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COUNCIL PRESIDENT KAFTON stated by doing this we’re not preserving the open space that the residents moved here for. We should be more aggressive about purchasing open space. We’ve stopped development by purchasing property and we should continue this. If you turn it around we’ll be favoring the developers and not preserving the open space that the residents moved here to enjoy.

MAYOR REINA I applaud Council President Kafton however, you may have misinterpreted what I said. I think it's incumbent upon us to offer the same thing back to the residents. I'm not saying to change it. I'm saying to give it back to the taxpayers to decide. We're not taking away the open space, the intention is to put it back to the taxpayer and let the taxpayer decide, we don't have to double the rate. The Open Space Tax is now 2.6 cents higher than in 2008 we're not taking anything away. We're asking the taxpayer to decide how to spend the money. There's going to be an increase of 126.8 percent and this is your opportunity to change it. If the majority of the people understand this it doesn't take away anything. Council President Kafton stated we should cut the Municipal Budget not the Open Space Tax. Council Vice President Rivere noted you see how the audience is divided. I'd like to see the numbers in front of me and I think this can wait until the next meeting. Councilman Martin stated all that is being suggested is to ask the voters if they want to decrease the amount of money contributed to this without reducing the amount of money in the Open Space Trust Fund. We have an opportunity to give the residents a chance to reduce their taxes; it's an historic opportunity. Councilwoman Updegrave noted that we're making a political football of a suggestion. Council President Kafton stated he's disappointed that you had this discussion beforehand. Councilman Martin stated he had a discussion with you, Michael, at the Senior Center. Council President Kafton noted that the three cents that we use for the open space is an investment in our future and our kids' futures and you're increasing the Municipal Budget by one million dollars. Cut the Municipal Budget, not the open space. Mayor Reina stated if you cut the Municipal Budget now next year you'll be walloped. I had no intention of putting this as a back and forth issue, all I wanted to do is give the people a choice. Council President Kafton stated the taxpayers voted twice for this. This is very important issue, I'm going to put out my argument as much as the Mayor will put his argument out there, we shouldn't be buying lawnmowers for $75,000.00. We should be taking this money and investing it in developers' property and preserving it. Mayor Reina replied all your points are valid. All we want to do is allow the voting public their say. I'm not talking about the budget; I'm talking about the Open Space Referendum. We're allowing the voting public to say what they want to do with their money.

TOWNSHIP CLERK EDEN Resolution 247R-09 will be removed from tonight's Agenda.

MOTION TO APPROVE BILLS AND CLAIMS BY: RIVERE MOTION SECONDED BY: MARTIN YES: MARTIN, TILIS, UPDEGRAVE, RIVERE & KAFTON ABSTENTIONS: MARTIN ( JUAN, BELLU & V9017594) UPDEGRAVE (DASTI, MURPHY & MCGUCKIN)