Broadcasts open window on local officials

Ihave been a resident of Manalapan for over six years and this is the second letter I am writing concerning the way this township conducts its business.

We as residents are very fortunate to now have available to us the ability through Channel 77 to watch how our township government works. This, however, has proven to be a doubleedged sword.

I sit and watch and wonder how people in the positions on the Township Committee can speak to volunteers and concerned citizens the way they have, especially at the Aug. 22 meeting. I must emphasize that the members of the committee were elected to their positions because of the citizens of our township and their votes.

We have put our faith and trust in their hands. They are there to serve and when necessary deal with unpleasant situations in a professional and fair manner. This did not happen at this meeting or for that matter at other meetings I have seen.

All this is taking its toll on how issues are being handled. Personalities become the mainstay and instead of being objective it becomes too subjective and everyone loses.

We are all neighbors and hardball is not the tactic to take. We all know where the power is and who holds it, that is a given.

Manalapan has gained notoriety on New York television stations not for positive achievements like our Manalapan Day, but for negative issues which I will not go into detail about here but which we are all aware of.

Is this what we want our town to be known for? It is time to step back, rethink, and at least attempt to bring some decorum back to the process.

I will close with this thought. Ernest Hemingway defined "class" as grace under pressure. After watching what has transpired at these meetings, it is my opinion that Committeeman Anthony Gennaro has set an example to us all in how he has conducted himself throughout this process. For that the citizens of Manalapan should thank him.

Nancy DeMarco

Manalapan