Update to "Who Let the Dogs out"

The School Board Association, the governing body over local School Boards has not answered phone calls and several messages have been left.

Conversations with NJ Voters and NJ Election Law Enforcement in Trenton, have produced the following:

There are no restrictions on any political party to endorse a candidate for the School Board elections. Mr. O'Connell didn't break any laws by using the Democratic mail permit.

One would questions his ethics. Are we now resorting to politics regarding the children of Matawan? Will this open the door for future School Board elections? Why is it so important to Mr. O'Connell to win? One of his children remains in the gifted program. By the next election she will graduate and it has been reported that he will not run again.

What are his accomplishments while in office? Test scores for all Matawan public schools are below the State average. That is a fact! This wouldn't be a problem for his child but what about yours? What has he done to improve test scores for the average children? We don't know, do you?

Jim Purcell of the Courier stated, it is the long standing policy of his publication not to seek out candidates but rather candidates have to contact the Courier. On that premise the only candidates that contacted The Courier were Mr. O'Connell and Mr. Gambino. Now we all know the policy of the Courier. It is unfortunate the other candidates were not aware of the Courier's policy. The Asbury Park Press, The Independent, The Star Ledger newspapers contact candidates and request an interview. So folks keep this in mind for the next election.

If all this intrigue is going on for the School Board election, hold on to your hats for the Matawan Borough Council elections. What will become of our little Borough when all the "fat cats" make their financial gains and move on? Will our Matawan be listed in the "urban plight" category?

Who Let the Dogs Out!

A flyer from Larry O'Connell for School Board, arrived at Matawan residents homes this week. The disturbing part is that the permit to pay for it is registered to the Democratic Party! Another incident is that the Courier newspaper has copies of this weeks publication with O'Connell & Gambino's photos on the front page in the lobby of the Matawan Community Center. The article names only these two candidates espousing their credentials and merely mentions that there are actually five people running who remain nameless. Did everyone forget the School Board Elections are non-partisan? Has Jim Purcell of the Courier, who claims to be a journalist gone too far? Or is he pushing the limits of biased journalism to the max!

Is the Chairperson of the Democratic Party in Matawan, Mrs. Malley (Councilman Will Malley's wife) aware that the permit was used? If so, will she also pay for mailings for all the candidates?

Has someone found petroleum under the Historic Train Station? Because it is for damn sure our little Borough is becoming a "hot spot" for controversy. Someone is financing all these campaigns and we are questioning their motives. It certainly is not in the best interests of our children nor our Borough. Who would benefit most financially? That is the question we should all be asking.

Sheila Flamm is the only candidate challenging O'Connell for the seat on the School Board in Matawan. She is running a fair campaign dealing directly with the issues. Sheila Flamm has not tainted her campaign with cheap tricks. She is running her campaign with dignity and respect for herself as well as the other candidates. Larry O'Connell should take a page from her book!

Democratic Slate for Matawan

WELCOME TO MATAWAN

Under the present administration this is how our Historic Train Station looks.

The petitions are in and Matawan Borough will soon be embroiled in a pivotal election. Here are the candidates:

Democratic Party
Mary Aufseeser for Mayor
Robert Bunyon for Councilman
Kevin Mendes for Councilman

Based on the following information, how will you vote?

Mary Aufseeser, presently the Mayor under whose administration we have seen an increase in the municipal budget of $1,319,682., from 2006 to 2007. Mayor Aufseeser in a letter to residents of Union Street stated, “My goal has been to stabilize taxes to the greatest extent possible.” Doesn’t sound like a stabilization program to me! Therefore, Mayor Aufseeser has failed in her efforts to stabilize taxes. Overall a lackluster performance record.

Mayor Aufseeser is unresponsive to Matawan residents. We could cite many examples, however, due to limited space, just come to a Borough Council Meeting and see for yourself. Actually, see is what you will observe, as the Mayor does not respond to questions very often, the Borough Attorney speaks in her place. We long for the days when our elected officials responded to our questions. Ah yes, those were the days of Mayor Rob Clifton!

Robert Bunyon, now there is a name that conjures up memories of the “ghost candidate.”
Now we ask, Mr. Bunyon, are you really, really sure, you want to run. On the other hand, will this be another ploy to get an ineligible candidate to slide on to the ballot? It is difficult to trust someone who cannot make up his or her mind.

Kevin Mendes, we will need to reserve opinions on Mr. Mendes until we have all the facts. He lives in Matawan. He serves on the Planning & Zoning Board. Mr. Mendes also works for Key Auto Body. Does this mean Re-development is dead at the Train Station?

www.greatschools.net

Check out this website, www.greatschools.net. It rates schools and provides information pertaining to schools ratings statewide. There is also a comment section for parents to enter their positive/negative suggestions or experiences. A great tool for parents moving into an area looking to research the schools. It will also keep you current on the progress or lack of progress in your school district. Suggest you check it our for yourself prior to voting on April 17, 2007 for the School Budget and for School Board members.

Matawan Boro Council Mtg Tonight at 7:30pm

Issues with the Borough Council

Non-responsive Council Members - Time and time again residents ask questions or request information from our Council Members. No answers are given. The responses are, we'll get back to you or at the next meeting we will have an answer.....BUT answers, information never come. Ask for documents and you are met with delay after delay. The hope is you will go away or have a lapse of memory. Remember who refuses to communicate at election time. If you can't respond to the needs of the community, you don't belong on the Borough Council! It's not like we are asking to recite Einsteins theory of relativity or for them to solve world peace. We leave the tough questions to the Beauty Pageants.

Redevelopment - Why isn't the Council sharing its vision with the public? Aware of the litigation (Silver Oaks v. Matawan appeal) plans could be in place so that in nine (9) months we will be in a position to move forward. Council cannot discuss the litigation. They can plan ahead. This matter has been pending for many years. You might want to ask who is funding the litigation for Silver Oaks? Developers are in it for the profit, not litigation. Who has and will benefit from this delay. Well it sure as hell isn't Matawan. Whoever is backing this fiasco is no friend to Matawan. As for Aberdeen, they are progressing with or without the Transit Village. Their Mayor announced no budget increase for 2007. While Matawan is dormant, Aberdeen had new stores added along with continuing growth of their commercial tax base. Shop Rite, Stop n Shop, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sleepys, Shoe Stores compared to Matawan's C-Town. Which would you rather see a Shop Rite or a C-Town? Yes, restaurants have opened, only to replace others that closed. We wish all businesses in Matawan good luck and encourage everyone to patronize them.

Multi-family units are to be built on the old Sloane Products site Route 79. Councilman Malley and Mayor Aufseeser have expressed their concern with the increase of traffic the Transit Village will bring to our streets coupled with overburdening our schools. Their voices have been absent when it comes to what this multi-family project will do to Route 79? Wouldn't this project be better delayed? Do you really think these residents will shop in Matawan? Or will they shop at Stop N Shop, Shop Rite in Aberdeen?

Executive Session - Per a recent article in the a local newspaper, executive sessions seem to be misused. In Matawan alone it appears there is an executive session prior to each meeting, at times following meetings. Makes you wonder what is the closed door sessions all about.

Welcome to Matawan

What a disgrace! This is the vision you see when arriving in Matawan. Our historic train station is in shambles and condemned. Is this what you want visitors or for that matter is this what you want to see when in Matawan? Well, this is what you will be seeing without Redevelopment. It appears our present Borough Council doesn't see the urgency in moving forward. Whoever is funding the delay in our progress (Silver Oaks v. Matawan) is no friend to Matawan. If we look into this further as previously stated in our posts; what does Silver Oaks have to gain by appealing the decision of the Courts? Someone is obviously putting up the money for this developer to continue with this lawsuit, even though it has no merit. Developers are into making money, not litigation! It is astonishing that some people would take the time to stop Matawan from progressing.

Signs of the Times in Matawan