Archive for January, 2012

Gibson storms out of meeting

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

He did not get his way so he went home

It is not unusual to see Councilman Tom Gibson roll his eyes at people or be condescending during meetings but last night he really out did himself.  At the end of a special meeting to appoint an MUA commissioner he not only acted unprofessional but was down right childish. The meeting did not go as he planned so he just couldn’t resist throwing a tantrum and stormed out before the meeting was adjourned.

During the meeting David Benn was surprisingly appointed to the MUA by a 2-2-1 vote. Gibson wanted to reappoint his campaign manager Bob Silcox but he hit a snag. He had his puppet Belton’s vote but no more support than that. With Mayor Donnelly abstaining and DiFolco and Dow voting for Benn the motion carried and a new commissioner was appointed to the five year term. More to come on this as the law firm Parker McKay that represents the law firm is rumored to be working overtime (at the taxpayers expense) to overturn their own legal opinion and nullify Mr. Benn’s appointment.

Stay tuned as the drama continues.

I have to say that it came as a surprise that someone new will actually get to serve on the MUA. Maybe with another new commissioner some things will actually begin to change.

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Belton makes it official

Monday, January 30th, 2012

High Street has a new puppet

He already has the big house on High Street and is backed by a certain wealthy family but tonight he makes it official. At a special Town Council meeting tonight Councilman Belton will prove he is nothing more than Tom Gibson’s puppet. The meeting is being called to appoint (or reappoint) a MUA Commissioner. The seat on the MUA is currently held by political boss Bob Silcox (Gibson’s campaign manager/neighbor)

Even though he campaigned on a platform of change and a more open government Belton will prove he has become nothing more than a politician. He publicly stated in the past that he is in favor of putting new people on the MUA and even endorsed David Benn the last time a seat was open, but this time things are different. To go against the High Street Boss would require having a backbone but Belton’s voting history shows he has not voted to change a thing. And now he has caved to the pressure of his boss Gibson and the political pressure to reappoint The High Street Boss.

This appointment is key to the High Street political machine as the MUA oversees a multi-million dollar budget and campaign contributors make hundreds of thousands of dollars of our tax dollars. The MUA patronage pit will live on!

The special meeting is 7pm tonight at the MUA building, 37 Washington Street, if you would like to witness it yourself.

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Mt. Holly School Board moves election to November

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Breaking…

Tonight the Mt. Holly School Board voted 3-1 to move the April election to November. The voters will no longer be able to vote on the school budget. 

more tomorrow on this…

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Tax payers to pay more for failed Gardens project

Saturday, January 21st, 2012

Township will have to fork out $8 MILLION more

BCT Story

Progress on the redevelopment of Mount Holly Gardens remains in a holding pattern as the municipality is running out of money to purchase and demolish the remaining homes.

Only about $300,000 is left to buy and tear down the homes to make way for a new development planned at the property off Levis Drive and the Route 541 Bypass, Township Manager Kathy Hoffman said.

At least $6 million to $8 million more will be needed to be bonded, Hoffman said. (more…)

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Kent Pipes continues to ruin Mt. Holly

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

Homeless shelter approved on Garden Street

BCT Story

A Garden Street property can now house a total of 25 homeless women and children.

A certificate of occupancy was granted by the township late last month to the Affordable Homes Group Inc. of Eastampton for the property at 209-211 Garden St.

Kent Pipes, president of the nonprofit, said residents are expected to move into the transitional housing in the next few weeks. (more…)

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2011 in review

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

School and Fire District budgets rubber stamped, new Councilman elected, Council refuses to pass ethics policy (twice), and police force cut while crime on the rise.

Budgets

The year 2011 brought a couple surprises but a lot of business as usual. In February the Fire District budget was defeated by the public just to have Town Council rubber stamp it and keep the tax increase intact. The same thing happened in April with the School District budget when that was defeated by the voters as well. Councilman Dow seemed to be the only member of Council listening to the will of the voters as he voted no for both defeated budgets. Also in April on the school ballot was a public question for the township to exceed the 2% tax cap. The question was narrowly defeated in contrast to the school budgets that were defeated by significant margins. As a result of the defeated cap question the MHPD staffing was cut and two police officers now patrol our town per shift instead of three. At the same time violent crime has been on the rise and at least four shootings occurred in town.

Elections (more…)

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