New Town Hall 2/24/05
The Middle Road
By Rich Kohler
February 24, 2005
Led by Committeeman Scott Aagre, the 2005 Hazlet Township Committee has unveiled a cost efficient, practical solution to a problem that has challenged our community for a long time.
Recently and without controversy, Mayor Paul Coughlin announced that, in order to create a site for a new town hall, the township will move the Office of Emergency Management from its present location on Union Avenue to the Department of Public Works building on Leocadia Court.
Kevin Lavan, a former candidate for Township Committee, submitted a letter in last week’s edition of the Courier, in which he gravely warns residents that “Hazlet has the potential for disaster,” and insists that in order to adequately safeguard our community, the O.E.M. building must remain at its current location.
Hazlet is a small town with one police department, two first aid stations, and three volunteer fire companies, each of which is well-staffed, well-equipped, and continually training to act as first responders to any disaster that develops within our borders. With the support of the O.E.M, our town is well prepared to properly handle any emergency situation.
Since Hazlet’s safety professionals have not voiced any concern about the O.E.M.’s pending move of less than one mile away from its present location, Mr. Lavan’s rhetoric of fear and doubt reminds me of the campaign literature he distributed during his unsuccessful bid for election last year.
At a recent Hazlet Township Committee meeting, Mr. Lavan, along with former Mayor, Christopher Cullen, voiced his concern regarding the recent development of a resolution to Hazlet’s town hall problem.
Mr. Lavan asked irrelevant questions regarding the transport of the O.E.M.’s communication equipment.
Disregarding his own past statements, as well as several engineering studies, which pointed out the unfeasibility of rebuilding at 319 Middle Road, Mr. Cullen asked Mayor Coughlin to justify the Township Committee’s decision to relocate town hall.
During Mr. Cullen’s term in office, Hazlet’s Democrat-controlled Township Committee led the township into a legal battle with an ill-conceived purchase of land, on which they planned to construct a town hall. The resulting legal fees exceeded the cost of the land, which was ultimately deemed an unfeasible site for a new town hall project.
The subsequent, also Democrat-led, Township Committee sparked additional controversy by proceeding with a plan to build a municipal complex next to the police station, in place of our library. The proposal included the closure of our town’s branch of the Monmouth County Library, but it did not include a viable plan to reopen it.
One of Hazlet’s most pressing problems has gone unresolved for many years, but the dynamics of this issue have changed.
The poor planning and deception that plagued Hazlet’s quest for a new town hall in the past have been replaced by common sense and professional protocol. The media frenzies, public outcries, and standing-room-only township meetings have been replaced by a couple of seemingly sour grapes.
By Rich Kohler
February 24, 2005
Led by Committeeman Scott Aagre, the 2005 Hazlet Township Committee has unveiled a cost efficient, practical solution to a problem that has challenged our community for a long time.
Recently and without controversy, Mayor Paul Coughlin announced that, in order to create a site for a new town hall, the township will move the Office of Emergency Management from its present location on Union Avenue to the Department of Public Works building on Leocadia Court.
Kevin Lavan, a former candidate for Township Committee, submitted a letter in last week’s edition of the Courier, in which he gravely warns residents that “Hazlet has the potential for disaster,” and insists that in order to adequately safeguard our community, the O.E.M. building must remain at its current location.
Hazlet is a small town with one police department, two first aid stations, and three volunteer fire companies, each of which is well-staffed, well-equipped, and continually training to act as first responders to any disaster that develops within our borders. With the support of the O.E.M, our town is well prepared to properly handle any emergency situation.
Since Hazlet’s safety professionals have not voiced any concern about the O.E.M.’s pending move of less than one mile away from its present location, Mr. Lavan’s rhetoric of fear and doubt reminds me of the campaign literature he distributed during his unsuccessful bid for election last year.
At a recent Hazlet Township Committee meeting, Mr. Lavan, along with former Mayor, Christopher Cullen, voiced his concern regarding the recent development of a resolution to Hazlet’s town hall problem.
Mr. Lavan asked irrelevant questions regarding the transport of the O.E.M.’s communication equipment.
Disregarding his own past statements, as well as several engineering studies, which pointed out the unfeasibility of rebuilding at 319 Middle Road, Mr. Cullen asked Mayor Coughlin to justify the Township Committee’s decision to relocate town hall.
During Mr. Cullen’s term in office, Hazlet’s Democrat-controlled Township Committee led the township into a legal battle with an ill-conceived purchase of land, on which they planned to construct a town hall. The resulting legal fees exceeded the cost of the land, which was ultimately deemed an unfeasible site for a new town hall project.
The subsequent, also Democrat-led, Township Committee sparked additional controversy by proceeding with a plan to build a municipal complex next to the police station, in place of our library. The proposal included the closure of our town’s branch of the Monmouth County Library, but it did not include a viable plan to reopen it.
One of Hazlet’s most pressing problems has gone unresolved for many years, but the dynamics of this issue have changed.
The poor planning and deception that plagued Hazlet’s quest for a new town hall in the past have been replaced by common sense and professional protocol. The media frenzies, public outcries, and standing-room-only township meetings have been replaced by a couple of seemingly sour grapes.
posted by Rich Kohler at 6:50 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home