Development Continues Within the “Edge City”

Along the edge of Route 202/206, there are two building projects in which site work has accelerated. One is along a relatively narrow swath of land right next to the Bridgewater Manor. The site is wedged against an I-78 bridge that runs over 202/206 in Pluckemin. It looks like it may be a commercial development.

The other project is for an active adult community scheduled to rise at the corner of Harding Road and 202/206 in Bridgewater. The clearing of trees has just been completed on this lot. It is a long rectangular piece of property that stretches down Harding Road all the way to Victor Street and slightly beyond.

Step out of your auto at that spot, and you can look up towards 202/206 and see that the property has been completely cleared. Only brown earth was showing a few days ago, with a solitary pile of logs remaining to be hauled away before more construction equipment moves in to continue working the site.

Entry into these properties from 202/206 and egress from them could be a tough maneuver for motorists, especially during commuter hours, unless the flow of traffic is controlled.

In his 1992 book, Edge City: Life on the New Frontier, author Joel Garreau describes how Central New Jersey will be transformed, as its population continues to grow. These two projects are just a couple of small examples of the changes which Garreau predicted.

The Park Commission’s Executive Session

If the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education had decided at one of its public meetings to suddenly go into executive session without having previously posted the legally required 48-hour notice, and without stating the topic of the closed session, all hell could have broken loose.

Yet, at its very first public meeting last week, the newly-reconstituted Somerset County Park Commission violated one or both of those requirements, and not a peep has been heard from anyone in a position of public responsibility. Reports by Joe Tyrrell noted this occurrence in the Star-Ledger. Other than for such media vigilance, probably few would even know.

The six new commissioners are an impressive group. Among them there should be at least several who understand the requirements of New Jersey’s Open Public Meetings Act. Certainly the remaining incumbents must. So, why the closed-door meeting? What was discussed?

At last Tuesday’s meeting of the Somerset County Freeholders, everyone who spoke about the newly-appointed park commissioners praised their qualifications -- deservedly so. Yet no one questioned the commissioners about that executive session.

The newly-reconstituted park commission may be made up of blue ribbon people, but that does not give it the privilege of ignoring the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act. Two of their representatives, Rose McConnell and Robert Horowitz committed themselves on Tuesday evening to restoring the integrity of the park commission. This is not the way to do it.

Indeed, that closed session, whatever its purpose may have been, may have caused a hairline fracture to the nascent integrity of the new Somerset County Park Commission. It’s repairable, but it needs attention.

County Freeholders Delay Decision to Disband Park Commission

This evening the Somerset County Freeholders voted 3 to 2 to postpone until December any decision on whether or not to dissolve the Somerset County Park Commission. They also called for a joint meeting(s) of the freeholders and of the park commission itself to discuss the matter further. It was not clarified whether there would be one or more joint meetings, nor when or where they would take place.

This decision came after lengthy public input before a large turnout. Many of the persons in attendance urged the freeholders not to dissolve the park commission and to give the new commissioners more time to make things work.

Several prominent citizens were in attendance, including Raymond Bateman, who offered that, “If it were me, I would never abolish the park commission. It is dangerous. It is wrong.” He went on to say, “I feel very strongly about this subject,” and that, “…we will have a citizens committee to help you make the decision.”

Robert Horowitz, one of the six newly-appointed park commissioners asked the freeholders to, “Give us time – five to six months – for the newly-reconstituted commission … to show what we are going to do.”

Patricia Walsh, Green Brook mayor, and a proponent for disbanding the commission, stated, “I don’t see how you can be half in and half out,” a reference to the fact that the engineering, finance and procurement operations of the park commission are already in the process of being folded into Somerset County government, directly under control of the freeholders.

Only freeholders Denise Coyle and Jack Ciattarelli were clearly and unequivocally in favor of voting this evening to dissolve the Somerset County Park Commission and to bring its functions directly under county management. However, Rick Fontana, who appears to be emerging as the potential swing vote on this crucial topic, made a motion to defer this evening’s vote until December.

Freeholders Peter Palmer, Robert Zaborowski, as well as Fontana all voted to put any decision on ice until December. Denise Coyle and Jack Ciattarelli strongly opposed that move.

The Last Day

Sometimes, the weather tells you when it’s time to move. Saturday, the last day of our family vacation in Moultonborough, on the northwest shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, it nudged us into action. I arose early and walked out onto the dock to say goodbye to the lake.

The previous two weeks gave us favorably warm and sunny weather, perfect for swimming, climbing, touring, and for doing whatever else may suit one’s vacation pleasure. No complaints there.

Saturday was a beautiful morning, but a chill came up with the sun, and a stack of dark clouds filtered the sunshine onto gunmetal gray water. It was quite a contrast to the conditions of the previous days. Time to pack the two cars and head south!

In mid-August that high up in New Hampshire, nature can quickly remind a person of who’s in charge. It was a one-day teaser that summer is ending and that fall in on its way – time to get back to Bridgewater.

You take life’s blessings when you can and you enjoy them to the hilt, recognizing that behind nature, there is an even larger force at play.

Moods & Mountains

At the risk of overly anthropomorphizing nature, I’ve observed that mountains can sometimes take on various moods, just as people do. Anyone who spends time vacationing in north central New Hampshire can’t easily overlook the effect of weather upon the mountain ranges which dominate the terrain.

Some days, the peaks are sun-bathed; other days, they are shrouded in mist and fog; while at other times, they are a blah gray. Just like people! Underneath it all though, if you think about it for a moment, the mountains themselves are changeless in their essence.

The impact of weather causes the hills to appear different. We could say the same of people we come to know, both our friends and family; and, even people in public life. The seasons and weather conditions alter the appearance of mountains viewed from a distance, but the closer you get to them, the more you come to realize that, underneath it all, their essence is changeless.

People are similar. Circumstances and the stages of life may combine to make a person look different. But at the core, people remain the same. Progress and character improvements don’t usually alter their fundamental nature. Just like the mountains near this stretch of the Appalachian Trail.