In 1998 Bernardsville voters approved an Open Space Trust Fund. In 2008 voters approved a referendum allowing the use of 20% of the fund for the development of open space properties. [Hillsborough voters, does this sound familiar so far?]
Before the Bernardsville referendum a recreation study showed a need for more playing fields. [Wait...you mean they did the needs study first? What a concept!] But, stuff happens; Hurricane Sandy's cleanup cost money and their Board of Education proposed building an artificial field on borough-owned property.
In November, 2012, Bernardsville voters decisively defeated a plan to pay for a $1.2-to-$1.4-million artificial field with 66% voting no. Unfortunately a non-binding referendum.
Undeterred, the council is now proposing a November, 2013, referendum to decide whether to pay for the new artificial field with Open Space monies or a 10-year bond. Yes, they are going ahead anyway.
It may be worthwhile for Hillsborough residents to watch what is happening just up the road in the northern end of Somerset County.
**
June 29, 2012 - New Jersey Hills Newspaper:
http://newjerseyhills.com/bernardsville_news/news/bernardsville-turf-vote-eyed/article_218bc4ec-c13e-11e1-95d2-001a4bcf887a.html
March 15, 2013 - NJ Hills Newspaper:
http://newjerseyhills.com/bernardsville_news/news/new-field-turf-vote-possible-in-bernardsville/article_2352f174-8c59-11e2-9a85-001a4bcf887a.html
June 7, 2013 - NJ Hills Newspaper:
http://newjerseyhills.com/bernardsville_news/news/decision-on-field-turf-question-draws-near-in-bernardsville/article_0329b77e-ce59-11e2-b985-001a4bcf887a.html
July 10, 2013 - NJ.com:
http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2013/07/bernardsville_leaders_wants_artificial_turf_at_upper_polo_grounds_one_way_or_the_other.html
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Ordinance 2013-17: Plan Ahead???
It has been proposed that Hillsborough's voters decide whether 20% of the Open Space Trust Fund be used for something other than the purchase of Open Space.
The proposed ordinance generalizes that the 20% is "...to be utilized for the the development and, or improvement of park and recreation facilities that are located on property within the open space and park inventory for recreation, conservation and general open space purposes."
What exactly do they want to do and where do they want to do it?
On May 3rd Committeeman Carl Suraci made a presentation to the Open Space Advisory Committee which included vague suggestions about ball fields, active and passive recreation, and synthetic fields. He couldn't exactly state what those needs were, but reassured those present that they would do a needs assessment later.
The township news release that was supposed to explain the proposal to divert 20% from Open Space purchases states, "If the ordinance is passed [on July 23rd] at a public hearing, the Township Committee will also consider a resolution calling for a study to conduct a thorough analysis of the passive and active recreational needs for Hillsborough Township. The resulting report will provide guidance to prioritizing any improvements."
This proposed ordinance is too general and has too much latitude for unknown persons to make unspecified spending decisions.
Why should a critical use such as purchasing currently available open space suffer for some unidentified and apparently unexplainable recreation use?
Is it that Parks and Recreation needs more money? Then make that an issue on next year's budget, don't play a shell game where the taxpayer has to guess which shell to choose.
This would be a good time for the Township Committee to graciously withdraw proposed Ordinance 2013-17, figure out what exactly is needed and where and how much it cost.
Then, next year, explain specifically what is being proposed, why it is more important than purchasing open space while it is available, and ask the voters what they want to do.
**
"Act in haste, repent at leisure." - various
"Unreasonable haste is the direct road to error." - Moliere
"What do we tell our children? Haste makes waste. Look before you leap. Stop and think. Don't judge a book by its cover. We believe that we are always better off gathering as much information as possible and spending as much time as possible in deliberation." - Malcolm Gladwell
The proposed ordinance generalizes that the 20% is "...to be utilized for the the development and, or improvement of park and recreation facilities that are located on property within the open space and park inventory for recreation, conservation and general open space purposes."
What exactly do they want to do and where do they want to do it?
On May 3rd Committeeman Carl Suraci made a presentation to the Open Space Advisory Committee which included vague suggestions about ball fields, active and passive recreation, and synthetic fields. He couldn't exactly state what those needs were, but reassured those present that they would do a needs assessment later.
The township news release that was supposed to explain the proposal to divert 20% from Open Space purchases states, "If the ordinance is passed [on July 23rd] at a public hearing, the Township Committee will also consider a resolution calling for a study to conduct a thorough analysis of the passive and active recreational needs for Hillsborough Township. The resulting report will provide guidance to prioritizing any improvements."
This proposed ordinance is too general and has too much latitude for unknown persons to make unspecified spending decisions.
Why should a critical use such as purchasing currently available open space suffer for some unidentified and apparently unexplainable recreation use?
Is it that Parks and Recreation needs more money? Then make that an issue on next year's budget, don't play a shell game where the taxpayer has to guess which shell to choose.
This would be a good time for the Township Committee to graciously withdraw proposed Ordinance 2013-17, figure out what exactly is needed and where and how much it cost.
Then, next year, explain specifically what is being proposed, why it is more important than purchasing open space while it is available, and ask the voters what they want to do.
**
"Act in haste, repent at leisure." - various
"Unreasonable haste is the direct road to error." - Moliere
"What do we tell our children? Haste makes waste. Look before you leap. Stop and think. Don't judge a book by its cover. We believe that we are always better off gathering as much information as possible and spending as much time as possible in deliberation." - Malcolm Gladwell
Monday, July 15, 2013
Open Space Confusion?
Hillsborough's press release regarding Proposed Ordinance 2013-17 headlined Open Space Fund Expanded Use Proposal contained this surprising statement:
Research produced an October 2011 report, Preserved Lands in Hillsborough Township showing "Percent of Land Preserved 30.19%" with a breakout of the numbers.
It is this breakout that explains the confusion.
The report's 30.19% - a total of 10,411 acres - includes such properties as lots owned by NJ DEP/DOT, the Hillsborough section of the Somerset County Sourland Preserve, preserved farmland, Duke Farms wetland easements, and private conservation easements. Would Hillsbrough have the right to develop State-owned, county-owned or privately owned land?
Finally there is Preserved Open Space - Hillsborough 1,679 acres.
Interesting. 1,679 acres is 4.8% of Hillsborough's 35,008 acres, not 30.19%, and Open Space is not the same as preserved land.
**
Song of the Day: Ball of Confusion by The Temptations (1970)...
Ball of Confusion 1970 by Tushratta
“Over 30% of Hillsborough Township is preserved from development in open space and this ordinance would permit a ballot question to be placed on the upcoming November 5, 2013 General Election, allowing the voters of Hillsborough to weigh in on whether or not the use of funds from the Open Space Fund can be expanded for additional uses,” stated Mayor Frank DelCore during his comments upon introducing the ordinance.Intuitively this 30% number seemed, well, just wrong.
Research produced an October 2011 report, Preserved Lands in Hillsborough Township showing "Percent of Land Preserved 30.19%" with a breakout of the numbers.
It is this breakout that explains the confusion.
The report's 30.19% - a total of 10,411 acres - includes such properties as lots owned by NJ DEP/DOT, the Hillsborough section of the Somerset County Sourland Preserve, preserved farmland, Duke Farms wetland easements, and private conservation easements. Would Hillsbrough have the right to develop State-owned, county-owned or privately owned land?
Finally there is Preserved Open Space - Hillsborough 1,679 acres.
Interesting. 1,679 acres is 4.8% of Hillsborough's 35,008 acres, not 30.19%, and Open Space is not the same as preserved land.
**
Song of the Day: Ball of Confusion by The Temptations (1970)...
Ball of Confusion 1970 by Tushratta
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Dedicated to Open Space
The HNJJ crew is not generally terribly religious, but the Christian hymn This Is My Father's World has been on our minds this week. So for this Sunday...
Friday, July 12, 2013
Pay Attention: Open Space Funds Diversion
The Hillsborough Township Committee is considering Ordinance 2013-17:
It sounds like a good thing, doesn't it?
**
"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got 'til it's gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot..."
- "Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell.
“SHALL THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF HILLSBOROUGH MODIFY AND EXPAND THE USES AND PURPOSES OF THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND TO ALLOW FOR NOT MORE THAN 20% OF THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND TAX COLLECTED IN ANY ONE YEAR TO BE UTILIZED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND, OR IMPROVEMENT OF PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES THAT ARE LOCATED ON PROPERTY WITHIN THE OPEN SPACE AND PARK INVENTORY FOR RECREATION, CONSERVATION AND GENERAL OPEN SPACE PURPOSES?”It sounds pretty harmless, doesn't it?
It sounds like a good thing, doesn't it?
**
"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got 'til it's gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot..."
- "Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell.
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