Consent Agenda:

• Approval of the minutes-October 2, 2006 regular meeting
• Approval of the minutes-October 2, 2006 ES mtg.-not released to the public
• Res. #202-06 Return Overpaid 3rd Qtr. Taxes - B1601/L8
• Banner Request West Morris HS Drama-Fall Play-October 23-30, 2006
• Boozer at St. Joseph's Church

Library Budget: Representatives of the Public/Private library provided the council with a "why we need more money" presentation. Of course the council members were provided with budget documentation town administration did not provide me in spite of my Open Public Records Act request for the documentation.... your secret government in action.

There was lots of talk about the "great things" they're doing in providing a fabulous return on investment. "Fun things" like sing-alongs, eat-and-read groups, Bridge, knitting, and yoga were listed as examples.

The Library is requesting that the town financing be increased to $200,000 per year. It was argued that this increase is necessary to help the library prevent having to further deplete a $900,000 equity account used to produce income to help finance library operations. If accepted by the council, the new budget figure will mean the average taxpayer will be required to pay some $120 per year for local library services. Personally, I think an investment of $120 per year, per taxpayer, in local Internet infrastructure would be a much more cost-effective investment.

School Parking: There was again discussion of Franklin Road parking, and neighborhood problems caused by the hemorrhage of high school activities beyond the school property. A resolution was passed establishing one side of the street parking on Franklin Road.

Business Association: There was some discussion related to a Business Association proposal to sponsor some sort of "fall family fun festival". The council was generally supportive but suggested that, in future, logistics and arrangements should be made months previous to the event. ... apparently if you see some balloons in front of a local merchant shop "you can get your face decorated".... considering the principles and politics of the average resident and this town, the Business Association better stock up on Hitler moustaches.

Wastewater reports: There was some discussion regarding progress made in establishing a formal procedure for the 20 or so businesses required to report water usage as part of compliance with waste water restrictions. Administrative staff implied it was a great work effort to accomplish this minor bureaucratic function.

Wardsands parking lot: There was some discussion regarding the public parking that will be provided adjacent to wardsands... Presumably the council made the decision that the parking only be dusk-to-dawn to avoid the expenditure, and neighborhood blight, that would be imposed by providing adequate lighting. The contingency to perhaps someday provide lighting was protected by the suggestion that electrical conduit be laid before the parking lot is paved.

Shopping mall: It was suggested that there has been some progress in the dispute between the municipal government and the owners of the shopping mall. Apparently they have negotiated an agreement that will allow the owners to submit a planning board proposal with a waiver against site-plan reopening. Apparently, lost in the compromise, is the new lighting the owners wanted to install, and the old light fixtures will be repaired, instead of replaced. Other improvements will apparently be installation of some decorative fencing, and some new roof facades.

Di-regionalization: A member of the public provoked some discussion on the subject of a meeting held in Chester to discuss the high school funding formula and escape from the regional scheme. The mayor expressed satisfaction with the town position of supporting a state legislative change to funding rules, and expressed the opinion that di-regionalization would not be a cost-effective or productive approach.

My public comment questions: The mayor, and town council, goose-stepped across another line in the swastika they have drawn in the soil of Mendham, by refusing to even read my "public comment" comments and questions. The violation of my First Amendment rights is flagrant and a disgusting insult to the American Nation these traitorous creeps, have the duplicity to begin their meeting pledging allegiance to. The action also represents an obvious violation of "the landmark" Americans with disabilities Act... that requires minor accommodations, like reading written comments submitted as "public comments"... apparently "your" town government seems intent on personalizing, and escalating, this war for the American soul they started InMendham.

permanent link: Summation of the October 16th meeting

The consent agenda

• Approval of the minutes of the September 5, 2006 regular meeting
• Approval of the minutes-September 18, 2006 regular meeting
• Approval of the minutes-September 18, 2006 ES mtg.-not released to the public
• Raffle Application-Mendham Borough Library-50/50Cash-Off Premise Raffle
• Social Affairs Pemit-SA#03-06- Friends of Matheny-11/30/2006
• Res. #189-06 Return of Escrow-B406/L25
• Res. #190-06 Task Force-County Support Defense/Indemnification
• Res. #191-06 Task Force-Legislators Support Amendment for Defense/Indemnification
• Res. #192-06 Escrow Return-Site Plan Waivers
• Res. #193-06 Return Duplicate Payment-3rd Qtr. Taxes
• res. #200-06 Return Cash Bond/Block 2201, Lot 19.05

Deer control: there was extensive discussion initiated by the mayor regarding the perceived problem of having parks open to the public when sadistic crazy asses are engaged in their recreational bow and arrow torture of the animals. The discussion revolved around balancing the interests of some local residents, who have expressed concern that they can not comfortably make use of the parks without knowing what level of hunting activity may be actively taking place at the time they wish to use the park... and the interests of the "control program" which apparently is dependent on keeping recreational hunters happy with our publicly financed recreational hunting facilities. In the end, the balance struck, was a basic FU to anyone uncomfortable with the idea of walking in a park where hunting is actively taking place.

Although the discussion was substantially a rehash of previously discussed issues some new information was provided.

As of October 2nd some 30 deer have been killed in the parks, and on private property where owners have given permission for hunting to take place. (the program requires that the deer be professionally carved into food for the impoverished at a cost of something like $100 each-- no figures were provided regarding how much the half program has cost the public so far)

There are approximately 30 hunters in the program and it was implied that the majority are policemen and firemen. It was stated that the hunters are split into groups who exclusively hunt in certain park locations. (this fact was used to dismiss Barbara Stanton's suggestion that different parks be open to hunting on different odd/even days.)

There was lots of talk regarding the "deer menace" and how the well-managed program is a "success". Unfortunately, none of this talk dealt with the facts, and logic, that prove the program has not, and will not, in any meaningful way, reduce deer overpopulation. Like much public policy the program is predicated on lies and deception and the duplicity and hypocrisy is obvious to anyone willing to apply honest scrutiny. Sadly, most mendhamites, like most Americans, rather live a convenient lie, than invest any energy in any principaled truth that only provides rewards after it is honored over the long run. ....more discussion

Water Infiltration: A resolution was passed without discussion authorizing the expenditure of another $100,000 to study the problem of excessive ground water seeping into sewage lines.

Historic District: there was some general discussion of some problems related to an excess of signs designating historic significance. The solution is apparently to establish a fee for a yearly signing licensed.

Leaf Removal: There was rather extensive discussion regarding the possibility of initiating the town service of some sort of leaf pickup. The discussion primarily focused on some biodegradable bag scheme apparently used in some other town.... the price tag of over 30¢ a bag, just for the bags, seems a nonstarter. No alternative idea brought up received any enthusiastic support.

Shopping mall: It was stated by a council member that there appears to be a "meeting of the minds" regarding the dispute over the owners' right to make some minor improvements to the property, without being obligated to make government mandated major changes.

Library: It was stated that members of the library administration will make a presentation at the next council meeting requesting a budget increase.

Condemned Flowers: Consistent with the behavior of the council member who suggested my House should be condemned for asking questions at a council meeting... Cop Councilman Stanley Witczak showed why he has earned his "tag" as "Witczak the Weasel" by perpetrating a perfectly preposterous petty pontification on the urgent social issue of illegal flowerication. more discussion

School Parking: A homeowner living near the high school, again, complained of neighborhood problems created by inadequate or mismanaged high-school infrastructure. The discussion was too patronizing and meaningless to hold my attention so I really don't recall what the hell was said... but I'm sure the status quo of providing no effective solution will be the council's response.

My public comment questions:

permanent link: Summation of the October 2ed meeting

The consent agenda passed with some recusals based on nonattendance and membership in pertinent organizations.

• Banner Request-Hexagon Players-10/30/06-11/6/06
• Res. #182-06 Return Cash Bond-B0101/L24-Road Opening Permit
• Res. #183-06 Sewer Connect Permit-Deborah Ingersoll-B305/L11

The council starts each meeting with what the mayor describes as silent prayer and the pledge of allegiance. Their deceit would offend the God they profess to exist, and their corrupt purpose offends the supposedly just nation they pledge allegiance to.

Street Paving: Lowery Lane ....$99, 815.00

Ac/ heater replacement: Apparently they're going to replace the climate control system in the Garabrant center. As they just spent over $2,000 on repairs...A $10,000 replacement shouldn't be necessary.

MASH/COAH expenditures: Also regarding air-conditioning... The council approved a resolution to use affordable housing money to pay for air-conditioners at the senior housing complex. In spite of questions being raised regarding the legality of this expenditure, the council approved the resolution without any discussion.

Senior Discount: There was some discussion by the council regarding providing a senior discount on sewer rates. There was the implication that they would like to provide a discount that is not limited to just low-income seniors. Although the mayor conceded that someone will have to pay for the discount, he "challenged" the council to look into it.

Gypsy moths: The council approved joining some county survey, that may or may not mandate spraying.

Time capsule: As evidence that the town government is living in a out of touch, time warped, time capsule... They wasted time discussing what to put in the time capsule, and where to bury the time capsule... News flash, it is 2006 and things like this Blog, and the rest of the Internet, provide a fairly extensive and accessible record of present history... in other words time capsules are about as archaic and useless as an 8-track player.

Press coverage: A council member complained that press coverage of the parade did not properly emphasize the significance of "volunteers" being the grand marshal. It was stated that the town needs to encourage volunteerism. What they didn't say is.. you need not apply if you don't have proper fascist credentials... unless, of course, you like being used and abused.

Library: There was some vague talk about how library needs more money, and apparently will be making some proposal to the council in the near future.

Deer carcasses: Barbara Stanton reported that 10 deer carcasses have been removed through the culling program. (one assumes they only became carcasses after they were shot with a town funded recreational arrow). There was also some mush about the county not picking up Deer carcasses anymore...

Arrested teenagers: There was some prideful yammer about how great the underage drinking ordinance is working because they formally arrested some underage drinkers... although the ordinance does nothing to change how parents are notified, or what teenagers get escorted home.... the implication was that the formal arrest record does some good... yeah... right, there is all kinds of evidence that having a police record does a person a lot of good in keeping on the straight and narrow.

Master plan: The mayor did some gushing on how wonderful the soon-to-be published document is... implying that it is somehow well worth the over $100,000 spent on it. I'm betting it's going to be laced with errors and miscalculations.

High-School issues: Apparently there are some neighborhood problems regarding traffic and student vandalism being created by the high school construction. There was some talk about sports teams using people's lawns to get undressed and such.

Dear Management: During the public comment portion of the meeting there were a couple of people who referenced problems finding a safe park to walk their dogs in. They made the sensible request to have some way to know when deer hunters are in, or are going to be in, the parks. During the discussion Barbara Stanton suggested having hunting on odd or even days. The council promoters of the "recreational control" program, suggested that hunters, won't want to hunt, under time restraints. Generally speaking the mayor and Council dismissed the fears and concerns of the park users as an acceptable price to pay to have happy recreational hunters shooting deer on our public land with brutally inefficient bow and arrow. Why don't we end the silly hypocrisy and sanction recreational stray cat boiling-- and kill the second bird of hungry poor people at the same time. "Recreational Torture" should be Time magazine stupid human trick of the year... or maybe the decade.

My public comment questions.

permanent link: Summation of the September 18th meeting

The consent agenda passed with some recusals based on nonattendance and membership in pertinent organizations.

• Approval of the minutes of the August 21, 2006 regular meeting
• Raffle Application-Daytop Family/Friends Association-10/28/06-On-Premise Cash 50/50 Raffle
• Road Closure Request-Block Party-9/30/2006-Bowers/Phoenix Drive
• Road Closure Request-Block Party-9/16/06-Raindate-9/23/06-Forest Drive
• Res. #175-06 Sewer Connect Permit-Windswept Boutique LLC/B0601-L02
• Res. #176-06 Return Cash Bond/Balance Escrow-B1901/L13
• Res. #177-06 Return Cash Bond-Quality Homes/B1801-L36.02
• Facility Use Agreement-Mendham Jr. Women's Club-10/30/06-Halloween Celebration for Children in the Community

Little useful facts were revealed in the discussion beyond a statement that participation was down this year and gross revenue declined from 70,000 to 50 some thousand. Net figures regarding profit or loss were not provided.

Labor Day Parade: There was some discussion of the "disruption" that created problems at the Labor Day parade. The town council's --idiotic fight with the owners of the king's mall over their right to replace a few light fixtures-- which resulted in the town being unable to use the mall as a staging area, was not directly referenced ... but the implications were clear.

Another problem referenced was the whiny Fire Department complaint that some tin soldier band was allowed to cut in front of them while they were lining up for the parade. Do these morons think the druelling artifacts lining the parade route waving their red white and blue "Labor Day" lollipops are going to be less impressed by their chrome axes, white gloves, and shiny hushpuppies if they are the 34th instead of the 33rd attraction. It's strange to contemplate what the old bucket brigade has evolved into. I'm thinking we'd be better off investing in a few old dirty water tanks than these chrome plated egos.

The proposed solution, to all this horror, will apparently be to line up the parade on Tempewick Road, based on numbered slots, and to finalize marching order without hourly revisions.... no doubt next year's parade will be so much better.

Cancelled projects: There was again reference to some list of cancelled or completed capital projects and an effort to free up unused capital.-- no details provided.

The TV 25 committee: In kind of a jocular atmosphere, it was implied that Councilman Dave Murphy will be the hir Gurbles on the Un-American non-public access Government Propaganda Cable Television Committee.

Gypsy Moths: At a couple of points in the meeting a concern of a local resident regarding a gypsy moth problem was discussed. The unspoken, but implied conclusion, was that this is a potential problem more suited to a countywide solution than municipal action. For what it's worth, I haven't seen any evidence of a widespread problem on my travels through the local parks.

High-School Construction: The high-school student rep to the council reported that construction progress at the high-school is very slow as they have apparently hit some big rocks in the big hole they are digging.

Invoices: Some council member raised the concern that too many bill list invoices were for under a hundred dollars and suggested they should be consolidated....no doubt to make it even more difficult to account for the money spent.

HS de-regionalization: There was a brief mention of some other Town meeting to discuss the high school funding formula. A council member opposed attending the meeting if the subject was going to be de-regionalization and not regressive perversion of the funding formula. Council members expressed some vague notion of being impressed by the credentials of the attorney they have hired to give them $10,000 worth of advice.

Revaluation: Apparently the President of the revaluation company will be privately meeting (to discuss changing next year's assessment) with a half-dozen residents who complained at a previous meeting of inappropriate increases in their property taxes.

My public comment questions: Absent the Mayor's interference the council made noises that almost sounded like answers.

permanent link: Summation of the September 5th meeting

The consent agenda passed with some recusals based on nonattendance and membership in pertinent organizations.

• Approval of the minutes of the August 7, 2006 executive session meeting
• Approval of the minutes of the August 7, 2006 regular meeting.
• Raffle Application-Sisters of Christian Charity 10/21/06-On-Premise Cash 50/50 Raffle
• Raffle Application-Sisters of Christian Charity 10/21/06-Draw (Tricky Tray)Raffle
• Blue Light Permit-Kristina Brown-Mendham First Aid Squad
• Blue Light Permit-Robin Johnston-Mendham First Aid Squad
• Res. #173-06 Amend Res. #153-06

Absentee's : Barbara Stanton was "again" absent as was the borough attorney. The mayor will not be attending the next meeting.

Verizon TV-- Action on the local franchise agreement was indefinitely postponed as verizon plans on applying for a statewide franchise under the new law. I would guesstimate they will be offering a service competing with cable TV sometime early next year.

New Fire Truck-- The council authorize the expenditure of $422,167.00 for a new fire/parade truck. Unfortunately your secret government doesn't provide any publicly accessible information regarding how often these preposterously expensive show trucks actually do service that saves lives or reduces property damage that could not be accomplished in a more economical manner.

$4,000 PB radios-- The council approved a resolution switching the Police Department over to a $90,000 County dispatch system. New digital high band "trunk" radios will have to be purchased at an estimated cost of $80,000. For this kind of money they should be able to hear a guy asking "can you hear me now" on frigging Mars.

Dump truck-- The council authorize the expenditure of another $64,942 for a new dump truck... I assume the 15,000 lb. truck will sleep at least 6.

Wastewater waste: There was a brief discussion regarding the problem of requiring some commercial properties to report their "use figures" but then not having any town official scrutinize the reports for violations. It was suggested that there should be periodic reports to the council regarding compliance.

Veterans Exception: The council approved a complete exemption from property taxes for the widow of a totally disabled combat veteran. ... As unsolicited, and no doubt very unpopular commentary, I would suggest such exemptions makes sense for draftees but that we should pay our "kill anyone the retard tells us to" mercenaries in cash only.

$8,402,000 of debt-- The town council approved the sale (10 year bonds) of the towns debt at an interest-rate of 3.965427%. Realistically, this means we will probably end up paying a cool million for the new cool fire truck. Mortgage debt on a house makes some sense because, for most Americans, it's unavoidable. A town not paying its credit card bill every month is just plain stupid.. Just as an FYI, this 8 million does not include the 8 million in regional high-school debt we are responsible for.

Money Dry Cleaning: The was a brief discussion regarding the vague idea that the town has some canceled capital projects that could provide money for re-appropriation. The budget would have a lot less fudge in it if there was an obligation that the council, formally, and publicly, cancelled projects that were not started or completed.

Town Auction-- There was a brief discussion regarding the need to dispose of some surplus DPW equipment. It was suggested that other departments itemize their surplus for a town auction. The mayor suggested it might be a good idea to contact other towns regarding the possibility of consolidating everything into one big sale that might provide for better pricing. Also suggested was advertising the sale using the town website... Very ironic considering the rather contentious argument the Borough administrator gave me a few years ago defending their "old policy" of having a secret auction that no one knows about except town employees or council member wives.

Channel 25: A council member inquired how things were progressing regarding the agreement to share CONTROL of Channel 25 and its "only government approved" content. It was reported that the Township has approved the agreement and the administrator stated he would report on the issue at the next council meeting... when apparently the council member who will serve on the illegal and unconstitutional, fascist, discrimination and censorship, committee will be selected.

Labor Day Parade: Briefly discussed was some listing of the parade lineup... I will request a copy. This voucher document itemizes about $10,000 in public money wasted on bad music for this jerkwater "event".

Parking Issues: A member of the council used a recent trip to Salt Lake City as an example of an automated parking system that appears to work very well. Another council member implied that the technology can be unreliable and caution should be taken regarding accepting low bids.

Dear Management: It was stated that the police chief is doing a yeoman's job identifying hunters and putting up signs. A council member stated that the wording of the signs was approved by the committee. (see public comment questions for more...)

POD containers: The mayor suggested the council might want to consider legislation to control unsightly use of temporary driveway storage containers, as permanent storage.

Public comment/questions: As usual the mayor and council provided preposterously unresponsive answers to my questions.

permanent link: Summation of the August 21 meeting