DEP Decision On Holmdel Sewer Service Mapping Shatters Public Trust
By Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian G. Burry
Whether it has been leading the fight to clean up a “superfund” site, preserve an historic building, protect open space, conserve farmland, expand parks, roads or libraries, I have always had one unifying goal, and that is to protect and enhance the quality of life for the people I am sworn to serve.
Having the trust of the people is essential for meeting this commitment. That doesn’t mean always having their full agreement, but it does mean having their faith that you will deal with them openly and honor agreements that are made.
The Wastewater Management Plan for Monmouth County is the product of years of effort on the part of many individuals and government agencies, including the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Monmouth County Planning Board and its staff, the municipal governments of all 53 towns and eight sewerage authorities as well as many other public and private interests.
The process has been a long one. It has required many meetings and a great deal of patience on all sides. It has always been a process that was open, inclusive, collaborative and consensus-building and in almost every case produced an outcome agreeable to all parties. There is a great deal of good in this plan and it must be acknowledged along with the efforts of all who were involved.
Not long ago I had expected that my remarks would end at this congenial point. That is no longer possible. The DEP, acting within its prerogatives, directed Monmouth County to change sewer service area mapping in Holmdel Township.
This is an issue that had been a source of great contention and disagreement throughout the process. It necessitated special meetings and discussions with landowners, the municipality, the sewerage authority and members of the public.
Throughout this long open process, my own thoughts have always been guided by a few specific principles:
First, I look to municipal intent as expressed in master plans and zoning ordinances as well as the stated position of the governing bodies;
Second, I looked to the broader world of land use policy as embodies in the Monmouth County Growth Management Guide, the State Development and Redevelopment Plan and the Wastewater Management Plan itself, and Third, I looked to the ability of landowners to secure their options through the Monmouth County Planning Board Amendment Review Committee, which is the mechanism by which changes to the plan can be accomplished as disagreements with the municipality are resolved. What I found is this:
There is a consistent concern for protecting drinking water supplies in Monmouth County. A very important element of this is protection of the Swimming River Reservoir, part of a system serving more than 340,000 people, and the watershed that supports it. The southern slope of Holmdel Township is part of that watershed. Holmdel is committed to limiting sewers there.
More than 25 years ago, the Monmouth County Planning Board adopted, as part of its Guide Plan, a document that calls for this protection. The State Development and Redevelopment Plan uses locations within a water supply watershed as the basis for designating land as Planning Area 5 – Environmentally Sensitive. This proposed wastewater plan identifies eight Monmouth County water purveyors as being in potential deficit for water supply and finds there is virtually no reserve in the confined aquifers from which their water allocations are drawn.
Installing sewers not only facilitates the expansion of impervious cover, which increases storm water runoff, but also transfers wastewater out of the drainage basin and discharges it into the Raritan Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Both of these things reduce groundwater recharge essential to preserving base flow in streams that support the reservoir.
The Monmouth County Planning Board Amendment Review Committee remains an effective mechanism for amending this plan that is available to all landowners that secure municipal approvals requiring expanded sewers. All of these facts argue against the action directed by NJDEP.
My final concern goes beyond these objective and technical issues. It is the matter of public trust I spoke of earlier.
When a process where the greatest care has been taken to build consensus among the parties and protect the rights of all involved is effectually overturned at the 11th hour, the trust of the public is shattered. And when it is done to accomplish something that could as easily be achieved through normal administrative means, it is particularly troubling.
In my experience, one of the most important things about having authority is knowing when not to use it. This is the kind of action that can color relationships with the DEP well into the future and make both individuals and agencies question whether they should see the DEP as a trustworthy partner.
This would be unfortunate; the DEP is a great resource. But once public trust is lost, it is very hard to regain.
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Overtime spending that the Monmouth County Jail is so out of control that there are some jail guards making almost $200K a year. Lillian Burry, ever beholden to her PBA masters, is against privatizing the jail. The status quo continues under her incompetent watch.
http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2011-02-02/Front_Page/Task_force_report_rules_out_privatizing_Monmouth_j.html
Moreover, Lillian Burry did little or nothing to stop Brookdale Community College from awarding country club memberships and an outrageous compensation package to the former president Brookdale. I wonder why that is?
http://middletownmike.blogspot.com/2011/04/ever-wonder-why-lillian-burry-maintains.html
“But once public trust is lost, it is very hard to regain.” — Lillian Burry
LOL! Thanks for the laugh, Lillian. Now put down the pipe and remember that the public has very little trust in you.
Try to be a littlr pithier next time
As liaison to the sheriff’s department, Lillian hasn’t uttered a condemnation or a call for an investigation. This has cost the taxpayers of Monmouth County quite a bit.
http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2011/04/11/guadagno-gate-how-the-lt-governor-is-getting-away-with-245k-pension-scam/
@Pat before you go around uttering non-sense, you would be well informed that a study to privatize the jail was done and it was seen as not cost efficient for the County. AND for the record, she was the one who spearheaded the consolidation of the youth detention center SAVING 2 MILLION dollars a year. Know your facts before you start saying things.
This so-called study was done by people who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. Do you think Lillian Burry is going to allow a “study” she is involved with reach the conclusion that the Republicans that have controlled Monmouth County for much of the last 30 years have done a poor job of running that jail? Allow me to quote my 12 year-old niece’s favorite expression, “Puh-leeze!”
Thanks for the laugh, CommonSense.
Thanks for nothing, Lillian …
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/03/monmouth_county_pays_out_23_mi.html
@MoreTruth that excess paid out was because of the amount of layoffs caused by the 2009 budget. A budget Lillian voted NO for. A budget that was passed by none other than Mrs. Amy Mallet. If that budget failed, and less layoffs were issued, you wouldn’t have had that excess. Think outside the box a little bit rather than one way.
@Truth this is why people brush off the tea party and think they are nuts because of thick headed and uniformed people such as yourself. I bet you, the county would love nothing more then to get rid of the jail and privatize it. But because of FEDERAL regulations that require x amount of guards on duty 24/7 there is nothing that the County can do without violating federal mandate and run the risk of paying more money for fines. You have a problem with that, take it up with your Congressman (or a Congressman that will actually listen to you.) Once the federal unfunded mandates are lifted, I’m sure it will be more business friendly and the jail will be more appealing for investors.
Monmouth County is one of the very few counties who have a AAA bond rating. Something the STATE doesn’t even have anymore. That means, someone would rather bond Monmouth County more money rather than Trenton. That’s a big deal, and if you don’t see that, I apologize for your ignorance.
the one year in the last 20 or more that the Dems were in control of Freehold, they fired all those officers, under the guise of savings, thereby increasing the amount of overtime the guards get, due to mandated coverage, so the see-saw goes back and forth again.. and, remember, the Monmouth correctional facility, one of the state’s largest, still retains it’s unique, 5-star national accreditation, for all services and sections, thanks to strong leadership from the current and past two Sheriffs, and good wardens, the newest of which has been there for years and knows how to do it right.. with all the new bargaining rules, it’s unlikely any public-sector unions will ever get the raises they did in the past, so perhaps, the “class-warfare”and predictable and continuous complaining, can begin to wind down..we have a Board now, that is looking at many possible ways to share services,cut waste, and contain and reduce costs for the mandated and special services taxpayers have been taught to demand and expect, as in: “cut somewhere else, but not in my area”!.. this fiscal balancing act is the ongoing challenge of this century, and I do believe the R’s are doing and have done a more credible job, to date..so, believe the biased and inaccurate, free Dem-centric publicity of the APP rag, if you will, more level-headed and thinking people will monitor actual results, and vote accordingly..
Did I see you write strong leadership at the jail from the current and past sheriff’s??? Are you kidding me? The past sheriff engaged in FRAUD to permit the Chief Law Enforcement Officer–or is it Chief Warrant Officer–or is it Undersheriff–to engage in pension fraud.
The current sheriff knew about it (or should have known about it) and kept Donovan in the position allowing him to collect a pension and a salary when he should have ben re-enrolled into the PFRS pension system. Puhleeze, stop slapping these people on the back.
Golden has been very quiet on this matter–or as they say, “Silence is Golden.”
I would have posted the website this is all on, but I see it is posted above on a comment dated June 18th–I strong urge you to read it.
I don’t want a jail that is AAA rated, whatever that means, particularly if it means that I have to pay Monmouth County property taxes to reach that rating.
I want to live in a county where it costs more to feed the watch dogs than it costs to feed the inmates (e.g., Maricopa County, Arizona). I want a county jail that has no air conditioning. I want a county jail that has no TVs. I want to see inmates on chain gangs doing public works. (I want to see that often.) I want a county jail where the sheriff and the warden do the bare minimum in order to avoid having a judge rule that the jail he is running is cruel and unusual. I want a county jail where inmates hate being there. I want a county jail where guards don’t abuse their sick time. I want a jail with strong leadership. I want to see correctional officers paid considerably less than what they are paid now by Monmouth County. I want a jail that is run with respect for the taxpayers that pay to run that jail.
Lillian Burry and the other liberal Republicans that have run Monmouth County for much of the last 30 years have not given me as much. Lillian Burry and the corrupt, self-serving RINOs like her are part of the problem. They certainly are not part of the solution, the absurd and amusing spin of their apologists notwithstanding.
(Don’t click on the following links it you are offended by curse words.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vt4FoDoqVc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1tfIKUZ0fY
Having a county jail that has a “5-star national accreditation” should, and is, a source of shame for Monmouth County taxpayers. I don’t go to five star hotels; I certainly don’t want our inmates living in five star jails.
I want my county jail to be the cheapest, worst jail in America that doesn’t violate the bare minimums that our Constitution requires. Monmouth County and its liberal politicians ought to be ashamed for thinking and acting otherwise.
some people who are jealous that their candidate didn’t win and give them a job, will get past their personal ambitions,get more informed about how things are, and understand that :.. the COUNTY has a AAA BOND RATING, because of good financial management, better than nearly 3,000 counties nationwide, and yes, largely under Republican leadership; and the 5-star corrections accreditations have been earned by hard work of many, to make all of the many MANDATES this liberal state imparts on jails,happen.. it’s all about “care” and “rehabilitation,” which we know most often doesn’t work, it’s the liberal mindset of the legislature and courts that forces us to spend so much..how would the taxpayers like to pay out all of the lawsuit money that would be granted to prisoners and prisoners’ rights groups, if all of the mandates were NOT followed?.. am with ya in principle, am sick of paying for MANY in our society who have no personal responsibility and bleed the system dry in many areas, but, if you want tougher laws, and more unpleasant jail experiences for prisoners, you’ll have to move to Arizona or Texas..
Wow. This original topic started on sewer service and somehow morphed into good management–or lack therof–at the sheriffs department and jail. Let me say this: When former sheriff Kim Guadagno has to engage in fraud, lies and deception to the county, new media, and taxpayers, to allow her friend (and that of her husband) to land a job–and at the same time get a salary from the county and an illegal pension (because her friend should have been re-enrolled into the pension system, thus suspending his pension), then I can see this having a future impact on County bond ratings.
One must wonder what other departments within the county are engaging in the same fraud and deceit.
I found the fraud stories on NewJersey.Watchdog.org very fascinating regarding the frauds of Kim Guadagno and Dave Rible. Here it is:
http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2011/05/03/lt-gov-on-hot-seat-as-state-probes-scams/
that an ongoing dispute over one employee’s title will ever have an effect on a county’s bond rating!.. that’s a real stretch.. and, until and unless changes are made in the pensions and benefits for law enforcement, (which possibly in this election year they will be), my guess is that anyone who can legally take a pension and still work, will..isn’t there an exemption in one of the latest “reform” bills that “exempts certain elected officials”?.. if that winds up being the version that they pass, would think that not much, (other than it largely being put on the backs of non-union, regular, one-paycheck people), nothing much will really change, after all the whining and carrying on by all!..