At Tuesday’s council meeting, an ordinance which would have created an Open Space Committee, was rejected after three council members voted against it.
The ordinance, which would have created a nine-member advisory board, tasked with locating properties for purchase by the Township and providing recommendations at all stages of the process, from acquisition to development, failed by a 3-2 vote.
Council President Martin Flemming, along with Councilman Nino Borrelli and Councilman Steve Chisholm – all of whom had been very vocal in the past in their support for the Open Space Committee – voted no on the ordinance.
According to sources, the three were unhappy that the mayor would get to appoint the members of the committee and are pushing for the Town Council to have a say as well.
The Township has about $6.5 million in funds dedicated to purchasing land to be used for open space.
Somehow I expect these funds to be used to preemptively purchase properties that meet the township’s onerous requirements to build schools.