Township Council looking to reach citizens by E-mail newsletter

VERNON-With the increasing reliance on internet resources, towns are shifting more responsibility onto the public to gain access to information and answers to questions about town projects. Concerned with the growing number of questions on town projects such as the sewer projects and the town center project, the Vernon Township Council on Monday discussed strategies to help disseminate information to its citizens. "When data is known, it should be given freely," said Deputy Mayor Janet Morrison. "Everything we discuss here can become public record. We want to eliminate speculation at all levels." Getting the town's message to its citizens has been a continuing topic of discussion at council meetings over the past few months. In addition to making better use of the town's Website, vernontwp.com, the council has also discussed the possibility of contracting a firm to establish the town as a "brand" name in the region and the state. The latest discussion of communication between council members, Town Manager Don Teolis, and the public arose after Teolis asked whether he should post more information about the wastewater treatment project on the town's website. The project, currently in the process of gathering the necessary approvals from the state, would extend existing sewer lines to the new town center. It would also increase the capacity of the system to allow Intrawest to continue to develop the Village at Mountain Creek after the first two stages of the project are completed. The first phase, the Appalachian Lodge, is framed out and expected to be finished by July. Company officials say that construction on the second phase, which is already sold out, would begin as soon as the first phase is completed. When completed, the Village at Mountain Creek would add at least $600 million to the town's tax rolls, village officials have said. There has been local opposition to the wastewater plan, primarily from the Vernon Civic Association and the local chapter of the Sierra Club, both of which feel the return of treated water to the groundwater could harm the township's aquifer. "We should be cautious with how much information is disseminated," said Mayor Ira Weiner. "When things are not known, or in flux, there should be no speculation. We are happy to have the discussion with the public to the extent that we can," but, he added, in the case of the wastewater facility, there are a lot of gray areas still to be worked out that he feels cannot be commented on until they are final. Councilman Jeff Patterson added that the borough's Website is more than equipped to handle a large Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) section to accommodate information that Teolis has answered for the public already. "It's a very good idea to have that information readily accessible," he said. Town Manager Don Teolis agreed, "as long as it's an answer that I can honestly give them." The council currently uses the website, its meetings, and a printed newsletter to spread information on town business to the public. Newsletters can be picked up at the Town Hall, at the Vernon A&P, and at the Dorothy Henry Memorial Library on Route 94. The town prints and distributes about 200 copies of each newsletter. It is also posted on the township's Website, vernontwp.com. The council agreed that it may be necessary to print fewer newsletters if the report can be distributed by E-mail. "There is an advantage to having something in your inbox," Patterson said. "If we bring it to them (public), they will take five minutes and read it." The council members agreed that there should be a form on the website that will allow people to request E-mailed copies of the newsletter. That form, according to Patterson, could be ready by the next time the council meets again on Feb. 28.