Our next meeting is Thursday May 10th 7pm at the Neighborhood Resource Center 1011 Buck Street. Hope to see you there!Below is an article in the AC Press
Group forms to support Millville's march into future
By JOHN MARTINS Staff Writer, (856) 794-5114
Published: Thursday, May 3, 2007MILLVILLE — It appears that Millville First, a local citizens group that is often critical of this city's officials and their policies, will soon have another group to contend with at City Commission meetings.
Another local citizens' group, called Friends of Millville by its founders, was formed in March with about 20 members on its rolls. It has had two meetings so far, and the group is getting ready to go public with its mission next week.
Mark Krull, a founding member who works as a social worker in Philadelphia, said Wednesday the purpose of the group is — quite simply — to be positive about the progressive changes that are happening in Millville.
That includes, he added, being supportive of city leaders when they do good things.
“There are so many dynamic, energetic and hard-working people in this town,” Krull said. “Friends of Millville is not being political. It's more of a civic organization to promote a better quality of life.”
The gripe, Krull and others said, is that a contingent of city residents have somehow managed to sour the citywide conversation on how Millville should plan for its own future.
Millville First, led by former City Commissioner Emil Van Hook and former Superior Court Judge Paul Porreca, is perhaps the most vocal citizens group currently active in the Holly City's civic landscape.
The group's members are often critical of city policies, frequently calling into question the effectiveness of certain government programs and economic redevelopment projects that the current City Commission, headed by Mayor Jim Quinn, have undertaken.
These initiatives include the formation of a Revenue Allocation District, a tax-increment financing plan that allows the city to earmark property tax payments for neighborhood rehabilitation.
Other targets have included the expansive New Jersey Motorsports Park complex, a $100 million development that will transform 707 acres of woodland in South Millville into a sprawling sports and entertainment district.
Members have also expressed concerns about the future use of eminent domain, or the possibility that current actions might negatively affect future generations of Millville residents and taxpayers.
Porreca, a frequent attendee of commission meetings, has previously described the work of Millville First purely as a watchdog organization, adding that its stance is meant to create a candid, more transparent dialogue on how the city is governed.
Reached Wednesday night, Van Hook said his group's actions increase much-needed awareness of the way the city is being managed.
“If we recognize something needs to be corrected, isn't that a positive step?” he said. “We're for good government and good, responsible government.”
Members of Friends of Millville, however, described Millville First's actions as needlessly adversarial, adding that it is fracturing the city's unity when it instead should be focused on a single, concerted effort: the betterment of quality of life.
“We really want to encourage the people who are leading the change efforts,” said Linda Forbes, a retiree who moved from northern New Jersey with her husband to Millville about two years ago. “It's not to say everything's hunky-dory. Millville still has some issues. We'd like to focus attention on the right ones.”
The Friends of Millville group is composed mostly of merchants, artists and longtime neighborhood volunteers and activists who like the direction the city is going.
Members include Dottie Wilkerson, a well-known Center City volunteer who is frequently seen working in the neighborhood.
Rich deAlmeida, a Millville native who works as a community outreach coordinator for the city's Weed & Seed program, said the group started somewhat informally as a place where like-minded residents can express themselves.
“There are just so many positive things going on and a group of us just got disgusted sitting in those commission meetings,” deAlmeida said. “We didn't form to be opposition to any particular group in the city. We just felt we needed to try to clear up the half-truths and the rumors going around.”
The new group's planned role, however, is intended to be larger than just as a cheerleader for the officials currently sitting on the dais at City Hall.
Krull said that the Friends of Millville hopes to serve as a support organization for the myriad other nonprofit groups that currently work in the city. Members also want to do what they can to tackle problems such as absentee landlords, rampant crime and noncompliance with city codes.
Instead of just complaining about it, though, Krull said Friends of Millville hope to contribute actively to the transformative work currently under way.
“That's the bottom line,” he added. “The rest is just rhetoric.”
Friends of Millville has scheduled a meeting for May 10 at 7PM at 1011 Buck Street. For more information, call (856) 327-9534.
To e-mail John Martins at The Press:
JMartins@pressofac.com
By JOHN MARTINS Staff Writer, (856) 794-5114
Published: Thursday, May 3, 2007MILLVILLE — It appears that Millville First, a local citizens group that is often critical of this city's officials and their policies, will soon have another group to contend with at City Commission meetings.
Another local citizens' group, called Friends of Millville by its founders, was formed in March with about 20 members on its rolls. It has had two meetings so far, and the group is getting ready to go public with its mission next week.
Mark Krull, a founding member who works as a social worker in Philadelphia, said Wednesday the purpose of the group is — quite simply — to be positive about the progressive changes that are happening in Millville.
That includes, he added, being supportive of city leaders when they do good things.
“There are so many dynamic, energetic and hard-working people in this town,” Krull said. “Friends of Millville is not being political. It's more of a civic organization to promote a better quality of life.”
The gripe, Krull and others said, is that a contingent of city residents have somehow managed to sour the citywide conversation on how Millville should plan for its own future.
Millville First, led by former City Commissioner Emil Van Hook and former Superior Court Judge Paul Porreca, is perhaps the most vocal citizens group currently active in the Holly City's civic landscape.
The group's members are often critical of city policies, frequently calling into question the effectiveness of certain government programs and economic redevelopment projects that the current City Commission, headed by Mayor Jim Quinn, have undertaken.
These initiatives include the formation of a Revenue Allocation District, a tax-increment financing plan that allows the city to earmark property tax payments for neighborhood rehabilitation.
Other targets have included the expansive New Jersey Motorsports Park complex, a $100 million development that will transform 707 acres of woodland in South Millville into a sprawling sports and entertainment district.
Members have also expressed concerns about the future use of eminent domain, or the possibility that current actions might negatively affect future generations of Millville residents and taxpayers.
Porreca, a frequent attendee of commission meetings, has previously described the work of Millville First purely as a watchdog organization, adding that its stance is meant to create a candid, more transparent dialogue on how the city is governed.
Reached Wednesday night, Van Hook said his group's actions increase much-needed awareness of the way the city is being managed.
“If we recognize something needs to be corrected, isn't that a positive step?” he said. “We're for good government and good, responsible government.”
Members of Friends of Millville, however, described Millville First's actions as needlessly adversarial, adding that it is fracturing the city's unity when it instead should be focused on a single, concerted effort: the betterment of quality of life.
“We really want to encourage the people who are leading the change efforts,” said Linda Forbes, a retiree who moved from northern New Jersey with her husband to Millville about two years ago. “It's not to say everything's hunky-dory. Millville still has some issues. We'd like to focus attention on the right ones.”
The Friends of Millville group is composed mostly of merchants, artists and longtime neighborhood volunteers and activists who like the direction the city is going.
Members include Dottie Wilkerson, a well-known Center City volunteer who is frequently seen working in the neighborhood.
Rich deAlmeida, a Millville native who works as a community outreach coordinator for the city's Weed & Seed program, said the group started somewhat informally as a place where like-minded residents can express themselves.
“There are just so many positive things going on and a group of us just got disgusted sitting in those commission meetings,” deAlmeida said. “We didn't form to be opposition to any particular group in the city. We just felt we needed to try to clear up the half-truths and the rumors going around.”
The new group's planned role, however, is intended to be larger than just as a cheerleader for the officials currently sitting on the dais at City Hall.
Krull said that the Friends of Millville hopes to serve as a support organization for the myriad other nonprofit groups that currently work in the city. Members also want to do what they can to tackle problems such as absentee landlords, rampant crime and noncompliance with city codes.
Instead of just complaining about it, though, Krull said Friends of Millville hope to contribute actively to the transformative work currently under way.
“That's the bottom line,” he added. “The rest is just rhetoric.”
Friends of Millville has scheduled a meeting for May 10 at 7PM at 1011 Buck Street. For more information, call (856) 327-9534.
To e-mail John Martins at The Press:
JMartins@pressofac.com
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