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…
Category: Open Public Records Act
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 Read More…
Tabernacle Admits To OPRA And OPMA Violations; June 2019 Meeting Videos
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 Read More…
Tabernacle’s 2019 Budget: Tax And Spend
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 Read More…
More Unplanned And Secretive Decision Making By Tabernacle Township Committee
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, Read More…
Tabernacle Committee Rescinds Resolution That Gave Improper Break To Land Owner
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. Read More…
Tabernacle Committee Should Tighten Its Belt, Not Raise Taxes
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 Hides Info On Municipal Court Deal
The township continued to conduct business in an opaque and non-transparent manner with its approval of a deal with Woodland Township to share municipal court services. If adopted by Woodland Township, the shared services agreement would then require the approval of the New Jersey Superior Court in Burlington County. The committee adopted Resolution 2018-51 without Read More…
Three Interesting Items From The February 12, 2018 Tabernacle Township Meeting
1. Still Waiting For The Perfect Moment? Although the Public Safety Director position and the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Emergency Services/Contract were each listed for discussion on the committee’s February 12, 2018 meeting agenda, the Committee didn’t discuss them. Instead, both items were again tabled for discussion at a future meeting. The committee’s reason Read More…