one will stand up and publicly say, thank you for a job well done especially in the circumstances that comes with being a police officer in this town. That is a sad state of affairs.

On another topic. How many times has the issue of vicious dogs, mainly pit bulls, come up at council meetings over the years? Why is it then that our Solicitor found a way to assist Alloway, where he is also the Solicitor, draft an ordinance to deal with this issue and something similar has not been done here? These dogs being allowed to run free, walked on a leash by children, by owners that have no where near the physical strength to control them and that's fine for our town? Must be, cause nothing has been done.

I was recently involved in a pit bull attack on a family pet. The pit bull was being walked by young people who very quickly learned that they had no real control over the dog when in attack mode. Then when the attack began they ran from the scene leaving the attack in progress. An elderly woman was left to witness or try to save her dog. Look up and down the street and all you saw was people standing on their porches watching the attack, not a one had the balls to step in! Well one finally did and maybe just because he was not as bright as he might have been. So there were two elderly people, a family pet and a pit bull. Still no owners except when they snuck back to get a quick look and then took off again, they were too afraid of their own animal, their supposedly loving pet, to get involved. I'll tell you one thing, when you are three feet away from an attacking pit bull and he's pumped from being pulled away from an attack and you stand in his vision and see the rage in his eye's, you see nothing but the evil in these animals. Being beaten with a heavy object does nothing to reach their brain, NOTHING! From that day forward I will not hesitate to shoot the son of a bitch. Even now I have to say, it's not the breed as much as it is the training or the lack of training. It's the owners intent for the dogs purpose. For the record, the family pet survived with $1,200.00 in vet bills, the owner finally showed up AFTER the attack was stopped and immediately began mouthing to the police, acting totally out of control, and was arrested for that and other things. The two elderly folks were fine other than having some difficult memories to accept. But, PG cannot draft ordinances to curtail vicious animals even having state laws to work from and paying the same solicitor to write one? Who then does it fall on that we lack a strong ordinance? Let's see, the mayor and council maybe? Nah, that couldn't be! They are always looking out for the people and the needs of the town, the safety of the town. Nuff said! ]]> Cumberland-Salem County Forums http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/13116-cp-police-officers-honored.html http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/13105-online-pittsgrove-township-board-eds-legal-services-invoices.html Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:12:28 GMT I submitted an OPRA request for invoices for legal services provided to the Pittsgrove Township (Salem County) Board of Education for a (roughly) three month period. I have placed those invoices, which span nearly fifty pages, on the Internet here.

Legal services invoices contain useful information for citizen activists who wish to monitor a public body and hold it accountable.

John Paff, Chair
New Jersey Libertarian Party's
Open Government Advocacy Project
Somerset, New Jersey ]]> Cumberland-Salem County Forums OpenGovt http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/13105-online-pittsgrove-township-board-eds-legal-services-invoices.html http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/13070-edumucated.html Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:05:27 GMT Ok I have to post this here. Maybe I am anal when it comes to grammar, punctuation and spelling but come on! How could anyone let her write that without first grammar and spell checking it? It just makes the whole situation more appalling. If the wifes' dialect is bad, you can imagine that her husbands' written and oral language is not any better. Sorry, I just had to say this. Show some American correctness. Below is the message that was on the OTHER forum.




This message is from Mrs. Washington.
I am responding to the lies about my husband and myself.

1.My husband did have warrents that he had no knowledge of the traffic tickets were from 1999 and This is 2010 he was not aware of them but when they surfaced they were taken care of they were transfered to a different county because of his position with the city of pennsgrove.

2.I Michelle Cox- Washington do not have any felony or warrents anywhere if you did your research then you would know that my name is hyphenated so i can not get confused with other people.

3. My husband is going to take his seat he is a kind and understanding person and does not do any harm to anyone all he does is try to help people and the community.

If (standforrights) is our cousin we probually helped you. so do not know why u would lie like that. what God has for him is for him no Devil can stop it.

4. we do not hide behind fake names

5. slientvoter what is the real reason you do not want to have my husband take his seat is it because you really do not want to help or change anything in Penns Grove?

One thing my husband or myself will not ever do is degrade or disrespect anyone regardless of their pastnor will we try to hurt anyone in any type of way that just not our character. My husband is a man of good character in his coummunity he lis loved by many and hated by few there is nothing bad anyone can say about him. He is also a God fearing Man and will not let nothing or no one still his joy.

If you want to know anything about The Washingtons Just call we can set up a meeting to answer any of your concerns and questions.

My husband has been getting several Threating phone calls and we would ask if they can be stopped Thanks ]]> Cumberland-Salem County Forums babies11 http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/13070-edumucated.html http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/13047-federal-agency-conduct-review-moshowon-leach-death.html Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:19:17 GMT Of course they're happy to see this drag on. Justice was served and they need to let it go, but refuse to. The rights of living in a peaceful community are being violated by this so called 'peace' group. They want to stir up racial tension and make the lives of the officers a living hell. It's a sad day for the community to have to live in a place where drug dealers are made into heros and the police are being made out to be the bad guys.

***********************************

Federal agency to conduct review into MoShowon Leach death | NJ.com

“We are really happy with the decision that was made to review the prosecutor’s investigation,” said Walter Hudson, founder of the Community Alliance Group. “As it was said before we will not stop until justice is served because we believe that MoShowon Leach’s civil rights were violated.”

The Penns Grove Community Alliance Group has conducted several protest marches throughout Salem County. The group marched in Penns Grove, Carneys Point, Pennsville, and Salem.

“Our main goal is to put pressure on the state and federal government to look deeply into this matter,” said Hudson. “We believe the prosecutor’s office failed to present all the evidence to the grand jury, causing the officers not to be indicted." ]]> Cumberland-Salem County Forums Icecat62 http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/13047-federal-agency-conduct-review-moshowon-leach-death.html http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12988-ya-just-has-wonder.html Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:17:10 GMT How this town has operated under such political ineptness for so long and there still be remnants of it still working!?

The best thing that has happened to Penns Grove in the 15 years I've been a taxpayer? Carneys Point taking over our street department! Yup, that's the first step forward in years.

Here we get a surprise DEP inspection and the storm water run off is an issue, duh! This is not new folks. The Scarpaci's and others have been trying to get our leadership to face this problem for years and have been blown off. Streets flooded, properties flooded, it was just ignored by Borough Hall. Those in residence there found other ways to throw away our tax dollars. Like the Riverwalk project that was going no where from the beginning, the second attempt at Riverwalk with a second developer that was going no where, the grand "promenade" that we lost hundreds of thousands of dollars on, may still be making payments on for all I know, which we need the developers permission to access. The Poland building which is probably going to fall down long before it's ever built up, the list goes on and on and on.

All the while, all that time and money was being thrown away while the infrastructure of the town was fast declining. A hundred year old storm system wasn't important enough to investigate, bring current, no matter the problems it created for property owners. Ineptness, ignorance, ruled. Nothing of real importance, the fair complaints by the people, was ever given any thought in Borough Hall. Kind of like the attitude was just shut up, pay your taxes, stop complaining, it's been like this for years and it's worked so let it be. Leadership, forward looking, responsible thinking, yeah boy!

What did our illustrious mayor have to say about the results of this DEP inspection? His famous catch phrase, "this just isn't right". He then went on to say that "the Borough would be in contact with Gene Gilbert (CP) to help with some of the more serious flooding problems". Hey mayor, how long has this problem been a major problem? Now since it made the paper and you got to make a quote or two, something is going to be done to address the issue? Only until the story goes away as with everything else.

I think that our mayor and council have backed themselves into a corner with this street department deal. I don't know Gene Gilbert from Adam, but, I don't think that he takes his responsibilities lightly. I think he is going to do his job as he and the laws he operates under are going to be taken seriously. I don't think he is going to welcome failed DEP inspections, fines, anything that is going to reflect on his department. I think that is very evident if you look at Carneys Point as a whole, how they do their job, how their equipment looks and operates, how the employees comport themselves. It's a different world from what PG has been saddled with. Carneys Point demonstrates leadership and management skills that PG misses completely.

Until now I have not been a fan of consolidating the towns, but, seeing the difference one department has made in a short time, I just think it's the only way to save any part of PG. If nothing else, it might restore the pride and dignity that has long departed our town. With one caveat however, That no sitting or former member of council can run for office in the consolidated town. A whole new start, no old baggage. We might lose the name Penns Grove, but, maybe we'll be able to regain a town and that's a goal worth working toward!

The uncovered salt pile that was leaching into the river? Mr Gilbert made a fix immediately. "Pride in progress" Thank you Carneys Point and Mr Gilbert. ]]> Cumberland-Salem County Forums http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12988-ya-just-has-wonder.html http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12954-bridgeton-board-education-members-financial-disclosure-statements-line.html Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:28:24 GMT I have placed the Financial Disclosure Statements filed in 2010 by Board President Angelia Edwards, Vice-President J. Curtis Edwards, Marie Bernstein, Brenda Dellaquilla, Kenny Smith-Bey Jr., Ronald Bowman, Mary Peterson and Willie Tukes on-line here (http://ogtf.lpcnj.org/2010229of//BridgetonBOEFDS.pdf). John Paff Somerset, New Jersey I have placed the Financial Disclosure Statements filed in 2010 by Board President Angelia Edwards, Vice-President J. Curtis Edwards, Marie Bernstein, Brenda Dellaquilla, Kenny Smith-Bey Jr., Ronald Bowman, Mary Peterson and Willie Tukes on-line here.

John Paff
Somerset, New Jersey ]]> Cumberland-Salem County Forums OpenGovt http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12954-bridgeton-board-education-members-financial-disclosure-statements-line.html http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12953-bridgeton-board-education-pays-54-900-attorney-fees-settle-first-amendment.html Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:12:20 GMT On May 19, 2010, the Bridgeton Board of Education (Cumberland County) and/or its insurer agreed to pay $54,900 toward the attorney's fees of a student (identified only as C.H.) who successfully sued the Board for violating her First Amendment rights.

On April 22, 2010, United States District Court Judge Robert B. Kugler found that the Board violated C.H.'s rights by denying her permission to 1) wear a black and red tape armband saying “Life,” 2) distribute anti-abortion flyers during non-instructional times, and 3) wear tape over her mouth during the school day as part of her participation in the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity.

The case is captioned C.H., a minor v. Bridgeton Board of Education, Federal Case No. 1:09-cv-05815 and C.H.'s attorneys were David A. Cortman of Lawrenceville, GA and Michael W. Kiernan of Marlton, NJ. The court's decision and settlement agreement are on-line here.

ABOUT ME AND WHY I'M POSTING THIS.

I chair the New Jersey Libertarian Party's Open Government Advocacy Project which seeks to increase governmental transparency and accountability, particularly at a local level. For more information on the Libertarian Party, go to New Jersey Libertarian Party.

As part of my work, I routinely check civil court cases where at least one of the parties is a government agency or official. Most often, these settlement agreements are never revealed to the public. I post them on the Libertarian Party's blog at NJ Civil Settlements and other public forums because I believe that civil settlements, regardless of amount, may be of interest to citizens and taxpayers.

John Paff
Somerset, New Jersey ]]> Cumberland-Salem County Forums OpenGovt http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12953-bridgeton-board-education-pays-54-900-attorney-fees-settle-first-amendment.html http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12952-bridgeton-board-ed-supervisor-sued-alleged-racist-sexually-harassing-comments.html Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:16:52 GMT I recently became aware of a lawsuit filed on September 2, 2008 by a former Bridgeton school guidance counselor against the Bridgeton Board of Education. In her suit, Combs v. Bridgeton Board of Education, Docket No. CUM-L-1069-08, Angela Combs accused her supervisor, Robert Cwik, of sexually harassing and racially discriminating against her. She also accuses school principal Lynn Williams of ignoring her complaints about Cwik's alleged conduct.

The exact nature of Cwik's alleged comments, which are very graphic and should not be viewed by those who are sensitive, are contained within paragraph 23 of Comb's complaint, which is on-line here.

According to Gannett's "DataUniverse" web site, Cwik and Williams received salaries of $86,537 and $123,346, respectively, from the Board of Education in 2009.

The pretrial discovery period will end in October 2010 and a trial notice will issue soon thereafter. I'll be checking on this case to see if it settles or whether it goes to trial and will keep readers informed.

At this point, the allegations against Cwik and Williams are just that--allegations. In their responses to the suit, both Cwik and Williams have denied the complaint's allegations. Readers, therefore, should not draw any inferences or conclusions based on these unproven allegations.

ABOUT ME AND WHY I'M POSTING THIS.

I chair the New Jersey Libertarian Party's Open Government Advocacy Project which seeks to increase governmental transparency and accountability, particularly at a local level. For more information on the Libertarian Party, go to New Jersey Libertarian Party.

As part of my work, I routinely check civil court cases where at least one of the parties is a government agency or official. I post them on the Libertarian Party's blog at NJ Civil Settlements and other public forums because I believe that civil cases are of interest to citizens and taxpayers.

John Paff
Somerset, New Jersey ]]> Cumberland-Salem County Forums OpenGovt http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12952-bridgeton-board-ed-supervisor-sued-alleged-racist-sexually-harassing-comments.html http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12947-wholesale-jerseys.html Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:20:16 GMT Dear friend ,we are a trading company deal with men’s clothes for many years .we mainly export nfl jerseys, nhl jerseys ,mlb jerseys.,you can visit our website above. Our jerseys were high quality replic.Name & player number are authentic stitched instead of screen print. Body constructed of 100% thick, high-quality Pro-Brite Polyester. Embroidered logos or Reebok patch on the collar,sizing tag applied to front lower bottom of jersey.
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Wholesale NFL Jersey,MLB Jersey,NHL Jersey,NBA Jersey,NCAA Jersey And Soccer Jersey From China Suppliers ]]> Cumberland-Salem County Forums Amy123 http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12947-wholesale-jerseys.html http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12928-then-there-were-six.html Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:37:46 GMT I really do not give a hoot in hell if this Carl Washington gets put on council now or in January should he win the election. Either way it's just not going to make a difference. Nothing does.

What tickles me is how council members can openly state that they don't know the things printed in the paper, things stated in a public forum in which they participated. Council members stating that they didn't know Carl Washington, through his spokesman john washington, stated that he would work without pay if given the vacant seat is whacked. Even Venello commented on it. Now one council member didn't know it?

This is the same council member that was quoted as saying, "I'm sick of playing the political games". Then goes on to say," we need someone who is going to do right by the people". That seems just a bit odd coming from someone deeply immersed in the political game playing. That from someone that is supporting the idea that there is an unfilled open seat on council that deprives the people of that voice, that vote! I learned a long time ago that it's far more beneficial if I watch what folks actually do over what they say! Just take the town for an example. What has the rhetoric been over the past 15 years? Where is the town after all that bs!? I can't see where 4 members of council have the right or ability to eliminate one of their voices or votes! To me, It's just pure politics, whoa, now there's an oxymoron, pure politics in PG!! Venello, who now seems to be the voice of council, states this is a cost cutting move! BULLSHIT! It's about supposed power, it's about politics! It damn sure is not about the people!

I wish I could enforce either of the following options. 1. Will the four council members resign immediately upon receiving notice of a lawsuit or any court involved action over leaving the King seat vacant? 2. Will the 4 council members act to take on the cost of any legal action filed over this vacant seat themselves instead of passing it on to the tax payer? You are talking cost containment here folks. How about the solicitor joining with you in that? Got a pretty good idea that I already know the answer to that! The people always suffer and pay for councils poor decisions.

How about this cost cutting move? Two retiring police officers will NOT be awarded retirement firearms! WTF? Council is once again blowing smoke up our arses! Venello said it himself, this was an equivalent savings move to the $1229.88 savings of having an empty council seat that robs the people. These folk's, are some seriously forceful savings for us. An actual savings to the taxpayers of $2459.76. WOW, politics in action. Hold on just a second. I seem to recall something I was told by a council member a year or two ago that might be appropriate here. A council member was outraged that an approval was given to purchase a PLATINUM, not gold, shield for the chief. Yes, I can name the member of council, in fact it may have been one currently sitting and one gone. But retiring officers being given an award after years of service are allowed nothing because it cuts costs?

We have this mayor pushing for Carl Washington to be seated. Just one point here, in recent memory two of the council members supported by the mayor and in his little block of votes, have walked out on their responsibilities to the process and to the people of our town, by quitting before their term ended. Not due to health reasons which we all could understand, but, for personality clashes or by just being a sore loser. The responsibility of the office had little if any meaning. So maybe, just maybe, we need to take a really close look at anyone the mayor supports for any job in this town. Just sayin! ]]> Cumberland-Salem County Forums http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12928-then-there-were-six.html http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12912-several-opma-issues-bridgeton-board-education.html Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:54:03 GMT I attended a meeting of the Bridgeton Board of Education (Cumberland County) on August 10, 2010 to address two concerns: a) executive session minutes that are not "reasonably comprehensible" and b) meeting agendas not being given to the public until the beginning of the meeting.

I arrived for the 6 p.m. meeting at 5:45 p.m. and found the building to be locked. I rang the bell and knocked on the door and in a few minutes a man came and pushed a latch to let me in, but he didn't unlock the doors for any other members of the public who might later arrive. This gave me an initial indication that openness and transparency were not among the Board's strong suits.

When I walked into the meeting room, I encountered the smell of food. I looked to my left and saw several people sitting in an adjoining room eating and conversing. I took a seat in the public area and waited. While waiting, someone from inside the adjoining room closed the door. After a few minutes, the Board members and some administrators emerged from the adjoining room and took their places on the dais. Since it was about six o'clock, someone unlocked the exterior door to allow other members of the public to enter.

The meeting was then formally called to order. At that time, the president asked for a short delay while one of the staff members duplicated the meeting agenda for the four members of the public (including me) who were present. We were each given copies of the meeting agenda and were invited to sign a list if we wished to address the Board. I signed up as did one other citizen.

I was called first to speak and I distributed some exhibits to the Board members. Among the exhibits was the Board's July 14, 2009 Executive Session minutes (see here) which is typical of the Board's executive session minutes. I noted that the Board summed up a private meeting that lasted nearly one and a half hours with the following sentence that appeared in the minutes: "The Board discussed matters of personnel." I opined that this single, general sentence did not meet the Open Public Meetings Act requirement that meeting minutes be "reasonably comprehensible." (See N.J.S.A. 10:4-14).

I next noted that the 30-page agenda that I had just been given ought to have been provided to the public at least a day or two prior to the meeting. I explained that it is difficult, if not impossible, for members of the public to present cogent comments and questions to the Board regarding agenda items when they don't have access to the agenda until literally seconds before the public comment period begins.

While I was speaking, I observed that the Board members didn't look at me or appear to be paying any attention to what I was saying.

I finally raised the issue of the Board's pre-meeting in the adjoining room and expressed my opinion that this gathering was disallowed by the Open Public Meetings Act. I then thanked the Board for their attention and asked them if they had any questions or responses. None of the Board members looked at me or paid any attention to me. So, after waiting at the podium for a few seconds, I returned to my seat.

The next speaker was called, and she stated that she was an employee who received a letter that she did not understand. One of the administrators told her it was Rice Notice. She then asked why her union representative wasn't present and the Board Attorney, A. Paul Kienzle, Jr., brusquely told her that her union representative's presence or absence wasn't the Board's concern. Board President Edwards asked her "Is that all?" and the woman shrugged and returned to her seat. The Board then moved to go into executive session and told the four members of the public to leave the room.

The following day, I filed a complaint against the Board, concerning the pre-meeting meals, with the Cumberland County Prosecutor and the New Jersey Department of Education. That complaint is on-line here.

I have rarely witnessed more cavalier and imperious public officials than the members of the Bridgeton Board of Education. I look forward to working with them to improve their compliance with both the letter and the spirit of the Open Public Meetings Act.

John Paff, Chair
New Jersey Libertarian Party's
Open Government Advocacy Project
Somerset, New Jersey ]]> Cumberland-Salem County Forums OpenGovt http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12912-several-opma-issues-bridgeton-board-education.html http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12861-special-pg-borough-council-meeting.html Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:13:00 GMT This Thursday night, August 12, 2010, at 7:30 pm in the courtroom, Council has called a special meeting for discussion and/or action to be taken as it pertains to the empty council seat vacated early by Tami King. This could be entertaining! More so than progressive probably!

I think some in attendance will probably need knee protectors, others probably boxing gloves and head gear. Decorum probably won't be recognized and may be actually prohibited at the door.

Council certainly avoided giving advance notice on this. Oh well, it's Penns Grove! Decision has probably already been made already. ]]> Cumberland-Salem County Forums http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12861-special-pg-borough-council-meeting.html http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12845-clean-rats-out-drpa.html Sun, 08 Aug 2010 20:11:36 GMT Clean the rats' nest out of DRPA | APP.com | Asbury Park Press ]]> Cumberland-Salem County Forums stevek http://www.pennjersey.info/forums/cumberland-salem-county-forums/12845-clean-rats-out-drpa.html