Skaar Vows to Serve as a Watchdog, If Elected

My name is Art Skaar, and although I have not run for office since 1996, my wife, Cindy and I have been busy building our businesses in town. I know the town and I can get working right away on Township Committee without any learning curve.

I have been busy knocking on doors during this campaign and learning what people are thinking. People are telling me that we need a Democrat on Township Committee to act as a watchdog and keep an eye on the Republicans. If you need proof that we need a watchdog, take a look at what is happening with the open space ballot question.

I have taken a stand against it. We fought a major housing development in 1996, and now that land is preserved open space. I have donated some land to the town. Beyond my own personal perspective, if you look at the facts you will see why you should vote against that ballot question.

This referendum was discussed by both the Open Space Advisory 
Committee and the Township Committee. The minutes of the Open Space Advisory Committee from May 2 Suraci attended the meeting, and pushed for the Open Space Advisory Committee to adopt his ideas for the ballot referendum. The Open Space Advisory Committee wanted to wait on the referendum, do an assessment prior to it to determine needs, and asked for less money to be taken out of the fund so as not to encumber future purchases of land. Mr. Suraci disagreed and pushed for his way, which is the way the current ballot question stands. 

The Open Space Advisory Committee also suggested that any funds taken out of the Trust be used to create improved trails and access to existing open space. Again Mr. Suraci disagreed. Mr. Suraci responded that he needed to build up these funds for recreation purposes but did not include trails or passive recreation, even though the Township Committee members have stated that this fund was to be used for trails. He rejected the use of bonding to accomplish his goals. Mr. Suraci was adamant that the wording on any referendum be the same vague wording as the county’s referendum.

This is particularly interesting because Mr. DelCore (running for re election) has publicly stated that creating trails in existing open space is the purpose of the referendum. Yet the Open Space Advisory Committee minutes contradict this statement as Mr. Suraci stated that a turf field was necessary instead. He did not, however, elaborate as to where the turf field would be built. It should be noted that Mr. Suraci is a liason to the Recreation Department.
 
This shows the deliberate intent of the Township Committee to 
keep the public uneducated about the true use of the funds collected from the ballot question. All of this has been taken from the minutes of the open space commission. I have posted them on the website WWW.VOTEBORODEMS.ORG for your convenience to peruse.

So there we have it, Hillsborough’s Township Committee is deliberately disguising their actions under the cloak of open space and trails. The signs around town that say “support our parks and open space” belie their intent to take open space funds for unrelated purposes. 

None of the Township Committee members have told the truth to the public regarding the use of these funds, yet it seems that they know exactly what they will do. So, I ask that you elect me, Art Skaar, to be your watchdog on Township Committee, and vote “no” on the ballot question.