Back in March 2023, - over an entire year ago - the Jackson Township Council approved Mayor Mike Reina's proposal for the establishment of an Open Space Committee.
The establishment of an Open Space Committee was a campaign promise made by Mayor Mike Reina, in order to curb over development.
Reina realized that his efforts to buy land once it landed in the hands of developers was quite difficult as developers often overpay for the value of the land, and the Township is unable to pay above the appraisal amount to buy the land.
To combat this issue, during his campaign, Reina stressed "there is only one lawsuit proof way to stop development in its tracks and that is if we can get the land before the developers do... We will form an Open Space Committee to include a representative from the Administration, Council and members of the public. The sole responsibility of the Committee will be to identify large parcels of land for acquisition BEFORE developers even know that they exist."
"Over the last two years the Council, the only part of our government authorized to spend money on open space, has done little to grow our open space inventory and it is clear to me that more effort needs to be put into identifying parcels that the Township can buy," Reina cried, adding, "the current Jackson Township Council's insistence on buying only open space that it can pay cash for prevents us from competing against big developers. There are WAY too many missed opportunities to ever honor the spirit of the agreement that the Township made when it asked residents for an Open Space Trust Fund tax.
"Our plan will utilize our bonding authority to allow minimal upfront expenditures and maximize the nearly $2 million collected annually through the Township's open space tax. By doing so we increase our buying power 10X-20X which will allow us to compete with developers."
Since the pompous fanfare and grand announcements over a year ago, not much open space has actually been saved, Council Member Stephen Chisholm stated recently.
"We were promised new land new purchases and new open space. All we have had so far are meetings getting cancelled," Chisholm stated at last week's Council meeting.
Reina did not respond... because he didn't hear the comments... because he did not attend the meeting.
In fact, Reina has not attended a Council meeting in quite a while.
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2 comments:
Mayor Reina has a full time County job. Jackson pays Reina 63k per year plus benefits. Mayor Reina is almost no show at Council meetings.
A very smart man Mayor Reina to jump on the band wagon like every american out there.If you can stay under the radar and get away with it.(Sure why not).Just let me know where do I sign up for such benefits.No one really cares because the State and Federal Goverments don't care.
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