In true JoAnn Neylan style, Westfield Councilman Mark LoGrippo voted "No" on the 2020 municipal budget that was presented at last night's town council meeting. This was the tactic of former town councilwoman JoAnn Neylan after years of voting "Yes" for every budget under the Skibitsky administration.LoGrippo's "excuse" was his concern that the town would be left with $7,000,000 dollars in surplus.
Ironically, in 2012 under former Mayor Andy Skibitsky, Councilman LoGrippo voted in favor, "Yes" of the Skibitsky budget which had only $198,000 in surplus.
Furthermore, Councilman LoGrippo voted in favor, ("Yes") of the 2013 Skibitsky budget which had only $879,000 in surplus.
Once again, Councilman LoGrippo voted in favor, ("Yes") of the 2014 Skibitsky budget which had only $3,400.000 in surplus.
Then again, the next year, Councilman LoGrippo voted in favor, ("Yes") of the 2015 Skibitsky budget which had only $6,400,000 in surplus.
Yet last night, Councilman LoGrippo voted against, ("No") the 2020 Mayor Brindle municipal budget because it has $7,000,000 in surplus.
This is no time for petty partisan politics. Westfield deserves better.
Can you please clarify... what would be LoGrippo's stated reason for such a vote? I don't completely understand the issue. Isn't a surplus a good thing? Why would he, or anyone, be against us having some extra cash in our town as a cushion?? Please explain. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHis concern seems to be that the surplus has been depleted beyond an amount he is ok with. You’d have to ask him why.
ReplyDeleteYou can watch the town council budget presentation online and LoGrippo’s comments on why he voted “No.”
His vote does not make sense considering his track record of voting “yes” when we had less surplus money.
My guess would be that he is being instructed and guided by his handlers, the GOP, who still aren’t happy with the total reversal of the town council’s party affiliation over the past two elections.
All that talk about bipartisanship from the GOP is BS.
Begs the question - since the resolution was to introduce the budget, does he prefer that the town operates without a budget? I heard a lot of whining, but no recommendations.
DeleteThat’s what is puzzling. His “no” vote rings hollow based on his past stance on budgets when considering surplus balances.
DeleteHow much did the mural under the rail road cost...clearly wasted money.
ReplyDeleteThis should adequately answer your question.
DeleteBy MATT KADOSH
July 30, 2019 at 8:55 AM
WESTFIELD, NJ — With the help of generous donors and a local artist, the town is looking to give a train underpass in the downtown a fresh look.
With a $20,000 state grant in hand, at least $10,000 in private donations and more monies that organizers anticipate from a crowdfunding campaign, the town has commissioned a former Westfield School District art teacher with a gallery in town to paint the murals at the underpass adjacent to the memorial park.
“It really is to help promote pedestrian traffic,” said Ricardo Roig, the artist. “It’s to help promote the arts and highlight our community as an arts community, and to connect the north side and the south side as it literally is the bridge.”
Our newsletter delivers the local news that you can trust.
Roig told TAPinto Westfield the murals are based on his Westfield series of hand-cut prints and will be built on structures to be affixed to the underside of the train trestle, framed with wood and painted with the help of volunteers.
MORE: Art Gallery: Former Westfield Teacher Bringing ‘Shared Humanity’ to South Avenue
The James Ward Mansion donated $5,000 to the cause and an anonymous donor contributed another $5,000, Mayor Shelley Brindle said. The Downtown Westfield Corporation secured the Main Street New Jersey grant in the amount of $20,000 for the project.
“We have now received $30,000 in generous donations towards our $70,000 goal, as well as a tremendous amount of positive feedback about this initiative,” Brindle said. “To keep the momentum going, we now have an online donation portal available on the town website for those who'd like to contribute quickly and easily.”
People wishing to donate may visit www.westfieldnj.gov/publicart for more information.
It cost the taxpayer $0.00
DeleteFeel free to confirm with Town Administrator Jim Gildea, he has spoken about this numerous times.
Greg, I think this blog is a tremendous service to Westfield. Kudos. That being said I disagree with your position and agree with Mr. LoGrippo only because of the tax increases put forth by Mayor Brindle. She wanted to bump taxes by 3% when other municipalities are doing the opposite based on the current economic climate. And the tax increase comes after raising the sewer fee. In my opinion she is a typical Dem...Tax and spend.
ReplyDeleteWanting to “bump” compared to what it is actually going to be, are two different topics. LoGrippo could tell you she wanted to bump it 5%, it doesn’t make it true.
DeleteIn the first three years of the Brindle administration, if taxes were raised 2.99% in 2020 as LoGrippo claimed, the Brindle administration would have raised taxes 4.01% over her first three years.
The last three years of the Skibitsky administration saw taxes go up a combined 5.1%.
So, when comparing apples to apples, the tax increases, Brindle comes in over 1% less than Skibitsky for the 3 years of her administration compared to the last 3 years of Skibitsky’s administration.
Just more misinformation from LoGrippo to confuse the public.
DeleteKeep in mind that budgets go through many iterations before brought to a final budget, LoGrippo doesn’t tell you that.
Brindle: 2018- 0.5% , 2019- 0%, 2020- 1.9% which is a 0.8% 3 year avg increase.
Skibitsky’s last 3 years average increase was 1.7%.
So again, LoGrippo voted for higher tax increases when Skibitsky was mayor.
Further, he voted for a 4% increase in a single year during Skibitsky’s tenure.