Letter to the Editor: Something Stinks in Lower Milford

Dear Neighbor,

A few weeks ago, my wife and I received a letter in the mail from the group Restore Lower Milford. The letter described how the Township budget priorities are not meeting the needs of the residents in Lower Milford.

Normally, we would just put a letter like this to the side, but the message these residents described struck a chord with us. For the past few years, we have felt as if we were alone as we tried to work to provide for our extended family. However, as soon as we read the letter, we realized we were not alone in our concerns about how the township is being managed.

We felt it was important to tell our story, because we believe there are others who may have similar experiences. You can read my full story or can share your own story by visiting www.RestoreLowerMilford.com. The following is our abbreviated story:

In 2005, my wife and I decided to look for homes that could accommodate our extended family. My mother wanted to move closer to her grandchildren so we decided to build a new home with an in‐law suite. We soon found land we liked in Lower Milford and our house was completed in May of 2006 with a fully functional in‐law suite.

A few years later, my wife’s mother was afflicted with health problems. This unforeseeable situation urged us to investigate whether we could add another living area to accommodate her mother as well. Before we drafted a plan, we decided to ascertain from the township whether this would be allowed. We were shocked to learn that this addition to our house would not be allowed if we included another stove/oven.

Finally, in 2010, our addition seemed well under way. However, our hope was short‐lived. The construction was stopped in May 2010. After going through all this, we were told we had an illegal apartment. They were referring to the in‐law suite that we had built with the home that the township approved and issued a Certificate of Occupancy for back in 2006.

Be that as it may, to date, my addition still sits unfinished, we have NO PERMIT to proceed and my family’s life remains upside down. Instead, five years later, the township officials, like dictators, decided to make our lives miserable solely because of their incompetence to perform their jobs. If that weren’t enough, NOW they want us to sign a settlement agreement, coercing us into not suing the township for damages.

I think that this waste of resources could have all been avoided had the township officials taken the time to solve this problem. No doubt, they probably figure that it’s not their dollars that they are spending, but it’s all of our TAX dollars. Simultaneously, they tell us that we do not need our own police presence in the township because, according to them, we can’t afford it. Yet, we can afford to pay unnecessary Solicitor fees for issues like mine?

In closing, I would like to add that whether one is the President of the United States or a small‐ township official, those individuals are suppose to serve the people...THE PEOPLE! Accordingly, that person’s duty is not to make those they are to serve jump through hoops and do cart wheels or practically beg for justice or to be heard.
I trust most agree that we need people who are willing to work with us, rather than against us by holding us hostage or making our lives difficult when we try to help a family member or improve our own life’s situation.

It seems as if the powers in our small township take pride in treating us, township folks, more like pawns than people. On such a note, I trust that you, fellow citizens, realize that changes in our township will be up to us. Let us then unite and help Restore Lower Milford back to a place that I hear so many of my neighbors describe.

Sincerely, John and Kim Stagg

TIMELINE
•    May 12, 2006 – Lower Milford Township issues a certificate of occupancy and we move into Lower Milford Township.
•    Fall 2009 – We investigate whether we can provide additional living space to accommodate my wife’s mother. We call to seek clarification on an apparent change in zoning concerning the addition of another kitchen.
•    Late Fall 2009 ‐‐ We submit our building plans for the new addition (minus a stove and oven).
•    Early 2010 – We begin the process of getting the addition approved and it is well underway.
•    May 2010 – A stop work order was issued.
•    Late 2010 – We were still not permitted to build since the Township had not given us anything in writing about why our permit was not approved.
•    To Date – It has been over 570 days since we started this project. Thus far, we have spent well over $20,000 in lawyer’s fees. The township still has not re‐issued our permit. Our family’s life remains upside down as we try to raise our family while caring for our elderly parents.