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The "All Opinions are Welcome, but Sorry no Instigators" Board -> Rockaway Township Free Speech -> Todays newpapers-tED
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Lisa Salberg


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Todays newpapers-tED
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11/30/04 - Posted from the Daily Record newsroom
Ex-mayoral hopeful wrote Christ Church letter
Doty admits to mailing in support of proposal, says church was not involved

By Rob Jennings, Daily Record

ROCKAWAY TWP. -- A former mayoral candidate said he wrote a letter to thousands of fellow residents urging them to oppose a possible local zoning change that might impact Christ Church of Montclair's mega-church building plan.

Ted Doty, who has sparred with church opponents for more than a year, said it was a coincidence that his letter was sent a week after Christ Church mailed a pamphlet defending its environmental and traffic proposals to approximately 7,000 homeowners.

Copies of Doty's mass mailing, in which he warned of a possible church lawsuit and "serious harm" to the township's reputation, began arriving in mailboxes late last week.

Doty declined to say what the mailing cost or who paid for it, other than to emphasize that Christ Church played no role. In his letter, Doty indicated that he was representing a local group, Residents for Truth in Rockaway, that supports the church.

"We got the money. It got sent out. That's the way it is. I'm not going to give any names," said Doty, who claimed sole authorship of the letter.

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"The church has nothing to do with this, that's all I'm saying," Doty added.

How many residents comprise Residents for Truth in Rockaway is unclear. Russell Jones, the group's founder, said there were a "significant number" but added that many had chosen to remain anonymous due to fears of a backlash.

The church's plans, which includes a 2,512-seat sanctuary, a private K-5 school and other facilities, have generated extensive opposition in Rockaway Township.

The primary subject of Doty's letter was the council's consideration of amending a zoning ordinance establishing churches as conditional uses throughout the township.

Under the "time of decision" rule, any new ordinance would be applied by the planning board to Christ Church, which awaits a 10th public hearing on Dec. 20.

No ordinance has been introduced, but church spokesman Marc Weinstein said planning board attorney, William Dimin has publicly alluded to the possibility.

Township planner Joseph Burgis criticized the existing ordinance as too vague in his planning board testimony last summer.

Declined to comment

Dimin did not return a phone call on Monday. Municipal attorney Edward J. Buzak declined to comment.

However, Mayor Louis Sceusi said Burgis and others "all said there's a deficiency in the ordinance the way it stood."

In his letter, Doty charged that any zoning change that restricted religious institutions would be unconstitutional, expose the township to civil liability and risk driving out existing houses of worship when they need to expand.

"I can assure you that is not anywhere near the direction of where the council is thinking about," Sceusi said.

Lisa Salberg, co-founder of Voices of Rockaway Township, a local group that opposes the church plan, disagreed with Doty's analysis.

"Towns are required to maintain good ordinances and make sure their needs are being met, and not overburdened or overtaxed," Salberg said.

"Nothing's been presented yet, so what are we commenting on? Hypothesis?" added Salberg, who received Doty's letter on Saturday.

Weinstein said the church had nothing to do with either Doty's letter or Residents for Truth in Rockaway.

'No affiliation'

"The church has no affiliation with this group. However, we share their frustrations over attempts to block the church building plan," Weinstein said.

The church's pamphlet, its second mass mailing to township residents, charged that a group of residents had engaged in a "campaign of deception" to undermine the church's plan.

Doty said in his letter that anti-Christ Church statements on the Internet and elsewhere were hurting the town's reputation and could result in homeowners and businesses not coming to the township.

Doty was defeated by John Inglesino for mayor in 1999. He also has served on the school board.




-- Edited by Lisa Salberg at 06:16, 2004-11-30

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The truth wins out over slick PR and personal attacks. The Christ Church Plan for the redevelopment of 140 Green Pond Rd is just too big for the area.
Lisa Salberg


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Plan for 'megachurch' gets some local backing

Tuesday, November 30, 2004
BY MAURA McDERMOTT Star-Ledger Staff

A group that supports Christ Church of Montclair's efforts to build a sanctuary in Rockaway Township has sent letters to more than 6,000 township residents urging "immediate action" to block a proposed amendment to the township's zoning laws.


The amendment could halt the church construction by prohibiting large houses of worship, said Ted Doty, the Residents for Truth in Rockaway Township member who signed the letter.







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That would be bad for the township, because it would spark expensive lawsuits by religious groups, tarnish the town's reputation and potentially force growing congregations to move out of town, Doty said.


Mayor Louis Sceusi said the ordinance committee is studying a proposed amendment that would clarify certain terms in the zoning laws, but officials have not settled on the details.


The township's planning board attorney, William Dimin, determined in June that local laws make no distinction between a church and a "megachurch" such as the Montclair congregation, which seeks to build a 2,500-seat sanctuary and other facilities on Green Pond Road.


Doty said yesterday that legislation banning megachurches would "raise a firestorm of lawsuits."


While emphasizing it had no contact with Doty, a spokesman said Christ Church welcomed the support.


"We certainly share their concerns," spokesman Marc Weinstein said, adding that the church feels it is "patently unfair" for officials to make such a change while the church's application is before the planning board.


Lisa Salberg, a founder of Voices of Rockaway, which opposes the church's application, said she too received one of Doty's letters but doubted it will influence the debate.


"Ted Doty has no clout whatsoever," Salberg said.


Voices of Rockaway has merely raised valid questions about a huge, tax-exempt project that would strain township resources, she said.


"We are doing what's in the best interest of the town," Salberg said. "If it were any other organization, we would have done the same thing."



Staff writer Al Frank contributed to this report. Maura McDermott can be reached at mmcdermott@starled ger.com or (973) 539-7910.

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The truth wins out over slick PR and personal attacks. The Christ Church Plan for the redevelopment of 140 Green Pond Rd is just too big for the area.
THINKER


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"While emphasizing it had no contact with Doty, a spokesman said Christ Church welcomed the support."


With support like Ted's who needs enemies? He is about the worse thing that could happen to CC. He makes himself and the church look like fools. Keep up the good work tED and all your other personalities.



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karen


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So if there's no affiliation with the church, I wonder why Doty's flyers got sent from Newark? Whose bulk mail permit he used? Anyone familiar with postal service procedures?


My deleted post from nj.com:


3179. Flyers?
by mrsstark1139, 11/29/04 22:19 ET


I'm disappointed--I never received a flyer from CC setting me straight and dispelling the myths.

I did however, receive one from Ted Doty--claiming that if the ordinances are changed, our own churches will have to move out of Rockaway if they reach a certain size.

Yipes! I've got chills.

Interesting that working part time at Lowe's, Doty's got the resources to send a township-wide mailing, and had the spare time to go to Newark to send it out!

Odd, when there's a post office right down the street.

Oh well, I guess his genius is why Residents for Truth in Rockaway have made him their spokesperson.

A very effective team: CC's got Weinstein and Rockaway Truth via Doty.

Oy! What next?



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Jay R


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Karen - your post (3179) is still there (9:43AM 11/30)?  Was it deleted and restored or were you posting the delete in expectation of it happening???


I haven't seen any deletes on nj.com over the past few weeks - just way too much crap from monster / vinnie / fastfacts (how many people can this one person be)!



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RTDweller


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"Weinstein said that the church has nothing to do with dOTY's letter or the Residents for Truth in Rockaway"


 


No connection to cc??


Someone told me over a month ago, that he know Russell Jones & his family and that they attend cc in montclair. Has anyone else heard this?


This is clearly a connection (while it does not mean the church paid for it, it is clearly a connection)



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ChuckMueller


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Russ and family ARE definitely attendees of CC. They have said so publically more than once. At last report they were not actually members, but had attended on many occasions. Truth is Russ's organization and Turd Doody signed the letter as their representative. That sounds like a real "connection" to me. Dont forget the Newark post mark on the mailings either. Whineystein probably "misspoke" again unintentionally.

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Rational


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These things happen under the circumstances of "plausible deniability."  That might mean, for example, that hypothetically, CC pays its PR firm.  Then, Weinstein takes out some "petty cash" for whatever reason.  He gives it to his cousin who happens to give it to Dooty to do his thing.  He could also provides the churches bulk mailing acct in a very similar manner.


That provides plausible deniability for the principals. 



-- Edited by Rational at 18:35, 2004-12-01

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Mark B


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If you are doubting that Mr. Rusty Mullet is not a frequent visitor of the church in montclair, perhaps you may wish to ponder the chances of seeing him on the video that was put on TV that shows him in the crowd.

Does anyone else remember that???

Doty explains...they got the money, then sent out the letters...nuff said...for a man who blathers on to no end....he is certainly ashamed of this, cause if it was above board, he'd be jumping up and down on a soap box extolling the great masses of people donating to his lonely cause....but since he can't then its "HUSH HUSH".

Poor Doty...can't even hornswaggle a lil ol' lady...

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Rational


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Do not worry.  Everyone knows what is going on here.



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