Joyce Wilson Harley, Esq., Administrator

County of Essex

Hall of Records

465 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd , Rm. 510

Newark , NJ , 07102

Re: Brookdale Park Dog Park

Dear Ms. Wilson Harley:

CWA Local 1081 read with discernable distress, and disappointment, Resolution #24 of the agenda of the Essex County Board of Freeholders’ March 19, 2008 Conference Meeting as it represents the Administration’s proposal the Freeholders approve the expenditure of an additional $100,000 to be spent “to enable the Dog Park to be reconfigured, as well as vegetation planted, to alleviate residents (sic) concerns in the area” about the noise levels the leash-free canines cause. Inasmuch as the Administration proposes borrowing the $100,000 for this most pressing matter from the Essex County Open Space Trust Fund, and contrary to previous Administration claims such funds are clearly capital currency, the $100,000 represents delving into a dedicated tax source paid by Essex County residents to be reimbursed through their general taxation funds.

In light of the ongoing protracted negotiations between the Administration and CWA Local 1081 to agree mutually to a successor contract for our Union’s members, we respectfully recommend the Administration dedicate more attention and resources to the well being of the hard working and under compensated employees of the County of Essex and somewhat less attention and somewhat fewer resources to the dogs in the parks and the birds in the zoo.

Sincerely,

David H. Weiner, President, CWA Local 1081