Friends and Family plan is intact again

Alright, let's do a little run down here: I guess the township attorney is not versed in labor ad bond law hence requiring 2 additional firms. A township engineer, architect and title company make sense only insofar as the township is building something or acquiring land. What are we building and what are we buying? A township physician? Do political entities get sick? Prosecution and defense work should be minimal given that drugs, DWI and minor offenses constitute the vast majority of the crime in Lacey. What is a municipal alliance ad what does the coordinator do? We have affirmative action in Lacey Township? What does the township have to do with senior citizens and/or their recreational activities? What do emergency management and safety coordinators do that the police department does not already do? A beautification committee? A recreation director? I guess the families of Lacey are incapable of coordinating soccer and softball schedules? Ok, but a bit weird. What does the environmental commission do on a township level? What does a special officer do? What is the ADA? Again, this is an awful lot of government for a small township; people need to take responsibility for their own lives rather than allowing "public" officials to do it for them. Nothing will change as long as we accept the above as the status quo.

Robert, the Municipal Alliance is a Committee that works with police, schools, community organizations and businesses to educate residents about drug and alcohol abuse. While the coordinator is paid, everyone else who was appointed are volunteers. All of those committees, commissions and boards are made up of volunteers. The only paid appointees are the professional positions such as township attorney and township engineer who are used on an as needed basis. Director of Community Development is a full time paid position as is the Recreation Director and Municipal Alliance Coordinator. The Recreation Director oversees community athletics, the lakefront and beaches, a summer in the parks day camp program, and youth, adult and senior recreational programs throughout the year. The Emergency Management Coordinator ensures that the township is prepared for emergencies such as Hurricane Sandy. Hope that helps.

Robert, your so for change in Lacey's government but yet you know nothing about what everyone does or why their are certain committees or appointments. Do some research before you yet again open your mouth asking what "special police or emergency management coordinator, etc does for this township!

Robert,

You should also be aware that the majority of the committee's are required by State Statute. You appear to be an educated individual why not educate yourself before you critisize

I guess the sarcasm in my post was a little too subtle. I know what the vast majority of these positions and committees do (although I did not know what the Municipal Alliance was; thank you for the information on that, Elaine.) I think they are beyond the scope of government. If community members want to get together and educate the citizens about drug and alcohol abuse, that is a good and noble cause, but it is a cause that should take place via private nonprofit organizations. Tax dollars should only be spent on services that private individuals can not perform themselves, either as individuals or as an associated group. (e.g. I - even with the help of my neighbors - can not put out a house fire, so it makes sense that we have a fire department. Whereas, I can watch my kids at the lake and I can speak with other parents that want their kids to play softball; divide the teams and schedule games) Incidentally, I can - with the help of my neighbors - take responsibility for the safety of my person and property, hence my advocacy for the reduction in police patrols. With all due respect to the second most corrupt state government in the nation, perhaps our township could exercise a bit of autonomy and reject top down governance. What would the state do if we ignored their requirement (presuming their is one) that we have a beatification committee? The fact is that Americans are addicted to spending other people's money and frankly it is immoral.

Robert, it's simple! If we ignore state and/or federal mandates we will be sued, costing more of our taxpayers dollars to be used somewhere it shouldn't. Your theory's are diluted and in need of some serious repair. By your account if my sewer line breaks off at the street, I should be able to rip open my entire street and make whatever repairs I seem necessary and then leave the street in disrepair simply bc well it was a service I didn't need via the town because I know how to fix plumbing! You are one of those individuals who wonder where the police are when the loved one isn't breathing and need help or your child gets hooked on drugs and complain that nobody was their to teach my children not to do drugs. All of these programs and personnel are essential to keep this town what is it, it may not be perfect but it's our town.

@Penny Lane: I am not sure where you are going with that other than to suggest that I am aligned with the tea party, which I am not. And if you had been paying attention to the positions that I maintain in these comments, you would know that my positions do not correspond to those held by the tea party. Nice try though.

@Lifelong resident: An addition does need to made to my theory. The government has no place performing a task that the private sector, an individual, or an associated group has the ability to perform themselves. Water and Sewer lines would most likely fall under this category. Simply because a private entity would be repairing said sewer line does not mean that that entity has the right to destroy something else. You make an absurd comparison. Moreover, you are assuming that I am a hypocrite in that I would bemoan the lack of police presence in the event that some thing bad happen to a loved one. You are wrong or at least presumptuous as you have no way of knowing the degree to which I would adhere to my position. Lastly, since you seem so versed in the legal ramifications of nullification, please tell me what exactly the state would do if the township ignored its ridiculous lawsuit over filling the seats of beautification committee? Would they appoint new committeemen; would they send in the state police to establish and populate said committee? Of course they wouldn't. And if they did, it would expose them as the petty tyrants they are.

@Robert Yates, a number of these committees do absolutely nothing, and are hand picked by the local Republicans for no other reason than to exist. As for @ Penny Lane, i wouldn't expend much energy on what he has to say. He has more sign in names than Carters has nuts, and is bent on promoting an extreme left wing agenda. Nuts, is not an alien concept to @ Penny Lane. As for the position of Emergency Management Coordinator, until recently was traditionally a position held by the Cheif of Police. An additional stipend to his salary as well as a seperate pension were the compensation for these "additional" duties. I have often wondered why there should be a seperate job description as I would expect that said Cheif would be the obvious coordinator of an emergency .

Robert, if you hate Lacey Twp why do you stay here ? Smaller government is what a lot of people want, I know I do! Unfortunately to accomplish this you have to have a top to bottom change starting nationally. Take for instance the fact their is no federal mandate on drug testing for people who relieve either SSI, SSD, or unemployment! Make this a requirement and we will eliminate a lot of the wasted tax payers dollars we spend everyday to continue providing crutches to drug addicts who refuse help.
I don't doubt that you would take whatever steps necessary to protect your family, I would also but I also enjoy the peace of my mind knowing that when my neighbors and I are at work by precious belongings and everything else are protected with the security of having a police department. What I meant by example about opening the road is that when its individuals handling responsibility like that who is going to be their to make sure the job is done correctly, done to code, done safely.

In 2013, professional appointments will remain the same for Lacey Township.

Politicians and Diapers must be changed frequently…..and for the same reason.

Tim Oh I mean poud are you wearing camo boxers under your party of 1 tea bagger outfit?

http://costofwar.com/ I agree Proud

It's not that I think government will make everything better but I believe that they are their to create guidelines as perameters to stay within. The unfortunate thing in my opinion is that if you believe state and federal government cannot be reformed but yet you expect local to be able to, I think your wrong. When municipalities try to do the right thing and go against higher authority they are sued . Just look at the the national healthcare bill, if we go against it we will get sued, and the Feds have more money then we have access to at local levels. Thus, we will lose ad they will win . It has to change from top down