MAYOR METZNER ADDRESSES THE WINSLOW TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION

MAYOR METZNER ADDRESSES THE PUBLIC IN ATTENDANCE OF THE AUGUST 17, 2010 MAYOR AND TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING.


RE: CONCERNS OF THE WINSLOW TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE MAYOR MENTIONS SHE PLANS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AT THEIR NEXT MEETING (THE FOLLOWING EVENING) .

Please click on the graphic below for a video of Mayor Metzner addressing the public in attendance of the August 17, 2010 Mayor and Committee meeting.

In the video below Mayor Metzner addresses the Winslow Township Board of Education during the August 18, 2010 Board of Education meeting.

(The video is approximately 32 minutes long, divided up into 4 segments.)

Part 1 of 4

Part 2 of 4

Part 3 of 4

Part 4 of 4

Please click the graphic below for a video of the Superintendent of schools replying to Mayor Metzner & other public participation speakers.

HAS THE WINSLOW TOWNSHIP GOVERNING BODY VIOLATED THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT ?

UNofficially Winslow has filed a formal complaint with the State of New Jersey Government Records Council (G.R.C.) The complaint addresses a possible violation of the Open Public Records Act.

UNofficially Winslow believes the Township Committee also violated the Open Public Meetings Act, commonly referred to as the Sunshine Law. The Sunshine Law violation was rectified when the Mayor requested a public vote in an effort to keep the public informed. Please view the video clip of the Mayor below.

The complaint filed with the G.R.C. does not address the Sunshine Law violation. UNofficially Winslow believes the violation of the Open Public Meetings Act occurred in an effort to restrict information from the public concerning water system related problems in the Spring Road area. Furthermore, when UNofficially Winslow requested an e-mail document, via the Open Public Records Act, it was denied. UNofficially Winslow believes the document was denied because of the original intention to circumvent the Open Public Meetings Act with the use of e-mail.

In the first video clip below Mayor Metzner asks for a ratification (Committee voting in public) of an action that might have taken place via email and outside the limits of the Sunshine Law. The Mayor's concern is the residents were left out while matters concerning an RFP (Request for Proposal) for selling off the water and sewer system was being explored. And water pressure and odor concerns of the Spring Road area residents.

In the 2nd video clip Committeewoman Gibison discusses issues and concerns when votes or "polling" the Committee takes place via e-mail.

Both of these videos have been submitted to the Government Records Council, along with the Open Public Records Act complaint noted above.

Click HERE to review a copy of the complaint and other submitted documents.

Click HERE to review additional correspondence concerning this matter.

Please be sure to scroll down to the bottom when viewing all documents on UNofficially Winslow. Often times there is more than one document, as in both of these cases.

Updates and additional documents will be posted in this area on an on-going basis. Check back regularly for a first hand education of our Open Public Records Act.

In a subsequent meeting the Township Committee voted not to sell the water system after all. However UNofficially Winslow plans to follow through with the Open Public Records Act complaint. In the opinion of UNofficially Winlsow the Township Committee lost public trust with this misguided stunt.

You can view this entire meeting (about 10 minutes) in the video clip posted below. (Click on camera picture)
The next Township Committee meeting is scheduled for August 17, 2010 at 7:30 P.M.

WINSLOW TOWNSHIP SOLICITOR, STUART A. PLATT, REFUSES TO ADDRESS BASEBALL CARD ISSUE.

In an e-mail to UNofficially Winslow, the Winslow Township Solicitor Stuart A. Platt, made a wager that UNofficially Winslow would not publish a particular email of his.


UNofficially Winslow posted the e-mail and you can still view this e-mail today. UNofficially Winslow has made several attempts to collect the Baseball card Mr. Platt spoke about in his email. To date Platt has refused to address the issue with UNofficially Winslow.

UNofficially Winslow has filed in small claims court for the equivalent value of the $6,500.-$92,000. Baseball card. Giving Platt a break because small claims court is limited to $3000.

UNofficially Winslow has received a threatening letter from Platt's attorney. And as of this posting has not responded to UNofficially Winslow's request for mediation. Furthermore it appears that Platt's attorney has no intention of addressing this matter prior to the court date.

The original issue concerns Platt's ridiculous letter regarding videotaping during public meetings. UNofficially Winslow removed a video clip of an eight year old resident who was asking the Mayor and Committee during public participation to assist in keeping his grammar school open. (Which the Committee did.) The removal of this video seemed to satisfy Platt. Even though Platt's laptop screen was not readable and also in a public setting. You can view the original posting and remarks of the New Jersey State Supreme Court on videotaping during public meetings here on UNofficially Winslow.



Our tax dollars, some years hundreds of thousands of our tax dollars, go to the Township Solicitor. The Township Committee selects the Township Solicitor each January on the residents behalf. Perhaps next time a politician asks for your vote, you may want to ask who they support for Township Solicitor and other professional appointments.