Talks Continue On Rock Spring In West Orange; Local Officials Meet

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange Mayor Susan McCartney and Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. reported that they had a “productive” meeting earlier this week, discussing topics that included Rock Spring Country Club, traffic safety and environmental/technology projects.

Earlier this month, McCartney and DiVincenzo had a back-and-forth about Rock Spring Country Club via press releases, with DiVincenzo saying that the county’s previous offer to buy the golf club and property is still on the table. McCartney’s reply? An emphatic “Rock Spring Golf Club is NOT for sale.”

• See Related: Future Of West Orange Golf Course Undecided; Deal Still On Table

Since then, the two elected officials have been keeping the discussion going, meeting for about 90 minutes on Monday.

“Keeping the lines of communication open between the county and our municipal partners always has been a priority of mine and my administration,” DiVincenzo said.

“Our meeting with Mayor McCartney and her administrative team was very productive and gave us an opportunity to exchange ideas and share concerns,” he added. “I look forward to continuing our dialogue to benefit the quality of life for West Orange and all Essex County residents.”

McCartney said she appreciates that the county executive and his staff have taken the time to sit down with their counterparts in West Orange.

“Joe has been very successful transforming Essex County’s parks into destinations and meeting with him gave us a chance to see what we could do to translate that to West Orange,” McCartney said.

“There are also several shared or regional services initiatives that we suggested and appreciate Joe for considering them,” McCartney added. “West Orange is fully committed to preserving as much open space as possible while recognizing the fiscal constraints and quality of life needs for the township. We look forward to the county’s expertise and support in these initiatives.”

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