This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Lessons in Bureaucracy

One resident's opinions, musings, interpretations and impressions of the way things work (or don't work!)

Midway through another tough week in Cinnaminson, and time to share a couple of things I've learned from my leap into the black hole that is the bureaucratic process of local government.

All of us need to pay attention, all of the time, to what our local leaders are doing. Getting anything done these days requires time and tons of red tape, which is nearly impossible to untangle late in the game. Isn't there some old adage about prevention being better than a cure?

Another old adage is "fight fire with fire." When we're told that the law dictates how decisions are made, we need to check the laws. The township code, New Jersey statutes and the municipal land use and zoning laws, as well as the regulations and requirements of every state and federal program out there, are available to all of us, on line or at the library. If they don't follow the letter of the law, let's call them on it. Fight an issue by researching what avenues are available to do so within the system

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Don't let them get under your skin. When we're emotional, we're vulnerable. I have to write out anything I want to say at a meeting, otherwise I'll lose my train of thought, get angry or upset and then just sound like an idiot.

It is with these things in mind that I am approaching my opposition to the plans for the Cinnaminson Home property. At this point, it looks like the best way to halt the project is to be sure that the Green Acres program denies the township's application to divert the property from the open space inventory. I have been reading the Green Acres regulations over and over, and have found several items that I believe are cause for the application to be denied. (New Jersey Administrative Code Title 7 Chapter 36 Green Acres Program, New Jersey Dept of Environmental Protection - contact me and I'll send you the 143 page PDF, or share the specific applicable sections).

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To have your opinion be a part of the official record and be considered by the Green Acres people when they make their decision, you need to send a letter stating why you think the application should be approved or denied to the township clerk and to the Green Acres office. Try to be clear and concise, state your opinion firmly and back it up with as much factual information and legal argument as you can. Check your spelling! Leave out any anger or venom or emotion. And be sure your name and address are included. We have until January 31st to get these letters in - PLEASE! Stand up! Speak out! It's time we make sure that the leaders we elected do what we want, not what they decide we want.

Send your letter to the Cinna Twp clerk and a copy to the Green Acres program:

Township Clerk
Cinnaminson Township
1621 Riverton Road
Cinnaminson, New Jersey 08077

NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Green Acres Program
Bureau of Legal Services and Stewardship
501 East State Street, 1st Floor
Post Office Box 412
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0412
Attention: Kevin Appelget

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