Speaking for only myself, I agree about the improper use of the town website to promote a yes vote, especially since the Village Council is not in agreement and since, as you state, no info is given about the project or the alternatives. It is clearly a political use of public resources. Sending this type of political message via email using the village alert system or via regular mail on village letterhead or at public expense would also be wrong.
This seems unethical to me. It may also improperly interfere with a fair election. As to what can be done, I’m not sure, short of the dissenting Council members demanding the website post be taken down. This raises the question about what the process is for review and approval before anything is posted to the village website. Perhaps the Village attorney should be notified of the incident and can direct the webmaster to take down the post. Perhaps you should copy the State Local Finance Board (which reviews ethics complaints) and ELEC (Re the election faux pas).
Just throwing some thoughts out there, and maybe others copied can add more. NJFOG administrators are copied as well as a few other board members who may be knowledgeable about this matter.
Here’s one other thought, if you have no luck. My understanding is that elected council members have equal access to a town’s public information officer and may issue press releases via that route. Perhaps the dissenting council members can utilize that route to get their own message out. Of course, they would have to be careful to provide information and alternatives rather than to just say ‘Vote this way or that’.
Hope this helps.
Linda Baum
NJFOG Secretary
www.njfog.org
www.facebook.com/njfog
www.twitter.com/newjerseyfog
