Our annual Montville Day will be held on September 9 this year, reportedly featuring a dunk tank of Township Committee members (too bad only the current ones....)
Discuss what you like and don't like and what you'd like to see next year.
Our town does not have money to spare to throw a big party -- which is what Montville Day is. I want my tax dollars spent on essential services. If after providing all of our essential services the TC finds that they have a surplus, then refund it back to the people. We have a republican government -- why don't they act like it?
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 7, 2007 8:34 AM
$25,000 - That's how much money the TC budgetted for Montville Day.
Can anyone on the TC tell us if the $2/person charge and the proceeds from the dunk tank will be used to supplement that budget or to reduce it?
My family enjoys Montville Day and we have been going for years. Happy to learn it will be held again. I hadn't heard anything. This must be the official public relations spot for the town! $2 is very reasonable.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 7, 2007 11:13 AM
My children will be happy to know that Montville Day is approaching! Nice to get out and see everyone and the $2 is reasonable.
Too bad we seem to have those "soured" on life making a fuss over a nice thing!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 7, 2007 11:35 AM
Montville Township collects over $80 million in property taxes. We also collect another $10-11 million in various fees,grants and aide payments. We also had dedicated the income from a cell tower built behind the Senior House for these kinds of events although of course once the income is established it would be a part of the general revenue. What should not be forgotten is that it is also a day when various organizations can raise awareness and raise funds which do many good things in the Township. Sporting Associations, the Womans Club, the VFW, Unico, Historical Society,Churches, The PBA, The First Aide Squad and many other groups use the day to increase membership and donations from which they are able to augment the good work they do. I favor Montville Day as do the 2000-3000 people that attend. If the Township Committee establishes a fee so be it but the benefits of the day, I believe outway the cost.
Posted by
Dan Grant
on
August 7, 2007 2:03 PM
Dan - Of course you favor Montville Day and especially this year. Thousands to suck up to for your upcoming election. Were you there last year? NO. Funny how that works.....
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 7, 2007 3:03 PM
Just for the record I was at Montville Day since it started even if I was not up for election. I found it a good time to hear what residents were concerned about and spent the day listening and answering questions. I am sure whoever you favor in the election will be their as well.
Posted by
Dan Grant
on
August 7, 2007 5:21 PM
I'd like to have a beer tent.
If Florham Park can have one at their festival then why can't Montville?
I say: take the $25K and give the senior citizens a property tax rebate. This is a responsible use of cell tower rent!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 7, 2007 9:16 PM
Take the 25K and give a tax rebate to everyone!!!!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 8, 2007 10:13 AM
$2 is reasonable? You pay $2 at the door, but you pay more in taxes. The fact is, the organizers are depending on the fact that most residents can't attend. That means that many of us are subsidizing your party.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 8, 2007 11:01 AM
For $2.00 I get all the chicken and burgers I want? This is a great deal for the people who can attend. Of course, it stinks for everyone else.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 8, 2007 2:59 PM
If it's not self supporting then it's a huge waste of money.
The wristbands should be at least $5.00 and probably more.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 8, 2007 5:38 PM
Last year only 2000 people attended. Assuming that they were all residents, that means that 9 out of 10 Montville residents lose out on Montville Day.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 8, 2007 11:34 PM
Why should I pay for a party for everyone else in town? I am busy that weekend and cannot go -- is the town going to rebate my tax bill by my prorated share?
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 9, 2007 8:26 AM
Has the town made any contingency plans for if it rains? That would be a lot of wasted free food.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 9, 2007 11:20 AM
This is great. I was going to have a Labor Day party. I'll wait a week and invite everyone I know to Montville Day. At $2.00 a head I'll save a fortune! Thanks!!!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 9, 2007 7:19 PM
Oh that's nice, invite your friends to Montville Day instead of the comfort of your home. I'll bet they'll feel special when they show up and you point out the port-o-pots. And they'll really love you if they should happen to get cornered by a local politician.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 10, 2007 8:27 AM
Spoke to most of the neighbors recently and we are all planning to spend time at the Montville Day.
Looking forward to seeing friends from years back who grew up and live in this nice township!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 10, 2007 11:13 AM
Your friends from outside of Montville are not permitted. It is only for Montville residnts.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 10, 2007 1:09 PM
Is that true about non residents not being allowed to Montville Day?
In years past, anyone could attend as far as I can recall.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 10, 2007 5:05 PM
Not this year, you have to provide proof you are a resident of Montville Township in order to purchase a $2.00 wrist band.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 10, 2007 9:40 PM
In theory Montville Day has always been for Montville residents only. Police checked ID in previous years (sporatically) The flyer says $3 at the picnic and $2 in advance.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 11, 2007 2:17 PM
My kids want to know if there are going to be any helocopters or swats teams or k-9 demos or fire trucks? they love going for that stuff.
Thanks
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 13, 2007 7:29 AM
I'm with Ron, beer is good ! Homer
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 15, 2007 8:12 PM
I Guess it doenst make sense to ask a question or leave a comment, I see no answers..
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 28, 2007 11:33 AM
Politicians around here only write in when they think it will get them a vote or when they want to attack each other. Their priority is not to enlighten the public.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
August 29, 2007 3:37 PM
If the people who went over the criteria for voting Montville as one of the nicest towns in Jersey to live in read all of your comments, they would have looked elsewhere. You should all be embarrassed by your backbiting and grow up. Montville Day is there for everyone, especially the "volunteer Associations' that make such a large contribution to your town. Free of Charge.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 7, 2007 10:05 PM
Montville Day is not for everyone -- if "everyone" in town showed up, we would not have enough space, enough food, or enough parking. However, "everyone" is required (though our taxes) to pay for it. If the town were to throw a Montville Day that anticipated "everyone" showing up, the cost would be astronomical!!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 8, 2007 12:13 PM
Why not have a non binding referendum on the ballot in November regarding Montville Day? Let the voters decide.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 8, 2007 7:10 PM
Montville Day has been around for about 10 years. I never heard complaints, until recently that is. Is it due to this website or the fact our taxes are MUCH higher than 10 yrs ago so people are more critical... maybe this is one example (of many) as to why taxes are so high? Of course there is Bd of Ed budget, but that's another topic!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 8, 2007 9:56 PM
The voters did decide -- when they voted republican. Unfortunately, they ended up with republicans who spend like democrats. A true republican government would not spend tax dollars to throw a party -- if there were extra money in the budget (which I would argue there is not) then true republicans would rebate the money back to the people!!!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 8, 2007 10:41 PM
Thanks to all who made todays Montville Day so much fun. Raise the ticket prices if you have to to make the stick in the muds quiet down, but don't give up Montville Day!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 9, 2007 8:30 PM
Just returned from Montville Day. The minimal admission is a step in the right direction. They also had people checking ID's. As far as spending monies on a "party" goes, well, everyone was invited. We spend money on concerts in the park, the Forth of July, earth day, etc. Just because we don't get 100 percent participation deosn't make it wrong. The food was good. No lines. Plenty of good people and good times.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 9, 2007 9:30 PM
My compliments to the Township on Montville Day it is a tradition that I hope continues. The green wristbands certainly answered the question of non-residents and the attendence was strong. I did meet a few non-residents in the form of Candidates running for County Office but I really didn't have a problem with that. I hope the Republican Club paid for their attendence. If we had known the rules we could have made it more bi-partisan and invited more of ours.
Posted by
Dan Grant
on
September 10, 2007 10:36 AM
Dan, If it was a curiosity, why didn’t someone simply ask a question of the organizers prior to the event if candidates could be invited? Please correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the gentleman in the blue and white striped suit affiliated with your party running for a position in the county or state? If so, then it was evident that someone within the organization was already aware of it and failed to invite others. It’s like sports, if the other team is more aggressive, one can only blame the coaches for not being better prepared.
Posted by
chris schlomann
on
September 11, 2007 10:21 AM
Why were there no recycling bins? Doesn't this town care about recycling??
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 11, 2007 11:55 AM
Chris, when we began Montville Day the concept was to keep it as non-political as possible, and the republican clubs and democratic clubs registered voters etc but low key, we also tried to keep it non-commercial so as not to have businesses hounding residents. I applaud the current committee on the wristbands, hopefully the feedback is positive, however, i am hearing that our volunteers on the first aid squad, fire departments, FBI helicopter pilots, and worse yet, our police explorers who directed traffic all day, had to pay for their food. If that was the case i hope the township committee will refund the monies to those groups. john rosellini
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 11, 2007 12:24 PM
Easy Chris, actually I had very good conversation with both the Sheriff and the Congressman both of whom I have known for years. Dr. Kahn is the Democratic Candidate for Senate and apparently has family in Town and came on his own. Dave Modrack our Assembly candidate is a resident of Montville Township. In the past we always had a gentleperson agreement to keep the Political Parties represented but as low key as possible and I was under the mistaken impression that those rules still applied, that's all. I get along with both the Congressman and the Sheriff very well and wouldn't object anyway. What is more disturbing to me is making the first responders,Explorers and the FBI pay when they are actually part of the program. None the less the day went great and I understand that Debbi Nielson was incharge of the weather and although a little warm she kept the rain away and did a great job.
Posted by
Dan Grant
on
September 11, 2007 1:38 PM
John and Dan easy there, not saying anything political, used a simple sports analogy, and responded to the statement made by Dan.
If we had known the rules we could have made it more bi-partisan and invited more of ours.
Rules written or un-written has no bearing on my reply, take it up with the organizers, and took something at face value as it was written by Dan and responded it to it.
The key word is MORE in that statement that alone is an admission to wanting to invite more individuals of a specific political party, for what reason I could care less. I personally have no political interest, I feel it is good for the members of the community to have the opportunity to meet those individuals in our local, county and or state government in such a relaxed setting that allows individuals in government to be themselves without a political agenda.
No different than how I would have liked both the MBSA and Broncos to have representation at Montville Day and afford members of the community the opportunity to meet those individuals that volunteer their time to run these organizations, and create opportunity for the children of the community.
See, no politics, it is all about being oneself and a member of the community without a special interest of hidden agenda.
Plain and Simple, so please don t spin this into something that it is not.
Now John you are making a statement based upon speculation as you wrote that you hear certain individuals had to pay for meals. If true, that was wrong, but one should make statements based upon facts and not speculate in my opinion.
Have a great day gentlemen!
Posted by
Chris Schlomann
on
September 11, 2007 2:55 PM
Chris the charge is factual, i was trying to be polite john r
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 11, 2007 3:40 PM
So much food was wasted and people made pigs of themsevles. That is what happens when it is free.
Better to sell coupons for food like they do for rides at 4th of July.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 11, 2007 6:41 PM
How cute to see dan and john together again!
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 12, 2007 9:54 AM
Chris, LOL your not "Political" and have no agenda. It is ok. Just about everyone has an agenda. Some are good and some are not. Some agendas are political and some agendas for profit and some are simply for a cause or program they believe in. Having an agenda doesn't automatically make it bad but pretending you don't have one is just silly. BTW, John R. is apparently right about those who had to pay. I did talk to some and some did not participate because of it and that is a shame. Back in the beginning Township Committee members threw $500 a piece in the pot for Montville Day to get it started. However it is done I think it is a great day and I commended the Township Committee for it. Let it go at that.
Posted by
Dan Grant
on
September 12, 2007 6:58 PM
$2 is a token. Where can your family go for music, beverages, entertainment, music, pony rides, bouncies, clowns, and collect free give-aways (assuming you dont like or eat the bbq food) for this amt of money? Employees working for the day get overtime pay. Does the town normally pay for their food and drink during the week... hmmm maybe a new topic if true. Volunteers? Maybe a different matter. But geez, a lot of squawking over $2? Please. Move on to more weighty issues. There are plenty of them. We thought it was nice, not perfect but VERY nice. Dunk tank was a new attraction for the kids and pretty funny! I can think of others who should be in the water, should we start a list?
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 13, 2007 12:13 PM
Yes Montville Day was more than okay. I think about the birthday parties my kids attend its $25-$50 for a gift. The party MAY have one or two entertainments, a clown or magic act and an inflatable. The party lasts 1-1/2 to 2 hrs. So for 4 hrs of fun two dollars is a good deal. Works out to 50 cents per hour if you stay the entire time. (AND no gift required!)
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 13, 2007 2:12 PM
Dan and John were together again yesterday. In the legal notices section of the newspaper.
John didn't pay his real estate taxes and Dan didn't pay his water bill. Some things never change.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 13, 2007 2:35 PM
Guilty as charged except it is the wrong Dan Grant but don't let that bother you. You have trashed members of my family before, besides it may take the wind out of the sails of those who say there is so much money in serving your town. Right Soussa?
Posted by
Dan Grant
on
September 13, 2007 5:35 PM
Don't you live in the same house?
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 14, 2007 2:31 PM
Nobody checked where I lived when I tossed my $2 for the wristband.
Not letting the police share in all the food for free is a joke. What idiot is responsible for that policy?
They probably threw away 40lbs of food at the end of the event....or maybe somebody took it home...certainly not a cop of fireman though...morons
Yea, what happened to all the leftovers?
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 14, 2007 6:31 PM
LEFTOVERS? Surely u joke. Food was GONE by 3:05. Only hot soda and a couple of waters left.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 15, 2007 12:38 PM
Food was gone by 3:05 because they cleared it at 3:00.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 16, 2007 11:51 AM
What were the wristbands for? Were they for general admission or just for the food? I heard different stories.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 16, 2007 11:58 AM
Well Dan, since you asked, I'd say that anybody can forget and miss a tax or water payment. But if you consider being named in the tax liens section of the newpaper as being "trashed", then I'd suggest that you and your family members should be a bit more punctual about paying your bills.
Posted by
Ron Soussa
on
September 16, 2007 10:28 PM
I attended the street fair today in Parsippany. A very nice event - no free food, but all the town groups were out, local businesses were there, etc. There were rides for the kids, fire engines, ambulances, and a band. I hear that the town charges $100 / table at the fair. That means that aside from the cost of the police and the cleanup, the town's expenses are minimized.
I've heard all sorts of arguments for Montville Day, ranging from 'we get to see old friends' to 'local groups get to market themselves', but I've never heard anyone say that the reason for having Montville Day is to provide free/cheap food. Why not get rid of the free food, invite vendors in to sell food and wares, and get rid of the major cost of this thing.
By the way, I don't know if anyone noticed, but on the solicitations for feedback at the exit of the event, the price was listed as $30,000.
What is the point of soliciting feedback from the 10% of the population that was at the event? What about the rest of us?
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 18, 2007 2:04 PM
Why, Oh Why - does everything this town tries to do get criticized? Montville Day is an important day for this town. As a 39-year resident, I am still impressed with the varied activities, with the caring, civic-minded people who come together to communicate with the residents and each other. People have been asking why we are three towns? I have always felt we are three towns in search of a community, but it it not only the zip codes that divide us, it is the developments themselves, where people identify with the name of the development instead of the name of the town. It is the phone company, or whoever is responsible for writing the addresses in the phone book, who put in Montville when people live in Towaco. When I moved here, there was great prejudice against certain minorities. I was told I "wouldn't be able to move to Lake Valhalla " if people know my maiden name ( Ciallella). One would think we had come a long way in almost 40 years, but we are still back in the mire of complaining and criticizing every thing people try to do to improve our town. Adn those who complain that there was no representation or booth for their organizations: all you have to do is sign up and bring a tent!!!! One more thing: why is EVERYTHING anyone tries to do is this town turned around to a vicious tirade against Dan Grant. Give it up, people!!! I'm sure that effort can be better spent in doing some good than carping and complaining. Is anyone out there besides me sick of this mud-slinging? Terry Cavanaugh Montville TOWNSHIP
Posted by
Anonymous
on
September 25, 2007 7:38 PM
Terry, We know you are a 'danfan' but you'd have to admit that he also slings his share.
