Three weeks ago, the Hammonton Democratic Party called on Mayor and Town Council to restore the Municipal Utilities Authority Commission (MUAC). We feel that this is necessary to restore Citizen Oversight of a major component of our infrastructure. Mayor DiDonatos elimination of the MUAC has led us to question if this was a good management decision.
Under MUAC, citizens were appointed by Mayor and Council. Since MUAC included appointees from previous administrations, there existed a variety of opinions and historical continuity. Citizens could have rest assured that decisions on multi-million dollar projects were deliberated properly.
Unfortunately, Mr. DiDonato has placed the water and sewer under his personal control. The Mayor appoints the Chairperson of the Council Committee that manages the Water and Sewer Departments. The Mayors political party, the Hammonton First Party, currently hold the chairmanship.
Thus, there is no check on the Mayor. Should the heads of the water or sewer departments ever disagree with Mr. DiDonato or any future Mayor, they will have no way of letting their opinions be taken seriously. This is an especially dangerous situation. The Water and Sewer Departments oversee millions of dollars worth of infrastructure and their policies effect the long-term growth of the town.
We hope that the Hammonton First Party understands our position. A nonpartisan committee of individuals with qualifications that would provide meaningful and productive discussions is essential to ensure the proper maintenance and expansion of our Towns infrastructure. Too many tax dollars are involved here to leave these decisions to a small group of politically motivated individuals.
The MUAC was abolished because HF said it was redundant. Jimmy Bertino said it best that he was against the abolishment because he thought an additional review committee was positive. He was ignored.
HF's position confusted me a little. It is okay to have a green committee that does the same thing as the environmental commission. It is okay to have the financial oversight committee that does the same thing as the Council Finance committee. We have the commerce committee and the Mayor's Economic Advocate.
Just another example of Mayor DiDonato's inconsistent management. Maybe we can have some serious discussion.
If you call three years of no taxes and lower debt inconsistent. then you are a . muac was a joke in the past that's why it's gone. oh let's bring them back so then can get cell phones and health ins.
Don't make absurd and ridiculous statements to try and back up your stand on the issue. MUAC is a volunteer committee who would not be eligible for any benefits. MUAC was not a joke in the past, it was a vital part of the expansion of our Town's infrastructure. It was a valuable board made up of a variety of people with the best interests of this town at heart. Under MUAC, citizens were appointed by Mayor and Council. Since MUAC included appointees from previous administrations, there existed a variety of opinions and historical continuity. Citizens could have rest assured that decisions on multi-million dollar projects were deliberated properly. Unfortunately, Mr. DiDonato has placed the water and sewer under his personal control. The Mayor appoints the Chairperson of the Council Committee that manages the Water and Sewer Departments. And lying doesn't present your case very well either. You have already admitted that the debt went up this past year, yet you now deny it in this statement. And three years of no tax increases are good, but not the way HF did it. Three years of no tax increases your way will coat the taxpayers 30 years of payments.
MUAC should return, it only makes sense since HF has a committee for everything. The problem with having it now it doesn't fit their plan of controlling everything. So MUAC should return but Jerry Vitalo should NOT.
It looks like Bertino decided he doesn't want Vitalo and Marino on the ticket with him. He probably wan't thrilled with Vitalo calling for MUAC either.
Previous poster, you should not assume Jimmie Bertino is against MUAC. No one can speak for him. However, in the Town Council meeting that voted to abolish MUAC, he stated that he wanted to go on record with his opposition. He mentioned how a second set of eyes was beneficial.
A Democrat would have brought MUAC back to vote on Town Council on Day 1. It's taken the Republicans 400+ days and from what I can tell it might not be brought up until March. The top priority for the Repubicans is a ROCK.
