Dear Editor:
I recently attended the Republican Caucus for Green Garden Township. There was a challenge to the incumbents who were seeking the nomination for township offices. The challengers were successful. Congratulations and thank you for offering your time to serve as Green Garden Township officials, if elected this coming spring.
The issue that seemed to drive the challenge to incumbents was the question of using a grant to make upgrades to the current town hall building or building on land the township already owns. Some also suggest purchasing an existing building.
I believe these choices are being conflated. THIS IS NOT AN EITHER OR CHOICE as it seems to have been portrayed. The grant money can only be used to upgrade the current town hall building. So, if you don’t use it, you lose it!
The township does own land that could be built on, and there is more than $750,000 in a building fund. This could be done at a date in the future. Using the grant to make improvements to the town hall today does not stop the township from using the building fund to improve the vacant land the township currently owns at a future date.
Several of the successful candidates at the caucus suggested purchasing a property owned by one of the newly slated candidates. It is my understanding that another one of the people slated at the caucus is the agent for the property seller.
If this Republican slate is seated after the election April 1, I caution all to pay close attention to any real estate dealings and for those involved to recuse themselves from any votes that are conflicts of interest.
Barbara Rizzo
Green Garden Resident