Upper Saddle River, a town where there are more questions than answers when it comes to what is going on in Borough Hall. Where the residents are kept in the dark and left wondering, until they push so much something has to be said or done.
Well, we are here again. More questions. No answers. But there is a council meeting coming up, time to ask them.
Where are the minutes of the August meeting?
With 2 – yes 2 – people filling Clerks jobs the minutes should have been out within a week. A week. This isn’t a huge metropolis, there isn’t so much to do. Why the delay? It is now over a month. What exactly are tax payers paying for? Residents who are unable to attend the meeting, or watch it as Upper Saddle River still doesn’t offer live streaming, have a right to know exactly what happened and was discussed. Aren’t minutes – and agendas – a legal requirement?
Why was the meeting for September pushed back by 2 weeks?
With no explanation? Vacation? Conferences? Possibly acceptable reasons. But just randomly moving meetings could run the risk of creating the impression there is something to hide. Especially as there is an election coming and as this meeting will only leave 2 weeks until the scheduled October meeting…..or is that going to be moved? Could this have anything to do with avoiding a discussion on Hillsdale? And the forthcoming election?
Speaking of Hillside.
Why the silence? Despite apparently knowing about the sale of land in Upper Saddle River late last year and members of the town administration being in attendance at meetings regarding the proposed development nothing has been said to residents. It’s not like you can hide this, it is huge and has staggering implications for Upper Saddle River. Don’t you think residents should know what potential issues are being dealt with. You know the ones that might make their property values tank? Or is this another ‘after the election’ issue?
Toll Brothers.
Great job about the Stop Work Order. Finally! But what about money? Have they been fined? And if not – why not? Upper Saddle River will very quickly fine residents who fail to comply with borough codes and ordinances. People putting patios in have had more accountability. Yet the huge developer?? Have they gotten away with all their mess with no fine. Because nothing screams improper if they aren’t fined. And escrow isn’t a fine.
And another thing
Where is the website Toll Brothers said they would create? For the residents to understand what was going on? Do you remember they promised it at the meeting they attended? The one you didn’t tell the residents they were coming to. And what about the phone number they were going to provide for residents to speak to them? Has someone from the town actually followed up with this, or has it just drifted away? Aren’t you actually supposed to be working on residents behalf?
The Planning Board
Maybe you would like to clue the residents in on exactly why you feel it is so unimportant for the Planning Board to meet? If they are so unimportant why have them? With all the Toll Brother work going on, and other projects this really makes people wonder. What is going on?
Live Streaming
Once again, why won’t the town provide this? Senior citizens, residents traveling, parents busy with children’s activities, business people clearly can’t get to a physical meeting. Why not provide them the courtesy of ensuring they are fully informed and invested in the town? A live stream that is recorded is the way that most municipalities around the country, and world do it. Why insist on keeping Upper Saddle River in the dark ages? However with the delayed minutes, and the lack of resident access to the meetings it really leaves a lot of questions. It’s not like there isn’t the money for this, just the will. This needs fixing. Like yesterday.
Just to remind you, you all are elected officials. Supposed to be working on the behalf of the residents, tax payers, those who voted you in. With an election coming up this isn’t a good recommendation for votes.
Next meeting date: Wednesday September 18, 2019 – For Public @8pm