Council's action on webmaster was ill-advised

I am a resident of Milltown. I watch all the Borough Council meetings on Channel 22. It is repeatedly said how much Milltown needs volunteers. As the wife of a volunteer, I would like to give you my perspective.

My husband, Chris Grotkopf, was at one time simultaneously involved with the Milltown Revitalization Committee, Channel 22, the Anti-Vandalism Task Force, the Milltown Fire Department and the Milltown Republicans. In the middle of all this, he decided to create the Milltown Web site. He approached the mayor council, and they all told him to go ahead.

At the time it was heralded as a wonderful idea. As time went on, my husband got less and less feedback from the council. He ended up making most of the decisions on his own. I know this because I heard his frustrations firsthand. Even though I was pregnant at the time and upset by all the volunteering, I was very proud of my husband.

He enjoyed the Web site the most amongst his volunteer activities. In an effort to enhance the Web site, he added a page to reprint the news articles that appeared in the local newspapers. He then added a page to allow residents to voice their own opinions and ideas. This came about when he realized that many residents could not get to council meetings because they had children, work or other obligations. He wanted the Web site to be "everything Milltown."

This went on for about two years until he was asked to remove a letter that was unflattering to the council. He complied, but then he put it back up. Again, as his wife, I know the personal struggle he had about that letter. He thought he was being a censor by removing a letter just because it was of a different opinion. I know he felt this letter could be read at any council meeting and re-aired on Channel 22 without any repercussions, so why not post it on the Web site?

So he put it back up. The effect was immediate. Within days the Web site was officially adopted by the borough - a committee was to be formed and overseen by the council. Oh, and by the way, please remove the letter. Chris is now working with the new Milltown Media Committee to create bylaws for the Web site and Channel 22.

There are many dedicated workers on this committee, including Russell Einbinder, who can be counted on to tirelessly volunteer for any good cause. These volunteers work all day and then attend meetings in the evening, with the purpose of drafting the bylaws for the Media Committee. They get home at almost midnight because they are trying to cover every scenario and future development that may arise. They have discussed the editorial issue at length and have agreed that it should be on a separate Web site. This has all been done without the help of the council liaison.

Now, the council has passed an ordinance that calls for a paid position for the webmaster, even after an impassioned plea by Mr. Einbinder to table the ordinance and give the committee a chance to finish the work that they have begun. Only Councilman John Collins agreed to hear out the Media Committee. I gather the council doesn't think that the work involved in running Channel 22 warrants paying Mr. Einbinder.

My husband created the Milltown Web site in 2003 and has maintained it ever since. He never got paid - he is a volunteer. The council is always begging for volunteers. Now, when it has a willing, responsible and quite-capable volunteer, it would rather spend my tax dollars and your tax dollars on a webmaster. It just doesn't add up.

Maria R. Grotkopf

Milltown