Recent Democratic Accomplishments:

ACCOUNTABILITY:

  • Stabilized Taxes through grants & cost cutting:
    • Township secured over $372,000 in grants YTD.
    • Consolidated three employees’ jobs into current staff positions resulting in an annual tax savings of $150,00 plus benefits & pensions.
  • Created an Economic Development Committee:
    •  Partnering with businesses to encourage family-friendly business growth in Green Brook.
    • Created a Technical Review Committee to cut red tape, so businesses may avoid costly attorney fees to come before boards with basic land use issues. Green Brook is now an easier place to do business.
  • Reviewed Management Procedures for optimal efficiencies within our government:
    • Streamlined and reduced management for cost effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Rejected the pension deferral plan and made tough budget decisions today to avoid a 15-year debt to Green Brook Township.
  • Based budget decisions on three parameters: cost efficiency, effectiveness and least impact on taxpayers.
  • Hired a new township attorney saving the taxpayer over $9,000 in annual retainer fees, lower hourly fees and eliminating a pension payment made for the previous lawyer.

COMMUNICATIONS:

  • Redesigned the Township web site to better serve the public – FREE of charge courtesy of the volunteer efforts of Committeewoman Gracie Diaz.
  • Opened Town Hall on Monday Evenings until 7:00 pm for the public’s convenience.
  • Holding open public office hours of the mayor each Monday from 5:30 until 7:00 pm.
  • Established the first ever “Joint Chairs” group, with all committee chairs meeting quarterly to keep up to date on events of each committee.

TRANSPARENCY:

  • Enacted an ordinance regulating “Pay-to-Play,” ensuring that municipal contracts are awarded on merit instead of who contributes the most campaign cash.
  • All Township Committee meetings are now tape-recorded. Believe it or not, meetings have not been recorded for many years.
  • The Township is now advertising all open job postings instead of relying on “word of mouth.”
  • The township has now hired, at no additional charge, its own risk manager (insurance agent) instead of relying on the administrator of our insurance fund to provide this service. The risk manager also advises the township on WHICH insurance fund to use.
  • Hired a non-partisan, professional township administrator.
  • Made bi-partisan appointments to all boards and commissions.
  • Decaled all township non-security vehicles

ENVIRONMENT:

  • Coordinating efforts between the Green Design Group and the Fire Department for thermal image studies to determine homeowner heat loss and energy efficiencies.
  • Passed an ordinance ensuring solar panels are allowable uses without appearing before the zoning board for permission.
  • Secured matching grant funding of $6,000 to conduct an Environmental Resource Inventory – the first done since 1986 and the first to encompass the ENTIRE township instead of just one side of the highway.
  • Officially established a Green Design Group – a subcommittee to advise the township on “green” initiatives.
  • Registered Green Brook for the “Sustainable Jersey” certification program, qualifying the Township for grants for eco-friendly initiatives.
  • Passed a resolution supporting the Somerset County High Performance Buildings Program.
  • Won a county grant for an energy audit of five municipal-owned buildings at no charge to the township.

COMMUNITY:

  • Held the fourth annual Volunteer Day for 300 participants and local sponsors.
  • Removed the “No Eating In Your Car by Township Ordinance”
  • Hosted firefighters from our “cousin” city of Terno D’Isola in Italy, and formally made an international pact of brotherhood with the town.
  • Reinstated weddings by the mayor – something that was taken away by the previous two administrations.
  • Scheduling the first ever Student Day for our Middle School students to shadow township employees and governing officials.

SAFETY:

  • Advocated for the milling of Warrenville Road North for a safer descent, and also for a reduced speed limit on the roadway.
  • Supported the purchase of a new fire truck which does the job of two trucks for the cost of one, saving the taxpayer the costs of a new purchase within a few years. This also reduces the manpower needed.
  • Developing a Community Action Policing program to improve citizens’ interaction with our police force, engaging residents in keeping our neighborhoods safe.

POLICY:

  • Revised the township’s public assembly ordinance to better protect a citizen’s right to free speech.
  • Updating the Personnel Policies & Manuals.
  • Resolving longstanding personnel issues from previous administrations that resulted in significant legal fees this year.