Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Township Committee will absorb functions of formerly autonomous board.
Following a protracted and contentious discussion, the Township Committee passed the ordinance overhauling Springfield’s Board of Health on Tuesday, June 26. The vote was split across party lines, with the Committees three Republicans voting in favor and the two Democrats voting against. With the vote, the Board of Health will be composed of the Township Committee members and two residents with expertise in public health. It replaces the seven-member autonomous board composed of volunteers that the township previously had in place. The matter has been fiercely debated in meetings, print and online publications and social media since the changes were first proposed in May. The tensions boiled over at a packed Committee meeting that was …
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Much-debated ordinance will decide if board remains autonomous body or if Township Committee absorbs its functions.
Springfield officials will decide the future of the Board of Health tonight. The Board, presently composed of seven residents appointed by the Township Committee, meets monthly and steers the Township’s health and safety regulations. Along with the Township Committee, it is one of two governmental bodies in Springfield that can pass ordinances. The Springfield Township Committee is considering dramatic changes to the township’s board of health. Under the proposed change to township ordinance, which is up for final vote tonight, that configuration would be replaced by a board of health made up of the Township Committee members and two residents with expertise in public health. While some officials tout the move as a cost-saving effort, …
Friday, June 15, 2012
Board president says that there are distinct advantages for autonomous boards.
In response to the Springfield Township Committee's proposal to absorb the functions of the Board of Health, New Jersey Local Boards of Health Association President John Saccenti issued a press release expressing the need for Health Boards to remain independent. The statement identifies "distinct advantages" for autonomous boards, including the potential for having members with health expertise and their ability to dedicate significant time to municipal health matters. "It does not make sense, nor is it good government, for the locally elected governing body, as well-intentioned as they may be, to take over the roles of these community boards," Saccenti writes in the statement. In his Mayor's Message for June, Springfield Mayor Ziad …
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Samir Shah says Mayor Shehady's assertions about the Board of Health are false.
Springfield Board of Health Chair Dr. Samir Shah doesn’t think the whole story is presented in Ziad Shehady’s latest message from the Mayor. The message, printed here, is largely concerned with proposed changed to the board of health. The Board, presently composed of seven residents appointed by the Township Committee, meets monthly and steers the Township’s health and safety regulations. Along with the Township Committee, it is one of two governmental bodies in Springfield that can pass ordinances. Under the proposed change to township ordinance, that configuration would be replaced by a board of health made up of the Township Committee members and two residents with expertise in public health. While Shah took issue Shehady’s individual …
Monday, June 4, 2012
Fraenkel looks to secure nomination tomorrow.
With the primary election on Tuesday, June 5, Springfield Democrats will have to choose between three candidates for Township Committee: the two party-backed candidates; Margaret Bandrowski and David Barnett and former Mayor Bart Fraenkel. The race marks something of a return to the fold for Fraenkel. Elected as a Democrat, Fraenkel grew estranged from the township’s party over appointments to the Springfield boards. In his last political race, he ran as an independent in a race with two Democrats. “It’s very clear that in Springfield, an independent candidate can only be a spoiler,” Fraenkel said. “Too many people vote straight down the party line.” With the election coinciding with the presidential election, Democrats are likely to be …
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Republicans pledge to make the turf field efforts a priority in coming year.
Following a close race with a low turnout, Ziad Shehady is once again a member of Springfield’s Township Committee. The Republican, who spent last year as the Township’s Mayor before being voted off the Township Committee in his bid for reelection, won back his seat on the council by a narrow margin, defeating current Mayor Hugh Keffer by about 60 votes. “It was close again,” an energized Shehady said. “It came down to the wire.” With Shehady’s victory, the Committee once again has a Republican majority, following a year under Democrat rule with Keffer leading the party. Celebrating his victory at McLynn’s, Shehady pledged that the Turf athletic fields would be a top priority for his administration. He said he looked forward to working …
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Former Mayor Ziad Shehady publicizes and makes political points with videos of Township government.
Ziad Shehady is out of office, but he’s not out of town hall. The former Mayor was present at the first committee meetings of the new administration, not as an elected official but as a one-man film crew. With a handheld video camera and a laptop, Shehady captured the meeting for live-streaming on the internet while the meeting was underway and for archiving the next day. The videos, which include the Township Reorganization meeting and the aforementioned regular meeting are hosted here. Also, this week, he sent out a group newsletter, similar to the notes he would send out monthly as Mayor. The videos are presented in full without cuts. But elsewhere, he has excerpted shorter sections to make political points. On Youtube, he juxtaposed …
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Former Mayor Ziad Shehady on his political rival's record.
Anyone who knows Mr. Fraenkel immediately understands that when he speaks, it's nothing more than ego and self-righteous opining. He makes statements "in hopes to prove that what [he] is saying is factual" but doesn't actually provide the proof. At the debate, he suggested a polygraph would shed light on the truth and I volunteered at the debate to take one. Unfortunately, many of us are skeptical that Mr. Fraenkel would actually pay for anything out of his own pocket. His first two campaigns were financed by a political party and he subsequently berated those individuals who helped him get elected. That is why after he betrayed their trust, as he does with many people, they didn't want him involved with their organization. In fact, …
Friday, October 29, 2010
Mayor addresses campaign issues in message.
In addition to announcements about leaf pickups and reminders about next week's election, Springfield Mayor Ziad Shehady addressed several hot button political issues in his latest newsletter. Commenting on the recent candidates' forum at Jonathan Dayton High School, he said his Democratic counterparts were "simply unprepared and unable to provide solutions." Also, he assails their campaign literature for containing "absolute lies, half-truths, and distortions of reality." Shehady also lobbed criticism at Deputy Mayor and independent candidate for committee Bart Fraenkel, accusing Fraenkel of acting inappropriately at a recent public town hall forum, and of appeasing Unions by voting against adopting the state health care system for …
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Mayor highlights achievements of officials and public safety professionals in monthly message.
In his October message, Springfield Mayor Ziad praised the work of township employees and highlighted achievements of his administration. Shehady applauded the fire fighters and police officers who were honored and promoted by the Township Committee in September. He also noted Public Safety Director Richard Rosell's creation of a Schools Resource Officer position. The Mayor also commented on the fourth quarter tax bills that residents recently received and the Town Hall meetings on changes to RVSA billing. In addition, he highlights a number of recent work by the Township government, ranging from cost saving policies to increased communication efforts. Read the full message below. ---------------------------------------------- At the …
bob groder
6:56 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
1 other point shane. there is a big difference from being a strong leader and running a town or business like as a boss without listening to input from the very same people who elected the governing body. they heard the people speak but totally ignored the will of the people who showed up that evening. thats not being a leader if you ask me. we elect these officials to help everyone and not just … more ›