Mr. Lois’ statement regarding “demolition" of police dept. is FALSE

I would like to respond to Mr. Lois’ statement regarding “opposition to the demolition of our Chatham Township Police station.” In every meeting that we have held since I took office in January 2024, this has NEVER been a point of discussion. This is a bold-faced lie, designed to ignite anger and fear, and I want to be abundantly clear, that the study that we have approved is related to maximizing our assets, upgrading facilities that need to be upgraded, and identifying open space opportunities or revenue streams for our township. This is known as “planning” and is the first step in determining how best to optimize our space and support our municipal functions (the current police department, public works and municipal building are in need of major repairs, the municipal building has significant unused space that is costly to maintain, and there are opportunities to enhance all of these areas). The first thing you do, is to commission a study.

This behavior is counter-productive and undermines and distracts from all of the hard work that is done by the Township Committee (volunteered time). Your consistent and petty attacks on our administration and attempts to campaign from the dais only serve to detract from the work we have to get done.

You are free to lie about what YOU do, but do not lie about what this Committee does and says, because that only reflects poorly on all of us. My respect for those before me who gave and continue to give their time for public service and the good of our community has grown tenfold since taking this role, and I can’t sit back and watch you discredit it with disinformation for your own personal gain. It is unprofessional at the very least.

What would actually be funny, if it wasn’t funny, is your continued use of the word “high-density housing”, when in your own neighborhood, on your own parcel of land, against the will of your immediate and other neighbors, you tore down the existing home and are building two homes, the very definition of increased density.

~Committeewoman Jen Rowland