All isn\’t well among the two factions of the Gloucester City Democrat Club. Ray Coxe Jr., the most recent Club Chairman has move on to become a member of the State Police force. Coxe wanted to appoint former chairman Bowie Johnson to his vacated position without a vote from the membership. When Johnson resigned he appointed Coxe to the post. The \’Old Guard\’ say the by-laws were changed shortly before the \’New Members\’ joined the club, and under the new rules the out going chairman can appoint his successor.
The \’New Members\’ are opposed to the move. Their choice is Dan Spencer. I was told the \’Old Dems\’ originally agreed to support Spencer but at the last minute broke their word. While this is all going on Lynne Bucher is presently acting chair
My suggestion; the New members of City Council should have nothing to do with the Old Guard. When will the \’James Gang\’ learn? Walk way from the Democrat Club altogether. Without Council\’s support the \”Good Old Boys Club\” would fade away into oblivion. In my opinion the \”Old Boys\” (and women) are responsible for all the problems the new administration inherited anyway. Who needs them!
Someone mentioned to me that the registration on the vehicle used by the police for issuing parking tickets had expired.
Lt. George Berglund said, \”The registration is current but the sticker did expire. It was recently taken to the inspection station and it failed. The problem has been fixed and the vehicle will be re-inspected.\”
I asked a confidential source if he knew why council members appointed Parker and McCay at the reorganization meeting to the position of City Bond Council. If you remember this was the former law firm that represented the City in a lawsuit filed by one of the contractor\’s who built the City\’s Marina. The suit was settled for $260,000. Parker and McCay charged the City $300,000 plus.
According to the source Parker and McCay, the former employer of City Solicitor James Maley, was the only law firm to submit a bid for bond council.
My suggestion; put the position out for bid again!
Speaking of Parker, McCay (Maley), in 2006 the law firm billed the City $570,000 to draw up legal notices, ordinances and other documents. This past year the new Solicitor John Kearney only charged $43,000 for basically the same services. A big difference wouldn\’t you agree.
I am flabbergasted that the James administration would even consider talking to Parker and McCay knowing how they (the firm) overcharged the City taxpayers in the past.
It has come to my attention that the Gloucester City Board of Education has been censoring what meetings you and I get to see on the local cable Channel 19.
From what I have learned there was a flare up at a recent Board meeting between several members over the students from the Highland Park Alternative School taking field trips to various sites under the guise of a gym class. Example: busing the 47 students to a ski resort and calling it gym. The video from that meeting never appeared on TV 19. This isn\’t the first time this has happened said my source.
I had hopes that the new Superintendent, Paul Spaventa would do things different than his predecessor. Meaning keeping the public informed on how the school district spends the $40 million budget. No doubt you recall the past superintendent was an expert on keeping the public in the dark.
Also in the wind, pardon the pun, is a study to erect windmills and solar collectors to generate electric in an area of the South Port redevelopment property at the foot of Water Street. From what I learned the idea (s) are being discussed because some paper work was discovered showing that 60 acres of the property contains radon which has been capped underground. As long as the radon remains the City is not allowed to build any residential properties on those 60 acres. There is also talk of building a 9 hole golf course on the property. The bottom line the original projection of 1000 homes being constructed in the South Port section has been reduced to a lower number.
In closing I was asked why the link to ClearysNoteBook was removed from the City of Gloucester City\’s website. The link from the City\’s site to CNB stated \’To read more news about Gloucester City go to ClearysNotebook\’. The reason given by a source for removing the link was that the administration was upset that an anonymous remark was posted on CNB about Paul Kain, the City administrator, which referred to his children. After the remark was brought to my attention the comment was removed.
Ironically the person who posted that comment was a friend of the City Administrator. But that is another story.
It has been suggested once before that I require people to sign their names. I view a lot of blogs and not one requires a name to be given. My policy is to delete comments that I feel are nasty remarks. The one in question happened to get by me.
Even so the \”Powers\” in charge thought it was best not to link the City\’s website with ClearysNoteBook.
A passing note ClearysNoteBook is reaching the 200,000 visitor mark. And I am proud to say it is listed now on BlogNetNews as one of the top 20 most influential blogs in New Jersey. To see the top 20 list Click here.
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RELATED:
CNB story on Parker and McCay
Parker & McCay Campaign contributions to NJ politicians $1 million
CNB Story on Highland Park Alternative School
Re: Alternative School..reporter only told one side of story
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