March 18, 2011
Hon. Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.
Essex County Executive
Hall of Records, Room 405
465 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Newark, NJ, 07102
Re: Resolution #10
Funding for Zoo's "Big Cat Exhibit"
Dear Mr. DiVincenzo:
CWA Local 1081 respectfully requests a memorialized rejoinder from your Administration to our two questions posed below regarding Resolution #10 as it appeared on the March 16, 2011 agenda of the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
The resolution states "It is recommended that the Board of Chosen Freeholders authorize an amount not to exceed $1,560,000.00 from the Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund for the Turtle Back Zoo Big Cat Exhibit" and that "Funds are available in the Essex County Recreation& Open Space Trust Fund". However, according to the attached minutes of the March 1, 2011 meeting of the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Advisory Board, "Joshua Zaitz explained that the project will cost $3,060,000.00. $1.5 million is coming from Capital and the balance of the finding is being requested from Open Space".
- Is the $1.5 million from the County's capital account included within your proposed 2011 budget currently being contemplated by the Freeholders?
- Will this significant sum be solicited through bonding or will it be appropriated from the taxes now being paid by the residents of the County?
CWA Local 1081 thanks you, in advance, for your anticipated expeditious cooperation with this most sincere supplication.
Yours truly,
David H. Weiner, President, CWA Local 1081