Great letter Jake. I figured I would add the pics of Lower Shore Road to let the residents of Barnegat see where this committee decided to invest hundreds of thousands of our "open space" tax money. Also barges, 911 memorials, payments to Birdsall, totally amazing.

The citizens of Ocean County, including Barnegat, have been very responsible in contributing their fair share in providing extra funds for the improvements of their neighborhoods and community lifestyles, regardless of the annual tax increases they experience. Now, if we could just identify candidates from within our own overwhelming group of responsible citizens that are more concerned about the neighborhood than themselves, we might improve our chances of getting a return on our well-intended investments.

Thanks for the information Jake. Would love to see Colleen or someone else at The Patch actually write about this and interview our elected and non-elected officials and press them for something other than their canned answers.

Check this out. The same exact thing is happening in Moorestown, NJ. Here is the link to the Patch article: http://moorestown.patch.com/articles/council-approves-1-5-million-from-open-space-fund-for-fields.
I am under the same impression as the lawyer in Moorestown who will represent the people who oppose the use of open space funds for artificial turf and other mis-uses. I believe that open space funds can only be used first to "acquire" land, and than can be used to improve such land. But I'm no lawyer, keep an eye on this story from Moorestown to see how this plays out in court, if it gets that far.

Thanks Jake for standing up for the Barnegat Taxpayer.I have a few questions that maybe the members of the Committee or the administator can answer. Why should the following come out of Open Space money? With all the blue collar people working for the Town why did we pay outside landscapers $11,650.00 to trim trees around Townhall? Why did we use $28,000.00 to landscape around Townhall, them pay $1244.00 to maintain that same landscaping? Then $2800.00 out of Open Space money to remove trees from around the Cox House and from the Gazebo Park? We have a very nice 9/11 Memorial at the High School yet the Committee is building another one and using $2150.00 out of the Open Space fund for a bronze memorial. WHY? And the beat or should I say, the waste goes on. Some numbers seem to show that approx. $650,000.00 has been used so far at the Lower Shore Field. By the way, they are not done. Go take a look for yourself. When the mayor was asked if any Taxpayer money used for the fields, he became angry and yell, that no Taxpayer money was used. Funny thing is, Taxpayer money was used along with open space money. I'm not saying it, the Administrator said it.

Great letter Jake.
What do you suggest we, as resident, should do ?

Honestly, the State should be notified. A forensic financial audit needs to tske place as to investigate EXACTLY how certain funds are being used.

Services in this town have NOT improved. There is NO big business in Barnegat. There is NO need for any more housing - be it standard residential developments, Section 8 or Senior residences. We DON'T need any more "mini-strip stores" (such as the atrocity that is taking place next to the Delta gas on Bay Ave.

Has ANYONE from the Mayors Office even driven around Barnegat to view the multiple homes up for sale, the multiple overgrown properties of which homeowners cease to take care of (and are not fined based on Twp. Ordinances), have they seen the multiple ABANDONED homes that are most likely in foreclosure - and on and on and on.

Barnegat Tax Payers NEED to TAKE BACK BARNEGAT and vote OUT the incompetency.

How does the Mayor explain the now (5) brand new Police Explorers - again, of which another Patch article stated Barnegat only had enough money to UPDATE existing vehicles with new technology and only enough money to purchase (2) new vehicles. Gotta wonder, if the Open Space Funds is being misused, what other funds are being pilfered.

How much more money will us tax payers need to shell out for non-essential and misuse of funds?

If what is being said is NOT true - TWP should be transparent and show the public the expense records. Birdsall - funny how they end up with all the job bids isn't it...

When I moved to Barnegat ten years ago from the South, knowing nothing about the town- it was impressed upon me that this was a town that deeply cared about preserving the green space. I have seen no evidence of that and as trees continue to come down in nauseating masses, the only impression Barnegat has left on me is that they care about making money. Shame on you, Barnegat Township officials, for being deplorable stewards of the environment.

Excellent letter Jake! As a candidate for Barnegat Township Committee this upcoming election, I can tell you that it has been incredibly disheartening to see the destruction of forests in favor of developers who also happen to be major contributors to the Ocean County Republican Party. Indeed, we the citizens of Barnegat have lost control, because the Committee has given that control to said developers. It certainly appears that the agenda of certain members of the Committee has gone far afield. The intent of the Open Space Fund, at least as to how it was explained to us, has gone far afield - from utilizing the funds for unrelated purposes to using it for questionably appropriate purposes but completely mishandling the purpose to the point that the effort is totally botched and completely overbudget. And of course, none of this helps the citizens of Barnegat with regards to the excessively large property taxes we all must endure. Somehow, Barnegat became a North Jersey town with North Jersey property rates . . . too bad nobody warned us!

I hear Jake, and Frank, and Mike, and all the citizens of Barnegat that have approached me during my campaign. The members of the Barnegat Committee who have held their seats for excessively long periods of time are up for re-election. Let's stop this tide of waste and vote Conway and Taylor for Barnegat Committee this November 6th!!

Great Letter Jake, Sometimes the truth hurts . I am all for the open space tax as long as it is being used for open spaces. I also have no problem build a field or two for youth recreation. However saying that, I cant so of the other things that have come out of this fund. First and formost--------everyone should go dwn and look at the mess the township is calling the "Free Field".
I really think its time for all voters to send a stong message this Nov---------WE NEED A CHANGE---------We must stop this running train, before it crashes.

Great letter Jake. Thanks for keeping us informed on how much all this free stuff is costing us.

Come on Effron get real. You did NOTHING when the whole baseball field thing went down. You DID NOT SAY A WORD in fear of the senior vote. You said that Democrats could not do anything and are the same as the Republicans. You said you did "NOTHING" to help the people of Barnegat during your melt down at last years debate. Susan Conway should distance herself from you, because she is what this town needs. Someone with guts to stand up to those in power. After you lost the Democratic primary, Effron, you could not stop praising the Republicans enough, now you crawl out at election time again like a bad nightmare to Barnegat. By the way Susan was not responding to you, although your ego may have thought that she did.

Howard, it is very disappointing that the incumbents will not engage in the league of voters debate . . . a debate that is a long-standing tradition in Barnegat and run in a very fair and impartial way. They have failed to advise why they are refusing to debate. Some say because they believe they already have this election "sealed up" and some say its because they are afraid. I believe, as you do, that it would simply be too hard to explain Open Space and Lower Shore Road away and that culpability would have to be taken. Either way, it is the citizens of Barnegat that suffer yet again, because they will not be afforded the opportunity to observe, listen, and come to their own conclusions regarding the candidates. Instead, they must chase separate and distinct Meet the Candidates' gatherings. If elected, I would ensure first and foremost that a clear and legally accurate use for the current Open Space funds was established that would bind the committee. Once that was accomplished, all projects falling outside of proper use would be stopped or funded by other means if the project in question required its continuance. After that, a study would be conducted as to the need to continue to place taxpayer funds into Open Space. If the need was no longer present, those taxes would be eliminated. If a need was still present, then the question would be how much would be needed going forward.

Please visit Barnegat First on Facebook for more on Conway and Taylor for Barnegat!

Good job Colleen. I have no idea why you would censor me for saying that the townships claim was "misleading" when the proof that you now publish makes it very clear what the open space money was spent on. I'm glad the truth came out. but the censorship and the closing of comments on this issue, I find very disturbing. Good job on getting the facts out to the people. Also, please take it easy with the many posts (losing Independent candidate) Effron. Barnegat does not need a repeat of what you did last year.

Good job Susan Conway, Barnegat could use you. Thanks again Colleen and God Bless.

Thanks Jake. When will we have any answer to Jake's questions and so many more. Like what are we doing with the Edwards school? Why do we allow the Cox House to fall apart if people value it so much and it is such a essential part of the community? Why did we purchase Medowedge Park if we have no use for it? Why are we spending money on Lower Shore for a field we didnt need? When the Class of '12 who just graduated Barnegat High School talk about Barnegat to thier new friends in college I wonder what they say their town in know for? Or what memories they have from thier town? Probably they pretend they are from Manahawkin.....

Well said Jake. As you have noted, this problem has been in existence for a number of years and is justified by the administrator and township committee to satisfy the desires of a small group of vocal individuals who have the ear of the governing body and the administrator in particular. It is unfortunate that there appears to be no direct way to force an accounting of the expenditures from this fund. Please keep up the efforts. You have many supporters in this battle.

It's as easy as contacting this agency, as there is no favoritism or political influence tolerated:

http://www.state.nj.us/sci/faq.shtm

Enjoy Barnegat Taxpayers!

The people of Barnegat have consistently VOTED for this kind of behavior giving the incumbents a free run on the people that got them into office. Unfortunately, people want free crap and don't care from where it was paid or by whom. The politicians know they can wave some petty give-a-way or shiny lightshow in front of everyone which will make them forget this type of CRIME come election day. Wake Up Barnegat!

I commented in the past that the artificial turf field would be a boondoggle. It is coming to past. They kicked Jake off the open space committee because he tells the truth. We have 2 Committee Men who work for Van Dyck. Who do you think their loyalties are for. Billie voted to approve a strip mall at W. Bay Ave. and Sandpiper Rd against the wished of residents of Heritage Bay. He has to run next year and we won't forget,

On 2/7/12 on the Barnegat Patch Effron said "When the Democrats in Barnegat retain a majority on the board, I don't think that you will see much change except for our paid professionals, but we will see. Voters don't turn out because they have no other choice. I'm looking for change, Murray Sabrin and Ron Paul, now that is the change that I'm looking for, what do you have to lose."

What do you think Susan Conway? Effron said you will change nothing, but who gets paid. Are you going to be riding the Ron Paul coat tails with the other Barnegat Democrats to victory? If you have Effron backing you, good luck to you and Ron Paul, you will need it.

Thank you so much for this letter. I am very concerned about the amount of developing going on.

I was reading recently of some concerned citizens going to a town meeting about this. The current elect told them if land is privately owned, they can't stop them from developing. Then the answer is to buy our last remaining open spaces. So...why isn't that happening???

We live in a VERY sensitive ecological area, it must be protected. Besides, I do not want to live in a concrete strip mall. Our natural beauty which we all love so dearly here, is slipping away.

Please remember this when you vote. And always keep informed of what is going on around us. "Question everything."

I just added a few more pictures of the artificial turf at the 'field of dreams'.

This is approaching the biggest waste of money that Barnegat has ever invested in. It is a shame that there appears to be no oversight in the money poured into this sink hole. It would appear that we have a bunch of amateurs playing at construction with no end in sight.