The three entities involved in the recent proposal to bring a Stockton satellite campus to Hammonton are working to hold a joint meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to inform the public and the members of these three groups of the proposal. An email was sent to the Board of Education from Mayor DiDonato trying to set aside 1 hour at the beginning of the next council meeting on July 28th, however most of the BOE members could not attend that evening. Several people including Brian Howell and BOE President Loretta Rehmann are now working on alternative dates to hold this public meeting. Once a date has been set, there will be advertisemnts in the papers and we will post the information on our website. It is important that anyone with questions about this idea attend this meeting. Many questions remain, especially the ones concerning the funding needed to make this project happen. In all of the reports concerning this project and even the petition signed by many residents are without any information as to the funding. There has been one report stating that the School district will be required to put money into this project, which raises many concerns because of the financial troubles the district has endured ever since Gov. McGreevey stopped following State funding laws. A college campus in Hammonton is an excellent idea, but many questions still remain and this public meeting is an important and necessary step in this process.
The nice thing is that the school now has a surplus now that Waterford is paying their fair share of tuition. The chairperson of the School's Finance Committee stated at the last School Board meeting that he is willing to meet with Stockton any day at all up to the September 1st deadline that Loretta Rehmann set. It would be nice if other Board members can find a day to meet. Or maybe they are just trying to kill the deal without any information going to the public?
It is a shame that the Finance Committee chairman you speak of isn't offering any more information on the funding of this project than the rest of HF. The proposal costs the Hammonton taxpayers millions of dollars and Stockton NOTHING. But he appears to be the one hiding that information from the public.
The stockton deal will cost the taxpayers millions. The school will be on the hook for over 2.5 million and council another 10 million. What is Stockton going to bring?Why has Stockton bonded 48 million in 2006 for a sports complex? Why do the good people of Hammonton have to pay? what exactly is in it for them? Why haven't we been told the truth? Why don't the newspapers talk about the cost? Its just like the town hall. Sewer backing up, water leaking, roof is leaking, but we don't hear about any of that.And if your a town employee and you say something your job is could be on the line. Its' all good.
The simple question is How Much is this going to Cost the Taxpayer. If the Answer is 0 cents, then Stockton, YES. If the answer is greater than 1 cent than NO, NO, NO. It's that Simple.
Why is the school board afraid to come to the open public meeting the Mayor scheduled with Stockton? The Mayor is using open government to inform everyone. The next council meeting on July 28th with Stockton will be very interesting. The school board wass invited. Why do they not want to attend?
Why is the school board afraid to come to the open public meeting the Mayor scheduled with Stockton? The Mayor is using open government to inform everyone. The next council meeting on July 28th with Stockton will be very interesting. The school board wass invited. Why do they not want to attend?
Why all the rush to have taxpayers foot Stockton's Bill? If the question of whether the mayor and council will have the taxpayers pay for Stockton to come is not made public now then why bother sitting with Stockton at all if it will cost the taxpayers money. The construction of Town Hall has hurt our town with all the scandals associated with its current location and problems. Let's not jump to over burden the taxpayer with another project that'll cost us.
The reason Stockton wants to rush to get this deal done... they want signatures on the contract before anyone in Hammonton wakes up and realizes how much it's going to cost us.
Why is the school board afraid to come to the open public meeting the Mayor scheduled with Stockton? The Mayor is using open government to inform everyone. The next council meeting on July 28th with Stockton will be very interesting. The school board wass invited. Why do they not want to attend?
It is strange that everyone wants to bash the mayor, Hammonton First and Stockton without letting them meet in public. The mayor is setting up a public meeting for the next town council session.
Why are the school board members refusing to go? Are they afraid to let the public know the truth?
I attended the BOE meeting on Thursday night and I can tell you that there is not a single Board member who is refusing to go. They want to attend and hear the unspoken parts of this plan as much as we do. However, on such short notice it is tough to get people together. Too many Board members had other commitments they could not break for that night. For your information, there are enough Board members available on the 29th, the very next night. But we will have to see if Stockton and Council are available. Loretta Rehman and Brian Howell are working on coming up with a night that is good for all three parties.
It's nice to see the Mayor inviting Stockton to a meeting. Open Government is something the school should try more often rather than discuss so much in closed session.
It's nice to see the Mayor inviting Stockton to a meeting. Open Government is something the school should try more often rather than discuss so much in closed session.
They better answer right off the bat if taxpayers have to foot the bill or else the meeting is worthless since taxpayers have had it with multimillion dollar projects. If it costs us nothing then fine, let Stockton come. Let Rowan come, Let ACCC come. Whoever.
It's nice to see the Mayor inviting Stockton to a meeting. Open Government is something the school should try more often rather than discuss so much in closed session.
Didn't they already have closed session meetings on this. It's been weeks now. What's so open about a meeting in public weeks later when the main question of whether or not this is going to cost the taxpayers money isn't being answered by No One Republican or Firster.
It's nice to see the Mayor inviting Stockton to a meeting. Open Government is something the school should try more often rather than discuss so much in closed session.
Again, I attended the Board of Education meeting last Thursday and this was discussed openly in the public session. Now the three sides just need to come up with a mutual date that all entities can attend so that we can all get the answers we need.
The Republican Campaign Manager's blog is saying that they were able to put the brakes on Stockton coming to Hammonton. Jimmy Bertino chairs to education committee. The school voted against Stockton before they even met with them.
The School Board has not voted against Stockton, they voted to continue the process, meet with Stockton, but not charge the taxpayers for bringing Stockton to Hammonton. They followed the same thoughts that we, the Hammonton Democrats , put out in our statement. See what we said below.
The Hammonton Democratic Club has issued its position on the question of Stockton coming to Hammonton. Sam Mento, President of the Hammonton Democrats, stated,
The Hammonton Democrats take their role of recommending policy to local government seriously. The issue of bringing Stockton to Hammonton offers great opportunity but also raises questions. Our Board of Education displayed great wisdom in choosing to move carefully and deliberately on this issue. After carefully listening to the debate of bringing Stockton College to Hammonton, the Hammonton Democrats strongly endorse the idea of having Stockton come to Hammonton but use pre-existing Hammonton school facilities rather than use taxpayer dollars to purchase or construct a new facility. Our recommendation allows for teachers, students and the community to utilize everything Stockton can offer without the cost of building new facilities.
Town Council Candidate Michael Perrotta explained, The idea of bringing Stockton is a great idea. The addition of an institution of higher learning benefits everyone. A strong education is the key to being competitive in the 21st century global economy. On a more practical and immediate level, individuals wishing to take college classes will not have to drive very far.
Candidate Jim MacLane agreed. MacLane said, Mike is right. Higher education is the key to reaching the Promise of the Future. However, as with any good idea, we must implement it with the taxpayers in mind. Therefore, the Hammonton Democrats feel that Stockton should use already existing educational facilities such as the High School or the Middle School rather than Hammonton paying to purchase a new site. Our compromise would provide a convenient solution without having the taxpayers of Hammonton spend millions of dollars on a new structure.
Council Candidate Anthony Falcone added, We have just opened the Town Hall. I would be reluctant to start another major taxpayer-sponsored construction project now especially when there are other options to explore. The compromise that we are recommending represents a win-win solution for teachers, students and the taxpayer.
If any citizen has an opinion on the Democrats Stockton Compromise or any other issue, email it to the Hammonton Democrats at info@hammontondems.org or come to Democratic Club Meeting. The Hammonton Democrats meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm at the Hammonton Library.
The Dems and Reps are leading the charge to keep Stockton out of Hammonton.
HF is leading the charge of making Hammonton Taxpayers foot the total bill for Stockton to come in. NO NEW TAXES please, it doesn't matter if your Democrat, Republican or a Firster. Who in their right mind wants New Taxes, let me guess.... Certain Property owners downtown.
Of course! If making the taxpayers foot the bill for Stockton to come to the downtown will increase the value of the properties they own downtown, then they are all for it. They don't care who gets hurt in the process. The big losers are the Senior citizens on fixed incomes, but as long as they get a free meal and some free vegetables, they will fall for their lies again.
