Several weeks ago I attempted to stimulate some interest and discussion
regarding the process started by the City to modify the Redevelopment Plan.
Sadly, The response has been less than encouraging considering that the Plan is
the most significant document effecting success or failure of the Waterfront
Redevelopment Are (WRA) as the process moves forward.
Several items of interest/concern come to mind.... The City has already created
its 'Vision' of a reworked Plan, the Advisory Committee (AC) lacks significant
public representation, there are specific skills and knowledge base that are
not represented, the AC has had its first meeting without public notice....
This last item should be of particular concern considering the State regulation
known as the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) which mandates the public having
access to observe its governmental bodies at work.
"N.J.S.A.
10:4-7. Legislative findings and declaration
The Legislature finds and declares that the right of the public to be present
at all meetings of public bodies, and to witness in full detail all phases of
the deliberation, policy formulation, and decision making of public bodies, is
vital to the enhancement and proper functioning of the democratic process; that
secrecy in public affairs undermines the faith of the public in government and
the public's effectiveness in fulfilling its role in a democratic society, and
hereby declares it to be the public policy of this State to insure the right of
its citizens to have adequate advance notice of and the right to attend all
meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting the public is
discussed or acted upon in any way except only in those circumstances where
otherwise the public interest would be clearly endangered or the personal
privacy or guaranteed rights of individuals would be clearly in danger of
unwarranted invasion..."
Please recall that the current state of affairs is a direct result of planning
decisions having been made behind closed doors and out of public view a full
decade ago.
Let's not make the same mistake...
Does anyone care ?
Werner Baumgartner
City Historian Emeritus
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