See more background on the issue HERE.
All but one of them, TC Member and former mayor Jerry Ryan, declined our request.
Ryan stated the following in an email:
"There's a lot of data indicating a need for more parking in Maplewood Village. Lots of people have approached the town on this. There's a lot of sentiment to keep the Woman's Club property and not have it be converted into some other use such as housing. The action that the Township's started here addresses both of these points. The price is very low, and the annual cost for the purchase over the life of financing is roughly a sixth of a tax point."
Councilman Ryan is being so dishonest here it touches lying. For the building to be anything except boarded up will require a significant investment in repairs, seemingly another $1 million or more, as well as ongoing maintenance (paid out of the current account, not capital expenditures) as well as a costly administrative function. The owner of a $400,000 house is now going to pay an extra $65/year in taxes just for the purchase. Let alone doubling or tripling this amount to have the building used in any capacity. And, bear in mind the township is spending money for underused libraries and community centers, each time falsely claiming there is some shortage of space for a community group to meet in. The town even tried to rationalize the boondoggle police station as providing meeting rooms for community groups. The bald fact remains Councilman Ryan was part of a conspiracy to keep this decision a secret, thus violating the spirit if not the letter of our town and state open meeting rules.
ReplyDeleteJerry Ryan lying? What a surprise.
ReplyDeleteWatch what you say about Ryan he'll cry and call the cops on you
ReplyDelete