EDITOR:
Many
members of the (Bernardsville) Borough
Council by their actions seem to believe
that community polarization, including
defaming the reputation of someone,
is the way to accomplish their goals.
The same members would have you believe that inaction on the part of the council
is the result of one member rather than the majority.
Both of these positions are counterproductive to consensus-building. Fortunately,
Bernardsville has two outstanding candidates, Joe Rossi and John McCrossan, running
as Independent Leadership Candidates that do not subscribe to these beliefs.
They are committed to the betterment and improvement of Bernardsville and the
quality of life for its residents through open and direct dialogue.
As beautiful as Bernardsville is, many of the roads, sidewalks, Mount Airy Road
retaining walls, parks, recreation facilities and other municipal properties
have fallen into disrepair and a quick fix is not the answer.
When you need to make repairs to your home you have choices: You can go with
the quick fix or go for the long-term solution but spend more. The longer you
plan on staying, the more feasible the long-term solution becomes. If you expect
a community to be around for a long time, you should not only be looking out
for today but tomorrow as well.
For too many years our Borough Council has gone for the quick fix. Cost-effective,
long-term solutions need to be pursued whenever possible.
I know property taxes are becoming a burden for many. This is, however, more
the result of school spending due to growth and expansion than it is municipal
spending. As proof of this point, over the past 10 years my local municipal taxes
have gone up 34 percent, or an average of 3.4 percent per year, while my school
taxes have gone up 57 percent. Local taxes make up about 20 percent of our taxes,
while school taxes represent 57 percent.
We need leadership on the council that will not only improve communication between
the Somerset Hills Regional Board of Education and Borough Council, but will
stand up for what is best for all Bernardsville residents.
As a community, we should be getting more for what we pay in municipal taxes.
Visit any of our public school buildings and you can see your school taxes at
work.
When I look around Bernardsville, I sometimes get frustrated. It seems like little
gets done and much of what has been done has problems.
We need better planning and implementation of town projects, more efficient use
of tax dollars, fair home and land assessment throughout the borough, any abuse
of the state’s farmland assessment law stopped, the stacking issue resolved,
improvement in senior services, recognition and support for the Bernardsville
Fire Company and town volunteers, creative cost efficient solutions to problems
where possible, and council members who will take the time to listen to you and
work for all Bernardsville.
That is why I will be voting for John McCrossan and Joe Rossi for Borough Council
on Nov. 8. They will get the job done and make no excuses.
GENENE SULLIVAN
25 Stevens St.
Bernardsville
©Recorder Newspapers 2005
