Russo, Inteso, Fiure Want Turnout For Open Space Public Hearing: $20 Million Open Space Program To Be Aired Tuesday Evening

GOP Expresses Hope That Two Democrats Are Not “Blackmailing Taxpayers” By “Working Both Sides Of The Fence”

Dover Township: Three members of the township committee have confirmed that the first of several public hearings on a plan to purchase $20 million of open space with the Toms River Regional School District and the Dover Municipal Utilities Authority will be held during the township committee meeting which starts at 6pm Tuesday, July 22.

“The Most Important Initiative The Governing
Body Will Take This Year”

Mayor John Russo Jr., Deputy Mayor Carmine Inteso and Committeeman Michael Fiure said the $20 million cooperative open space acquisition program “is the most important initiative the governing body will take this year; we need to move forward on the basis of shared information and adequate public input”.

The three GOP officials announced that the township and the other agencies have begun assembling an inventory of open space acquisitions “so the transition from concept to reality can be as expeditious as possible.”

“Will Seek Constant Guidance And Input From The Public”

“As this process goes forward, we will seek constant guidance and input from the public”, Russo, Inteso and Fiure said.

They also drew attention to comments from Democratic committee members Richard Larsen and John Furey, who supported the open space initiative, but warned against “placing the future of the township at stake because of excessive debt service as a result of excessive borrowing in tough times.”

“Democrats Are Trying To Have It Both Ways”

“The Democrats are trying to have it both ways, by being for and against the same program at the same time”, the three GOP officials said.

“Because this is a three way partnership, this may be the most UN-excessive borrowing program in the history of the township”, the GOP said.

“The demeaning record of Mr. Furey and Mr. Larsen obstructing needed capital improvements is all too fresh in the memory of Dover Township taxpayers, and the cost for their dereliction will become all too apparent in higher costs for infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance in the future”, Russo, Inteso and Fiure noted.

Furey & Larsen Refused Funding To Fill Potholes, Repair Bulkheads

Furey and Larsen refused to support capital spending for such maintenance purposes as filling potholes and repairing bulkheads earlier this year, and forced the township committee to support a bond issue that was a little more than half of the minimum amount deemed necessary by township engineering professionals.

Blackmailing Taxpayers Once Again?

“We hope Mr. Larsen and Mr. Furey are not threatening to blackmail the taxpayers once again, by offering the prospect of not providing a fourth vote when this comes to a capital ordinance”, the GOP officials noted.

Two Democrats Are Obstructionists?

Four votes are needed to adopt a capital spending ordinance, even for the purpose of selling short term notes which, because the level of interest rates is the lowest in sixty years, the committee members have indicated they will consider.

“We are determined, regardless of the obstructions and the roadblocks, to move this vital program forward as quickly and as expeditiously as possible”, Russo, Inteso and Fiure said.     (7/21/03)

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