I am taking the time to write this to respond to some of the comments that have been directed at me over the past month or so, on this website. If because of my personal views on taxes in Mullica; both school and municipal, I am to be “targeted” by the MTEA, have my disability/employment status questioned and slandered, and be pettily criticized for my hair style, I truly must have struck a nerve with those of you who differ in your beliefs. If those of you out there who disagree with my opinions really believe that I hold that much influence over the voters in Mullica, I must thank you. I have truly never felt so important and influential in my life. According to you, I influenced at least 25% of the vote (explained later, read on). My circle of friends, and influence amongst them, is truly much, much larger than I had ever dreamed. Let’s look at some facts.
Facts:
- The school budget vote was 310 for, and 508 against. That was almost a 2-1 margin (62%) that it was voted down by. There were roughly 25% more votes cast than in last year’s election. Just about ALL of those extra votes were against the budget.
- Over a month ago the MTEA was offered the same “raises” as the administration prior to the Fact Finding stage of negotiations we are in now. The MTEA rejected it. And yes, if the teachers accept the pay freeze in 2010-2011 that Governor Christie has called for, the administration would have and will accept the same pay freeze.
- The negotiations committee met with representatives of the MTEA the Thursday before the election in an effort to reach a tentative agreement on their contract, and (hopefully) influence a positive outcome on Tuesday for the budget vote. While I cannot give the details of our last offer to the MTEA, suffice it to say EVERYONE not associated with the MTEA was shocked when they said they could not take the offer to their full membership for a vote.
- Concerning the editorial I wrote The Press (March 22, 2010), I did not write as a Mullica BOE member, I wrote it as a tax payer. If you go back and read the editorial, you will see that it states my opposition to having my property taxes raised in these economic times by both the school and the municipality. Equal time was directed at both the municipality and the school. And frankly my concern has always been the burden the increase in taxes would have on all the residents in Mullica (who elected me). I hope the same can be said for the members of our town council.
In closing I would like to reiterate my thanks for granting me more influence over others than I ever perceived I had myself. And to leave you with one last fact, I am not the type of person who would ever slander, use derogatory names, or question a person’s integrity just because they do not share my opinions. I guess that along with my opinions and views, makes me different from some of you.
Rick Noble; Mullica BOE member 2006-present, Municipal Taxpayer since 1986
41 comments:
Where was Rick Noble when our taxes were increased every year, for more then a decade, by more than double than this year?
Looks like he's putting a political spin on this for his defeated political "buddies".
Why wasn't Mr. Noble so vocal about all the Municipal Tax raises when the economy was good and we had State aid money coming in?
Now I know why the Captain of the USS George HW Bush wants Rick Noble on his ship. He's so full of hot air that he could just blow the planes into the air for the show.
The letter to the Press should have disclosed your BOE affiliation. You could have said "I am a member of the Mullica Township BOE, but am writing as a taxpayer". The only reason you didn't is because it would have exposed your bias.
A BOE member's duty is to the welfare of the children, not to the taxpayers, teachers or administration. If you have not come to grips with that, you should do the children a favor and resign. Your shortsightedness and complete lack of understanding of government finance makes you a detriment to very taxpayers that you claim to be serving. Please your resignation at your earliest possible convenience.
The comments of 10:19 make no sense at all. The duty of a member of the BOE is to ensure a good education for the children while being fiscally responsible to the tax payers. It is not about the welfare of the children. The welfare of the children is up to the parents of the children. The relationship between welfare of children and lack of understanding of government finance doesn't compute. What does one have to do with the other and why should Rick Noble resign. He is doing a great job.
Mr. Noble, I think your letter to the Press did nothing but cause animosity between you, the teachers, the Board and the Committee.
Everyone knows why this budget failed to pass,as did the majority of school budgets in N.J.
You made yourself a "target" because you're a member of the negotiation team and should have kept your personal views to yourself.
You have been on the Board for 4 years raising our taxes and never have you seen such a drastic cut in State aid as this year. Why are you getting on your soap box now when an unavoidable raise in taxes is imminent?
You did not influence my vote one bit. I never criticized your pony tail but I have noticed that it is much shorter now that your head has swelled so large.
10:19 PM: It is comments like this that show's your complete disrespect for the taxpayers of your community. A school board member would be wise to work for the children and realize that the taxpayers money should be spent wisely and not wasted.
It benefits the school children if their parents and grandparents are not taxed out of their homes and completely stressed out wondering if they can feed their families and make ends meet.
Rick Noble's sudden interest in the Municipal tax rate is astonishing. I never remember hearing his protests when the Republican Administration gave out all the high raise contracts and gold plated benefit packages. Did he scream when tens of thousands of our dollars were thrown down the Waszen hole? Did he write about all the money the town lost with the cheap land sales?
All his letters are very transparent. He is nothing more than a Republican shill trying to take advantage of a bad situation. The Board of Education is supposed to be nonpolitical.
I'm paying taxes now that were approved because of him. If he wants to speak as a private citizen,then he should resign. It is despicable that he is using his position on the BOE to endorse political action.
Noble,do you think you'll ever learn just to keep your mouth shut and your fingers off the keyboard?
Amen all!!!!!!
As being one that has served with Rick Noble and seen how hard he has worked has an elected member of the BOE,I support the stand he has taken on the raising of taxes as a result of the negotiations with the MTEA.If it is about the children that they claim why is it they will not accept offers that would benifit the school budget. Rather than forcing cuts to programs and staff that would not benifit the children.Why wouldn't the MTEA leadership take the latest offer to its membership?
Rick Noble was elected by the tax payers as was I and what good does it help the children when thier parents can no longer afford to live in Mullica.This township has population of middle to lower income ratio with a high unemployment rate. The children come from families that are struggling to keep thier homes and food on the table.
Mullica Township School District is good place for the MTEA to work it is not a combat zone like other districts.
Calling for Rick to step down would be a big lost to this township.The BOE just lost another pro-active member Lisa as a result of a voting position on the ballot.
Rick please continue to stand up for what you believe and do not cave in to this trash.
Tom Carl BOE member
I thank Mr. Noble for the wonderful job he does for the citizens and children of Mullica.
I'd like to thank Rick Noble for all he has done. I agree with him and the other supporting board members 100% in urging the MTEA to accept a wage freeze. It could save jobs and programs for the children, and avoid a tax increase. So 10:19, maybe you should be directing that comment elsewhere. The MTEA had a solution in front of them, and chose to think only about themselves, not of the welfare children, their soon to be unemployed co-workers, and the members of this community who made it crystal clear with our votes that we've had it.
Is this the same Rick Noble who has been living off of the taxpayers? Yes, that's right. Mr. Noble is a disability recipient despite an outward appearance that he is perfectly capable of gainful employment. If Mr. Noble is really concerned about the burden on taxpayers, he would enter the workforce and give up his government subsidy. I'm not saying this to be a smartass. I'm saying it because it is hard to believe Mr. Noble's words that he is worried about overburdened taxpayers when he is suckling at the teat of those very same taxpayers...I believe that this site once referred to this as slopping at the public trough.
Unfortunately, this is all too insider and we don't know what the latest offer was to the MTEA, so how can a private citizen weigh out the benefits of the offer?
Mr. Noble and his fellow board members should have considered the possible fall-out before handing pay raises to the administrators. Now you're surprised the MTEA contract is not settled? Oh, forgot, I guess the taxpayers DON'T have to pay the administration raises, right? Doing a good job on any board means thinking in advance what your actions may lead to.
Please tell me that Mr. Carl was not educated in Mullica...his spelling and grammar are awful. Hope we're turning out better than that for our dollar$.
Yo, Rick...your ponytail is pulled too tight ;)
The voters have spoken and I am sure that the make-up of this year's committee will make every effort to see that the voters wishes are considered, unlike last year's committee that included Chasey and Forman, who just "rubber-stamped" the GEHR budget, ignoring the input and suggestions of Graebener and St. Amour.
12:35 Greabner and St Amour would have had to give specific cuts to Greater Egg before they could vote down the budget, and if I recall, they didn't or couldn't come up with any. Your Chasy Forman whining is old, and leads me to believe that you will say anything to take the heat off the present budget in front of our committee NOW. I realize that Graebner and St. Amour wish to be re-elected in Nov., but unfortunately, or fortunately, they will have to decide what is more important, getting re-elected, or doing what the voters have asked, even though they have previously whored themselves out to the MTEA. The ball is in their court.
12:35 HUH? The Mayor had a Vote Yes sign in his yard. I guess he changed his mind?
We can talk about the issues here and that is fine. We do not have to agree, however, when you start pulling in people's hair style and questioning someone's disability, or their spelling, that becomes a distraction and is not helpful. For the record, Rick has not always voted yes for the school board budget in the past. When he felt that he could not support the budget, he did not. He was not always alone in that stance.
Those of you who do not agree with what he said, have a right to disagree, but please do so without resorting to areas that are none of our business such as his hair style.
If the economy was thriving, this modest budget increase would have passed. The private sector workers can no longer afford to support the greedy demands of the NJEA.
People have always wanted their children to have the best education possible and have given in to the S O S- "Save Our Schools" propaganda put out by the Union. Now, with the spotlight being put on the Union by Christie and others, the public has discovered that the S O S means "Save Our Salary".
The gap between public and private workers has grown too far apart. The public workers are living in a comfortable La La land while the private sector is struggling to make ends meet on a day to day basis.
We,the taxpayers,can not afford to be generous anymore. The MTEA should present all offers to the teachers. I'm hoping that they realize the reality of the bad economy and accept a contract that will the least devastating to the children and their programs.
We will know ,by their votes,if their first priority is the best education for the children as they have publicly professed.
re 3:04 pm
I have to disagree with you. Throwing in a few remarks about a cute little pony tail adds a bit of humor to a serious subject. This isn't the Wall Street Journal,you know.
Maybe if you got off your high horse, you wouldn't have such a tight ass.
The only combat zone in Mullica was created the the union, which has repeatedly demanded exhorbitant annual raises and non-contributions to its members' health care premiums that the taxpayers couldn't afford. The political climate has changed with Christie's election and the union can no longer count on the backing of the political muscle that it had in the past. The board now has the support of the state government to control taxes that it previoulsly didn't have.
Mr. Noble,
I must point out that many of your accusations in your letter are unfair, unfounded, and false. I am a member of the MTEA. I do not share your views nor would I want to see you re-elected to our school board. However, despite disagreeing with your opinions, I have not slandered you, I have not targeted you, I have not questioned your disability, I have not pettily criticized you. Not once. Nor do I believe, to use your words, that you are either overly important or influential in the Mullica community.
Mr. Noble I will agree that you have struck my nerve, although, not because I disagree with your beliefs. You struck my nerve because you have done the very thing to me that you are complaining about in your letter. You have made broad, general accusations about the MTEA, which would include myself. You have no idea what I believe, how I feel, or how well I perform my job responsibilities. You have never met me. Mr. Noble, you may choose not to believe this, but the conversations occurring within our school are focused on how best to educate our children and not about how we can rally together to act in ways that would hurt your feelings.
The administraters would take a freeze IF the teachers do? If? Why are they waiting? Shouldn't they lead the way? Wait. Why are there so many administraters in Mullica? A note went out saying there were administrator cuts. Oh wait, that was total melarkey. They cut the latchkey supervisor and something with the grant program. So that was a LIE. Just like last year when the supervisor left for EHT,the superindendent said in the paper administration was cut. LIE. He was paid for by other funds. The BOE is part of the lies if they sit and watch.
Mr. Noble,why did the administrators get a big raise over 3 years? Why are the teachers being cut and not one administrater? A real one. You are part of all of it. The teachers should freeze but there's more to look at like yourself and other peoplet than just teacher. Lies
Please do not make your decisions based on Mr. Noble's letter. I am an MTEA member and I DON'T EVEN KNOW what the offer or offers have been. I do know that the administration has said nothing to us about taking a freeze. There are also many of us who have agreed to a pay freeze as well as paying towards benefits. Please keep your mind open when reading one side of the story.
RE: 1:14 comment. Oh my, a mayor who supports education, that's the biggest problem we have to deal with? That's better than a governor that DOESN'T support education.
re 7:08 pm
I would like to thank all of the teachers who are willing to take a freeze and contribute more to their insurance. Obviously, you are in the minority. The majority must have picked the MTEA representatives,who are unwilling to even share the offers being presented by the BOE.
Is there a deadline for all the negotiations? What happens if a contract can't be agreed on?
Are strikes allowed?
Can teachers be fired for striking?
To the 6:29 and 8:08 post
When you signed on as a member of MTEA, the MTEA speaks for you the member. It does not matter what individual members believe or don't believe, support or don't support. If you don't like how you are being represented you have to take it up with MTEA and make sure that the leadership represents your views. The Board cannot negotiate with each of the individual teachers so it is the MTEA. I am sorry that you do not like how you are represented. Do something about it like demand that MTEA give you the information that it is holding out on. You may want to reconsider your leadership choices as well. I am fully aware that we have dedicated teachers in Mullica. In negotiations however what comes through the MTEA is unreasonable greed, arrogance and crudeness.
"In negotiations however what comes through the MTEA is unreasonable greed, arrogance and crudeness."
This is the reason why many board members decide not to run again or to not campaign for re-election. They become disillusioned with the negotiation process and fed-up with the union's antics. They decide that they don't need the abuse any longer. Those who stay on the board for years typically are there to ostensibly advance the goals of the union and have personal, vested intersts in remaining, such as being the husband of a teacher or the sister of a school employee or a retired teacher, as are or have been certain members of the board.
re:7:08 posting
Unions are made up of all members and if the members don't know whats going on they need to call a meeting and/or approach their shop stewards/ representatives to get the news of any offers/ counteroffers.
They can work without a new contract using the terms of the existing contract although they wont see any pay increases till the new one is agreed on.
Most unions in New Jersey can strike but not teachers. If they strike the board will go to the judge for a back to work order and then if they dont they will be brought to court by the judge whose order they defied. The Board may ask charges to be dropped but it is now in the judges hands since they defied him/her.They will have a record, face fines and probably some community service rather than jail.
RE: 1:14 comment. How do you even know how the mayor voted? Maybe he supported the local and not the GEHR? Everyone's vote is private, were you in the booth with him and see him push both buttons? If not, then mind your own.
If you are a teacher, support staff or administrator in Mullica and are willing to take a pay freeze as well as increase your contribution to health benefits from the $400 per year to $600 per year(more for administrators and less for support staff proportionally), please let us know. Maybe we can take a head count and give that information to the Board negotiation team to share with MTEA. Each person only write in once under the heading, count me in and identify as teacher, support staff or administrator.
9:43 PM-this has to be the stupidest thing I have ever read. What is to keep readers from pretending to be school employees and responding? Just plain goofy.
Re 9:43 pm
COUNT ME IN! I am a teacher
(Ha ha, I'm lying)
How do we know what we are freezing on? We are working under our 2008-2009 salary and haven't gotten a new rate for 2009-2010.
How much money will a freeze save?
What will that money be used for and what assurance is there that the use won't change?
Answers?...I'm waiting...
To poster 12:01:
As MTEA has been told many times by their Negotiations team and officers, there are no concrete answers to your questions.
You are right in that you don't know what salary you would be frozen at or how much money it would generate since there is no salary guide for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.
Positions are not negotiable; MTEA would not have a say in how money would/could be used or who would be brought back and a what level.
Well, teachers must feel like mushrooms, kept in the dark and fed.....by their leadership. My condolences.
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