Sat, 02/18/2012 - 6:08pm - Posted by: Mick12455

The fire districts do not set the date and time of the elections, the state does all of that. I would imagine that during this time of the year, with almost no tourism effecting things, most people would be off from work on a Saturday afternoon and evening (2:00pm to 9:00pm) and it should allow for greater voter participation. As usual, absentee ballots were available for this election. Once people who apply for a lifetime absentee ballot apply, the fire commission ballots and the board of education ballots automatically are mailed to those individuals, just like the primary and general election ballots and any other election ballots for special elections that may come up. Everything that can be done is done to accomodate the voters, including public notices in the newspapers legal sections, also as required by law. Meeting dates, special meetings, elections, it's all covered. Anyone who really wanted to know when and where the meetings and elections are should have no problem finding out. If nothing else, call the township clerk if you can't get a hold of anyone else.

The Fire Commissioners of Fire District #1 in Middle, which cover the Cape May Court House and Swainton Fire Stations may be adding a web page in the near future in an attempt to let the public view what is newsworthy in the district as well as doing a press release on occassion to let the public know what they are up to. No matter how hard they may try, someone here and there will be overlooked, although not intentionally.

The Fire Commissioners do not have any desire to keep anyone from being properly informed. Late last week and for several days before that, there was a movement afoot to disrupt the process and pass out false information about what the district's commissioners were doing. A lot of half truths were passed around by those with an attitude and an axe to grind. I apologize if I mistakenly grouped you in as one of them. You never know who is who on here and what their motives are. Your initial posting made it sound like you were not favorable to anything the fire commissioners were doing, although no one seems to want to believe that for the second year in a row, the budget for Fire District #1 actually has been reduced. There are competent individuals within the community who deserve better treatment and better judgement for what they are doing on behalf of the community that they serve and also support with their tax dollars.

Sat, 02/18/2012 - 10:55am - Posted by: Somewhere in Middle Twp

My point was to get better voter turnout Just like the school boards-better representation of the taxpayers. The February date and in the afternoon isn't consistent with many public elections. I feel the same way about the school board elections. Its tough enough to get voter turnout for elections in November.

. I will be there today and will vote. Did my due dilegence on the subject and will cast ,my vote.

Fri, 02/17/2012 - 5:12pm - Posted by: Mick12455

Somewhere in Middle Twp, here are your exact words......Next we have to get the fire elections moved- this is a bigger disgrace. They vote for own budget because the election is in Feb? and get low turnout form non firemen/relatives/friends so they get what they want in terms of funding. I know they are volunteers but still the public should have a say and combin ing it in Nov will get better turnout, maybe not better informed but at least more people.

You state that you have voted for the budget but yet your words hint otherwise, like the firemen and their friends are the only ones who vote and get what they want. You can't have it both ways and there is nothing threatening in anything I have posted here or anywhere else. Some people throw that word 'threatening' around not knowing at all that it doesn't apply here. Look at your words before you accuse me of barking up the wrong tree. Your words are negative towards the fire district, the firemen, the elections and the whole process. A better selection of words in the future might help you and nothing beats the truth.

Fri, 02/17/2012 - 4:20pm - Posted by: Somewhere in Middle Twp

Mick Nowhere I said I felt intimidated-although the tone of your comments appear threatening. I know plenty of people at the firehouses and have attended some functions. I would just like to have them at the same time so there is more voter turnout-that is how our country operates.

For your information I have always voted for your budget so you are barking up the wrong tree, perhaps turning off voters who were on the fence about the budget.

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 6:14pm - Posted by: Mick12455

So, Somewhere in Middle Twp, you think that it makes sense to vote on something you know nothing about? That's fantastic because you can be fed a bunch of BS and make your decision and vote accordingly? Fantastic. Were your parents brother and sister by any chance?

The biggest problem with having the fire elections in November is that the fire districts boundaries and voting districts boundaries do not match in any way, shape or form. As an example, Dias Creek has three different fire districts representing it and Dias Creek is represented by about six different voting districts. It would take a lot to align the voting and fire districts as it would involve changing the boundaries of the fire districts and balancing for the voting districts. The state had a look at this on several occasions and decided it would create such a mess that it might not ever be resolved and create more confusion than it is worth. But of course, there are still the naysayers, those uninformed who can't let it go. Just saying that the state looked into it and decided to leave it alone isn't good enough for some people. With what I have outlined here, you can stop trying to assassinate your local volunteers as they didn't create this mess or speak out against moving the fire elections to November. It just is in no way practical from any point of view.

Do yourself a favor and attend these open public meetings and drop all of the excuses about being intimidated by voting at the firehouse and all of that other nonsense. If you have a problem with the election dates, contact your State Senator and Assemblymen and leave the firemen to do the dirty tasks that you choose not to do and complain about. Leave your volunteer public servants out of a mess they didn't create, a battle they want no part in. We are talking about public safety here, something a few of you know nothing about but hammer away at by the suggestions that we hide behind our title of volunteer, which we do not, never have and never will.

If you have all of the answers, step away from the couch or computer keyboard, attend these meetings and find out what is really going on out in the real world. It might surprise you.

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 8:58pm - Posted by: Somewhere in Middle Twp

I am happy its in Novenmber-maybe more voters will vote some of the longterm boardmember some and get some new Blood(not necessarily younger) on the Board.

Next we have to get the fire elections moved- this is a bigger disgrace. They vote for own budget because the election is in Feb? and get low turnout form non firemen/relatives/friends so they get what they want in terms of funding. I know they are volunteers but still the public should have a say and combin ing it in Nov will get better turnout, maybe not better informed but at least more people.

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 1:46am - Posted by: john

Maybe Timbo ( yup , he used to post as "Timbo" ) wants to get the job of kitchen helper in the Middle HS cafeteria after he gets booted out of office . After all , he IS qualified to make English muffin pizzas . More likely , he'll want to sell the school pots and pans - his true profession . He'll need his connections on the school board , then , to support his post political " career " .

This guy is as politically and intellectually astute as the E-trade baby . He mumbles something trite and cute - without any substance : " countdown to zero , leaner and cleaner " ad nauseam . Listening to him jabber away at a committee meeting was about as stimulating as a recent colonoscopy . They both dealt with the same body part .

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 12:52am - Posted by: KeepThemHonest

Hey Dim, you didn't hide behind a screen name because you WANTED people to know it was you, which precisely proves my point. You just registered it today!! We would have known anyway because your post is just another regurgitation of your campaign rhetoric, lol. Nice try but you definitely are insinuating yourself as a politician and not as a concerned taxpaying parent.

Wed, 02/15/2012 - 12:06am - Posted by: 1776

TIM- No need to cry in your milk just yet. Of course you're entitled to your opinion. The problem is it just so happens to be another stupid repub opinion. People want solutions to real problems, not more parroted talking points from govenor fat b@stard that favor his corporate friends in high places over the well being of joe average.

Tue, 02/14/2012 - 11:13pm - Posted by: Giblet

We the People would have petitioned for this to happen if this decision had not been made by the BOE or Committee.

Tue, 02/14/2012 - 10:03pm - Posted by: t donohue

I guess I should have hidden behind a phony name like the ironic "keep them honest"?? I didn't realize that as an elected official I'm no longer entitled to an opinion.

As a Middle Township taxpayer and father of a high school student, I think it's safe to say I have a right to comment. This is not a political issue, it is simply common sense.

It is worth restating, this positive change will promote healthy debate, increase voter turnout, improve the vetting of candidates and decrease the cost of elections. It's a no-brainer.

The fact that it took this long to happen (and only passed by a 5-4 vote) only highlights the disproportionate influence that special interests have had on this process. Voters and taxpayers of all political persuasions should applaud this move.

Tue, 02/14/2012 - 9:27pm - Posted by: 1776

KEEP THEM HONEST- Well said!

Tue, 02/14/2012 - 7:55pm - Posted by: KeepThemHonest

“We are very fortunate that our board has not been political,”.

Enter Tim Donohue.

Tue, 02/14/2012 - 3:35pm - Posted by: t donohue

I was gratified to hear that the School Board voted to move their election to coincide with the General Election. It was a 5-4 vote and I applaud the 5 members who stepped up to do the right thing. This will encourage more debate, increase voter participation and save the Township the cost of a separate election.

The move also diminishes the ability of a small group, voting in their own vested interest, to unduly influence the outcome of these important elections, where millions of dollars in taxpayer money are at stake.

We live in a new fiscal reality that is not going to get any better, any time soon. Elected bodies that accept this fact and move proactively to become more transparent, encourage citizen involvement and commit themselves to spending the public's money wisely and reluctantly, will have a leg up, when the tough decisions are made on how to allocate the finite resources available to our town.

Well done.