I am responding to the article "Historic site faces funding skirmish" in today's (04/24/2011) Record.
http://www.northjersey.com/community/120560024_Historic__site_faces_funding_skirmish.htmlCan bureaucracy nullify state law? Can they be allowed to frustrate a model effort at privatization, which replaces expensive and ineffective middle management with volunteers?
Since the Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission is a state governmental agency, it cannot raise funding by donation or gift. Moreover, doing so would fatally compete with the fundraising efforts of the Bergen County Historical Society, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) volunteer organization, which is the largest landowner at Historic New Bridge Landing and which entirely funds the maintenance and operation of the largest part of the park and the greatest number of its buildings through the donation of volunteer talent, time and money. As the article states, the Historical Society is currently raising $350,000 to build a historical museum on its own (privately owned) lands.
The State has owned the Steuben House since 1928. By 2000, it had become the most heavily attended state owned and operated historic house museum with school groups booking virtually every weekday between January and June. By May 2006, only four school groups visited during the usually busy month of May. In short, the State Park Service did not do its job. No school children have been able to visit since 2007, except on special events run entirely by volunteers. Clearly the "management" of the DEP's Division of Parks and Forestry doesn't want to get this. Apparently they haven't read the legislation. The Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission is a "state park commission" with jurisdiction over publicly owned lands.
This, of course, isn't a "project" (as the DEP spokesperson described it), it is a state owned and operated historic park. And to correct one false impression, DEP Commissioner Bob Martin’s letter of conditional approval for the Master Plan, dated June 17, 2010, does not require a business plan to find new sources of funding for the state park, it simply requires the Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission to submit a business plan for the Commissioner’s approval before any new facilities are built on state lands.
When will the obstructionism and undermining of our heritage end? Bergen County sends more money to Trenton than any other county, yet receives little in return.
Best regards,
Kevin Wright
River Edge, NJ 07661
The following statement on legislative intent is taken from the newly approved Historic New Bridge Landing Master Plan:
Legislative Intent
New Bridge Landing is the site of a pivotal bridge crossing the Hackensack River, where General George Washington led his troops in retreat from British forces in November 1776. According to former Governor Jon Corzine, Historic New Bridge Landing, located in portions of New Milford, River Edge and Teaneck in Bergen County, is “a key piece of our history.” “This is a site we must preserve for future generations,” Governor Corzine said. “The bill I am signing grants oversight to a local organization best positioned to address the preservation needs of Historic New Bridge Landing State Park. Through this legislation, the Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission will now have jurisdiction to manage the restoration of this historical site so critical to the birth of our nation.”
Senator Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), one of the primary sponsors, explained, “This new law gives the Commission more authority over administering the funds that are allocated within the State budget for the Park. Historic New Bridge Landing State Park is a piece of New Jersey’s history, and it’s good to have this funding where it belongs.” Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen), another primary sponsor, said, “It is vitally important that we take all necessary steps to protect and preserve our historic sites.” He further explained, “George Washington’s escape from a British trap, with his army intact, at New Bridge landing in November of 1776 gave him the opportunity to defeat the Hessians and British at Trenton and Princeton only a month later. These battles were essential to ultimate victory in the revolution and the founding of the United States.” “This new law will allow the New Bridge Landing State Park Commission to act in the best interest of the park, without the added red tape brought on by having to secure the funding from the DEP,” said Senator Gordon, D-Bergen. “This law will allow the park to receive the funding it needs in a timely manner.” The Senators’ measure, S-1644, reallocates any State funding appropriated for Historic New Bridge Landing State Park to the Commission, which will, in turn, distribute the money as needed. Previously, all funding for the Park was administered through the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Division of Parks and Forestry. The law also clarifies the Commission’s jurisdiction, which extends to all publicly owned lands, buildings and structures within the park, including the Steuben House. The full Senate approved the measure on November 24, 2008.
This legislation enlarges upon the powers and duties originally assigned to the Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission by public law in 1995, which empowered the Commission to coordinate and implement all development policies and other activities relating to the historic preservation and recreational use of the property, including but not limited to the Steuben House. In addition, the new law creates a board of directors charged with preparing a master plan for the site, requiring an annual report and an audit. The bill also reallocates any State funds appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or the Division of Parks and Forestry in the DEP specifically for, or related to the administration of, the Steuben House or Historic New Bridge Landing State Park to the commission, following the commissioner's approval of the master plan adopted by the commission. The bill’s sponsors were Senators Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) and Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) as well as Assemblywomen Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), Joan M. Voss (D-Bergen), Connie Wagner (D-Bergen), Charlotte Vandervalk (R-Bergen) and Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson (D-Bergen).
The legislation received unanimous bipartisan support in both houses of the legislature. Legislators agreed upon their understanding of the importance of their actions. “This bill will increase the commission’s authority over this local historic treasure, ensuring the people who know the site best are the ones protecting it,” said Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “Greater local oversight here is the right thing to do.” Explaining her support of the measure, Assemblywoman Joan Voss (D-Bergen), said, “Local historic sites should be in the hands of the residents who best know their significance and importance,” said. “It’s essential to protecting the past so that future generations can learn from it and appreciate how our state grew.”
“Putting local landmarks under local control can ensure that timeless and invaluable treasures are properly taken care of when a natural disaster strikes,” said Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D-Bergen). “New Jersey played a pivotal role in our state’s and nation’s fight for independence, and Steuben House is part of that grand history.”
“This place is noteworthy for many reasons, from George Washington having used it as a refuge to its Jersey Dutch and Native American heritage,” said Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen). “It is a local treasure and should be run by local people who know best how to protect the site and its artifacts.”
“The transfer of the administration of the Historic New Bridge Landing State Park from a department located in Trenton to the Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission will be a plus for all Bergen County residents,” said Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk, (R-Bergen). “Our county is one that is rich in history and who better to administrate our historic sites than our local residents who have an intimate knowledge of the park and all issues related to the park.”
“Together both actions on the part of the Governor will help us to celebrate this historic site and to attract more visitors to the area,” said Senators Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) and Bob Gordon (D-Bergen).
The Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission was actually created in 1995 with broad powers to coordinate and implement planning for the site, which has informally been run as a public/private partnership since 1939 when the Steuben House first opened to the public. Previous to the 2007 flood, this State Historic Site displayed museum collections of the Bergen County Historical Society, a 107-year-old non-profit group that purchased the adjoining 7 acres in 1944 to protect and enhance the small state-owned property. It was the Society that donated a right-of-way in 1955 to move a proposed highway bridge away from the Steuben House; it was also the Society that donated land to the state of NJ to build a parking lot for visitors. The Society has funded all programming at the site since its opening. It also provides volunteers to supplement the single state interpreter on the site---a position vacant since February 2008.
The new legislation transfers administration of the state-owned parcels, including the Steuben House, to the commission, which is an administrative entity within the DEP. So this is technically an internal transfer of jurisdiction, much like a piece of public land being transferred from the jurisdiction of Fish & Wildlife to Parks & Forestry. The new law does not relieve the state of the cost of running the state-owned lands and buildings; it simply transfers the administration of all funding and appropriations relating to the Steuben House to the commission's control. The new law also redefines the jurisdictional boundaries of the commission to protect this last fragment of the Jersey Dutch countryside and a significant Revolutionary War battleground from inappropriate intrusions. The Commission has made significant strides under its original powers, most notably securing a $1.1 million Federal grant to acquire and cleanup the old auto salvage yard. Once this project is finished, the historic park will finally be visible from the 40,000 vehicles that pass daily on Hackensack Avenue-New Bridge Road.
The new legislation grew out the reaction to the consequences of the severe flooding at Historic New Bridge Landing on April 15-16, 2007, when the artifacts belonging to the Bergen County Historical Society, which displayed its museum collections in the Steuben House since 1939 at the invitation of the State of New Jersey, suffered damage. Governor Jon Corzine, NJDEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson, Senator Loretta Weinberg met with the HNBLPC Chairman, M. Trepicchio, Vice-Chairwoman, M. Donohue, Treasurer, J. Bellis and Secretary K. Wright on March 19, 2008. Jeanne Mroczko, Acting Director of the Division of Parks & Forestry and Deborah Powell, President of the Bergen County Historical Society, also attended. The Governor was not personally aware of Historic New Bridge Landing and listened to an overview. It was a productive, focused discussion, mainly centered upon the relationship of the commission and site to the NJDEP. Topics included planning documents, alternative management scenarios, the purpose and powers of the commission as envisioned in the original legislation and as described in a recent Attorney General’s opinion, recent interior work on the Steuben House and proposals for its future use, and hopes and plans for fundraising. The Governor was not previously aware that the Steuben House had been closed since the April 2007 flood.
Based upon the Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission’s resolution of February 2008, Chairman M. Trepicchio asked the Governor’s support for transferring administrative control of the state-owned buildings and land to the HNBLPC, together with moneys previously budgeted for, or relating to, the Steuben House. Senator Weinberg agreed to introduce legislation to effect this change and also to clarify the boundary description and powers of the original 1995 enabling legislation. She said she would ask the other Bergen County legislators to co-sponsor the bill. Secretary K. Wright brought the February Resolution of the Bergen County Board of Freeholders, supporting the plans and actions of the Historic New Bridge Landing Park Commission in developing the site and a museum, to the Governor’s attention. The County’s ongoing and unwavering support, especially in time of great need after the flood, was gratefully acknowledged. BCHS President D. Powell and Chairman M. Treppichio noted the Bergen County Historical Society was the largest landowner at Historic New Bridge Landing, running the site with volunteer staff, contributing the display of their unique and irreplaceable artifact collections, while underwriting all programming—a contribution estimated at $500,000 over the past 26 years— which includes funding all programming at the state-owned Steuben House.
Between 1987 and 2004, Historic New Bridge Landing achieved an annual attendance peak of 18,713 visitors in Fiscal Year 2003 (July 2002 through June 2003), although 13,825 is the average annual attendance over the span of fifteen years (1990-2004), the difference from year to year being the frequency and success of special events. This number seems to represent a plateau, defined by the existing limitations on infrastructure and staffing. The attendance was the highest for any of the singular State Historic Sites. Owing to relevant subject matter in their curricula, fourth through sixth graders comprise a sizable majority of school visitors. High school history clubs and some college classes (mainly from neighboring FDU) are occasional visitors. Thirty-seven schools from nineteen Bergen County municipalities sent students to the Steuben House during the school year between September 2003 and June 2004. Those municipalities and the number of schools represented are: Bergenfield (1), Dumont (1), Demarest (1), East Rutherford (3), Englewood (5), Fairlawn (1), Garfield (5), Hackensack (2), Hillsdale 91), Leonia (1), Lodi (1), New Milford (2), Oradell (1), Paramus (1), Ridgewood (5), River Edge (3), Teaneck (1), Tenafly (1), and Waldwick (1). The list includes public, private and charter schools. Up until 2000, when the Steuben House closed for a year to accommodate the installation of a new heating system and roof, it was not uncommon for the school groups to completely book the Steuben House for morning and afternoon sessions on every weekday the museum was open between January and June. Fall attendance was also fairly steady.
In a letter addressed to DEP Commissioner Mauriello in September 2009, Senator Loretta Weinberg states, “Since the passing of the new legislation, the Historic New Bridge Landing Commission has made several attempts to coordinate their new standing within the State with help from the NJDEP. As the author of the law, I, along with the HNBL Commissioners, interpret the legislation as a mandate to re-open this important piece of our history to a broad audience, especially to school children, and to develop a new model for public/private partnerships in historical education and heritage tourism.”
