I wish I could understand what Mr. Breeden meant when he said as far as the bulk of the work and material were donated so some other projects took priority, pushing back the original deadline back from 9/11. Took priority? 9/11, one of the worst days in U.S. history and other things took priority? Like what?
Mr. Breedwn was also asked, how much Taxpayer money has been spent so far on the memorial. His answer, he had no idea and wouldn't know until sometime in Nov. How hard could that answer be? He said most of the labor and material were donated. Could that number be at least $30,000.00? He was also asked if any open Space money was used and his answer was no. When pressed, his answer became Yes, over $2000.00 was again taken from the Open Space TRUST Fund. Sound like we the Taxpayers should call it the Open Space SLUSH Fund. Sounds like we needed Chuck there to get answers on these questions.

"Breeden said since a bulk of the work and material has been donated, some other projects have taken priority, pushing the original deadline, of Sept. 11, back." This statement makes no sense. Why would some other projects take priority because the bulk of the work and material has been donated? And what projects? We know it certainly wasn't that other project 'of donated work and material' often referred to as 'the free $600,000+ Barnegat artificial turf football field' that's hidden behind a forest of trees on an unmarked dirt road. Could the projects causing this delay be scheduling conflicts of Republican candidates throughout the county and state running for office in the election taking place a week or two after this unnecessary 2nd 9/11 dedication? I'll bet Sheriff Bill doesn't show up anyway. If the memory of 9/11 isn't going to risk being reduced to a cheap campaign event, then I suggest this 2nd Barnegat 9/11 memorial celebration be conducted after the elections, say around Thanksgiving, when most citizens come together to give thanks.

Whoppee!
Another freebe for the taxpayers of Barnegat.

According to the summary included with Jake Taylor’s letter on the Patch the township has used the open space fund to purchase picnic tables and picnic benches, bleachers, shovels, rakes, screws, carpet, “Township of Barnegat” banners, gutters for the rec center building, rent barges for fireworks and rent lights (please keep in mind this is just a handful of items listed). Now, I’m just guessing here, but I don’t think anyone who voted to create the open space fund would have come up with any of these uses for the money because we thought the money would be used to purchase land and preserve OPEN SPACE. Perhaps we should be impressed by the creative use of open space funds our township committee and administrator have come up with. Well, that or we should be appalled by their deception. Every taxpayer in Barnegat should review the summary of how the open space funds were used and then think back on all the times the township committee and the administrator told us they were doing more with less. They are certainly doing plenty, but they are certainly not doing it with less.

At the Federal level we have one kind of "dollars" to throw around for various things to appease a few people.
It seems that here in Barnegat we have "Breeden Dollars" for the same purpose.

Take a look at the donated turf field on lower shore rd. The turf is in such bad condition that it will probably be thrown away for garbage. Someone should be fired for allowing this boondoggle. It has holes in it and the turf is worn away, The Town was sold a bill of goods. No work is going on and construction equipment is sitting idly and costing the Town $140. per day.

There should be an investigation into the frivolent spending of the OS fund, because of the items purchased, obviously the fund is being misused.

Holes in USED synthetic turf - nah, who would've thought..... LMAO, that's why the Naval Academy ripped it up and replaced it with new turf, because it was getting close to its life expectancy expiration due to use. To replace its a $600k proposition, not including disposal costs of the old turf. Someone sure boinked Barnegat's townsfolk into believing everything was a-ok and it was all "free".... Yep, "free" is subjective - nothing is free, there's always a cost associated to what was supposed to be "free".

I'd bet there's a slew of P.O.'s associated with the costs of what is going on at Lower Shore - oh wait, it was supposed to be "free" so the Twp should not have any costs associated with the location or being exchanged with vendors, construction crews, etc.

Breedan Dollars - too funny. Maybe we should all pay our property taxes with Monoply Money - after all, the Twp has no problem with passing "Go" when it comes to buying bids and bulldozing down trees for more useless stores/residences and Section 8 housing that will NOT benefit the taxpayers. Seems the Twp has a pile of "Get Out of Jail free" cards at the taxpayers expense.

Also, why is a 2nd memorial being designed and monies expended for such a thing - directly in front of a Municipal Complex that is outdated, is falling apart, is outgrown by its occupants. Based on public record, the Police Dept. has had a few OSHA complaints reported and recorded by the US DoL.

What should have happened is the original memorial should have been implemented at a PUBLIC site accessible to and by ALL of the public, including the handicapped. It should not be in the middle of any school field that prevents access issues.

The money this Twp wastes is ridiculous. Maybe the money being spent on this 2nd memorial should have been allocated to improving the Municipal Complex buildings.

Here's the questions the town needs to ask and the Twp Committee should really ponder:

Is it REALLY a necessity to expend money on a 2nd Memorial?

Is the money the Twp is using on multiple known locations benefitting its taxpayers?

If the Twp is trying to be financially responsIble, why is money being flung about as if the Twp has its own money printing press?

Taxpayers - take Barnegat back.

Wow, this news along with the upcoming John Travolta-Olivia Newton John Christmas album, way to much excitement on my end. Psst, Hey Barnegat, this happened 11 years ago. Many people in our community were affected by this day and that sadness never stops. In light of the recent news involving the red truck, the cost involved, the fact that this steel was cut and has been stored for over a year, the need and timing of this will be questioned. Perhaps if you feel the urge to spend money you could establish a 9/11 Memorial Scolarship at the Barnegat High School. That way the money will be used for a good cause and what better way to honor those from the area who truly were affected by that day.

Well put Rick, I think I should have been more direct in my point.. What I was alluding to is the town already has a 9/11 Monument.There is some question as to the timing of this event, and the cost. With the constuction of the football field on Lowershore, and the general high cost of living in town I question the reason to construct this again. I lost friends at the WTC and dont need to see a piece of steel which may have killed them as a "monument" to " heroes" who have made this a career.