Resident Comments on Land Use Ordinance – 12/05/2023 Town Council Meeting
While BHCW has focused much of its attention on issues connected to political signs and free speech with the new land use ordinance, we must be aware that this is an impactful 200+ page document that includes multiple changes on a variety of items that’s worked its way through a lame-duck session. Government – good government – has a responsibility...
Mayor Devanney Writes to Senator Scutari | Defends Key Aspects of OPRA
A significant and welcome update on our efforts in asking state representatives to pause any effort for OPRA reform to the next legislative session. BHCW was copied on an email from Mayor Devanney to Senator Scutari. This email addressed three of our primary concerns with the reforms that have been proposed: First, moving disputes over cases away from the Superior...
Resident Comments on Redevelopment Study Approved by the Council during the 11/21/2023 Berkeley Heights Council
An informative exchange involving a resident during the 11/21/2023 Town Council Meeting. One note is the response to the question on how these properties were decided on by citing one property owner’s request without clarifying how the other properties were decided upon. This was repeated throughout the whole meeting when asked. Also, we notice that we are no longer able...
Responses from Mayor Devanney and Members of the Town Council on Concerns Surrounding OPRA and OPMA Reform
Since learning about potential changes to OPRA in June of this year, we have been reaching out to the Mayor and members of the Town Council in connection to concerns we have about harmful changes to the NJ Open Public Records Act and (more recently) the Open Meetings Act. Here are the responses we received from Mayor Devanney, Councilman Couto,...
Update on Land Use Ordinance Discussed During 11/21/2023 Town Council Meeting
We were cc’d on an email connected to the Land Use Ordinance we posted about a few days ago – specifically on the issue of political signs. Councilwoman Kingsley informed us that changes were being drafted after meeting with the attorney today. At about the same time, we received an email from Ms. Viana (Township Administrator) informing us that the...
BHCW 11/27/2023 Newsletter
What’s Important to Know About Berkeley Heights This Week…. This week’s Newsletter looks at two essential items impacting Berkeley Heights residents being passed immediately after an election during lame-duck sessions. On the state level, legislators are looking to overhaul the Open Public Records Act and the Open Public Meetings Act. All early indications are that these changes make both laws...
Update On Efforts to Change the Open Public Records and Open Public Meetings Act During Lame Duck Session
So we got an update from someone who has a bit more information than us on concerns connected to potential changes to OPRA – this is what they wrote us on Wednesday afternoon: Danielson filed four opra bills but none of them are going to advance. Sarlo is working on an opra bill and opma bill but nothing’s been filed...
Take Action to Save the Open Public Records Act
The Problem Plans to gut the Open Public Records Act during a lame duck session are moving forward. If passed, this would render OPRA meaningless and citizens of NJ would be in the dark on what their government bodies are doing. Here are the bills: https://www.njlm.org/Blog.aspx?IID=232#item https://www.njlm.org/Blog.aspx?IID=231#item https://www.njlm.org/Blog.aspx?IID=230#item Here is an article John recently wrote that provides insight into how...
Susan Poage Emerges as The Strongest Voice of Reason on the Berkeley Heights Town Council this Year
Last night, the Council approved a controversial 11th-hour measure to fund a redevelopment study involving multiple properties. Much like the surprise hike to the cost of the Municipal Building under the Woodruff Administration, this information occurred immediately after an election was decided. Why would such important matters be kept from the public and candidates? Wouldn’t bringing this up during the...
11/21/2023 Town Council Meeting – Questions On Redevelopment Studies
On the town council agenda tonight: “2. Resolution directing the Planning Board to undertake an investigation to determine whether all or a portion of certain properties identified on the tax map as Block 702, Lots 4,6, 16, constitute a non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment. (458, 414-424 Springfield Avenue, and 230 Sherman Avenue)” This is the state statute, Section 52:27D-302...
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