A packed crowd filled the Bloomfield Council Chambers to voice their concern about the financially-endangered Department of Health & Human Services at last night’s weekly council meeting.
Supporters of the Bukowski Animal Shelter, which falls under the auspices of the Department of Health & Human Services, were out in force with their signs held high throughout the meeting. At last week’s meeting, the Mayor had promised not to cut the funding for the animal shelter; however, the budget has not yet been finalized.
The public comment period went on for nearly an hour and a half, as one person after another came up to the microphone to ask the council not to cut the budget for Health & Human Services. Many spoke movingly of their own experiences and how they had personally benefited from the services offered by the Township through the department.
Julia Miller, of N. 17th Street, said, “I am one to tell you that Health & Human Services has done a lot for me in the past two years…If it wasn’t for this department providing me services, I don’t know where else I would turn.”
Carol Jennett, a social worker who became a beneficiary of the Department of Health & Human Services after suffering a recent stroke, said she was there to support the Neighbor-to-Neighbor-Network and the social services provided by the department. She said that when she heard there may be budget cuts, she “had a panic attack,” wondering what she would do.
Reverend Robert Foltz-Morrison of the Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green spoke of the ways his church and the Township work together as partners, and pointed out that the church has been feeding the hungry. He concluded, “I urge you to sustain the budget for Human Services.”
Reverend Vernon Miller of New Light Baptist Church also spoke, saying, “I just want to ask that you look at everything, but keep the budget for Human Services as it is, or if anything, increase it.”
Bonnie Taboadela, representing the animal shelter, thanked the Mayor for his recent visit to the shelter and for assuring her that the shelter would get the funding it needs.
There were a few moments of humor during the meeting. One speaker stated that she had to come to speak about the Department of Health & Human Services, adding as an aside to the Mayor, “you’re pretty good looking, I never saw you before.” The Mayor quipped from his seat at the podium, “I bet you didn’t know I was this tall.”
Alan Solit of Willard Avenue said he couldn’t understand why Health & Human Services is in trouble. “Maybe Governor Christie can take it out of his lunch money.”
Once the public comment period closed, the Council went swiftly through the rest of the agenda, adjourning at 9:10 p.m.. The only discussion occurred during the resolutions to replace Joseph Connolly, Esq., with Vincent Pirone, Esq., as the Township Judge. Third Ward Councilman Robert Ruane questioned why Mr. Connolly was being replaced, and objected to the appointment of Mr. Pirone, saying, “I don’t think he meets the standards we have in Bloomfield.” The Mayor had no comment and the appointment passed, with Councilman Ruane and Councilman Joanow voting no.
See the meeting in its entirety here.
The next Council Meeting will be a conference meeting held in the 2nd floor conference room in the Law Enforcement Building at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 28.
They can’t afford these services in their budget, but they can afford to
give a 30 YEAR tax abatement to a developer. Smell something?
Let me guess… a rat?
Vinnie Pirone, a contributor to the McCarthy campaign. I wonder what his qualifications are?
OOPS – answered my own question.
The headline should have been BLOOMFIELD TAKES FROM THE NEEDY TO GIVE TO THE GREEDY
Good one belletones! It’s true, the cost savings per family per week comes down to 44 cents, and that’s to fund Health and Human Services and the animal shelter. Are they serious? I’m all for cutting the budget, but not at the expense of the neediest souls in town, animal or human. The speakers Monday night were sincere and some of their personal stories were heartbreaking. In each case you could tell without HHS they’d be lost.
At the same council meeting a raise was approved for the new police chief. They all got raises last year, as did the ‘unrepresented’ employees who took to the council room to demand their “due”.
I cannot understand how the mayor and Yoshi can continue to press for these devastating budget cuts after looking into the faces of those who need them the most and hearing their stories.
One speaker put it very well last week. They are cutting out what’s left of our humanity.
McCarthy and Manale are playing ‘bait and switch’ and it sucks.
The money they “promised” to the shelter won’t necessarily to to the shelter and they know it. The state mandates certain programs be provided by the Health Department. The animal shelter isn’t one. If they continue to demand the HD budget be cut by almost half, that $100k they say is for the shelter will have to go to the mandated programs. It’s all bogus. Their intent is to force HD and/or the Board of Health to make the decision to close the shelter. More sucking.
Glendale Cemetary is sill in play. They want the land the shelter is sitting on as an access road to the mausoleums they plan on building on the land they already bought. Since there’s not even a shovel in the ground yet they can bide their time. But they still want that sale and so does the mayor.
He’s no supporter of the shelter. He never has been and nothing has changed now.