From: vsilkes668@aol.com [mailto:vsilkes668@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 9:11 AM
To: AOndish@cha-llp.com
Cc: bbmtar@msn.com; jd3@andromeda.rutgers.edu;
wreckindawg@optonline.net; maboroughclerk@hotmail.com; maureencer@verizon.net;
kerriann.mulligan@kraft.com; kam3@optonline.net; jsendler@hotmail.com;
wtd1waterside@aol.com; info@savemapd.com
Subject: Re: PLEASE FORWARD TO MARGARET NORDSTROM RE: Mt. Arlington
PoliceDept.
Dear Mr. Mayor:
I appreciate your reply to the email sent to Freeholder Nordstrom. By attending
the Town Meetings in which questions and concerns were raised, I believe I do
have a fairly accurate understanding of what transpired. That being, the Police
Chief and/or the FOB informed you and the Council that the community was in
danger of improper protection whenever a police officer was on vacation or
called out sick, causing a lower manpower, putting the community and the
officer at high risk. Further my understanding is that you were also provided
some solutions to this concern (i.e. overtime, comp. days, not necessarily more
manpower). With your guidance, the Council then deemed it necessary in their
efforts of due diligence to hire a consulting firm to investigate this further.
You had/have repeated stated you and the Council will not make a decision until
the report has been reviewed. Upon further questioning and investigating, I
found Blue Shield Consulting has never recommended anything other than
disbanding. While I am certain the report will be reviewed, I am failing to see
how an educated decision can be made when this consulting firm has repeatedly
recommended only one avenue as an alternative.
If this information is not correct, I would hope that at the next town meeting
(October 8th) you and the Council would provide not only me, but everyone with
the information that has been repeated asked.
My invitation to Freeholder Nordstrom or any of her Associates was simply my
way of seeing if any alternatives not yet explored could come to light. I would
hope her assistance or input would be welcomed.
Sincerely,
Veronica Silkes
From: vsilkes668@aol.com [mailto:vsilkes668@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 11:04 AM
To: jgarifo@co.morris.nj.us;
"<jgarifo"@co.morris.nj.usjgarifo@co.morris.nj.us
Cc: info@savemapd.com; fdauth@starledger.com;
"<fdauth"@starledger.comfdauth@starledger.com; tslee@gannett.com;
"<tslee"@gannett.comtslee@gannett.com; kam3@optonline.net;
bs0348@earthlink.net; "<bs0348"@earthlink.netbs0348@earthlink.net
Subject: PLEASE FORWARD TO MARGARET NORDSTROM RE: Mt. Arlington Police
Dept.
My name is Veronica Silkes and I currently live in Mt. Arlington. The Mayor (Arthur Ondish) has hired a consulting firm to explore the
possibility of disbanding our local police. This consulting firm has
NEVER provided any other alternative but disbanding. The Chief of Police
himself provided the Mayor with some suggestions to alleviate the POTENTIAL
problem of unsafe patrols when police officers are on vacation or call out
sick.
While the Mayor (and Council) want us to believe they are
exploring all avenues, I find it hard to believe this when the consulting firm
hired has never provided any other alternative. Over $40,000 was paid to
this firm, surely the Mayor could have appropriated those funds to directly
assist the police.
In reading the responsibilities of a Freeholder and the
responsibilities of a Mayor, I am not seeing where you are reminded it is your
sworn duty to uphold the wishes of the people who voted you in. Have all
elected officials forgotten that OUR TAXES PAY FOR YOUR SALARIES. Is it
your hope that come election time, you believe we will forget the
injustice done and reelect your or perhaps put you in hire office!
I am requesting that you intervene on behalf of some of your
constituents of Mt. Arlington. Our next town meeting is scheduled for
October 8, 2007 where we were told by the Mayor, the results of the report
should be in. I would be my hope to see you or a high official from your
office standing by when these results are reported to the public.
Sincerely,
Veronica Silkes