HAMMONTON BLOG

Governor Corzine announced this morning that he is cutting the aid to municipalities. It was used for items like the police budget. Are the Democrats going against property tax relief and against public safety in Trenton?

An Open Letter to Republicans,

You didnt' pass the ordinance, but you showed your convictions.  You showed where you stand, which is on the side of the taxpayers.  You may be feeling defeated, but you actually won a battle.  A battle to show this town who will stick up for them.  We the residents see what you are doing, and we will stand behind you.

The following song should be your campaign theme.  It's from a band named Spoon. The song is "The Underdog."  Here's the video, followed by the lyrics.  Every time I hear this song, I think of Hammonton.  You three are The Underdogs

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LenPKPqvdJA

Picture yourself in the living room
your pipe and slippers set out for you
I know you think that it ain't too far

But I hear the call of a lifetime ring
felt the need to get up for it
oh you cut out the middleman
get free from the middleman

You got no time for the messenger,
got no regard for the thing that you don't understand,
you got no fear of the underdog,
that's why you will not survive!

I want to forget how conviction fits
but can I get out from under it?
Can I gut it out of me?
It can't all be wedding cake
It can't all be boiled away
I try but I can't let go of it
Can't let go of it,

Cause you don't talk to the water boy
and there's so much you could learn but you don't want to know,
You will not back up an inch ever,
that's why you will not survive,

The thing that I tell you now
It may not go over well
And it may not be photo-op
in the way that I spell it out

But you won't hear from the messenger,
don't wanna know bout something that you don't understand,
You got no fear of the underdog,
that's why you will not survive! (Hey!)

MUAC was created to eliminate the paid positions you speak about. No member of any committee or commission receives any pay or benefits. Only the secretary receives a $100 stipend.MUAC is just like any other committee serving the Town. A group of dedicated volunteers with some area of knowledge or expertise to assist the Mayor and Council in making the vital decisions for our Town.

The past Water Commission did get benefits or health buyouts. That is also true for Bertino, Marino and Vitalo until the 2nd reading of the ordinance outlawing that is voted on next month. MUAC would also cost the taxpayers money.

1. $1200 per year for a secretary.
2. There would be additional work for the town engineer to attend the meetings. That isn't free.
3. Would the water department head be paid to attend the meetings or would he have to be given comp time to take extra days off from work? Either way that costs the taxpayers.
4. Would the sewer department head be paid to attend the meetings or would he get comp time to take extra days off from work? Either way that costs the taxpayers.
5. Would the highway department head be paid to attend the meetings or would he get comp time to take extra days off from work? Either way that costs the taxpayers.

Anonymous wrote:

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The past Water Commission did get benefits or health buyouts. That is also true for Bertino, Marino and Vitalo until the 2nd reading of the ordinance outlawing that is voted on next month. MUAC would also cost the taxpayers money.

1. $1200 per year for a secretary.
2. There would be additional work for the town engineer to attend the meetings. That isn't free.
3. Would the water department head be paid to attend the meetings or would he have to be given comp time to take extra days off from work? Either way that costs the taxpayers.
4. Would the sewer department head be paid to attend the meetings or would he get comp time to take extra days off from work? Either way that costs the taxpayers.
5. Would the highway department head be paid to attend the meetings or would he get comp time to take extra days off from work? Either way that costs the taxpayers.

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of course engineer charges for their time nobody works for free. also are dems demanding that dept heads will do overtime for free also? taxpayers like no tax increase this year

Admin wrote:

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Everyone likes no tax increase.
No we aren't asking them to work for free, but it doesn't cost any money to work from 7-9pm instead of 7-9am.

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why are you even trying to clarify anything with these people? they clearing work only from their mantra. end of story.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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The past Water Commission did get benefits or health buyouts. That is also true for Bertino, Marino and Vitalo until the 2nd reading of the ordinance outlawing that is voted on next month. MUAC would also cost the taxpayers money.

1. $1200 per year for a secretary.
2. There would be additional work for the town engineer to attend the meetings. That isn't free.
3. Would the water department head be paid to attend the meetings or would he have to be given comp time to take extra days off from work? Either way that costs the taxpayers.
4. Would the sewer department head be paid to attend the meetings or would he get comp time to take extra days off from work? Either way that costs the taxpayers.
5. Would the highway department head be paid to attend the meetings or would he get comp time to take extra days off from work? Either way that costs the taxpayers.

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of course engineer charges for their time nobody works for free. also are dems demanding that dept heads will do overtime for free also? taxpayers like no tax increase this year

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Projects are getting done and debt is going down. What specifically did Jimmy Bertino say was the problem being fixed? Nothing.
Yes, the engineer will charge for his time.
Yes, the taxpayers have to pay for that.
Yes, the three department heads will loose time during normal business hours because of this.
Yes, the same people saying the town needs this will say we don't have enough people to do the work we already have... just watch on this series of posts.
What is the big deal? What was so important about this committee when Republican Club President Frank DiMatteo was on it?

Why are you so afraid of having a few extra eyes to look at and oversee our Town's infrastructure.

What are you hiding??????

Admin wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Projects are getting done and debt is going down. What specifically did Jimmy Bertino say was the problem being fixed? Nothing.
Yes, the engineer will charge for his time.
Yes, the taxpayers have to pay for that.
Yes, the three department heads will loose time during normal business hours because of this.
Yes, the same people saying the town needs this will say we don't have enough people to do the work we already have... just watch on this series of posts.
What is the big deal? What was so important about this committee when Republican Club President Frank DiMatteo was on it?

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No, the engineer will not charge for his time. I have checked with the Town and attending these meetings is included in the annual contract. There is no additional charge for attending these meetings. No extra cost to the taxpayers.
The only expense is $100 a meeting for a secretary.
Well worth the investment to have a few more eyes oversee what is going on.

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Is that the same guy who made the $6M mistake with the debt? There is no MUAC now so how can that be listed in the contract? Of course it isn't. Also, what about the time of the three department heads that have to go to the meetings. Are you saying that all three of them have nothing to do for their regular work? Whatever time they spend at the meeting will be time the don't spend during the day providing services.

Projects are getting done and debt is going down. What specifically did Jimmy Bertino say was the problem being fixed? Nothing.
Yes, the engineer will charge for his time.
Yes, the taxpayers have to pay for that.
Yes, the three department heads will loose time during normal business hours because of this.
Yes, the same people saying the town needs this will say we don't have enough people to do the work we already have... just watch on this series of posts.
What is the big deal? What was so important about this committee when Republican Club President Frank DiMatteo was on it?


I think it is so telling, how hard some people are working to avoid taxpayer oversight of what the Mayor said was "the largest portion of the town's debt and spending." So by his own admission, water and sewer spends more of the town's taxes than any other area, but he's adament against oversight and advice.

Let's all laugh and mock the stooge on this board who tries to fool the public with his simpleton backwards logic: "It will cost 1200 dollars a year to have oversight of $25 million in projects!" What he wants us to believe is 1200 dollars is too much money to spend to ensure 25 million dollars of taxpayer money is spent in the best manner possible.

But then again, let's remember, this is a Mayor who put his one brother in charge of the budget, and his other brother on the Planning Board(the planning decides what construction projects will go through, and the Mayor's brother is the biggest land developer in town).

Noone believes what this idiot writes. He probably sits around all day counting his money, wishing he could somehow convert his profits into friendships. The rest of us know it doesn't work that way.

-- Edited by Admin at 17:05, 2008-02-27

Anonymous wrote:

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Admin wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Projects are getting done and debt is going down. What specifically did Jimmy Bertino say was the problem being fixed? Nothing.
Yes, the engineer will charge for his time.
Yes, the taxpayers have to pay for that.
Yes, the three department heads will loose time during normal business hours because of this.
Yes, the same people saying the town needs this will say we don't have enough people to do the work we already have... just watch on this series of posts.
What is the big deal? What was so important about this committee when Republican Club President Frank DiMatteo was on it?

---

No, the engineer will not charge for his time. I have checked with the Town and attending these meetings is included in the annual contract. There is no additional charge for attending these meetings. No extra cost to the taxpayers.
The only expense is $100 a meeting for a secretary.
Well worth the investment to have a few more eyes oversee what is going on.

---

Is that the same guy who made the $6M mistake with the debt? There is no MUAC now so how can that be listed in the contract? Of course it isn't. Also, what about the time of the three department heads that have to go to the meetings. Are you saying that all three of them have nothing to do for their regular work? Whatever time they spend at the meeting will be time the don't spend during the day providing services.

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Why can't Bertino, Marino and Vitalo do this as part of their regular council duties? Do they feel they aren't getting paid enough?

Anonymous wrote:

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Why are you so afraid of having a few extra eyes to look at and oversee our Town's infrastructure.

What are you hiding??????

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HF has a lot to hide.  They don't even want to make public their campaign finance reports. That to me means they have a A LOT TO HIDE.

 

Anonymous wrote:

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While people are debating about Frank DiMatteo, ask yourselves this question:

How much money has the DiDonato family made in construction projects around town?
Does it benefit the DiDonato family to have Steve DiDonato sitting in the mayor's seat on the Planning Board?
Does it benefit the DiDonato family to have no oversight of water and sewer projects in town, especially if construction on large residential projects can't occur without water and sewer?


Now, are you still wondering why Hammonton First council members voted against MUAC?

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all wrong yet again.  yes the town engineer will ask for a increase to attend these meetings next year .   you do not need water to have a new project.  why can't all of the m and c handle the muac.  who was on the board of the last muac?  name one thing that has been screwed up as a result of not having muac.  Just one thing Please.  Again no facts justs lies.  Christ and then you wonder why you loose.

Why is Hammonton First so afraid of anyone being able to see what they are doing at the Water & Sewer committee??????

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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While people are debating about Frank DiMatteo, ask yourselves this question:

How much money has the DiDonato family made in construction projects around town?
Does it benefit the DiDonato family to have Steve DiDonato sitting in the mayor's seat on the Planning Board?
Does it benefit the DiDonato family to have no oversight of water and sewer projects in town, especially if construction on large residential projects can't occur without water and sewer?


Now, are you still wondering why Hammonton First council members voted against MUAC?

---

all wrong yet again.  yes the town engineer will ask for a increase to attend these meetings next year .   you do not need water to have a new project.  why can't all of the m and c handle the muac.  who was on the board of the last muac?  name one thing that has been screwed up as a result of not having muac.  Just one thing Please.  Again no facts justs lies.  Christ and then you wonder why you loose.

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why won't anyone list who the last muac board?
name exactly one specific project muac accomplished the could not be done by jimmy bertino sitting on the water and sewer committee

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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While people are debating about Frank DiMatteo, ask yourselves this question:

How much money has the DiDonato family made in construction projects around town?
Does it benefit the DiDonato family to have Steve DiDonato sitting in the mayor's seat on the Planning Board?
Does it benefit the DiDonato family to have no oversight of water and sewer projects in town, especially if construction on large residential projects can't occur without water and sewer?


Now, are you still wondering why Hammonton First council members voted against MUAC?

---

all wrong yet again. yes the town engineer will ask for a increase to attend these meetings next year . you do not need water to have a new project. why can't all of the m and c handle the muac. who was on the board of the last muac? name one thing that has been screwed up as a result of not having muac. Just one thing Please. Again no facts justs lies. Christ and then you wonder why you loose.

 

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You should wonder why you lose too.  You party lies so much and has so much to hide that they won't disclose their campaign finance reports because even that report would be a big lie.  HF is not infallible, they've been proven wrong.

 

It has been confirmed with both the Town and ARH that the contract between the Town and ARH includes attendance at the commission meetings. There would be no charge for ARH to attend these meetings.

-- Edited by Admin at 09:42, 2008-02-29

No, this information came from the Town Clerk and Finance Dept. I do not have a copy of the contract. I trust these Town officials, which apparently you don't.

This is one of the things that amaze me. He feels it's important to get advice and assistance with the budget but totally dismisses the notion that any help is necessary regarding the Town's infrastructure. I think both committees are good ideas. But he is being very hypocritical.

Anonymous wrote:

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It's all good! I really like the bill not going up anymore. Even the governor of the state has realized he needs to cut spending.

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I guess you're the type of person who likes to charge your bills on credit cards and just like to roll it over to another credit card each time.  The bill will have to paid in full eventually.  We need to pay down our debt AND control spending.  So far we've seen increased costs in the town hall construction and that same time dipping into water and sewer surplus for other stuff. 

I really like the way the budgets are done now. No tax increases. School Business Administrator Barbara Prettyman and Finance Chairperson Steve DiDonato delivered another zero at the school. HF already promised zero at the town. It's a lot better than the old days of constant tax increases. It's not all good.... it's all GREAT!

4 million more for the school budget...39 million to 43 million. It sounds like Hammonton is doing the math like the State of New Jersey. Only in NJ can you increase a budget by 4 million and say look WOW no tax increase.

Who runs the math departments in the NJ Schools? It must be the New Math being taught to our students?

What a mess locally and in New Jersey.