Heated Exchanges Among Residents, Mayor At Township Committee Meeting
Shouting match at last meeting of the governing body
An ongoing antagonism among some public speakers and Township Committee members boiled over at Wednesday’s regular meeting of the governing body.
Comments, questions and criticisms from frequent Township Committee critics Nicholas Purpura, of Rue de la Port, and Betsy Cross, of New Bedford Road, turned into heated arguments among members of the committee and the administration Wednesday.
Cross and Mayor Jeffrey Foster began shouting at each other after Cross peppered the committee with questions about a township-owned property on Holly Boulevard.
At the end of the five minutes allotted to each public speaker, Cross continued to question the committee. After a few more minutes passed, Foster thanked Cross for her comments to end the conversation, but then insinuated that Cross had not been using her real name.
“Maybe you could use your real name once in awhile, too,’’ Foster said, citing another surname he said was Cross’ married name.
Foster then asked Cross why she did not use her married name, which he continued to cite from the dais when referring to Cross.
“Mr. Foster you are way out of line,’’ Cross said.
Purpura, who spoke immediately before Cross, had numerous questions about the township’s state-mandated affordable housing plan, the Holly Boulevard property and criticisms about the committee’s plan to restructure the Department of Public Works, among other issues.
That also turned into a shouting match between Purpura and Foster.
Purpura indicated that there was something amiss about the purchase of the Holly Boulevard property and said the committee was not answering his questions about it. Foster said he had answered Purpura’s questions.
“Every time I give you an answer, you don’t like the answer,’’ Foster said. “You’ve got to get your facts straight.’’
Some of the members of the committee addressed the meeting’s exchanges during the end-of-the meeting committee reports.
Committeeman Todd Luttman expressed his regret that the “decorum is not always what it should be” during the meetings.
“We do hear what people have to say,” Luttman said. “It’s just a shame that the decorum drops as people’s emotions rise.’’
Foster said he and the committee work diligently to keep costs down and save taxpayers as much money as possible.
“I get a little furious when somebody gets up and says we’re spending too much money because it’s not with the facts,’’ Foster said.
Mike Tyson
9:35 am on Friday, October 12, 2012
Foster v. Purpurs 3 round cage match
Keith
9:35 am on Friday, October 12, 2012
What is the township owned property on Holly Boulevard?
Jack Horse
9:35 am on Friday, October 12, 2012
AGAIN, Cross is wasting the committes time with her miss information.
Michael Ferrell
5:53 pm on Friday, October 12, 2012
Amen Jack Horse! I wonder how much the freedo of information requests by Cross have waster of township and school board dollars!
Allenwoodie
10:28 pm on Friday, October 12, 2012
Glad I'm not the only one who types too fast! :)
Allenwoodie
10:28 pm on Friday, October 12, 2012
I see that my previous post was removed so I will say again that I do not believe that Betsy Cross is suitable for the BOE. She has demonstrated that she is an obstructionist. She has not problem wasting tax payer money on frivolous Freedom of Information requests. If she doesn't hear the answer she wants or get it in the kind of spread sheet she wants, she never lets up - regardless of whether her accusations or suspicions are accurate. She appears to be certain that there is a conspiracy around every corner. I can't imaging the BOE functioning with a member like that. She certainly hasn't demonstrated that she can be a team player. 2 AM BOE meetings will become the norm. Ugh!
Eileen
8:36 am on Saturday, October 13, 2012
I have attend the municipal meetings and was very disappointed with the lack of honesty and direct answers to the questions of the Mayor and the board. They are very evasive and do not want the public to know what they are doing. Betsey Cross is not costing the tax papers money. Wall Township lack of transparency to how they are spending the money, is very wasteful.
Michael Ferrell
3:07 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2012
Eillen,
You are incorrect. Betsy Cross is costing taxpayers money to the point that extra staff may been needed to respond to her requests. They are frivolous and self serving, not benefiting the town. I suggest both the committee and BoE provide a report of how much these requests are costing to prepare. They involve a search of detailed records and review. We are paying for them.
Allenwoodie
9:45 am on Saturday, October 13, 2012
Manhours = Money. Period. We are paying municipal workers for hundreds of manhours to provide Ms Cross with information that does not exist or does not exist in the format that she wants to see. Instead of doing the jobs they were hired to do, they are photocopying and creating spreadsheets for Ms. Cross. That means the rest of us wait longer for the services that worker is supposed to be doing. Regardless of what info the town provides her, she's never satisfied.
Gale Quinn
11:33 am on Saturday, October 13, 2012
I have been attending the Committee meetings almost every month for almost four years. I do not feel that there is dishonesty on the part of the Committee. I see total frustration. No matter what paperwork or answers given to Ms. Cross, there seems to be no way to satisfy her. It is due to her constant(as I see it) redundant questions and outright accusations that at times go on for ever that we now have the 5 minute rule which was never needed before. It is sad that our Committee meetings have transformed into what appears to be a "witchhunt". These meetings are not pleasant to attend. But, I plan to continue my attendance because I want to stay informed.
Allenwoodie
9:56 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2012
We need to remember that our committee members are paid very little for the job they do. They all have full time jobs. They work evenings for this town to try to make it the best it can be. They give up valuable time with their families because they want to be involved. They are public servants because they understand what that means. They deserve to be treated with respect, not badgered to the point of frustration. I would tell Betsy Cross that if she thinks it's so easy she should give up her evenings with her family...but I don't want her anywhere near this town's business!!