First and foremost I would like to thank Bryan Maher and Kristina Samonte for voting to save the Grover farm. These two council people put the importance of saving history for future generations above any political agendas. The council voted 3-2 to demolish the home and the reasoning they used for it were childish attempts at fabricating stories that they hoped the residents of West Windsor would be stupid enough to believe. They seemed to be convinced just because they say it it becomes the truth.
We never, never, never asked for a penny more than the $53,000. Apparently, the council was expecting the Grover committee to return with a six-figure estimate, and when we didn’t it apparently interfered with their agenda.
If you review the May 14 meeting we answered all the questions that Khanna claimed we didn’t. As far as Borek I made it perfectly clear that if we had a tentative yes I would be more than happy to give them lists of people who were willing to get involved with the restoration.
The committee’s mission was to decide if the house was worth saving. Our committee exceeded this by leaps and bounds. Certain council members were clearly unhappy that it would have been feasible to save this home. To say hypocrisy is alive and well with the administration and certain council members is an understatement. Money is thrown at useless projects like the transit village and poured into things like the Schenck farm with no accountability whatsoever. The Grover committee made a clear commitment to its plan for this home, and the council people who voted against it flat out lied on July 8.
We have the DVDs showing all questions were answered and both the vice chair and I have copies of the e-mails in which Borek was asked repeatedly if the council had any additional questions. Apparently, this administration and certain council members believe they can bend and twist the truth without consequence.
Linda Geevers, the so-called Grover committee liaison, had worked to derail this committee from day one. I requested numerous times that she be removed as liaison because she had twice voted to destroy this iconic piece of history. I have countless e-mails showing that she was constantly working against the committee.
Kristina Samonte was a stellar liaison and would have been more then competent as our only liaison. At one Grover meeting Geevers actually said “you people are acting as though this is going to get approved.” It’s a shame that some politicians have forgotten they are here to serve the public not attempt to misdirect them.
The underlying question here is why all this damage happened to begin with? It’s really ironic that we as volunteers spent more than a year of our time to correct the mistakes of those in our government who were responsible for this. To deflect responsibility they tell the public there was no crime committed because there was no criminal intent by those who removed so much from this home.
What the powers to be have neglected to understand is that public property was transferred to private hands without any due process. If that’s not a crime I think I will call over to the municipal building and ask someone if I can take one of the township-owned cars and keep it. By their reasoning that’s not a crime if someone there says it’s OK.
The mayor stated that he would have public works demolish the house because they developed new skills picking up brush. I have more than 30 years experience in construction, which includes demolition. Comparing brush pick to demolition is like comparing cosmetology to brain surgery. And now as a bonus to the taxpayers the township is soliciting bids to demolish the home. What happened to no taxpayer money to fix the home? But it seems we can spend taxpayer money to satisfy personal political agendas.
This whole thing should have been a wakeup call to the taxpayers of West Windsor. The administration and council tell so many lies they can’t seem to remember which ones they have told and who they have told them to. November is coming folks, let’s clean house!
Rocky Procaccini
Chair, Grover Committee
