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At Courthouse, Paint Is Peeling, Shingles Are Missing and Lawyers Are Suing the County
NYT ^ | 8/3/05 | Jonathan Miller

Posted on 08/03/2005 8:16:55 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection

....But now, both eyebrows and voices are being raised at a lawsuit that some local government officials are calling a "cheap stunt" and "absolutely insane."

In papers filed last week in Superior Court here, the Warren County Bar Association alleged that the courthouse first constructed during the administration of John Quincy Adams and last renovated during Eisenhower's is "grossly overcrowded and in a state of disrepair," thus creating "an unsafe and unhealthy condition."

Prisoners and jurors are not separated from the public, the suit further alleges, and there is not enough conference space....

With a population of about 110,000 spread over 365 square miles along the Delaware River, Warren is one of the least densely populated counties in the state. But it is rapidly growing.

Officials in this Republican-dominated area argue that taxpayers are already overburdened and that building anything is likely to prompt a tax increase, stoking the ire of residents.

"We're going to accomplish something, but we're not going to build Taj Mahals," said Everett A. Chamberlain, a county freeholder from White Township. He scoffed at previous plans that put costs as high as $45 million and said that the county was more concerned with building a new library...

He later added: "We've got tax problems as it is; why do we have to spend more money on this lawsuit? It's absolutely insane. There's no purpose for this lawsuit. It's just a cheap stunt."...

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS: courthouse; news; warrencounty

1 posted on 08/03/2005 8:16:56 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
At Courthouse, Paint Is Peeling, Shingles Are Missing and Lawyers Are Suing the County

Meanwhile, over at Air America ... there is no story.

2 posted on 08/03/2005 8:18:36 AM PDT by martin_fierro (threadkiller)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
We've got tax problems as it is; why do we have to spend more money on this lawsuit? It's absolutely insane.

They're essentially suing the taxpayers for not giving them a nicer courthouse, that goes past insane.

3 posted on 08/03/2005 8:24:06 AM PDT by Randjuke
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To: martin_fierro

and there is not enough conference space....


Conference rooms lead to taxes and laws.


4 posted on 08/03/2005 8:29:10 AM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Seeking the truth here folks.)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

We had the same thing in our community they wanted to tear down the old courthouse and build a new Taj Mahal for lawyers. They had even picked the old judge they wanted to name it for. We rebuilt the old courthouse and added on.


5 posted on 08/03/2005 8:31:55 AM PDT by sgtbono2002
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

New Jersey, I presume?

(The Warren County in PA is nowhere near the Delaware...)


6 posted on 08/03/2005 8:32:21 AM PDT by Petronski (I love Cyborg!)
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To: PeterPrinciple

Ain't that the durn truth! I am convinced that when two elected officials get into "conference", it will cost the taxpayers somewhere down the road. Tell them to put up a tent or something if they want, but buildings cost big bucks and so does the maintenance.


7 posted on 08/03/2005 8:34:10 AM PDT by geezerwheezer (get up boys, we're burnin' daylight!!!)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
As a resident of this area, it seems to me that this is ridiculous! I have been in the courthouse and it is not in a state of disrepair! Our taxes have doubled over the past 7 years and we do not need a high tech courthouse. IMHO the building is an historical landmark and should be preserved. Only complaint if have is that there in not enough parking.
8 posted on 08/03/2005 8:34:24 AM PDT by alice_in_bubbaland ("Consensus seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies")
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
"We're going to accomplish something, but we're not going to build Taj Mahals," said Everett A. Chamberlain, a county freeholder from White Township. He scoffed at previous plans that put costs as high as $45 million and said that the county was more concerned with building a new library...

Who do they think they are, federal judges.

9 posted on 08/03/2005 8:35:01 AM PDT by connectthedots
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To: alice_in_bubbaland

in=is (sorry) :o)


10 posted on 08/03/2005 8:36:00 AM PDT by alice_in_bubbaland ("Consensus seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies")
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
***IMPROVE YOUR COURTHOUSE***

Ban lawyers from the premises.

11 posted on 08/03/2005 8:39:24 AM PDT by FreePaul
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

12 posted on 08/03/2005 9:22:36 AM PDT by Between the Lines (Be careful how you live your life, it may be the only gospel anyone reads.)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

When the story doesn't name the state, it helps to put it in the topics. I added it for you on this story.


13 posted on 08/03/2005 9:27:40 AM PDT by PAR35
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