Resident Rebuts Mayor on Open-Space Spending

To the Editor:

I am offering a rebuttal to Mayor John Button’s , “Let’s Set the Record Straight on a Few Things.” Instead of adding clarity to the issue of using the Municipal Open Space, Recreation, and Farmland and Historic Preservation Open Space Trust Fund (often referred to as the “Open Space Trust Fund”) for things other than the intended uses, Mayor Button excuses his actions by saying that doing otherwise will increase taxes. This seems little more than a scare tactic because no one in our community would welcome a tax increase in these tough economic times. It is also ironic, because in March and early April, Mayor Button was leading the charge to raise taxes for the K.I.D.S. initiative through bonding. However, the bonding resolution did not achieve the necessary four votes. The mayor fails to realize that he wouldn’t need to raise taxes or raid the Open Space Trust Fund if he explores other means to pay for the K.I.D.S. initiative, including private fundraising, such as was done with the Fullerton Park effort. 

The Mayor states that the Moorestown Open Space Trust Fund “clearly implies a variety of permitted uses” (including the K.I.D.S. initiative). This legal interpretation was made by the township solicitor. It is a legal opinion and not legal fact. Legal fact is established by a court of law. Because a significant number of Moorestown voters disagree with this legal opinion, they are not “misrepresenting the facts.” They simply disagree with the legal opinion formulated to justify Council’s action. The interpretative statement on the 2007 ballot referendum, which was the guiding interpretation for voters, gives a different interpretation.

We are entitled to our opinion, and just because it does not agree with yours, we are not misrepresenting the facts. I am very disappointed that you continue to accuse a large number of Moorestown residents of “misrepresenting the facts,” and ask that you cease. Given the 2007 referendum interpretative statement, which you continue to ignore, we contend that the overwhelming amount of Moorestown voters did not approve of the 2007 Open Space referendum with the expectation that these funds would be used for artificial fields, scoreboards, and paved parking lots. Most voters believed and continue to believe that the phrase “recreation and conservation” strongly implies improvements that would be consistent with the conservation and maintenance of our precious natural resources. Artificial turf does not do that.

Mr. Mayor, you are missing the key point. We are disappointed that you had to spend township resources to legally finesse the justification to use Open Space Trust Funds for the K.I.D.S. initiative. When you held the requisite public hearing on the issue, you failed to listen to the overwhelming sentiment of the public.  Countless residents stated that they didn’t care if it was legal, because it was not ethical, and that it was a violation of our trust in this fund. There are no “misrepresentations” of the facts here.

Elizabeth Endres

President, Moorestown Save Open Space (MSOS)