Roosevelt residents want art honored, not money Dissent expressed over installation of donor plaque near mural BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer ROOSEVELT - In certain places it's common for those who make monetary donations to a project to be honored with a plaque, but not in Roosevelt. Some residents at theApril 28 Borough Council said it's not appropriate to have a plaque commemorating those who contributed funding to the new community mural. The RooseveltArts Project (RAP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering artistic talents in the borough, wants to hang a donor plaque near the mural, which is on the front of the municipal building. ROOSEVELT Resident Shan Ellentuck told the council that she was taken aback by the idea of a plaque honoring those who gavemoney to the mural project and not those who conceived it. "Especially in a community that honors its artists," she said. Ellentuck said Roosevelt does not have plaques to honor the thousands of people from all over the world who contributed to the town's Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial or those involved in the restoration of the Ben Shahn mural in the Roosevelt Public School. "It seems unseemly to honor people who have only given money," she said. "I would respectfully suggest that [RAP] withdraw its request." Ellentuck also urged the council to refuse the RAP plaque. Her husband, Bert, noted that both his and his wife's names would appear on the plaque before stating that it would be a "tragedy" to have any names appear based on monetary donations. It would mark the end of time in Roosevelt when people gave money and time without expectations," he said. "It may be endemic inAmerica, but in Roosevelt it is a new tradition to say money talks." He said people have raised thousands of dollars over the years for various Roosevelt projects, yet contribution amounts have never been mentioned.Mr. Ellentuck also noted that the RAP plaque would be placed on public property. ResidentMelissa Branco said themural is beautiful but said Borough Hall is starting to look like a billboard. "Iwould not like a plaque because everyone contributes," she said. Branco said RAP should place the plaque inside of the municipal building if the organization must have one. When council member Kirk Rothfuss made amotion towithdrawthe plaque issue fromthe agenda, the other councilmembers agreed. Rothfuss said the council would ask RAP representatives to attend the next council meeting to discuss the issue.