Resident Voices Concern Over Planner Appointment

During the Township Council meeting on January 7, 2009, resident Bob Cushmeyer voiced concern over the reappointment of Rick Ragan, from Ragan Design Group as Township Planner during the annual reogranization meeting.

Bob Cushmeyer questioned Dianne P. Stinney, Council President, as to why the public was not provided an opportunity to comment on consent agenda items prior to action during the reorganization meeting. The past practice of the sitting council is to open the floor for public comment on consent agenda items prior to taking action, however they did not hold to this practice and instead acted without regard to residents concerns. Mr. Cushmeyer said "he feels a loss that the public was dealt out of this particular equation," in reference to the action taken by Council without soliciting public comment. He did however read into the record the below comments:

"Members of Pemberton Town Council, I would like to request that the contract with Ragan Design Group be terminated and a new Township Planner be appointed for the year 2009. I do this because Mr. Richard Ragan and Michael Wisnewski, both of Ragan Design Group, have been less than candid with the residents of this Township. Each has stated at various meetings held last year in conjunction with the visioning process for the new master plan that the plan would reflect the desires of the people of this Township.

What a surprise last month, December, when the new master plan shows a high density housing development and commercial development located on a Greenberg Farm in North Pemberton Township. This development is in direct contradiction to the desires and the wishes of the residents who participated in the six visioning meetings. Please read the minutes of the meetings. They’re located on the Pemberton Township website.

Ragan Design Group has also attempted to cover up this not wanted and poorly planned development by calling it smart growth and benefiting the Township when in fact it is suburban sprawl at its worse and only benefits one person, Mr. Greenberg. Disregarding the wishes of the residents should not be rewarded with an extension of this Planner’s contract. Please consider a new Planner who can truly reflect the desires of the residents of Pemberton Township.

Bob Cushmeyer then read into the minutes the statement below which was signed by four members of the sitting council and the mayor during their campaign for office:

"This is the seven point plan. We will update our master plan to reflect the needs and the values of our community. We will prevent Pemberton Township from overdevelopment insuring that we learn the lessons of our congested neighbors. As we grow, we will make sure it is done in a way to preserve the beauty and the character that make Pemberton Township great.”

To view the complete minutes of the January 7, 2009 Reorganization Meeting of the Pemberton Township Council click here.