New council signals a major change for Sparta

To the Editor: The recent Sparta town council election and the subsequent installation of Manny Goldberg as Mayor, Michael Speckhardt, Jr. as Deputy Mayor along with the seating of Brian Brady, signals a significant and major change in the make-up of the council. I have never seen such a shake-up in the town government during the nearly five decades I have lived in Sparta. The election of these three newcomers to town government is a decisive rejection of the previous way the council and its senior management personnel have been tending to the people’s business. Winning a term is one thing. Now, the winners are required to match their words with deeds. There are numbers of us who expect that there will be more transparency, openness and accountability in the way the council discusses issues and makes it decisions about how to spend our limited tax dollars. Personally, I would like to see the council pay more attention to the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act. I urge this new town council to seek out and enlist the help of their fellow residents in identifying and implementing a new and better vision for Sparta. Governing our town should not be left solely in the hands of five individuals and their senior staff. There are many Spartans with expertise and experience in many fields of endeavor who, if asked, would gladly contribute their time and energy to improving the quality of life in Sparta. Finally, if all five council members work together cooperatively, Sparta could regain its lost position as one of the best places to live in New Jersey. Kenyon L. Pollison Sparta