Schirmer should show the same passion for drug recovery that she has for Water Works
Former Hamilton Township Mayor John Bencivengo made his share of mistakes before being convicted following a federal probe regarding corruption.
However, Bencivengo made one supremely wise decision that impacted the lives of Hamilton Twp. residents.
In 2010, Bencivengo negotiated an agreement that allowed City of Angels to have free and “unfettered” access to the Dwier Center, understanding that COA represented a valuable service in dealing with the municipality’s addiction issues.
In June 2015, Hamilton Twp. council members Dennis Pone, Dave Kenny, Ed Gore, Ileana Schirmer and Ralph Mastrangelo nixed Bencivengo’s mission to take on addiction by passing Ordinance 15-023 which imposed a $195.50 monthly rental fee for City of Angels to use the Dwier Center. Several other nonprofits suffered a similar fate.
Kevin Meara, then a councilman, noted the cost would negatively impact his organization’s ability to provide intervention and informational services to recovery clients and their families. COA moved its operations to Hightstown as city council members delivered a stunning blow to addiction recovery in Hamilton Township.
Schirmer sounded disingenuous Monday with her rant about former City of Trenton spokesperson, Michael Walker, receiving a job at the Trenton Water Works.
Schirmer said, “As an outsider looking in, it looks like Mayor (Eric) Jackson is taking care of his friends, making sure people have jobs as he leaves,” a situation that never occurs in Hamilton Twp.
“Quite honestly, in my opinion, no one in that administration should be working in Trenton Water Works. All of them should be gone because no one had cared about this issue, no one has done anything about it. In my opinion, they should all go, all of them.”
Schirmer’s words could be tarred and feathered to her cohorts who delivered a distasteful decision while playing their business card that Hamilton Twp. must be run like a business regarding all matters.
Meara called “vindictive” a group decision that sent his organization packing. As Hamilton Twp. members moved toward their new rental agreement, Meara noted that COA “lost nine people over the last month (from drug overdoses) . ..... We continue to bury kids in Hamilton Township,” he said.
And three years later, Hamilton Twp. and municipalities throughout the Trenton metropolitan area bury kids in record numbers. Yes, Schirmer should fight for healthy water rights. We all have an investment in assuring that Trenton Water Works conforms to state guidelines regarding all aspects of providing safe drinking water to customers. Hopefully, Ms. Schirmer develops a similar passion for the children, parents and others who stand on the frontlines of drug addiction. Hamilton Twp. government leaders should revisit this Dwier Center matter before another obituary that describes the unexpected death of a 20-yearold.