A Jackson Township Council meeting ended immediately after a resident questioned millions of dollars in Open Space Trust Fund spending on playgrounds, synthetic turf projects, and debt financing, prompting renewed calls for greater transparency.
A Jackson Township Council meeting concluded abruptly Tuesday night after a lengthy exchange between township officials and resident Adam Haidi over how millions of dollars from the township’s Open Space Trust Fund have been spent in recent years.
Haidi, who identified himself as a member of the Jackson Environmental Commission speaking as a private citizen, questioned township officials about expenditures for playgrounds, synthetic turf fields, debt service, and the level of detail provided in council resolutions authorizing spending.
The discussion ended when Council Vice President Giuseppe Palmeri made a motion to close the public comment portion of the meeting after Haidi’s allotted speaking time expired. Council President Mordechai Burnstein then closed public comment, ending the opportunity for additional residents to address the governing body.
Resident questions playground spending
During the exchange, Haidi asked Township Attorney Greg McGuckin whether the council would provide more detailed descriptions of projects funded through the Open Space Trust Fund.
“Do you think the council can commit to more transparency and maybe itemize what we’re actually paying for?” Haidi asked. “A $393,000 transaction should be itemized.”
McGuckin responded that the township could provide additional detail.
“I think we could commit to putting more information in the resolutions, 100%,” McGuckin said.
Haidi also questioned spending on playground projects, stating that more than $2 million had been paid over several years to companies owned by playground manufacturer Ben Shaffer. He also cited one playground project that he said included approximately $347,000 for equipment and more than $156,000 in installation costs.
McGuckin did not verify those figures during the meeting.
Open Space spending and debt financing discussed
Haidi also questioned whether Open Space Trust Fund money should be used for playgrounds located on Board of Education property, noting that some school properties have since been sold.
In April of 2024, Jackson Township paid to upgrade the playground at Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School using municipal open space funds, raising the question of whether or not that park could have been legally sold months later. Also in question was whether or not there was collusion by school board and township officials prior to the construction of the park, knowing that the school was to be sold later that year.
Under state law, government entities are not allowed to outright sell playgrounds or parks paid for with municipal open space funds. The township has also not said whether or not it is still paying the bond for the park, which is now a privately owned facility.
McGuckin responded that the voter-approved Open Space referendum authorizes spending on recreational facilities, including playgrounds and maintenance.
“It indicates exactly what it can be utilized for,” McGuckin said when discussing the referendum.
When Haidi asked why the Open Space Trust Fund carries debt service despite receiving dedicated tax revenue, McGuckin explained that municipalities commonly finance large land acquisitions through bonds.
“Of course you bond money,” McGuckin said. “If a property costs $3 million, you don’t write a check for $3 million. The benefit of that runs over 20 to 30 years. You borrow the money, you put a down payment on it, and you pay the mortgage.”
Public comment ends after heated exchange
Near the end of his remarks, Haidi criticized township compensation, referencing the salaries of Business Administrator Charles Terefenko and Township Attorney Greg McGuckin before his microphone was cut off as his speaking time expired.
Following the exchange, Palmeri moved to close public comment, the motion received a second, and the council voted to end the public comment period before adjourning the meeting.
After the meeting, the Jackson Environmental Coalition criticized the decision to close public comment, arguing that additional residents who wished to speak were denied the opportunity.
In a social media post, the organization alleged that approximately $2.5 million had been spent on playground and recreation projects and roughly $800,000 on synthetic turf projects through the Open Space Trust Fund. The group also renewed calls for greater transparency regarding how the money is allocated and spent.
The township has not publicly responded to the coalition’s post.
Key Points
• Jackson resident Adam Haidi questioned township officials about millions of dollars in Open Space Trust Fund expenditures during Tuesday night’s council meeting.
• Township Attorney Greg McGuckin said the council could provide more detailed information in future spending resolutions and defended the use of bond financing for Open Space projects.
• The council closed public comment after Haidi’s allotted speaking time expired, prompting criticism from the Jackson Environmental Coalition, which called for greater transparency in Open Space spending.