Candidates Discuss Environmental Issues at Forum

In its first-ever forum to meet the candidates Saturday, residents of the Sunset Lake community in Bridgewater focused their attention on concerns about environmental impacts on the lake itself.

Mayoral candidates Jim Ventantonio, a Democrat, and Independent George Jones attended the forum, as did incumbent Republican council candidate Christine Henderson Rose and Democratic council candidate John Rooney.

Mayoral candidate and current Republican Councilman Dan Hayes, incumbent Republican council candidate Matthew Moench and Democratic council candidate Mary Pranzatelli were unable to attend.

Hayes, Ventantonio and Jones are running for mayor, vying to replace current Mayor Patricia Flannery, who has opted not to run for another term.

Rose and Moench are running for re-election, against Rooney and Pranzatelli.

Brian McBride, of Sunset Lake, said this is the first time the community has held such a forum to meet the candidates.

“We have been negligent in meeting the candidates,” he said. “In Sunset Lake, there are two voting districts, 22 on one side [and 17 on the other].”

McBride said there are 770 registered voters among the two districts, and an average of 43 percent of those registered voted in the last mayoral election. The percentage of voters taking part from district 17 was 51, just a percentage point lower than the highest voting district in the township.

“One thing we would like to do is stimulate that voting,” he said. “We are not happy being the second most active, we want to be the most active and to set a standard in Bridgewater.”

“So we need another 80 voters,” he added.

Questions from residents of the Sunset Lake community centered on environmental issues, and the first questioned the candidates’ thoughts on the problems with using cold tar by-products on the roads because they often seep into the lake. It was asked whether it would be possible to not use those kinds of materials.

McBride said the lake was contaminated, and it required additional costs for the dredging of the lake after 18 families had already saved to complete the process.

“This is a community center and families consider themselves stewards of the lake,” he said. “It was man-made in 1927 and we want to preserve it.”

The consensus from the candidates was that this is something they should look into to, but they don’t want to make any specific promises.

“There is not an easy solution, but I understand you want us to listen,” Ventantonio said. “We will be sensitive, we will address it and make decisions based on safe environmental concerns.”

Jones said it is specifically important to identify the problem, which is a nationwide issue, and find a possible solution to using the cold tar by looking at other alternatives through the Department of Environmental Protection or the Environmental Protection Agency.

“If the problem is that bad, then where has the solution been found,” he said, adding that then it would be time to talk to other parts of the country or state to find out the best practice.

But Rooney said he would take a much harsher stance.

“I think we need to take the hardest and toughest measures possible,” he said. “I am shocked and outraged by this, and I would outlaw the use of cold tar. I would raise a resolution to ban it outright.”

“I’m not an expert in this, but I would do all I can and would welcome an end to this,” he added.

Rose acknowledged that the use of cold tar and its possible effects on the lake have not been a priority for the council as of late. But, she said, the administration will change come January.

“Under the new administration, we know there will be more of a spirit of listening,” she said. “We will be more cooperative.”

“And if there is no good response in the first six months, we have a serious problem,” she added.

A second question centered on sediment flowing into the lake, with a proposal to have sediment boxes placed on the side of the lake and a pledge by residents to help pay for them.

Jones said the study of that solution would fall specifically on the mayor’s desk, which means it would fall to the administration.

“We can hire consultants, or we can rely on in-house people because they work and live here,” he said. “But I guarantee that first you will have an audience, and then the solution will be discussed in an open forum.”

Ventantonio and Rose emphasized that January 2012 will bring a new administration to Bridgewater, no matter who wins in the election.

“You need someone who is attentive to your concerns and will listen,” Ventantonio said. “We will be responsive to residents and include you in the solutions.”

But Rooney said he would not expect the residents to shoulder the burden of paying for making this change, particularly because they are already paying taxes in the township.

“If we have to make cuts somewhere else, we will,” he said. “We will also try to lessen the sediment coming down, and hit the problem head on. Maybe you have been neglected, and it is time for the administration to come forward.”

Another question from residents concerned a proposal to create walking trails on Green Acres land near Sunset Lake. Residents expressed concern that when they went to the township to express their opposition to the proposal, they were told there were experts looking into it, but no further information was provided.

Rooney said his goal is to preserve open space, something he will maintain if elected to council.

And Jones and Ventantonio emphasized that residents need to speak up at council meetings if they want to be heard.

“You must go to council meetings, don’t let this go by,” Jones said.

Rose said there was a referendum voted on by residents to use money from the open space funds for passive recreation. From there, she said, there was a citizen’s committee to look at all open space, and a proposal was then approved by the committee.

“But the elected officials can only represent if we hear from you,” she said. “When we hear silence, we assume everything is OK.”

The final questions concerned cleanup from Hurricane Irene, as residents said they are still finding debris on the roads, but are not hearing back from the Bridgewater Township Department of Public Works with regard to inquiries about the problems.

“We have been using the website to call and it’s a black hole,” McBride said. “The communication system is not working.”

Jones admitted that this is not the fault of the council, but repeated that the administration will be changing come January because of a new mayor.

“It shows the insensitivity of the current administration,” Ventantonio said. “We have these functions, and if they are not working, we’ve got to change them.”

And Rooney emphasized that this is not a problem they cannot solve.

“We want to do our level best to help out in the areas, and streets are vital,” he said. “That’s a hazard and easily identifiable. It’s all a matter of identifying the problem, and there’s no problem we can’t solve.”