I hope that the council considers this idea, I would be
happy to be involved in this if you decide it is a go. Thank
you for your consideration.
Thomas Harknett
Milltown
Mayor Okays 2008 Budget
September
26,
2008
Milltown residents
can expect to see a 7.8-cent increase in the municipal tax
rate this year.
Though it was
done later than usual and amid heated disagreements, the
Borough Council adopted its 2008 municipal budget Monday,
totaling just under $8 million.
"I'm very
proud, considering where we were, to where we ended up,"
council President Randy Farkas said. "In January of this
year, we were staring at about a 25-cent increase."
From there,
officials were able to get the increase down to 17.9 cents
when the budget was introduced in March, and then eventually
whittle it down to the 7.8 cents that was approved, Farkas
said.
The increase
amounts to about $130 per year, or $11 per month for the
average homeowner with property assessed at $166,188.
State aid cuts
to small municipalities dealt a blow to the borough's budget
this year. Milltown was initially slated to lose over
$260,000 in aid, but when final numbers came down from the
state, all but $88,000, or the equivalent of about two tax
points, was restored, Farkas said.
"Anything back
is a plus," Farkas said. "That was certainly helpful."
According to
Farkas, state officials held the borough's budget for two
months, which contributed to its later adoption.
A one-time-only
revenue source was gleaned from the sale of a borough
easement located behind the 7-Eleven store on Ryders Lane.
Auctioned off on June 17, the land sold for $119,000, more
than double the starting bid.
Farkas said
other savings were achieved by improving overall efficiency
in the borough's operations. At the same time, however,
increasing fuel costs and legal fees for the ongoing
litigation over the Ford Avenue redevelopment tract made it
difficult to get the tax increase reduced any further, he
said.
"What it's all
about is striking a balance," Farkas said. "But there are
things in this world we can't control."
While increases
are rarely welcomed, Farkas and Mayor Gloria Bradford
expressed satisfaction regarding the passage of amendments
that lowered the increase, and the budget itself.
"It was the
right thing for the people at this time, and I thank [those
who voted for the budget] for seeing that," Bradford said.
"I'm sad that the entire council didn't see the importance
of getting a workable budget in place, and I want people to
remember, we were able to bring it to a manageable number
without laying people off or cutting services."
The Sentinel
Jessica Smith - Staff Writer
Bradford, Harto & Waters Take Milltown
Election
November 8,
2007
The
Republican candidates swept at the polls Tuesday, indicating
voters' satisfaction with the incumbent mayor, and a desire
for change on the Milltown Borough Council.
"It was amazing," said Mayor Gloria Bradford. "The amount
that I won by was truly a mandate of the people."
Bradford, who is in her ninth year as mayor, beat out her
opponents, Democratic Councilman Mike Skarzynski and
independent Michael Lewycky by substantial margins.
Garnering 1,530 votes to Skarzynski's 733 and Lewycky's 233,
Bradford said she was surprised to win by such a large
majority.
Skarzynski is in his 11th year on the Borough Council, and
he has another year left on his current term.
"Of course, I'm a little disappointed, but the people have
always been good to me when I ran for the council,"
Skarzynski said. "I want to congratulate Mayor Bradford on
her decisive victory, and I look forward to working with the
Republicans for the betterment of the borough."
Bradford said she was unhappy with some aspects of
Skarzynski's campaign, which she felt were unnecessary. One
letter recently sent to residents criticized her performance
as mayor, and she feels that another, sent to historic homes
in town, used scare tactics on residents.
"That triggered off an anger in me that wasn't there
before," Bradford said. "People don't want to hear what the
opponent can't do, or doesn't do. In a town like this, you
have to go out with positive things. You cannot go out
attacking the opponents."
Bradford's running mates, Historic Preservation Advisory
Committee Chairwoman Stacey Waters and firefighter Brian
Harto, surpassed the Democratic slate of council President
Eric Steeber and Councilman Bill Deinzer to win three-year
council terms. Waters and Harto took 1,449 and 1,425 votes,
respectively, while Steeber got 936 and Deinzer, 996 votes.
"We knew it would be close," Harto said. "We were just
ecstatic. It still hasn't sunk in. Obviously, the voters are
tired of what is going on, and want a change."
Waters echoed Harto's sentiments. "We put a lot of hard work
into this," she said. "We are just really excited and
gratified."
Steeber's reaction to the election results was one of
relief. "I think maybe it's time for a changing of the
guard." Steeber said.
With another four years ahead of her as mayor, Bradford is
looking toward the future.
"It was a Republican sweep, and now we have to deliver on
what we promised," Bradford said.
"Based on my past record, I think the people feel that we
will deliver what we promised. That's our philosophy - to
promise, deliver and be accountable."
The Sentinel
Jessica Smith - Staff Writer
Bradford Leads GOP Sweep in Milltown
November 7,
2007
Mayor
Gloria Bradford led a Republican sweep of the municipal vote
yesterday and was elected to her third full four-year term
after defeating two challengers, Democratic Councilman
Michael Skarzynski and independent candidate Michael Lewycky.
Bradford, who has held the mayoralty since 1999, won the
race with 1,530 votes over the 733 for Skarzynski and 233
for Lewycky.
"It's well-deserved. Our candidates were hard-working
people," Bradford said. "I think it's just that the people
in Milltown want a change, and I think that they put their
faith in the candidates that we have, and the Republicans
that are already on the council."
Republican candidates Brian Harto and Stacey Waters beat out
incumbent Democrats William Deinzer and Eric Steeber for
three-year terms in the Borough Council.
Waters and Harto received 1,449 and 1,425 votes,
respectively, while Deinzer received 996 votes and Steeber
received 936 votes.
Winners in Bold
Mayor - (4-year term)
Gloria Bradford (R)* - 1530
Michael Lewycky (I) - 233
Michael Skarzynski (D) - 733
Borough Council - (Two 3-year terms)
Brian Harto (R) - 1425
Stacey Waters (R) - 1449
William Deinzer (D)* - 996
Eric Steeber (D)* - 936
Milltown Voters Should
Stick with Bradford as Mayor
October
30,
2007
Milltown
has three choices for mayor this Election Day: two
major-party candidates who often see eye to eye on the major
issues and a third-party challenger who claims he represents
the true wishes of residents. The biggest decision for
voters is who they believe can manage two key challenges:
redevelopment of the old Michelin tire plant site and
containment of municipal property taxes. From this vantage
point, eight-year Republican incumbent Gloria Bradford is
that person. The mayor has shown herself to be a more than
competent administrator and a thoughtful leader as well, one
who searches out all manner of solutions until the best fix
is found — or at least there is a plan in place that most
borough residents can live with. Milltown needs that
experience and the art of compromise right now.
Bradford has been especially impressive of late with respect
to her thoughts on the old Michelin property, more commonly
known as the Ford Avenue site.
Residents are deeply divided over the course that
redevelopment should take. Some want only age-restricted
housing, others a mix of senior and market-rate units. Then
there are those who believe affordable housing should be
part of the equation; development of 66 affordable units at
the Ford Avenue site would satisfy Milltown's state Council
on Affordable Housing obligation. Environmental hazards
posed by the former industrial property and the cost of
cleanup are another concern. So is traffic. Still others
don't want to see much development at all, preferring the
site remain largely open space.
Bradford's deft handling of all these competing interests
hasn't been easy. And it's to her credit that she continues
to listen, to solicit community ideas, even as the deadline
to submit the plan to a Superior Court judge by Jan. 9 is
just weeks away. "Ford Avenue has got to be developed. We're
in the middle of a serious lawsuit," she said. "We have to
take this seriously. We can't just say we don't want a
plan."
Those are honest, real answers.
Her principal opponent, Democratic Borough Councilman
Michael Skarzynski, is nearly on the same page, but he has
rejected the plan outright, saying the inclusion of
affordable homes and the number of school-age children would
overwhelm borough schools — claims that are not borne out by
either logic or expert testimony.
Independent candidate Michael Lewycky has said most
residents of Milltown favor commercial development and open
space on the property. But the reality is that whatever goes
up will inevitably include some sort of residential housing
component. All the borough can do — what it in fact must do
— is make sure that it controls the size and scope of that
housing footprint. The borough's plan calls for 276
mixed-age homes of varying sizes and prices. By comparison,
landowner Lawrence Berger has made a counter proposal to
build more than 400 housing units as part of his lawsuit to
thwart any borough takeover of his property.
Bradford is the most on target of the three when it comes to
municipal finances as well. She cautioned, for example,
about last month's move to keep property taxes stable by
drawing on more than $500,000 from the borough's electric
utility surplus account, noting the maneuver could drive up
utility rates in the future. She said the zero tax increase
is only appealing on the surface, and that property taxes
will be driven higher anyway by school and county spending.
Voters can appreciate her candor.
Bradford has set her sights on anther vital issue: the
thousands of drivers who pass through this tiny borough on a
daily basis to get to other places. Milltown is a
thoroughfare for Middlesex County. If re-elected, she has
pledged to focus more intently on the safety of motorists
and pedestrians.
Here's to giving Bradford that chance. She's earned it.
Home News Tribune
Editorial
Mayor Bradford Calls Skarzynski's Plan "Political"
October
22,
2007
With
tensions running high over the future of the Ford Avenue
redevelopment site and Election Day about two weeks away,
incumbent Mayor Gloria Bradford is accusing her challenger
of trying to politicize the issue.
Bradford
criticized Michael Skarzynski, the Democratic challenger,
who last week presented borough residents with an
alternative plan for the former Michelin site — doing so
only days before Borough Council was to vote on a recently
amended plan that would satisfy state affordable housing
requirements.
"Mr.
Skarzynski presented no plan except to turn the Ford Avenue
situation into a political football," Bradford, a
Republican, said in a recent interview.
Skarzynski's proposal calls for the 22-acre site to be
developed with age-restricted housing and resembles the
original plan before a recent amendment.
The
current plan calling for 276 mixed and affordable units —
while still facing considerable community opposition — will
be voted on by Borough Council at tonight's meeting.
Republican Councilman Randy Farkas, who has rejected the
current mixed-unit proposal in previous votes, also
questioned Skarzynski's move.
"I think
this is not the time for political posturing," Farkas said.
"I think this is clearly a case of putting politics before
people."
Home News Tribune
Joshua Burd - Staff Writer
It's Time To Re-elect Mayor Bradford
October
19,
2007
We are
very fortunate to have Gloria Bradford as our mayor. After
spending more than 30 years working with Johnson & Johnson,
she made the decision to devote her life to the betterment
of Milltown. With the recent newspaper stories about
corruption among elected officials in New Jersey, we are
more than lucky to have such a straightforward, honest and
caring person leading our local government.
I was very pleased to hear that she would be willing to
serve another four years as our mayor. We know the positions
of mayor and Borough Council member are political positions.
Bradford, however, has refused to permit or go along with
political grandstanding in council chambers. Political
grandstanding, as we all know, is generally done solely for
the benefit of the candidate and not for the good of the
residents. Although a Republican, Bradford has maintained an
evenhanded approach in her representation of the borough.
I hope
the rest of the residents in Milltown realize what an asset
she is to our community and I look forward to having
Bradford lead the borough for many years to come.
Neil Marotta
Milltown
GOP Says Dems' Budget Decision Will
Cost Town
September
21,
2007
Though a zero tax
increase is often seen as cause for celebration, some
Milltown Republicans are saying it came at too high a cost.
The Borough Council adopted the 2007 municipal budget at its
Sept. 10 meeting. Several council members expressed pride in
what they called a bipartisan effort, which involved dipping
into surplus monies in the town's various departments. The
majority of the needed funds came from the electrical
surplus, though enough money was left in that account to
cover needs that arise, according to Democratic Councilman
Bill Deinzer, liaison to the utilities department.
"The surplus is the people of Milltown's money," Deinzer
said. "We still have enough in surplus."
Republican Councilman Randy Farkas, who voted against
adopting the budget, disagreed.
"To leave $112,000 in the surplus in case of an emergency is
poor fiscal policy," Farkas said. "We are one major weather
event away from disaster."
Farkas criticized the Democrats on the council, saying their
plan would be to bond in case of an emergency.
"Ultimately, we are going to saddle the taxpayers with the
costs of borrowing money," Farkas said. "I'm deeply
concerned for the residents of this borough."
Republican council candidates Brian Harto and Stacy Waters,
along with Ed Winant, manager of the Milltown Republican
Campaign Committee, expressed similar concerns.
"Our utility rates are going to skyrocket beginning Jan. 1,
2008, and this council just depleted the utility surplus
knowing full well that Milltown's cost for electricity was
going to double," Harto and Waters wrote in a press release.
Along with eight other New Jersey towns, Milltown purchases
a bulk rate for electricity as part of an association. Each
time their contract ends, the town enters into negotiations
for a new rate, Deinzer said.
According to Harto and Waters, electrical rates in town are
slated to rise by about 80 percent. Deinzer refuted their
claim, saying that although no definitive numbers are in
from the borough auditor, he does not foresee that much of
an increase.
"It is irresponsible to deplete the surplus that could
provide relief to our residents," Harto and Waters wrote.
"The Democrat controlled council took the easy way out by
raiding surpluses that are there for sound financial
reasons."
Harto, Waters and Winant questioned why the escalating
electrical rate has not been discussed publicly at a council
meeting. According to both Deinzer and Steeber, the numbers
are simply not in yet. Steeber said he will present a
statement setting the new rates at the next council meeting.
"We're not hiding anything," Deinzer said. "I know I've made
announcements at council meetings that we're going into
negotiations."
Both sides of the debate made claims that the other parties
have political motivations. According to the Republicans
involved, the Democrats created a zero-tax-increase
municipal budget in order to look good to voters, while
residents will end up paying more in the long run.
"I think this is only a poor attempt to make good on a
campaign promise they knew they couldn't keep," Farkas said.
The Sentinel
Jessica Smith - Staff Writer
Officials Express Goals for
New Year in Milltown
January 5,
2007
It was a
standing-room-only crowd at Borough Hall as Mayor Gloria
Bradford gave her annual report at the town's reorganization
meeting Tuesday.
Republican borough councilmen Randy Farkas and John Collins
were sworn in and welcomed by the mayor, and Councilman Eric
Steeber was elected to serve as council president this year.
Collins will serve his first full term after being appointed
to a council seat last year, while Farkas is joining the
council for the first time, also to serve a three-year term.
Collins and Farkas are the only Republicans on the
six-member council.
"As we end 2006 and look forward to 2007, I want to say
thank you to all for volunteering your time, expertise and
presence throughout the past year," Bradford said. "I thank
you for allowing me to be your mayor for the past eight
years, and I know that without your help and support, I
could not do this. It is only with your help that Milltown
remains a place of which to be proud."
The mayor extended thanks to Kevin Bosworth, who was council
president in 2006, for his ongoing service to the town.
Bosworth sat on the council for 12 years but lost in his bid
for re-election last November. His service to Milltown will
continue in his appointed roles in community rehabilitation,
a one-year appointment, and on the municipal alliance
committee, a three-year post.
In 2006, the town received nearly $700,000 in grants,
Bradford said. She expressed gratitude to both the county
and state for their aid, as well as Business Administrator
Denise Biancamano and committee chairs for their efforts in
obtaining the grants.
Throughout the year, grants were given in the areas of
energy efficiency, open space, and housing and urban
development (HUD), among others.
"We pledge to continue to search out and apply for this
grant money, money, without which quality-of-life projects
would not be possible," Bradford said.
"Efficient use of grant money, combined with increased
efficiencies in borough operating costs, have resulted in a
stable tax base and a minimal tax increase."
Bradford noted improvements in roads, recreation facilities
and parks, as well as upgrades in the code enforcement and
police departments.
Road work was completed on parts of 16 area thoroughfares
with help from the county, Bradford said, and the South
Brook Drive project will begin this spring. A bikeway was
constructed in 2006, with a second to be completed in the
spring.
Both Bradford and Steeber agreed that improvements to
Michelin Field will be a large priority in the coming year.
A reorganization of the code enforcement department has
resulted in a decrease in operating costs, as well as
greater efficiency, Bradford said. The time it takes to
obtain a permit has been shortened from six to ten weeks to
only one week.
Collected fines in fire code enforcement have made it
possible for the fire department to purchase a new vehicle
for the chief, she said.
The police department has stepped up both enforcement and
equipment, according to the mayor. Summonses for speeding
have increased over the year, and enforcement of
drunk-driving laws will be enhanced in the year to come. New
radio and 911 systems, as well as video equipment for
interrogations, have helped to upgrade the department's
facilities.
Bradford praised the efforts of the environmental and shade
tree commissions, citing their accomplishments. A grant
proposal was submitted for a shade tree nursery, a project
supported by both Bradford and Steeber.
Another goal for the coming year the two shared is to
address the need for a new firehouse.
Former councilman and local Republican Party Chairman Ed
Winant presented Collins and Farkas with gifts to
commemorate their swearing-in ceremony. Collins said he
looks forward to again have the opportunity to serve.
"I am truly humbled by the confidence and trust you have
placed in me," Farkas said.
The Sentinel
Jessica Smith - Staff Writer
2 GOP Take Seats on Milltown Council
January 3,
2007
The sole
Republicans on the Borough Council, John Collins and Randy
Farkas, were sworn in at last night's reorganization
meeting.
"It feels great to come back to the council, it feels great
to be voted in for three years. I'm going to continue
listening to the residents," said Collins, who was appointed
to the council last March, replacing Councilman Sean Leary
who stepped down for personal reasons.
Collins' wife of 18 years, Karen, held the Bible as he took
the oath of office.
He listed the planned Ford Avenue redevelopment as a big
issue that will take a lot of the council's time because the
property owner has sued the borough, council and other
Milltown entities.
Farkas,
who ran for the council and lost in 2005, thanked friends,
supporters "and most of all, my two beautiful daughters that
are here tonight."
Daughters Jaimie, 12, and Samantha, 10, held the Bible as
Borough Clerk Michael Januszka administered the oath of
office.
Farkas said he hoped to make "the greatest little town in
New Jersey a little bit better."
Following the ceremony, Mayor Gloria Bradford highlighted
some of the challenges and accomplishments in 2006 and plans
for 2007 in the Mayor's Annual Message.
In 2006, the borough secured $700,000 in available grant
money for energy efficiency, open space, smart growth and
other borough projects, Bradford said.
"Efficient use of grant money, combined with increased
efficiencies in borough operating costs, have resulted in a
stable tax base and a minimal tax increase," Bradford said
in her speech.
The borough this year will continue to upgrade the condition
of the borough's roads, as well as upgrade parks, she said.
The council will also look into a new firehouse to replace
the borough's two outdated ones. "I am hopeful that matter
will move closer to reality in 2007," Bradford said.
Home News Tribune
Carmen Cusido - Staff Writer
Borough Council
Selection Met With Criticism
March 17,
2006
Many
surprised as Collins is selected over Farkas for seat
The
appointment of a new councilman in Milltown has left
many, including the appointee himself, surprised, and
some disappointed.
After a month of deliberation,
the Borough Council on Monday night appointed John
Collins to replace Sean Leary, who resigned. Many
residents and Collins himself said they expected the
seat to go to Randy Farkas, who lost by one vote while
seeking a council seat in last November's general
election.
The council had to choose
between Collins, Farkas and Chris Grotkopf, the three
names submitted by the Milltown Republican Party upon
Leary's resignation last month.
"I think that it's obvious, in
light of the results of the election last fall, that it
would have been in the best interests of the people of
Milltown to select Mr. Farkas," resident Bob Belloff
told the council.
Farkas and Democratic opponent
Joseph Cruz remained in a near dead heat following last
November's election tally, and the winner was not
officially declared for six weeks. The initial tally had
Farkas leading Cruz by two votes, but after provisional
ballots were counted, Farkas' lead was narrowed to one
vote. Then, a recount found that more than 20 votes had
been missed by the voting machines. Of those, Farkas
received five, and Cruz received seven, giving Cruz the
victory by one vote.
Farkas appealed the ruling and
filed a civil complaint challenging the count, but the
results were upheld.
Resident Alex Wiener said he
does not believe in the plausibility of a one-vote final
count, regardless of the size of the town.
But given the official results,
Wiener was baffled by the council's selection Monday.
"There's Republican and
Democrat, and there's right and wrong," Wiener said.
"And it seems to me that when somebody loses by one
vote, it's only the right thing to do to give that
person who lost by one vote the position."
Resident and school board
member Mary Ann Mangarella wanted an explanation.
"I'm just curious, I mean, the
people in this town have spoken," Mangarella said,
noting she was shocked by the council's decision. She
said members of the Democratic Party, including Cruz,
appeared sincerely regretful after the recount that
somebody had to lose that election by a one-vote margin.
"Everybody stated how great
Randy Farkas was, [saying] 'If we had an extra seat, we
would love to put him right there on that dais,'
" Mangarella said.
Council members did not respond
to the public's concerns during Monday's meeting, but
Cruz told the Sentinel later that he meant what he said
in his post-election comments, but his opinion of Farkas
changed after Farkas suggested county Democrats exerted
undue influence on the recount.
"During the campaign, I felt
that he was a decent candidate, and when the results
came back from the recount, Randy Farkas showed me a
different person. ... After he showed me that side of
him, I don't feel I could support him," Cruz said.
Farkas said Tuesday that this
was just another example of the Democratic Party making
decisions that smacked of partisan politics, as well as
being outright vindictive. He said the council simply
disregarded the support voters showed him in the
election.
"[The election] was clearly a
mandate that the people feel that I'm in step with what
they want in a candidate," Farkas said. "[The council]
basically thumbed their nose at the people in the town
and said, 'We're going to do what we want, not what you
want.' "
But what Farkas views as a
calculated effort on the part of the Democratic council
members was simply independent minds thinking alike,
according to Cruz.
"Regardless of what these
people think, I don't know what any of the other council
people are going to do - whatever they vote, they vote,"
Cruz said. "But in my humble opinion, my view changed on
Randy after it turned out that he was behind and I was
ahead. He wasn't the same person that he was prior."
Cruz said he has always thought
highly of Collins, who ran for council in 2002, and that
Collins has earned the chance to serve.
"If that's one of the people
they put forward, then why shouldn't he have the
opportunity?" Cruz said.
In November, while the election
results seemed to be reversing on a weekly basis, Farkas
noted that the two political parties were able to
coexist for the betterment of the town. He had said he
was looking forward to working with council members,
with whom he had friendly personal relationships.
"They're all good people. I
really do believe that everyone has the town's best
interest at heart," Farkas said at the time.
The following week, after the
recount gave Cruz the victory, Cruz said it was
bittersweet.
Farkas had coached Cruz's
daughter in a youth softball league, and Cruz had
praised both sides for their clean campaigns.
"In a way, I'm happy, and in a
way, I'm sad. I consider him my friend," Cruz had said.
After Leary stepped down in
January, citing health and family reasons, the
Republican Party was required to provide a list of three
possible replacements.
The five other council members
- Cruz, William Deinzer, Council President Kevin
Bosworth, Eric Steeber and Mike Skarzynski, all
Democrats - had a month to choose the replacement.
Leary had been the lone
Republican on the council, though Mayor Gloria Bradford
is also Republican.
Though the GOP had supported
all three candidates, party members expected that
Farkas, and not Collins or Grotkopf, would fill the
seat.
Leary made his hopes for his
replacement clear. In January, he told the Sentinel he
trusted that Farkas would be called upon to join the
council.
Leary said this week he was
extremely disappointed with the council's decision.
"The Democratic council last
night had an opportunity to fill out the council as the
voters had requested in November," he said. "And
instead, for some reason, they chose to exclude all
Milltown residents, and make their decision based on
politics."
Leary said the move was a
disservice to the many volunteers in town, not just
Farkas. Because of Farkas' involvement in the borough's
popular Fourth of July parade, as well as his work in
local youth athletic programs, Farkas has demonstrated
how successful volunteers can be, Leary said.
"My question remains: Why would
the council act like a bully and deny Milltown residents
their choice of a volunteer who's proven his success
year after year?" Leary said. "I just don't understand
it."
He said that the statements
made by Democrats after the recount in November were
proven to be "empty, meaningless political words."
But Bosworth said that much has
changed since Farkas garnered that support.
Aside from accusing a resident
of casting an illegal ballot, Bosworth said, Farkas
targeted county officials and displayed behavior
unfitting for a councilman.
"As an attorney, I know
lawsuits need to be couched in certain language, but he
basically alleged that there were improprieties in the
way the recount was done, calling into question the
abilities and/or integrity of county employees,"
Bosworth said. "Some of the statements just didn't sit
well with me."
Bosworth said that, prior to
the lawsuit, he probably would not have hesitated to
nominate Farkas for the council seat. He said he does
not envy the position Farkas was in after the recount,
when he went from winner to loser over the course of a
couple weeks.
Still, Bosworth said he was
offended by what he perceived as unwarranted indictments
of the Democratic Party.
"It could be that he's
passionate about what he wanted to be, a councilman, and
extremely disappointed, and he exhausted every avenue he
could to try to make it to that position," Bosworth
said. "But I think that he was a little, in my mind,
overly aggressive in the things that he had to say, and
the types of innuendo that were in some of his
statements."
Bosworth added that some
residents have also expressed their unease with Farkas'
statements, and that those residents would likely think
twice about voting him into office if given another
chance.
Steeber, however, is not one of
them.
At the meeting, after John
Collins was nominated and supported by most of the
council, Steeber nominated Farkas to fill the seat.
But the nomination of Farkas
was not seconded, and thus was dropped.
"I admire his volunteer spirit
and the work that he's done in the community," Steeber
said. "In the years that he's been here, he's shown a
tremendous interest in the community."
Steeber said he did not have
any discussions with the other councilmen prior to the
meeting regarding the candidates, but he was
disappointed his nomination was met with silence.
"The council is a rather
independent body," Steeber said. "The guys are pretty
independent thinkers; they go with their gut, and most
of the decisions they make, I agree with. This one is
just one that I didn't."
Steeber said the motives of his
fellow Democrats should not be questioned.
Selecting the best Republican
is a tough assignment for a group comprising only
Democrats, he said, and each person may react
differently.
"There's nobody who gets
involved in this who's an evil person or a bad person,"
Steeber said. "You basically get up here and you do the
best job you can, based on your morals and beliefs and
your lifestyle. That's pretty much all you can do."
Farkas said he was not
surprised with the council's vote.
"I did not expect to be
nominated at all," Farkas said. "These council people
have forgotten what they were sworn-in to do - serve the
people of Milltown, not their own political agenda."
On the other hand, Collins said
he actually was surprised with the decision.
While he is grateful for the
nomination, and will accept the council seat, he had
such little expectation of his name being called that he
did not even attend Monday's meeting.
In fact, Farkas was the only
one of the three GOP candidates to attend.
"Clearly, Randy would have been
the appropriate choice," Collins said. "If I was on the
council, I would have chosen Randy, but politics and
logic don't always match."
Collins said he is happy to
serve, but strongly doubts he would have had more
support than Farkas if the position were to be voted on
by the public.
"He was the favorite in the
race; had it been a run-off, I would have finished a
distant third," Collins said with a laugh.
He said the responsibility of
being the only Republican on the council is both
daunting and exciting, but he is ready for the
challenge.
"I've got my plate full right
now," Collins said. "But you've got to rise to the
occasion."
To keep the unexpired term,
Collins will have to run again in November. He said he
is undecided on that front, and is just focusing on his
duties as councilman for now. He said he would like to
get more input from residents in general, but
specifically with regard to the redevelopment of Ford
Avenue.
Collins said he would like to
improve the communication between officials and business
owners in the redevelopment area in an effort to keep
local businesses in town.
Another goal, he said, is to
save the trees on Harrison Avenue that officials have
deemed unsafe and possibly in danger of collapse. He
said area homeowners should be able to choose whether
those trees should line their own streets, and that even
older trees can be maintained.
Bosworth said Collins is full
of ideas, and since he has campaign experience, he was
the candidate of choice.
"I think he has a fresh, new
outlook to take, and he indicated that he did have some
fresh ideas that he'd like to work on, and I think that
he should be given that opportunity," Bosworth said.
Bosworth denied the claim that
the Democrats appointed Collins because they felt he was
more beatable than Farkas come November.
The selection, Bosworth said,
is evidence that the party was unselfish, and put the
residents first.
"I think I'm acting in the best
interests of the people," Bosworth said. "I didn't do it
for the party. He's a very strong candidate, and if I
were thinking about the party, well, [I would have said]
let's concede - it's a Republican seat already, give it
to him, let him run as an incumbent in the fall, and not
present two possibly strong candidates for the
[Republican] party."
Bosworth's seat is up this
year, and he said he understands that he may find out
just how much support Farkas has. He said he also
understands that if residents feel he was out of line to
take umbrage at Farkas' criticism of the Democratic
Party, they may do so at his expense.
"I'm sure Mr. Farkas will be a
candidate this year," Bosworth said. "Residents will
have an opportunity to put him on council if they feel
that his behavior in last year's election, and
subsequent thereto, was the kind of behavior that they
feel is proper under the circumstances."
And that was one point on which
everyone agreed.
Cruz said he also expects
Farkas to run, while Leary said he hopes residents will
support Farkas again this fall, should he choose to run.
Collins said he hopes Farkas will not give up on his
quest, and Steeber felt confident that Farkas' name
would be on the ballot.
And Farkas chose not to leave
anyone in suspense.
"I will definitely run, and now
with more conviction than ever," Farkas said. "This has
done nothing but solidify my belief that change is
definitely necessary in this town."
Sentinel
Seth Mandel - Staff Writer
GOP Nominates Three For Vacant Council Seat
February
23, 2006
Collins, Farkas, Grotkopf are possible
successors to Leary
The newest
member
of the Milltown Borough Council is expected to be named
within the next few weeks.
The new member will replace Sean Leary, who announced
last month that he would be resigning his council seat.
Leary was the only Republican council member, and the
Republican Party had two weeks from the effective date
of resignation to nominate three candidates for his
successor.
Those nominations have been submitted, and the remaining
council members were given one month to decide among
Randy Farkas, Chris Grotkopf and John Collins.
“It was certainly a collective effort by the members of
the party,” Farkas said.
None of the three is a stranger to local politics. John
Collins ran for council in 2002, and Grotkopf ran in
2004 and served as campaign manager for the 2005
election, in which Farkas lost a council seat.
Farkas was originally declared the winner last November
over Democrat Joseph Cruz, but a recount showed that the
voting machines missed several absentee ballots. The
results gave Cruz the victory by a single vote.
“Chris Grotkopf and John Collins both have previously
run; they were strong candidates, and I think our
feeling is that any of us will certainly do an excellent
job,” Farkas said.
Grotkopf, who runs the borough’s website, said Leary’s
resignation caught him by surprise, but that the party
members hope Leary will return to the council, if and
when he is able. Leary’s unexpired term is up this
November, and his successor will have to run for
re-election next year to keep the seat.
Grotkopf said he is unsure as to whether he would run
again, but said the unexpired term would be a great
opportunity to bring a new voice to the governing body.
“I
just want to be the voice of the people, and not be
scared of saying certain things,” Grotkopf said, adding
that council members often face the same complaints from
residents at each meeting, but don’t object, lest they
offend the speaker. “I’ll say something. It’s just
time.”
But even if he chooses not to run in November, Grotkopf
said he still wants to make an impact on the council.
“I
would like to maybe just shake things up for the
allotted time on there,” Grotkopf said.
Collins said the dialogue between residents and
officials concerning the Ford Avenue redevelopment
project has helped move the two sides closer to a
compromise, but he feels the process still does not have
enough resident input.
“I’d like to ask people for their ideas,” Collins said.
“You really have to get talking with people, and
understand what the community needs more than anything
else.”
Collins said he proposed adding more senior housing to
the plan a few years ago because residents told him they
didn’t want “Condo City” at the site. That discussion
led to the incorporation of the residents’ ideas into
the plan, and Collins would like to see more of that.
“If you’re going to put stores and businesses there,
shouldn’t you be interviewing people who want to open a
business there, or run their business out of there?”
Collins said. “They talk about commercial development,
but how many people talked to the businesses out there,
and see what their needs are too?”
Farkas is chairman of the borough’s Fourth of July
Committee and serves on both the Mill Pond Park
Committee and Mayor Gloria Bradford’s Anti-Vandalism
Task Force.
He said the council seat
would enable him to increase his service to the town.
“I’m not a person with an agenda,” Farkas said. “My
whole focus is just to do something good for this town.
I think I’ve done a lot of good things, and it’s just
one more thing where I can positively impact the lives
of a lot of residents.”
Farkas added that as usual, Ford Avenue, taxes and
traffic are three of the most important issues to
residents.
Grotkopf said he would like to step up the effort to get
the fire department a new facility, and that the borough
cannot afford to wait for the redevelopment for that to
happen. He said the department is due for a new fire
truck, and there is no place to put the vehicle.
“It’s not going to fit in either firehouse we have right
now,” Grotkopf said. “I don’t know if people realize
that, and something has got to be done within the time
frame.”
Collins agreed, and said the redevelopment project is
progressing too slowly for the new firehouse to be built
when it is needed.
“They’re a volunteer organization. They shouldn’t suffer
because a developer runs short or something,” Collins
said. “It’s in the town’s best interest to get the best
deal for the fire company.”
Collins said that with three experienced nominees, and
Farkas nearly winning a council seat last year, the GOP
is starting to gain some ground.
“I
feel like more people are listening to the Republican
point of view, because we believe in an open government
and we look for the residents’ input,” Collins said.
It
is, however, an uphill battle, because the party is
significantly outspent in each election.
“But we do get good
candidates,” Collins said. “There are good people that
step up and want to be on the town council.”
Farkas said that in all likelihood, the nominee who is
selected will vie to keep that seat next year.
“We’re all, kind of, of the same ilk — we just want to
do what’s good for the town,” Farkas said. “And I think
that’s the one common thing that we all have.”
Though all three have run in the past, this would be the
first term on the governing body for any of the
nominees.
Farkas
said the fact that all three have experience campaigning
is encouraging, but the party embraces new members and
experienced politicians alike.
“We’re always looking for new faces and for new blood to
revitalize our party and our positions,” Farkas said.
“But certainly someone with experience is welcome.”
All three nominees said they’re up to the task of
serving in an election year.
Collins
said he has been looking to get involved since his 2002
campaign; Farkas was part of the closest election in
recent memory; and Grotkopf said that as webmaster of
the borough’s website and campaign manager for the last
election, he is always up-to-speed on the pulse of the
town.
Sentinel
Seth Mandel - Staff Writer
Middlesex County Dems Need Lesson In
Ethics
October 9,
2005
The Democrats have run things their way for a long time in
Middlesex County, but they ought not be allowed to get away
with their current shenanigans. The three Democrats up for
re-election to county offices this year — Freeholder Director
David Crabiel, Freeholder Camille Fernicola and County Clerk
Elaine Flynn — appear to have raised much of a $113,000 war
chest from law firms, engineers and accountants who have
contracts with the county.
Although the ethics policy the Democrats themselves put into
place expressly forbids donations to candidates from those
with county business, the county's lawyer is said to have OK'd
the donations on the grounds that the money was given to their
campaign committees, not to the candidates themselves.
This is a false distinction. Obviously, candidates don't make
a habit of taking personal donations from business donors,
unless they want to be charged with bribery. Instead, every
candidate has a campaign committee, incorporated to take and
spend money on behalf of the candidate. State ethics law
recognizes the two are indistinguishable and treats them as
such.
The county ethics standard ought to demand at least as much.
The Republican challengers have filed a complaint with the
county's ethics board, which — surprise, surprise — appears to
have wasted enough time responding to the complaint to have
ensured that it will not be heard until after Election Day.
In fact, the board has 30 days to respond to complaints, and
three weeks went by before Republicans heard anything from the
board, and that seems to have been only in response to a
reporter's call.
Republicans became so embittered by the Democrats' behavior,
and the reaction of their hand-picked ethics board, that they
have come up with their own ethics proposal for the county,
and they promise to implement as much of it as possible if
elected.
The proposal deserves serious consideration. Besides doing
away with the distinction between candidates and their
committees, the most interesting proposal put forth by the
Republicans is one that would alter the makeup of the ethics
board. The current policy requires that members be picked by
the freeholder board. In the current scenario, however, in
which the Democrats run things, the policy means that, in
practice, the Democrats pick the people who are supposed to
police them.
The Republicans' more equitable plan calls for a committee
split along party lines and chosen by the county's party
organizations.
The Democrats, unsurprisingly, have given short shrift to
their opponents' proposals, preferring to play it as if their
opponents are naive rather than correct. The Democrats would
more ably and honestly serve the people of this county if they
endeavored to amend their policy and then abide by it, so it
might be worth something more than the paper it is printed on.
Home News Tribune
Editorial
During the police department’s
Tip-A-Cop fund-raiser at Applebee’s last Thursday to benefit
the Special Olympics, Milltown Police Chief Ray Geipel sits on
Mayor Gloria Bradford’s lap as the Applebee’s staff surprises
her with a “Happy Birthday” song. (May 2004)
