A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

A New Monthly Newsletter from the Mayor is coming! Continue reading below.

Giving facts and receiving attacks. Last year, I gave a State of the Town, which advised all citizens of our financial issues from prior years. I have held the same message since. That's one of the reasons I am starting this monthly newsletter, to make sure all Hillside residents are getting the facts, and not made up attacks.

"The further society drifts from the truth; the more society will hate those who speak it." ~ George Orwell

To kick off 2020, I made it publicly clear to the Town Council we need to start fresh and work together. The first thing the Council did was an attempt to fire the town attorney. They made this move despite losing a lawsuit they brought against me because I terminated the former township attorney. The Council's move was directly against the ruling of the Judge, who upheld the termination, and further clarified my role and responsibilities. In his decision, Judge Hurley wrote: The Council is without power or authority to appoint the Directory, Department of Law, such authority vests EXCLUSIVELY with the Office of Mayor.

TAXES EXPLAINED

People are angry that I said we had a 12.6% deficit after lowering taxes for six years. It's common sense that you have to look at what money is coming in and how much is going out to determine financial fitness. Our costs were rising every year, yet we lowered municipal taxes, the only source of revenue. #taxes It is the Administration's responsibility to tell Council what we find, which is the Introduction (DON'T GET THIS). Together we should decide where we need to cut expenses to keep taxes low or raise taxes (even minimally) to keep the town functioning properly. Council chose not to Introduce a budget until August and wasn't willing to discuss anything beyond 0% because they had an election coming in November. As a taxpayer, I can see why someone might think a 12.6% increase is crazy. But I DID NOT put us in this position. I'm only providing facts and truth. Instead of being upfront and honest with the people, the Council bludgeoned our surplus to have 0% tax increases and celebrated. It didn't matter to Council we've been broke for seven years. Why would businesses come here when on any given financial emergency police and fire could be laid off? No pointing fingers, everything I say is on the record. People can OPRA minutes from past meetings and find what I say to be true.

NO URBAN ENTERPRISE ZONE DEPARTMENT

Currently, the Township does not have an Urban Enterprise Zone Department (UEZ). The Council wrote the Economic Development Department out of the budget for 2018, 2019, and they are doing it again for 2020. This demonstrates no forward-thinking and poor leadership. I want a UEZ because there are strong indications Gov. Murphy is going to fund the program. The Township should be ready to move forward when funds are available, and not be subject to the whims of the Council. These funds will provide opportunities to help small businesses, which help offset property taxes. Rejecting the UEZ opportunity is preventing a resource that would directly benefit the Township.

This decision is another example of the Council refusing to do its job of providing advice and consent for decisions I want to make and vendors I appoint. How can people accuse me of doing "nothing" or not bringing businesses to town when Council takes away all the tools necessary to get those very things done? People are angry that I said we had a 12.6% deficit after lowering taxes for six years. It's common sense that you have to look at what money is coming in and how much is going out to determine financial fitness. Our costs were rising every year, yet we lowered municipal taxes, the only source of revenue.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

After 30 years without a business strategy, this Administration was the first to provide a capital plan to improve infrastructure. After 30 years of broken machines, we received one of two new street sweepers. We are working to improve each of the firehouses, which have required improvement since the 1970s. We will not fix three decades of problems overnight. But the Administration is working and accomplishing goals every day. However, it is unfortunate to work hard every week only to have efforts thwarted by Monday Morning quarterbacks at Council meetings. All ordinances and legislation to date, attacks the Administration. Council has put forth no legislation for the benefit of the town.

MY DANGEROUS AND DIRTY WARD

Finally, I was and continue to be personally offended by the way my Councilperson who NEVER comes here without "chaperones" depicts the section where I live. While Maple Avenue has loitering issues and some criminal activity to which the police aptly respond, the neighborhood is safe and occupied by hard-working, vigilant people who have ensured that safety for the 14 years I have lived here.

I am an elected official working hard as a public servant, so my community can function properly and enjoy a better quality of life, but I cannot do it alone.

Citizens! I speak to you. You see me in churches, at schools, in stores, and know me as your neighbor. No one writes for me, speaks for me, or tells me to copy and paste false narratives from fake profiles to put on Facebook. They brag that people do not care about politics and have gotten away with so much because it is easy to mislead those of us with limited time, homework, working families, and working weekends to make ends meet.

We can turn this around as a community. We can't allow 15 people, and a glorified district leader to dictate where we live and how we live. What we get and what we deserve should be a community-driven process.

Truly Your Mayor, Dahlia O. Vertreese