DJB RESPONSE TO TUF QUESTIONS

 

1.       Change:

 

Meaningful change takes time to achieve, but there are several things we can attack immediately.

 

·        First, is the attitude of municipal government toward its residents, the people we are here to serve.  Franklin taxpayers deserve open and honest government.

ü      Public participation at council meetings should be less restricted.  Items which are of most interest to the public should be placed early on the agenda. 

ü      More township meetings, such as Zoning Board meetings, should be televised. 

ü      Communication should flow freely from the residents to the council as well as from the council to the residents.  Institute town meetings in neighborhood schools to foster better communication.

ü      Make greater use of citizen volunteers to support council programs, such as the Franklin Youth Initiative.

 

·        Local government should be more responsive to the needs of residents and small business owners rather than cater to the wishes of big developers. 

ü      Review permitting procedures and fees to encourage the average homeowner to improve his home and property, rather than discourage him.  Red tape and high costs are counterproductive. 

ü      Demand better coordination and communication between departments so developers cannot get away with playing them against each other to the detriment of the environment and our natural resources. 

ü      Direct more municipal dollars to areas of town that have been neglected for years, such as sections of the 4th and 5th wards, starting with street repairs and road resurfacing.

 

·        We must adhere to our Master Plan and not hand out zoning changes for certain developers at the expense of the quality of life of our residents.   

ü      Curbing overdevelopment will help control spending and tax increases by reducing the need for more municipal services including new schools. 

ü      The number one priority in this regard is to eliminate the mega-Bennetts Lane/Veronica Ave. project from the township’s Affordable Housing Plan – a project forced upon the town by the Democratic-controlled council.  Only Mayor Levine voted against this project.

 

·        Amend our sign ordinance to require an offending party putting up an illegal sign that must be removed by township personnel to pay for that sign’s removal.  This is in response to the hundreds of signs that the Democratic Party has put up in illegal locations during this campaign.  This total disregard for the township’s sign ordinance should be borne by the offenders, not the taxpayers.

 

2.      Taxes: 

 

The tax problem in Franklin is primarily a statewide problem arising from basing school funding on property taxes, but there are some things we can do locally. 

 

·        As mentioned above, we can adhere to our Master Plan to reduce overdevelopment and the demand for municipal services. 

ü      This is a double benefit as it helps control the spending on schools, which is nearly 2/3 of our tax bill.

ü      Appoint qualified candidates to the Planning and Zoning Boards who will maintain commercial and industrial zoning rather than support changes to residential development. This will foster controlled and responsible growth, help generate more ratables for the town and help stabilize residential taxes.

 

·        Streamline administrative procedures in town hall and share more resources with the county and the Board of Education. 

 

·        Bid out more professional services that are utilized by the town, even if the law doesn’t require it, to make sure we are getting the most for our dollars.

 

·        Make a greater effort to go “green” to both benefit the environment and cut future utilities costs.  

ü      For example, the use of solar panels on municipal buildings, including schools should be investigated.  

ü      We need to take a longer term view and make an investment in our future instead of always taking the short-term politically-expedient route.

 

3.      Traffic: 

 

·        How neighboring towns develop and the decisions they make affect us as much as our own planning decisions.  We need to talk to our neighbors in North and South Brunswick and coordinate with them.

 

·        In the Route 287 area, we should support a restructuring of the existing exit 10 and the addition of a new exit, if feasible.

 

·        Safety is the most important aspect of the traffic problem.  Minor state-funded road improvements on Route 27 will not solve the accident problem if traffic is allowed to increase unabated due to more high density developments.  We need to anticipate the effect the construction of the new New Brunswick High School will have on Route 27 traffic.  Curbing overdevelopment, particularly in the area of Route 27, will help in the future.

 

·        On local streets, speed limits must be posted and enforced to protect our children and other residents traveling on foot. 

ü      Unsafe streets must be repaired and widened if necessary. 

ü      Speed humps may need to be installed in some areas.

 

·        More bus and van transportation should be provided, particularly for the senior population, to reduce the dependency on cars.  This can be done in partnership with county transportation programs.