In Response to COVID, Tabernacle Relaxes Rabies Enforcement. One of Mayor Brown’s pet projects was to end late fees on dog registrations for 2021. This, she explained, would ease the financial burden on tardy dog owners in these COVID times. Another part of this initiative was to eliminate business registration late fees. At the February 8, Read More…
Category: Open Public Records Act
Tabernacle’s Inner Circle
At the June 15, 2020 meeting, the township committee approved the payment of $200 for Certified Finance Officer Rodney Haines’s participation in a webinar conference. The webinar was held by the Tax Collectors and Treasurers Association of NJ. Mr. Haines is Tabernacle’s part-time CFO. He is also the full-time CFO for Little Egg Harbor Township Read More…
Tabernacle’s April 24, 2020 Meeting, Different Medium Same Result
Democratic governments, for the most part, are required to conduct the public’s business in a public meeting. Citizens, for the most part, have the right to be there and participate. That fundamental exercise of our democratic republic was tested on April 27, 2020 when the Tabernacle Township committee held its first electronic meeting on the Read More…
Tabernacle Adopts Bogus Open Public Records Act Resolution Based On Misleading “Data”
At the November 25, 2019 meeting, the committee unanimously adopted Resolution 2019-119, which concerns the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). The resolution was developed by the Municipal Clerks’ Association of New Jersey (Association) with the blessings of the New Jersey League of Municipalities (League). It praises the good purposes of OPRA but lobbies for a Read More…
Tabernacle Township’s Latest OPRA And OPMA Violations
Tabernacle has admitted in Superior Court that it violated the Open Public Records Act (OPRA). It also admitted that it’s been violating the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). These aren’t surprising admissions for those who have been watching. In the consent order to settle this complaint, which I filed in May 2018, Tabernacle agreed to
There are 565 municipalities in New Jersey. Last week, through a Superior Court consent order, a Tabernacle Township employee received a civil penalty for “knowingly and willfully” withholding public documents, since the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) became law in 2001. Separately, in the same consent order, the Tabernacle Township Clerk was ordered to retract
2019 Budget. Tabernacle’s 2019 municipal budget was the main item for discussion at the April 8 committee meeting. Committee members again demonstrated that they would rather increase taxes than decrease spending or increase revenue. No belt tightening for this committee. The committee directed Chief Financial Officer Rodney Haines to make final tweaks on a budget
At the September 27 meeting (there’s only one meeting per month these days), the committee voted to pay all bills including a $1,980 bill described as “Tabernacle Board of Education Appraisal Fee Community Center.” The motion to pay all bills, including this one, was seconded by Committeewoman Kim Brown. All committee members, including Ms. Brown,
At its February 26, 2018 township meeting, the committee unanimously adopted an unusual resolution, 2018-40, that appeared on the agenda from nowhere. The subject of the resolution was the “placement” of a trailer on one particular property. This issue was never mentioned at a prior meeting. It was barely discussed at the February 26 meeting.
Public Hearing on 2018 Budget The committee held a public hearing on the 2018 municipal budget at its April 23, meeting. But it tabled the matter and didn’t vote. It was tabled because two committee members – Kim Brown and Joseph Yates – were absent. The proposed budget calls for $4.3 million of spending and Read More…Tabernacle Admits To OPRA And OPMA Violations; June 2019 Meeting Videos
Tabernacle’s 2019 Budget: Tax And Spend
More Unplanned And Secretive Decision Making By Tabernacle Township Committee
Tabernacle Committee Rescinds Resolution That Gave Improper Break To Land Owner
Tabernacle Committee Should Tighten Its Belt, Not Raise Taxes