file photo Boyd Loving
The county’s two Democratic freeholders have scheduled a trio of dates on their “listening tour” to hear from residents on the controversial proposal to merge the county police department with its sheriff’s office
NJ Tea Party Coalition
At the meeting in Oakland last evening, we understand there were few attendees, some of who said that they didn’t even know about this and didn’t know the issues ???*How do they know of the event but not the subject??? *There is concern that there is a side agenda to these meetings;
* No meetings are scheduled in the southern end of Bergen – why is that???? * Is this a real listening tour and who is listening to whom?
BERGEN COUNTY – The county’s two Democratic freeholders have scheduled a trio of dates on their “listening tour” to hear from residents on the controversial proposal to merge the county police department with its sheriff’s office.
David Ganz (D-Fair Lawn) and Joan Voss (D-Fort Lee) had announced their intentions to embark on the tour last month, prior to a vote on whether the county should hold a non-binding referendum on the consolidation in November.
Ganz and Voss been among the most vocal backers of the referendum and the proposed merger, both of which have caused a deep divide between officials in the county – including the freeholders and County Executive Kathleen S. Donovan.
The ballot question, authorized by a 4-2 vote by the board earlier this month, remains scheduled to coincide with Election Day Nov. 6.
However, Donovan has filed a lawsuit that claims the board overstepped their authority by authorizing the merger earlier this month, and aims to stop the referendum before any ballots are cast.
Today, Ganz and Voss announced that the tour will kick off on Aug. 27 at the Oakland Senior Center.
That will be followed by dates at the
Northvale Borough Hall on Aug. 30.
Each of the meetings is scheduled for 6 p.m.
“We have already heard from the Sheriff, the County Police, the Prosecutor, the County Executive, and some of our colleagues on the Freeholder board,” Ganz said in a statement. “It’s time to hear what the people of Bergen County have to say.
