Greg Lembrich's supporters sue Maplewood
alias said:
The Village Keepers endorsed Greg Lembrich's campaign and have now filed suit against Maplewood.
http://villagegreennj.com/towns/government/village-keepers-sues-town-post-house-development/
"A civil suit by Village Keepers Inc. was served to the Township of Maplewood, the developer of the Post House project, and the Maplewood Village Alliance Special Improvement District — or MVA — this afternoon."
Well, that's sure to save the taxpayers money ... NOT
Really sad for Maplewood.
Interesting that they waited until after the election. I wonder, how many of those who voted for Greg would do so now.
The building was a bad idea when it was first proposed
It has been a bad idea with all that has transpired
It is a bad idea now.
It begins
sarahzm said:
Really sad for Maplewood.
Interesting that they waited until after the election. I wonder, how many of those who voted for Greg would do so now.
We will see in the general election. I would say close to 100 per cent.
You can not play fast and loose with the rules. That is why we have courts.
If they had done it before the election, it could have impacted the outcome.
author said:
sarahzm said:We will see in the general election. I would say close to 100 per cent.
Really sad for Maplewood.
Interesting that they waited until after the election. I wonder, how many of those who voted for Greg would do so now.
You can not play fast and loose with the rules. That is why we have courts.
All I know about politics and the law I learned in The West Wing and LA Law .... which obviously isn't much.
But, after reading the spirit of the law vs the letter of the law language in a previous post, I suspect those who filed the lawsuit know they have a very weak argument , if any.
It's just a tactic to try to derail the project. I think it's dirty. I think it could backfire.
Perhaps it shouldn't be suprising that a litigator's supporters would be litigious?
If the argument is so weak and the builder allows it to "derail" his construction he should not have been granted the job to begin with. Oh that's right.........he is plan B after the prestigious first builder decided on his own that the project is a loser and walked away from it.
Sarahzm +1. There's no legal leg to stand on here. Seems like Fred is hoping to delay until the new TC members come in--or the developer gets fed up and walks away. This is going to cost the town plenty.
Perhaps someone will run as an Independent and challenge the 100%. Seems like a good issue.
author said:
sarahzm said:We will see in the general election. I would say close to 100 per cent.
Really sad for Maplewood.
Interesting that they waited until after the election. I wonder, how many of those who voted for Greg would do so now.
You can not play fast and loose with the rules. That is why we have courts.
sarahzm said:
Really sad for Maplewood.
Interesting that they waited until after the election. I wonder, how many of those who voted for Greg would do so now.
joan_crystal said:
If they had done it before the election, it could have impacted the outcome.
Take a look at the Court's stamp on the Complaint. It was filed on May 26, 2015 BEFORE the Primary. The plaintiff then held the Complaint and did not serve it upon the Town until today.
The plaintiff is Village Keepers Inc, itself, which is described as a non-profit corporation. It is not a taxpayer or property owner in Maplewood. It is not even a business. What standing does it have?
All the complaint complains about is votes taken by the Board of the MVA. But MVA is not the Government of Maplewood. It's a private organization. Village Keepers is not a member. If Village Keepers Inc. did something that violated its own by-laws could I or Joan or MVA sue Village Keepers?
All the Complaint asks is that the Court order Village Keepers to re-vote. They are asking that the Court "remand" the matter to MVA.
Since the Complaint does not seek relief against the Township itself or the TC and does not seek relief against the Developer why are they named as defendants?
Does MVA have a lawyer? Will they have to hire a lawyer? Do they have the funds to do so?
The crux of the suit appears to be that MVA did not demand that the owner of the property show financial hardship. But the owner is the Township. How can the MVA, created by the TC, make a demand on the TC?
What if MVA calls another meeting and just corrects the alleged technicality by another vote?
This is an absurd and frivolous action. The MVA should immediately file a Motion to Dismiss. Someone should file an Ethics Complaint against the Lawyer who filed suit. Candidate Lembrich ought to be pressed on whether he agrees with the tactic of filing this suit.
And if this continues perhaps a group ought to be formed to sue the Town for a Court Order requiring it to immediately demolish the Post Office blight.
It is absolutely amazing how terrible this issue has become, ripping apart what seem like decades long friendships from reading some of the posts. Are the protest and the lawsuits and the paranoia-filled OPRA request all really worth losing your friendships over? While I grew up in a town of only 500 (which happens to have a post office identical to this one, but 1/4 the size), where everyone really knew your name, Maplewood is not too far removed from that.
Are we going to continue to perpetuate this divisive and vile behavior? Over what? One storey of height? An architectural style that you don't agree with? An unimpressive tired little brick building, or a mundane 3 storey brick building?
The amount of hate-fueled energy going into opposing the "abomination" in the Village could be used for so many much better purposes. It's really a shame that the energy is being spent tearing people apart instead of trying to work together to come up with a good compromised solution.
The righteousness of the singleminded, preying upon the ignorant. Such a loaded combination, ain't it?
It's a shame that it came to this. A lot a mistakes from both sides and some dirty politics.
I just spent way too much time reading this thread, but this is where I start to see numerous problems building up to what we have before us now.
https://maplewood.worldwebs.com/forums/discussion/id/113976-Maplewood-Democratic-Committee-Seeking-Submissions-for-Township-Committee-Endorsements?page=1
ctrzaska said:
The righteousness of the singleminded, preying upon the ignorant. Such a loaded combination, ain't it?
The Township currently has another law suit against it pertaining to awarding contracts in an illegal
manner. That's why the courts exist.
It's also nice to know the spirit of "Thank you now go home" does not exist in a court of law.
I like that phrase "Court of Law"
First of all no one is hating. No one I know feel this is personal. It is not about personally attacking or hating anyone. Hate is a strong word.
And actually there are those who are being drawn together by this issue.
Secondly you refer to a "mundane 3 storey brick building". You worked with PODRS all that time and all that can be shown for your work is what you refer to as a mundane building? Actually if only it were benign and background enough to be mundane it could possibly be acceptable. (If we ignore the idea of repurposing). But it is an over scaled building in an incongruous style that has no context in the village.
ArchBroad said:
It is absolutely amazing how terrible this issue has become, ripping apart what seem like decades long friendships from reading some of the posts. Are the protest and the lawsuits and the paranoia-filled OPRA request all really worth losing your friendships over? While I grew up in a town of only 500 (which happens to have a post office identical to this one, but 1/4 the size), where everyone really knew your name, Maplewood is not too far removed from that.
Are we going to continue to perpetuate this divisive and vile behavior? Over what? One storey of height? An architectural style that you don't agree with? An unimpressive tired little brick building, or a mundane 3 storey brick building?
The amount of hate-fueled energy going into opposing the "abomination" in the Village could be used for so many much better purposes. It's really a shame that the energy is being spent tearing people apart instead of trying to work together to come up with a good compromised solution.
deborahg said:
Sarahzm +1. There's no legal leg to stand on here. Seems like Fred is hoping to delay until the new TC members come in--or the developer gets fed up and walks away. This is going to cost the town plenty.
The case has been settled. The Township lost. I doubt that a case which was heard and finalized within a two week period cost the Township too much.
What were the terms of the settlement agreement?
said:
deborahg said:The case has been settled. The Township lost. I doubt that a case which was heard and finalized within a two week period cost the Township too much.
Sarahzm +1. There's no legal leg to stand on here. Seems like Fred is hoping to delay until the new TC members come in--or the developer gets fed up and walks away. This is going to cost the town plenty.
Obviously have not seen the paperwork yet but most likely that the Township abide by two regulations in question and have the MVA give the matter an objective hearing. That was the jist of the complaint that the Township never proved it would suffer economic hardship if the Post Office building is not leveled.
I am shooting from the hip here. We will find out more in the morning.
right, no hate at all.
I like that every time you type anything you just prove my point.
ETA: I've been very careful about expressing any outstanding positive or negative endorsement or objection to either Post House or Station House designs. I chose the word "mundane" because it was the only word I could think of that was adequately in the middle, yet it was perhaps still not the right word.
IndaSechzer said:
First of all no one is hating....
all that can be shown for your work is what you refer to as a mundane building?
Oh FFS. The fact that this was filed after the election leaves a terrible taste in my mouth. Maplewood is better than this.
afa said:
Oh FFS. The fact that this was filed after the election leaves a terrible taste in my mouth. Maplewood is better than this.
Worse, filed before the election but held until after, likely so as not to impact the election.
ParticleMan said:
afa said:Worse, filed before the election but held until after, likely so as not to impact the election.
Oh FFS. The fact that this was filed after the election leaves a terrible taste in my mouth. Maplewood is better than this.
Oh, you're right.
Ew.
If you cannot endorse it then why did you vote for it on the PODRS ?
Again hate is a strong word. I do not hate you. I merely disagree with you.
ArchBroad said:
right, no hate at all.
I like that every time you type anything you just prove my point.
ETA: I've been very careful about expressing any outstanding positive or negative endorsement or objection to either Post House or Station House designs. I chose the word "mundane" because it was the only word I could think of that was adequately in the middle, yet it was perhaps still not the right word.
IndaSechzer said:
First of all no one is hating....
all that can be shown for your work is what you refer to as a mundane building?
Hate is a strong word- implies a personal connection -Opinionated would be more on the money.
ParticleMan said:
No hate? Who was it who used the phrase "troll farm?" Hmmm?
Rentals
Sponsored Business
Promote your business here - Businesses get highlighted throughout the site and you can add a deal.
The Village Keepers endorsed Greg Lembrich's campaign and have now filed suit against Maplewood.
http://villagegreennj.com/towns/government/village-keepers-sues-town-post-house-development/
"A civil suit by Village Keepers Inc. was served to the Township of Maplewood, the developer of the Post House project, and the Maplewood Village Alliance Special Improvement District — or MVA — this afternoon."