For months Colts Neck Town Officials were asked why bathroom plans for the All-Inclusive Children’s Park don’t include a family style bathroom, as is mandated by state law. Our officials refused to comment.
When local government official refuses to support the laws…the public needs to know!
Colts Neck elected official Dan Buzzetta tried to spin the facts, claiming the bathroom design predates Jake’s Law Funding. Jake’s Law was signed into law in 2018, six years before the Colts Neck $61,000 build plan was finalized.
If Buzzetta, an attorney, was representing Jeffery Dahmer, Buzzetta might say Dahmer merely had an eating disorder and Andrea Yates as well as Susan Smith, were trying to teach their children to swim.
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To access the proposed bathrooms from the planned special needs park, a child in a wheelchair would need to travel perhaps 500 feet. Traverse a jogging trail, cross two internal park roads, dodge players as well as families accessing the fields and use the roadway because no sidewalks exist.
Moving the new park near the existing toddler park would shorten the bathroom trip by 350 to 400 feet each way. It would eliminate road traffic, get away from the team bus sitting idle emitting fumes and provide shade from mature trees!
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Colts Neck never asked the over 200 special needs children’s families in town, for their input on the park. The intent of the All Inclusive Park is to include the special needs children!
Colts Neck withdrew the meeting room & bathroom project in 2024 claiming the bids came in too high. Public records reveal the average bid price was $1.5 million.
The new estimated cost, extended by the Town Administrator in a 2025 grant form, was $742,500 or some 50% below the average price of 5 contractors in 2024. Colts Neck needs to explain the $757,500 price gap!
Attempting to explain the gap, Colts Neck Recreation Director said a second structure; a “Pavilion” was not included in the new projected pricing. This implied a second structure was included in 2024.
Hogwash…the 2024 scope of work shows only one structure. There is no reference to a pavilion in the 217 page 2024 bid specifications.
Mayor Tara Buss, lacking human decency, stated the proposed bathrooms, would only be open during sporting events. Discriminating against the special needs children is shameful. The bathrooms should be open for park users including the special needs families.
Buzzetta attempting damage control, stated no final decision has been made on when the bathrooms will be open. The Mayor’s comment is a matter of public records…the special needs families deserve better.
My prior editorial dated August 13th titled SNAFU means “situation normal all fouled up”. This project, like others in Colts Neck, needs transparency and full disclosure.
Based on Buzzetta’s narrow view, perhaps it would be better if the public did not question our government officials, we ignored the law and just accept what is stated. Doing so would eviscerate public policy. It would also be a disservice to our charming community and to all the special needs children.
Kevin M. O’Brien
Colts Neck NJ
