Letter to the Editor: More Holmdel Issues to be Addressed Before Election

Election Day is right around the corner, and as the time to vote gets closer, residents and council members alike have become vocal about the issues they believe matter most to Holmdel. As Patch readers, they have written in to the editor, calling out to residents for changes to current policy, action for or against issues, or for current policies to be preserved and recognized for the benefits provided to the town. Here are two previous articles on Holmdel Patch that were Letters to the Editor, sent in by readers like you:

Opinion: Holmdel Voters Need to Consider Change This Election

Reponse to Letter to the Editor: Why Change Something That is Working for Holmdel?

Below, a Holmdel resident sent in a letter to the editor, in response to Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry’s article in the Asbury Park Press that urges Holmdel residents to vote “yes” to Question Number 2 on the Election Ballot, regarding changes to “existing dedication for water programs, underground storage tanks, and hazardous site cleanups”. You can read her letter to the Asbury Park Press here: http://www.app.com/story/opinion/readers/2014/10/18/letter-vote-yes-public-question/17460665/

To see the Holmdel Election Ballot candidates and questions, go to: http://co.monmouth.nj.us/documents/8%5CHolmdel2014.pdf

Dear Editor,

This letter is in point / counter point to Lillian Burry’s letter as a self proclaimed advocate for open space and protector of environmentally sensitive lands:

Trying to make Holmdel Committee and Planning Board evening meetings sometimes is difficult. This summer’s August 8, Friday morning (8 a.m.) “special meeting “ held to approve Somerset’s / Toll Brothers’ plans (PILOT/Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) for Alcatel/Lucent was virtually impossible for any working Holmdelian to attend.

According to the Mayor and Committee, this meeting was scheduled to coincide with the Freeholders’ approval for the development of Alcatel/Lucent’s 400 plus acres of the Swimming River Reservoir watershed lands Since then, every single member of the Holmdel Township Committee and Mayoral appointed Boards have consistently unanimously voted in favor of all applications for the Alcatel/Lucent builders.

In the ‘80s, the bipartisan Board of Freeholders upheld low growth planning for and non-sewering of environmentally sensitive areas as watershed protections for the county’s potable water supplies. Since the ‘90s and until recent times Holmdel’s bipartisan Township Committee held to the same sane principles.

What has changed in recent years is that the Freeholders and Holmdel Township’s governing body are no longer bi-partisan elected entities. More often than not, all one way partisan governments operate in the best interests if their partisan party. One sided single minded governments fuels myopic decisions, imprudent polices, are not good government and do not function in the best interests of the public.

November 2014 voters have a chance to end the imbalance of one way voting government locally and at the County level.

Concerned Holmdel resident,

William Goodman

Violet Court Holmdel

Do you have something to say about your town, and want other residents to hear about it? Send a letter to the editor at Holmdel@Patch.com. Or, join in the discussion below by commenting! Here is how to comment.