UPDATE: Police Chief to Discuss Town's Safety Issues - TONIGHT
Short Hills Association hosts Town Hall-style meeting with Millburn Police Chief on tonight at the Library.
The rash of vehicle burglaries and car thefts, as well as two recent carjackings and some home break-ins, have prompted many residents to call for a Town Hall meeting on crime and safety.
While tonight's public forum is not a Town Hall meeting per se, it will be conducted in that format with a chance for the public to ask questions of Millburn Police Chief Greg Weber and will allow him to address crime and safety concerns.
The Short Hills Association took this on because the Township Committee has not hosted a Town Hall meeting on the subject even though residents have been asking for one and have great concerns about crime, said Short Hills Association president Stewart Cohen.
"We want input from the residents, we want to hear their concerns," Cohen said. "We really want them to drill for answers."
While there have been some serious crimes and causes for concern in the last year, the perception is worse the amount of crime in town, he said, and he wants residents to know there's no need to panic.
"The whole thing for the town is the perception," he said. "People are nervous."
The Q & A session will give residents a chance to find out answers to all of their concerns, Cohen said.
The public meeting will take place tonight at 7 p.m. at the Millburn Library.
Allison
7:12 am on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Does two attacks in one day by 2 dangerous dogs left at large by their negligent owners count as a safety issue?
Arp
9:27 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012
Good meeting tonight. Chief Weber and two of his staff members were very forthcoming and desire positive change. Public relations is certainly an issue as is the number and methodology of the patrols. Approximately 30 adults out of 13,685 (8,743 in Short Hills plus 4,942 in Millburn - compliments of 2000 Census data...sorry I couldn't readily put my hands on adult population for 2010) attended this meeting. That's hardly something one can call an involved community. As a mentor has said time and time again to me: If you don't show up, you don't show up. NO ifs, ands, or buts about it...more of us have to show up...or shut up.
ShortHillsMotherofTwo
6:05 am on Friday, February 10, 2012
I also thought it was a good meeting. As a single mother I wanted to know what was going on. On a personal note, I though these three distinguished gentlemen from our Police Department (obviously all senior members as they are all in their early 60's) were well informed from a life of serving the public.
My daughter graduated with Lt. Laverty's son Keith Jr. in the early 1990's, he was a nice boy. I also found Chief Weber to be a nice and kind man, and easy on the eyes.
We are lucky to have such a great police department.
Robert H. Levine
4:11 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
Just read the item bashing the PD once again. Maybe the township should hire some of the retired guys as specials like the old days. I for one would love to give a hand to the officers to free them up from the BS calls that they are faced with each shift. Just a thought............