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Council debates wording and scope of referendum tied to property ordinance; members stress clear voter notice
Summary
Councilmembers debated whether referenced lot numbers and properties were correctly included in a referendum tied to an ordinance to sell borough land; some members warned voters must be told which lots are on the ballot because the referendum is nonbinding and could affect multiple contiguous parcels.
Councilmembers spent substantial time Aug. 25 debating confusion over a planned referendum connected to a property ordinance. Councilman Ciasullo said voters must be able to tell what they are voting on and warned that public perception that the referendum protects only the first aid squad property could be mistaken if adjacent lots are included.
"We have to make sure people realize not only are they voting for that piece of property they are voting for the other pieces of property and that the other pieces of property have nothing to do with the first aid squad," Councilman Ciasullo said, urging clear public communication that the referendum identifies block-and-lot numbers. Attorney Joseph Maddaloni noted the referendum language typically identifies block and lot; Borough Clerk Robin Hough said the motion had included the lots. Council discussed using the fall newsletter and other communications to explain the nonbinding referendum and the parcels affected.
The council clarified that the referendum is nonbinding and that whether lots could be sold or developed depends on how the referendum language and any subsequent ordinance are framed. Members discussed the revenue motivation for possible sales and emphasized the need for transparent voter information before the question goes on the ballot.
