Committeeman George Newberry On The Wildlife Ordinance, Taxes, Priviatization
On privitizing municipal services, municipal taxes and the wildlife feeding ordinance
(Editor’s Note: This is the latest installment in an occasional series that lets public officials speak, unedited, about issues that concern Wall. Today, its Committeeman George K. Newberry, recorded by Wall Patch at a Feb. 9 Township Committee meeting espousing his views on a variety of topics.)
On Privitization of Municipal Services:
"The situation of privization as often discussed by this township committee, it affects the lives of many people employed by the town.
"Privitization of buses in towns is often found to be very economical, until the last yellow bus in town leaves. And then things change. Prices go up and you can no longer afford to purchase back the buses you had before and hire the people back and you’re stuck and you will now pay the going rate.
"The Municipality of Ocean Township that I spoke about regrets to this very day selling their water department to a private company. They now see that it would have been run better if it was in municipal hands. However, it has such a value now there’s no way the taxpayers could ever purchase it back.
"Once these decisions are made, they can’t be changed.
"Privitization of portions of our community would cut back on what I refer to as “manpower pool.’’ The people that work for the DPW have a job description: They do everything.
"They share and move people back and forth to accomplish the tasks that the taxpayers like to see happen. And if we go into privitization, and reduce that manpower pool, it will affect the services that the taxpayers have come to enjoy and come to expect, very frankly. Because of that, privitization is not something we’ve ignored, we’ve looked at many times. It’s just not a very comfortable of a way to move forward, in our opinion at this time.
"That may change. We will continue to look at these things until we see the right mix."
On Municipal Taxes:
"If you were someone who spends $10,000 a year on taxes – just a round number, many of you spend less, a lot of you spend a lot more – if we closed municipal government, if we shut the building down, closed DPW, closed the Police Department, if we went away, your tax bill would still be about $7,800.
"That’s still a lot of money.
"So when people look at their overall tax bill and see what they’re paying and they’re upset about it, we only regulate a very small portion of that. And you need to realize that when you look at these numbers. Someone will say to you that $7,800 is still a lot of money, but that’s what it would be if we were at $10,000 and we were gone. That would never happen, but you need to do that comparison when you look at the numbers."
On the wildlife feeding ordinance:
“I truly say it is probably the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done as part of this committee, and would never have imagined when I was elected that I’d be dealing with that.
"But we do have a situation in a neighborhood that is being … I hate to use the word intimidated, but it almost is. And the only way we can control things when people simply don’t want to go along with you is to pass a law, an ordinance – municipal-level laws are ordinances. And I feel clear that what we put forward is something that can be defined in court.
"We all might have a feeling in our mind what overfeeding or overdoing anything is, but each of us in this room would have a different definition of that if we were to poll.
"So the ordinance is designed so that a zoning person could look at it and say “yes, this is wrong.’’ And look at it in court and a judge could say “yes, it’s right or wrong” and that would be clear cut.
"So, (I'm) not thrilled with moving ahead with the bird ordinance, but we’ve done so."
W E Lang
11:03 pm on Saturday, February 12, 2011
I am becoming more and more aware that the Wall Committee has not a clue about their community. Effective local government looks at all options and chooses the correct path for their constituents. In this article not only should privatization but also consolidation need to be explored and in place. I have lived in too many areas where a county government with one police force, one public works dept, one Board of Education, one planning board is the best option and a viable way to lower taxes and operate efficiently.
Similarly questions as the Wildlife ordinance signify only a bad law that will lead to vendettas abusing the provisions. I think that if such an ordinance is placed into effect then we need to eliminate all of the trees in wall, all flower gardens etc. for these provide excessive feeding and enlarge the wildlife population.
Gary Faraci
9:13 pm on Sunday, February 13, 2011
Committeeman Newberry says he's embarrassed by the proposed wildlife feeding ordinance. He should be! As a Committeman, Newberry has a responsibility to do what is best for the many, over the self-interests of a few. As a community leader, Newberry should have the common sense not to try to make laws which tell people how much they can or cannot feed wildlife in our backyards. As an elected representive, Newberry should have the political courage to resist the power of the few pressuring him, or special interest groups - in particular from his own party. Common sense and courage are traits of a good leader. Unfortunately, Newberry seems to be missing both.
m vitale
8:46 pm on Monday, February 14, 2011
When G. Newberry uses a word of intimadition one should ask is that by the birder in question or the people with no regard trying to blow out their ear drums. He who yells loudest belongs at the back of the bus. We are told 7 inspections were passed and the town of Wall and Monmouth County said your Birding levels are fine.
It is time to have some spine and realize this is a miss fire from the start. That is why the most objective person called Eric Stiles @ Audobahn over 2 mos ago. No, this person is a resident who does not prejudge but does due diligence foe all of Wall. Let's hope the eyes of objectivity show up as some comments are frightful from someone in his position.
Best
Susan Sullivan
11:43 am on Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The affects of the overfeeding on this particular steet speak volumes. Im sure the word "intimidation" was in regard to the birder (if that's what you are calling yourself). Who would pre-judge when it is easier not to pass a resolution? Just because a comment is not in agreement with yours does not make it frighful.