Municipal Election 2001

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=65214" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="1a500640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><B>Voorhees Environmental and Recreational  Alliance</b></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </b></FONT><B>    |     </b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Voorhees Environmental and Recreational "><U><B>home</b></U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <bR> <div> <B>                                                           </b></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Municipal Election 2001</I></div> <div> <IMG SRC="26480720.jpg" border=0 width="128" height="114" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >f Americans didn't already understand the importance of electing competent, qualified people to run our government, the tragic events of September 11 served as an enormous wake-up call.  Decisions made by our leaders can have a tremendous impact on our health, safety and quality of life.  </FONT></div> <bR> <div> This year, voters will decide who fills the one open seat on Township Committee.  With two Democrats and two Republicans already serving terms on Committee, the winner in this year's election will determine which party will hold the majority of votes.       </div> <bR> <div> <B>VERA sent questions about environmental issues to the Republican and Democratic candidates running for Voorhees Township Committee.  The candidates' responses are printed below.   </b></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="761" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#111111" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 4074 WIDTH="371"><div> <B>Dean Mazurek (D)</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>1.     What, in your view, are the main issues affecting Voorhees Twp., and what are your thoughts on how these issues should be addressed?</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>The main issues that I hear from residents, while walking door to door, are taxes, open space preservation, and quality of life issues. These are very similar issues that I addressed in my 1999 campaign for Township Committee.</b></div> <div> <B> </b></div> <div> <B>I see the key to stabilizing taxes as a combination of a few key things. First, cut costs where you can. This was an idea that Mayor Platt and I campaigned on in 1999. This year some of those ideas have been utilized in the reduction of professional fees and reducing salary expenses through personnel moves. These are examples of tax stability moves that the former administration refused to do. Second, increase available revenue by applying for as many County and State grants as you can get The more money that you can get from outside sources, the more you have to use for tax relief. And the third and most important thing is to present honest, common sense budgets that will receive unanimous, bipartisan support. This years budget achieved that goal. It was the first unanimous, bipartisan budget support in memory.</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>Open space is an issue that I hold close to me as a Boy Scout leader. Keeping the lines of communication open for matching funds with the Trust For Public Land, the State, and the County is the only way that we can gather enough funds to buy our largest undeveloped parcels. We currently have an advantage by having our Mayor on the Camden County Open Space Advisory Committee. Mayor Platt also sits on the Open Space Purchase Recommendation Committee. His efforts, along with other committee members from Voorhees, have already helped in the recommendation of parcels that otherwise would have not been recommended to the Freeholders. We can't afford to loose this advantage.</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>Quality of life issues are currently being addressed by Township Committee. Ordinances that protect our neighborhoods, such as the ones involving Rt. 73, are vital to maintaining quality of life. I would like to also see more happen with the bike path and more planning so that we can get the maximum benefit from our open space purchases.</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>2.     Historically, Voorhees Twp. Committee has hired firms and consultants who finance the campaigns of local elected officials.  These firms may or may not provide the best service at the lowest cost.  Would you support an ordinance that would require soliciting competitive bids on contracts?</b><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>There are State guidelines that talk about this issue. By law, Professional Services Contracts are exempt from the public bidding requirements of the Local Public Contracts Law. (N.J.S.A. 40:11-5) The reasons for this exemption seems to be clear. By putting these positions out to professional bids, a municipality runs the risk of having firms, with the minimal requirements, submit a low bid to receive work. This certainly would not benefit anybody.</b></div> <div> <B> </b></div> <div> <B>There are ways that Township Committee can make sure that Voorhees gets the best qualified professionals and the best cost for these services. This past year, the new Democrat administration held interviews. This way they were able to check the credentials and experience.</b></div> <div> <B> </b></div> <div> <B>It is important to point out that the Township Committee has total control over the costs paid to appointed professionals. It is also important to note that none of the professionals appointed in 2001 were paid their requested market rate. Some were paid over 30% less than their requested professional rate. The former administration showed how they managed their control over these “controllable” costs. They </b><B><U>raised</U></b><B> their professional fees during their second year in office. </b></div> <bR> <div> <B>The new Democrat administration has already shown how they managed their control over “controllable” costs. They reduced professional fees to their lowest in years. The new administration has also cut down litigation costs by working with the residents to prevent costly lawsuits that cost every resident.</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>3.     How will you go about recruiting qualified citizens with a variety of viewpoints to serve on the Planning and Zoning Boards and other Committees and Task Forces?</b><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>This past year the new Democrat administration began to run ads in the Trend and on Channel 19 to request resumes for board positions. I would certainly advertise again to open our Township boards to any qualified resident. I would also take input from the Boards. Our Environmental Commission made a recommendation in April for a replacement alternate. This request, being in the best interest of the Township, was honored. I would solicit qualified board candidates from the board members themselves. They may be aware of people who may have not known that the Township is looking.</b><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>4.     Would you be willing to introduce ordinances designed to protect the ecological, historic, visual and scenic resources of Voorhees Township?</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>I would use every means, within the law, to support ordinances designed to protect ecological, historic, visual, and scenic resources important to Voorhees Township.</b><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>5.     According to the Voorhees Township Master Plan Update (September 23, 1998, pg. 26), “Local planning involves decisions concerning energy intensive construction of roads and sewers.  By locating new development in areas already serviced by infrastructure, suburban sprawl is discouraged and much of the cost associated with new construction can be averted.”  The New Jersey State Plan also recommends directing development in areas already serviced by infrastructure as a way to discourage suburban sprawl.  Considering the planning documents referenced above, do you believe that . . .</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>. . . the Township should construct a pumping station on Dutchtown Rd. with enough capacity to service the parts of Route 73 and adjacent areas that presently lack sewer service?</b></div> <bR> <div> <B> . . .  the Township should encourage and promote development along Route 73? </b></div> <div> <B> </b></div> <div> <B>Although these ideas are written in our Master Plan and in the New Jersey State Plan, I feel that we have to be careful as to where we direct new development. Not every Township or situation fits the most carefully worded Master Plan or State Plan. Voorhees is very unique and we have to think outside the box. After all, if we only direct new development in areas with all the necessary existing infrastructure, we could be directing development to parcels such as Stafford Farm as opposed to Rt. 73. This would be a mistake. </b></div> <bR> <div> <B>Much, if not all, of the debate about Rt. 73 has been focused on the cost of the Dutchtown Road Pump Station verses the return in ratable tax dollars. The last administration was very, very, clear in where they were going.  They were willing to spend $10 million dollars to provide sewer for developers for the sole purpose of  ratable growth. They didn't even so mush as have a cost analysis to support their findings.</b></div> <div> <B> </b></div> <div> <B>The current Democratic administration has also been very, very clear on their view. In April, they approved the minimal cost plan to repair the Cooper Road Pump Station rather than a more expensive plan that would increase capacity on Rt. 73. Mayor Platt stated at public meetings that developers must pay their own way. Knowing this, developers are still making inquires about property on Rt. 73.</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>This does not mean that I do not favor a new pump station at Dutchtown Road. To me the Dutchtown Road Pump Station is not necessarily a ratable issue. It is very much an  environmental issue as well as a long term Township cost issue. A new pump station would replace two older, weaker, smelly pump stations that are only getting worst with age. A new pump station will eliminate the current risk of sewer spillage into wetlands and headwaters for the Rancocas River. A new pump station will significantly reduce the sewer maintenance and operating costs for taxpayers for the next 15 to 20 years. </b></div> <bR> <div> <B>The key seems to be how to get it there without disturbing wetlands and without putting the burden on the taxpayers. VERA has already determined that it would cost the Township approximately $3 million dollars to properly repair the Sturbridge and Cooper Road Pump Stations. But what if the Township spends that same amount of money (or less) and interested developers pick up the balance to complete a new pump station? We can eliminate all the environmental concerns, eliminate the long term cost factors and at the some time reap all of the ratable benefit while spending less than 1/3 of the last administrations projected costs. This is not an unreachable goal as more developers realize today's cost of doing business.  As I mentioned before, developers are still interested in Rt. 73, realizing that a Township financed sewer plan is not in the works. </b></div> <bR> <div> <B>Rt. 73 remains the only logical place for any meaningful ratable growth. It is such a logical place that, if it were already sewered, it would already be done. But in order to gain any benefit from ratable growth we, as taxpayers, can't pay a developers way by handing over free sewer. There are issues that come with development like pollution and traffic. This has to be addressed by Township Committee. When the land use portion of the Master Plan was open in 1998, the traffic portions should not have been neglected. Land use and traffic must be done in conjunction. This neglect may cost us in the future. If elected, these quality issues will not be overlooked in the future. </b></div> <bR> <div> <B>6.     Do you agree or disagree that the costs associated with sprawl- traffic problems, increased services, pollution, loss of scenic views and additional infrastructure needs- must be taken into account when considering the economic value of new development?</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>Yes I agree that these planning issues must be addressed. We can control many of these quality of life issues through the next Master Plan update. We can control traffic by limiting what kind of uses that are permitted in each zone.  The current Township Committee has already established a standard on who is paying (or not paying) the costs for sewer. The Mayor and Planning Board have establish the preservation of scenic vistas such as the overlay on the Stafford property. Building heights, clearing limits and impervious coverage can also help preserve vistas. We can set the guidelines that are in the best interest on our residents and then developers can decide if the economics work for them. </b></div> <bR> <div> <B>Once we have established these guidelines, we must understand that developers have the right to work within these guidelines.</b></div> <div> <B> </b></div> <div> <B>Approvals cannot be rejected based on traffic or pollution or extra services. These issues have to be addressed while the plan is open or the residents can suffer the consequences. That is why it is called a Master Plan. Whoever is elected in this election will be a member of Township Committee during the next scheduled Master Plan Update. That is why I feel that we must incorporate the standards that I have just mentioned, along with continued input from the residents, in the next Master Plan Update.</b></div> <div> <B> </b></div> <div> <B>There are other ways to help control suburban sprawl. Right after the new Director of Economic Development was appointed, Mayor Platt had him write to companies to interest them in the former Pathmark site. Reusing unoccupied space is a goal that I will bring to Township Committee. </b></div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="371"><div> <B>Cynthia L. Dillon (R)</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>1.     What, in your view, are the main issues affecting Voorhees Twp., and what are your thoughts on how these issues should be addressed?</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>I believe that there are three main issues residents are currently facing in Voorhees Township.     </b></div> <bR> <div> <B>     First, the Route 73 Corridor needs to be addressed.  “Big Box” retailers are not the answer.  We need to initiate a “Corridor Review” immediately to minimize the effects of development.  This committee should consist of the same type of configuration as work on the Master Plan.  A cross section of professionals,  business members, representatives of concerned civic groups and residents is essential.  No one interest should dominate an outcome that will affect everyone.</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>     The next issue, Taxes,  will always be an issue.  With the diversity of needs that a community of our size has, there is no simple answer to controlling taxes.  Considering our citizens on fixed incomes, we need to work closely with our state legislature to control property taxes that may force them out of their homes.  We must be sure that our schools are afforded the finances that they require to educate our youth properly but we must also control growth.  Many times we hear that the answer to rising taxes is ratables.  What we need to understand is that a ratable adds very little to the local government ($6100 for every $1 million in value).  We must address the issue of impact that all development causes.  We must do all that we can to prevent residential development from further burdening our school system and our infrastructure as a whole.</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>     Finally, we must continue to add to our Open Space,  but we must also find ways to allow  residents to enjoy and appreciate this beautiful resource.  Owning land without a plan for use accomplishes nothing.  We need to create a comprehensive plan for use of these precious resources.  This will encourage support to add more money to acquire more grounds.</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>2.     Historically, Voorhees Twp. Committee has hired firms and consultants who finance the campaigns of local elected officials.  These firms may or may not provide the best service at the lowest cost.  Would you support an ordinance that would require soliciting competitive bids on contracts?</b><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>      On the issue of hiring Professionals to work with the Township, I support the idea of bidding on specific projects.  I know that that has happened in the past and has been very successful.  An example of this is work done on the Master Plan.  However, I also believe that it is important for an administration to hire people that they are comfortable with, “You are only as good as the people with which you surround yourself.”   It is vital also to monitor billing and assignments.  We must understand that an “hourly bill  rate” is not the TRUE  picture of cost.  We should not forget that the number of hours spent are in the equation and that a high experience level will decrease the number of hours.  We must seek out the most qualified firms.</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>3.     How will you go about recruiting qualified citizens with a variety of viewpoints to serve on the Planning and Zoning Boards and other Committees and Task Forces?</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>Recruiting qualified citizens with varying levels of experience can be achieved by reaching out to the community through letters from the Mayor.  It is important to reach out to a cross section of individuals who display strong interest because of the commitment that it takes to serve on these Boards, Committees and Task Forces.     The Township is always on the lookout for interested, qualified people.  Keeping things "open" is the way to go.  The best people will come from their willingness to help and be part of the future of the Township.</b><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>4.     Would you be willing to introduce ordinances designed to protect the ecological, historic, visual and scenic resources of Voorhees Township?</b><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Concerning Protection Ordinances;  I think that this is absolutely essential.  This is the only way to protect all of the residents and their interests in the future.  We know that we have some very environmentally sensitive areas in our Township.  It is incumbent upon us to encourage policies that will protect these natural resources either through ordinances, zoning or, hopefully, open space acquisition.</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>5.     According to the Voorhees Township Master Plan Update (September 23, 1998, pg. 26), “Local planning involves decisions concerning energy intensive construction of roads and sewers.  By locating new development in areas already serviced by infrastructure, suburban sprawl is discouraged and much of the cost associated with new construction can be averted.”  The New Jersey State Plan also recommends directing development in areas already serviced by infrastructure as a way to discourage suburban sprawl.  Considering the planning documents referenced above, do you believe that . . .</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>. . . the Township should construct a pumping station on Dutchtown Rd. with enough capacity to service the parts of Route 73 and adjacent areas that presently lack sewer service?</b></div> <bR> <div> <B> . . .  the Township should encourage and promote development along Route 73?</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>     We must recognize the need to upgrade the sewer system of the area of town around Route 73 and the adjacent areas.  This includes the construction of the Dutchtown Road pumping station and elimination of the antiquated Cooper and Sturbridge stations.  We must work hard at achieving this goal before we have an environmental disaster on our hands.</b></div> <bR> <div>      <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>We have the opportunity to study the development potential along the Route 73 corridor.  We need not rush to develop this area.  We should put Zoning in place that will promote controlled, well-planned development that will finance the cost of eventually installing sewers when necessary.  We must also be sure that we work with qualified developers who have the ability to  acquire and aggregate the many small lots along the corridor.  We need to address everyone's needs and assess the effects of our actions on all of our citizens and the people who enter our Township to conduct business. </b></FONT></div> <div> <B> </b></div> <div> <B>6.     Do you agree or disagree that the costs associated with sprawl- traffic problems, increased services, pollution, loss of scenic views and additional infrastructure needs- must be taken into account when considering the economic value of new development?</b></div> <bR> <div> <B>     When a new development comes up for review, the Township Boards  must take into consideration the impact to all of the residents and businesses in the Township.  Traffic impact, provision of services and the impact on environmental and scenic value must be considered.  We must make decisions based on what we know not whom we know.  We must take into consideration the quality of life changes to the Township as a whole and be sure that developments will not take more than they contribute.</b></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>