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Former school board president demands apology after committee mailings, says tax claims untrue
Summary
Barbara Holstein, a long-time resident and former school board president, said statements mailed in committee members' names were 'profoundly and absolutely untrue' and demanded a public apology and retraction during public comment; no response from the committee is recorded in the minutes.
During public comment at the Oct. 8 Montague Township Committee meeting, Barbara Holstein of 411 Deerfield Lane challenged statements mailed to select residents on behalf of committee members, calling them "profoundly and absolutely untrue." Holstein identified herself as a long-time resident and a former school board member and president, and she disputed assertions about school taxes and her record.
Holstein said the school tax levy was reduced under her leadership and that she paid property taxes as a tenant, citing the State Division of Taxation guidance that 18% of rent is considered property taxes paid for rebate eligibility. She said the mailing's claims amounted to slander and said the committee members and a local real estate owner who participated "owe her a public apology and a retraction of their lie." The transcript records no reply from committee members during the public comment period.
The committee closed public comment and proceeded to adjourn.
