Resolutions and Political Contributions: A Final Look at the Last Three Town Council Meetings
This article continues our review of the last three council meetings, which saw seven different versions of the agendas, a flurry of high-cost resolutions, and the dissolution of the local ethics board. In our first article, we highlighted the Mayor and Council’s approval of a $30,000 contract for a Public Relations firm that describes itself as being “at the center...
2025 7-District Dashboard: Budget Comparisons Across 7 Districts
Berkeley Heights has finally submitted its 2024 audit to the state, enabling us to finalize this year’s 7-District Budget Dashboard. This tool empowers residents of Berkeley Heights, New Providence, Madison, Summit, Chatham, Westfield, and Millburn with key insights to engage more effectively in the upcoming Board of Education budget discussions. It can also help residents of other communities put their...
Decoding the Town Council’s Legal Spending: Firms, Costs, and Connections
The last three Council meetings have been a whirlwind of rushed resolutions, amended agendas, and executive orders—most of which passed with minimal discussion. Among the most troubling decisions was the abrupt dissolution of the Ethics Council, despite the Mayor ignoring a simple solution: electing new members. Instead, the Council chose to hire a high-priced media firm with deep political ties,...
More Information on the High-Powered PR Firm Berkeley Heights Families Are Paying For
As highlighted in Mr. Samson’s Community Voices article, the Town Council recently voted to approve $30,000 in spending for a public relations firm—Vision Media Marketing. The firm describes itself as: “…a full-service media and communications consulting firm with numerous strong, long-term relationships with elected officials, political and labor officials, and business leaders throughout North Jersey.” (emphasis added) Their slogan? “Winning takes...
Letter to the Berkeley Heights Mayor and Council on Tonight’s Vote to Dissolve the Ethics Council
I wrote the following email to the Mayor and Town Council: I am writing to strongly urge you not to dissolve the local Ethics Board but instead to take meaningful steps to strengthen it. The argument that relying on the state Ethics Board would make the process more objective lacks substantial evidence. The state board is composed of political appointees...
Is It Time for the District to Re-Evaluate Its Services from a Politically Entangled Municipal Government?
The current Agenda for the next BOE Meeting includes an SLEO Contract Amendment. In Berkeley Heights, the District pays the full $37.45 per hour for each Special Law Enforcement Officer (SLEO), and now the township is asking the District to divert even more funds from classrooms to cover additional costs like sick time and overtime pay along with an increase...
A Closer Look at Proficiency on the NJ 7-City Dashboard
Third contribution in a series to NJ Education Report on seven urban districts in NJ: A Closer Look at Proficiency on the NJ 7-City Dashboard
Packed Agendas, Glossed-Over Details: The 01/21/2025 Town Council Meeting
Township and prior BOE meetings often feature packed agendas and lengthy presentations, leaving residents overwhelmed and details overlooked. By the time critical items are finally discussed, these meetings often feel like staged performances or exercises in futility. The 01/21/2025 Town Council Meeting was yet another example of this, highlighting how Devanney’s Town Council has adopted the same strategy as the...
Berkeley Heights Among 16 Union County Townships That Sent Police to Private Police Training by Organization that Promoted Unconstitutional Tactics
The NJ Office of the State Comptroller published a supplemental report to it’s original findings published 12/06/2023 on “Street Cop Training”. It found 240 law enforcement officers from NJ attended the six-day Conference in Atlantic City on October 2021. Among other things, OSC found: Instructors at the Conference promoted the use of unconstitutional policing tactics for motor vehicle stops; Some instructors...
Digging Deeper on School Spending in Seven NJ Cities
Second contribution in a series to NJ Education Report on seven urban districts in NJ: Digging Deeper on School Spending in Seven NJ Cities.
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