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 ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: asburypark-dig...@yahoogroups.com asburypark-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: asburypark-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/