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Health & Fitness

You are cordially invited...

Beth, Neighbor
The proposed Blossom Ridge Senior Housing Development has been contentious for more than a year, primarily because it fell so far afield of the character within Oakland Township, crossing the boundaries of both size and scope.  When first diving into the details, I was struck that Jim Foulkrod sat on the Planning Commission and voted FOR Blossom Ridge, and just shortly thereafter, accepted 83% of the funds for his failed Clerk’s race from Dominic Moceri, Francis Moceri, and the Dominic & Frances Moceri Family Trust.  Moceri is the Blossom Ridge developer.  The other 17% of funds was supplied by Foulkrod himself.

 

Because of what appeared to be willful disregard of the citizens of Oakland Township, the previous Board of Trustees, led by Supervisor Fogler, was swept aside, with the exception of Mike Bailey & Sharon McKay.  The new Board has faced numerous challenges, primarily legal issues regarding Blossom Ridge, movement to restore water in the Mill Race, as well as the recently-resigned Judy Keyes, who was obstructionist at least, and disingenuous at best.

The new Board has also been attacked relentlessly by a small group of old-board supporters, who, while vocal, are often misleading, only reporting parts of their “stories” to anyone who will listen.  As George Washington said in his farewell address, “Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”

So here are some facts:

Find out what's happening in Oakland Township-Lake Orionwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • The new BOT has now made ALL public township meetings televised and readily available on the website
  • The new BOT now keeps an audio record of meetings, in addition to the televised recordings
 Oakland Township has a new website, adding to transparency:

o   The last 2 years of meeting minutes are available

o   Township codes are available

Find out what's happening in Oakland Township-Lake Orionwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

o   Meeting agendas are available

o   Long-term plans are available

o   Comprehensive plans available

o   All of the above are indexed and easily accessible

  • The new BOT has made all of the meeting packets available online so that we, as citizens, may view them ahead of time, and then question as we see fit
  • Established consistent, weekly office hours for the Supervisor, Clerk and Treasurer, where they address any questions citizens might have
  • As part of the BOT packets, all financial line-items are delineated, and available for citizen questioning and review
  • Supervisor Gonser has treated citizens with deference and respect, even when they were swearing at him, using foul language, and otherwise attempting to discredit him

At the next Board meeting, November 7th, 7:00 p.m., Township Hall, the Supervisor and Trustees have a number of important issues to address, not the least of which is the SAU for Blossom Ridge, which takes into account not just the law, but how we, as residents, have voted.  Consider this a cordial invitation.

 

 

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