Millville Insider

Thank you to everyone who turned out for the Planning Board meeting on February 10 th . Whether you spoke or not your support by coming to the meeting helped. Thank you also to the planning board for allowing people to express their opinions and ask question. There was no time limit imposed upon those that spoke. Citizens were even allowed to speak more than once. It was a refreshing change from the city commission meetings where the citizens are ignored or criticized by Team Santiago. The planning board respected the comments of each and everyone that spoke and that in turn earned the planning board respect. Every comment was listened to and every question was answered. The result was the planning board is recommending that the new zoning ordinance be tabled by Team Santiago so it can be worked on further taking into consideration the comments made at the meeting by the public. That is transparency. That is the process working. That is the citizens being heard. ...

On Monday, February 10, 2020 the Planning Board will be discussing the new Zoning ordinance for the city of Millville. This should be a concern for every citizen in Millville as it will determine what type of houses and businesses will be allowed in the city and where. The original purpose to change the ordinance was to simplify the rules and regulations that govern the city. By simplifying the process and making everything more straight forward, it would attract more businesses to the city. This ordinance does the opposite.   The new ordinance is convoluted and restrictive and for some reason it is modeled after Lawrence Township’s regulations. Why? Here are just a few examples of what is in the new ordinance: 1.      Single family homes will no longer be allowed in the Union Lake Wawa Tract area however townhouses and apartments will be. 2.      Drug rehabilitation centers will be allowed in the Union Lake area a...

The Wheaton property has been in disrepair for years, an eyesore sitting at the entrance to the City. The City owns the property as a result of Team Santiago’s ill advised settlement with GGI. In that settlement, Team Santiago forgave hundred of thousands of dollars of unpaid taxes. For reasons never explained the City looked the other way when taxes were not paid during Parent’s previous stint as Director of Revenue and Finance. So the obvious questions are: What has Team Santiago done to clean up the property, and what is the “Team’s” plan for the future of this eyesore at Second and G streets? Same answer for both questions: Nothing. Ms. Udalovas has stated over and over again that all redevelopment must go through the city’s redevelopment attorney. So who is that? None other than Doug Long’s law firm. The firm that has had and presently has ethics charges brought against them. Out of town attorneys and the Cumberland County Improvement Authority along with Don Ayr...

The December 2nd city commission meeting once again showed how out of touch with the people of Millville Team Santiago is. Mr. Pepitone presented a slide show of the Wheaton property on G Street. The slide show emphasized why something has to be done about this property. Mr. Pepitone confirmed that there are squatters living there and an individual had set up a work site to process stolen copper. Mr. Pepitone and Mr. Cooper both stated that something had to be done about the property. Everyone already knew that something needs to be done, so what are they going to do? Once again no solutions were offered. Mr. Santiago as usual said nothing looking at his phone through most of the presentation.   Mr Parent sat there and laughed. What is so funny? He later stated what is going on at the Wheaton property is mind boggling. Where has he been? Mr. Parent had numerous opportunities to do something, anything, about this property when he was in office before and now. ...

At a recent commission meeting, a resident stood up and asked Team Santiago what was going on with the Wheaton Property. None of the commissioners answered. When the citizen asked again, Mayor Santiago stated that they do not have to answer questions and that an answer would be given during closing comments. During the closing comments, the question was not answered. So much for the promised transparency. Yes it is Team Santiago’s choice not to answer questions from the citizens of Millville but is it right? Citizens and taxpayers have the right to be informed as to what is going on in their city. The citizens are the ones who pay the bills and elected Team Santiago. Does the “team” understand who they work for? Another citizen spoke at the podium and stated their name and that they lived in Millville. Mayor Santiago stated you must give your full address. Why? Is this another way for Team Santiago to intimidate those that speak up at a meeting? There is no need for any...