Wantage residents seek transparency

WANTAGE — A township resident asked the Wantage Committee to make Open Space Committee meetings open to the public at the committee's meeting on Thursday, March 12.

Resident Kathy Gorman said other communities, such as Frankford Township, have made their meetings open to the public.

Administrator James Doherty said the Open Space Committee is only advisory, so it does not fall under the requirements of the Open Public Meeting Act. However, he said there is nothing to prevent the meetings from being made open to the public.

Doherty said in the beginning, the Open Space Committee started with more formal meetings open to the public. Now the committee meets informally on an as needed basis without meeting agendas and minutes.

Mayor Bill Gaechter said he would reach our to the chairman to ask the Open Space Committee to discuss inviting the public to their meetings.

Doherty mentioned that Deputy Mayor Ronald Bassani had said during another meeting that the Open Space Committee meetings are usually negotiations.

Gorman asked what was going on behind the scenes because there has to be dialogue in order to reach the point of negotiations. The Open Space Committee picks properties with which to negotiate a price for the township to purchase.

Doherty said the email trail and appraisal reports of the properties are public record.

Gorman continued asking about the public record part of the Open Space Committee meetings, and when that part is discussed. She said the committee is looking to spend money that comes from the tax payers.?

Why does it have to be so difficult to include the public in the Open Space Committee meetings?]" resident Ann Smulewicz said.

Bridge meeting postponedCommitteeman Jon Morris informed the public that the meeting with the New Jersey Dept. of Transportation to discuss the rebuilding of a bridge across the Wallkill River between Blair Road and the Hardyston Township border had been postponed due to weather.

He said it is expected to be rescheduled in April. Further information will appear on the township website.