September Public Council Meeting

I realize it was a few weeks ago, but I wanted to mention what happened at September's Borough Council Meeting. I've recently been making an attempt to attend these meetings, to hear and see first hand what's going on and who is involved.

I arrived at the last meeting around 7:00, right on time. At that point, only Ted Scott, Bob Bostock, and Michelle Dobbs were there. Greg Benson was going to be late. Karen Scheffler and Dave Dorworth were not going to be there. At 7:20, Mayor Gural called and said he was sick and wouldn't be able to attend. At this point, Ted Scott got up, grabbed his briefcase, mumbled something, and walked out the back door (he did return to the back of the room about 3 minutes later). Benson still wasn't there, so they attempted to call him, but he didn't answer. Since 4 members of council are needed to hold a session, they were forced to cancel.

I had been in Harrisburg for work since early in the morning, but I was able to arrange my schedule so I could drive home and be at the meeting in time (as a plain old town resident). Couldn't at least 4 out of the 7 council members have made an effort? I can understand that all of them can't always make it, but only 3 out of 7??? These public meetings are the one time a month where the residents get to be involved and hear first hand what's going on with the town.

Legion Field

We took a detour through town yesterday to see the progress that is being made with Phase 3 of the Legion Field project. They are indeed making some great progress, but there is a lot that is going to be done, and it is coming at a huge cost. The plans include an artificial turf soccer field, softball field, tot lot, irrigation systems, new lighting, a fountain, and a putting green. According to a recent article in the Burlington County Times, this is all coming at a cost of $4.5 million, of which $1.5 is being picked up by the route 73 developers. I am in full agreement that the Legion Field complex, when complete, will be great for our town. Every person that rides the RiverLine will see it, and I think it has the potential to be a huge draw for our town. Let's hope it pays off, because that's an incredible amount of money to spend. Let's also hope that council hasn't underestimated the amount of time and money it will cost for upkeep - to keep it clean, graffiti free, etc.
By the way, do we really need a fountain and an artificial turf soccer field? It seems more than extravagant. I have to believe that they could have done just as good a job and spent a lot less money.

Why start a blog?

Within the past year, I've become a bit dismayed at how things are moving along in Palmyra. I've seen good businesses leave and I've seen not-so-worthwhile businesses move in. I've seen the streets and train station littered with trash, only to go uncleaned for what seemed like weeks on end. I've seen what appears to me as an increase in the number of abandoned cars in folks back yards. I've seen an increase in graffiti, on street signs, mailboxes, and even fences. I've seen millions of dollars (literally) being spent in the wrong places and on the wrong things. I've seen an increase in crime, including muggings and break-ins that are starting to hit a little too close to home. I've seen a borough council that can't get enough members together to hold a monthly public meeting.

I started to voice my opinions to some other residents, and it seems that quite a few of us are hungry for a change. I was approached by a few people about getting involved in council, and while it was too late to get on the ballot, I recently made my name available for folks to write-in at the upcoming elections. I am giving fellow residents the opportunity to vote for someone different and new who is not involved in any way with the current regime. Since the current folks are running un-opposed this year, this gives people a different option. I started this blog so people can learn a little bit about me and how I feel.

I preface all this with the fact that I have NO political experience. In fact, I really don't like politics. What I do like, though, is the idea of being able to live and raise my family in a safe, beautiful, successful town. I want to be proud to live in Palmyra.

About Me

Hi everyone,
Before I explain why I am starting this blog, I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Daryl Vassalluzzo. My wife Jill and I moved to Palmyra, NJ in November of 2003, immediately after we got married. We have two boys, one who turned 3 in July, and one who will turn 2 in February. I was raised in Cherry Hill and attended Bishop Eustace Prep in Pennsauken. I have a BA in Business Management from Allentown College (now DeSales University) and am a Systems Administrator for a large law firm in Center City.

My wife and I bought our first home in Palmyra because we found a house that we loved on a quiet, tree-lined street, in a town that was close to both of our families, who live in Cherry Hill and Cinnaminson. We saw the potential that Palmyra had and the changes that were taking place, and we wanted to be a part of it. Plus, since I work in Philadelphia, I was able to take advantage of the RiverLine, which I still use on a daily basis.

In the fall of 2006, our family was growing, and we decided that we needed more space. We were very close to moving out to Chester County, PA, but decided against it, primarily because my commute to work would have doubled, and the homes we were looking at didn't have much of a yard for the kids or dogs to play in. We chose, instead, to add on to our home in Palmyra, and in doing so we made a commitment to staying here long term - a decision we haven't regretted.