Politics & Government

Mayoral Candidates Talk Accountability, Accessibility in Debate

The three mayoral candidates answer questions from residents.

With about 100 people in attendance that required a change of venue to accommodate, Thursday’s debate among Bridgewater’s three mayoral candidates allowed residents to ask questions about township issues, with an emphasis on what the candidates will do to lower taxes if elected.

Republican , Democrat and Independent are running for the mayoral position, with current mayor Patricia Flannery opting not to run for another term.

The debate was sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Courier News, and residents were invited to submit questions in advance.

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Several questions focused directly on how the candidates plan to stabilize costs and determine the best places for consolidation.

All of the candidates emphasized the importance of shared services.

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“We have to find a way to regionalize or consolidate shared services,” Ventantonio said. “We no longer have the luxuries of [more than 500] municipalities doing their own things in the state.”

Jones said he agrees that shared services and consolidation are the way to go.

“We have to improve our base of income, and we do our spending first,” he said. “Improving the base of income has to include partnerships that encourage new businesses in town to fill the vacant buildings and warehouses.”

Hayes said the township has already entered into several partnerships with other neighboring towns, while also taking advantage of opportunities at the county level.

“We want to make sure when we enter into an agreement, it’s to better our burden and services,” he said. “Shared services have to be aggressively pursued. But I first want to state that Bridgewater in its current state has some of the lowest taxes in the county.”

Ventantonio countered that there are actually five municipalities with a lower tax rate than Bridgewater, and a few that haven’t been reported.

“We are in the middle of the group, and someone should know that who’s in the administration,” he said.

“Five is not in the middle of 21, we are among the lowest,” Hayes countered.

In addition to the concern about shared services, one question centered on the current police salary structure and the possibilities of consolidation.

“Having been retired from the Bridgewater police, I have intimate knowledge of this, knowing budgets and issues they deal with,” Jones said. “A study should be done that would show the manpower necessary to patrol a town of this size. The cost is directly related to manpower, and the manpower is directly related to the requests of the town.”

“This is done through a study, not a knee jerk reaction,” he added. “The police department is a necessary function in town, and it would be studied, but no action without a study and input from the public.”

Hayes said it will be important to look into the option of a county 911 system, while continuing the pressure on the local department to keep the budget in check.

And Ventantonio agreed that the township needs to look at the costs of possible new facilities and what it would cost to relocate police.

A question was also brought up concerning the ballpark amount spent on legal expenses annually in the township, and whether it would be appropriate to look into bringing those services, plus those of the engineering department as an example, in house.

“I have managed lawyers and budgets,” Ventantonio said. “We just appropriated another $50,000 tacked on for other legal fees in the mosque situation, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I know how to control legal costs. You move with the times and decide what to do.”

Jones said he would like to look at bringing lawyers and other contractors in house to determine whether that would save money.

But overall, the candidates all agreed that they cannot promise to lower taxes, but would promise to maintain and do whatever possible to control spending.

“The administration has done more with less, and there has been a growth in rateables,” Hayes said. “We are exploring consolidation and will continue to do so.”

And Ventantonio said part of the battle is about encouraging commercial industry for more rateables.

“The present administration is not a growth one, and they are reluctant to bring commercial businesses in,” he said. “Many plans have been discouraged to bring more commercial businesses into the regional area. But we have to control taxes and bring in more commercial enterprises.”

Initial questions in the debate focused entirely on emergency management, and the candidates all agreed that it is important to make sure more plans are in place to inform residents about issues in the township, particularly after snowstorms and other similar circumstances.

“I have to congratulate the Department of Public Works workers, they were affective in both storms [Hurricane Irene and the snowstorm], and we have come to expect service to be restored as quickly as possible,” Hayes said. “The township does work to communicate and help residents as quickly as possible through the website, but I believe that is inefficient.”

All candidates agreed that some kind of reverse 911 system would be a welcome addition to the township.

“Warren has had it for years, and why we don’t I don’t know,” Ventantonio said. “I think we absolutely have to have it, there is no excuse for residents not knowing where a shelter is or what roads are closed."

Other concerns were expressed through questions about quality of life and maintaining that through the appearance of residential properties and other means.

“There are properties in disrepair and some that affect quality of life in town, and each has to be taken care of by the person responsible,” Jones said. “That is done by accountability. We have to get the problem solved to the satisfaction of the complainant and the individual involved.”

“Infrastructure needs to be improved, zoning has to be aggressively improved, and we also must look at services,” Hayes added. “We need to restore the bulk trash pickup. We have to take the pride we have in our township and the pride in our neighbors to help keep the township the envy of others.”

The question of quality of life came up in another concern that asked the candidates their thoughts on allowing variances for cell towers in residential neighborhoods.

Hayes said the desire for cellular communication is insatiable and will continue to grow, but the township needs to maintain its character.

“I am in favor of the township’s efforts to reduce cell tower placements so they are not in residential areas,” he said. “Going forward, I would recommend a citizen’s advisory committee with the mission of advising on that.”

Jones said he has reviewed cell towers applications in the past when he worked for the zoning office, but believes it is important for the township to develop an ordinance to regulate cell towers.

“The town has little or no ability to say no, and they can’t say no in a vacuum,” he said. “Rather than have a knee jerk reaction like with other ordinances, I would suggest we have a committee that has had exposure to cell tower ordinances and they could bring that to the council. Placement for the towers could be regulated by an ordinance that would be effective within a year. They are inherently beneficial, but that doesn’t mean we cannot regulate them.”

For all the candidates, they emphasized the need for transparency, accessibility and accountability in the new administration, particularly in answers to questions about handling complaints that come in to the township.

“Accessibility is important so that when a process is not working the way it should, we can bring the attention to those responsible, and the person responsible for how the administration performs is the mayor,” Hayes said.

“It’s about accountability,” Jones said. “Fix something, but don’t put it off.”

For Ventantonio, he said it is important to be proactive and only react after research is done.

“We had bulky trash, and this current administration took it away,” he said. “I think we have be responsive, be in a reactive posture.”

All three candidates said they would try to bring their best to the township if elected as mayor.

“My time working in the township exceeds that of my colleagues, and my knowledge would be applied,” Jones said. “I will give it the 100 percent it will take to get the job done and keep you informed so your quality of life is not impacted, but enhanced.”

“This is a great place to live, and I plan to pursue that with all I can, maintain affordability, keep us among the lowest taxes, have great jobs and great commercial residents that add to the community,” Hayes said. “I know we can achieve this.”

“I can do the job because of you, because I believe in participatory involvement,” Ventantonio said, adding that he plans to be a full-time mayor. “I will be here, I will listen to you, I am committed to this endeavor.”

All three candidates said they would be honored to hold the position of mayor.

Elections will be held Nov. 8.


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