'Vernon Vibes' represents mayor's view

The launching of “Vernon Vibes” took place in our community on June 13, 2012. The mayor of Vernon Township had every right to have chosen that format in order to speak to the public at-large. But did you know “Vernon Vibes” is sponsored by local businesses? In other words, it is a paid political show, sponsored by businesses who support anything the mayor says, no matter what the real story is!

“Vernon Vibes” is not an arm of the government, which can be misleading to anyone visiting the township website. It is the mayor’s political perspective and does not represent the municipal government or the legislative part of our government — the council.

The show's “episodes” listed on the township website, can be seen via an unaffiliated third-party website — You Tube, and can also be seen on Channel 10 SECTV at various times. They are filmed after each town council meeting and to me, as someone who has been attending town council meetings on a regular basis for years, “Vernon Vibes” has more hoopla and sensationalism than straight forward information.

During the latest “episode,” filmed on Jan. 14, 2015, the mayor characterizes the podium at the town hall as — “the bloody pulpit of the public sessions” — really? The council meetings are not the mayor’s meeting, and the mayor isn’t required to attend the council meetings under the mayor-council form of government. The residents of this community have First Amendment rights, which are sacred to all — not just the people on the mayor’s Facebook page. That podium in the town council chamber represents our rights in terms of free speech.

Anyone wanting to see the township council meetings in their entirety without editorialized comment, can log on to: www.vernontaxpayersassociation.com/.

Mary Ellen Vichiconti
Highland Lakes