Township Council is addressing many important Marlboro issues

On Jan. 10, former Republican Councilman Tom Broderick paid a backhanded compliment to the Democrat-controlled Marlboro Township Council for working on quality-of-life issues such as cell phones, scooter helmet safety and environmental issues, while criticizing the same council for failing to cut municipal taxes and reduce development of new houses. He also said we should refocus our energies on these issues, as well as monitoring spending and reducing traffic.

While we did not reduce municipal taxes by 20 percent in the first two years as we had pledged, we cut these taxes by 6 percent in our first year in office. We were prevented from reaching our first-year goal of 10 percent due to a $300,000 settlement of a lawsuit against the town, reached by the prior Republican council.

In truth, we have tried very hard to cut municipal taxes, stabilizing them over the past three years with only a slight increase of 3 cents (9 percent), while maintaining services and providing for an increase in surplus to avoid large future tax increases. We have closely monitored municipal spending by reviewing our $20 million budget line by line during this period to keep the mayor’s spiraling expenditures in line.

Indeed, the municipal tax rate would have been much higher if the council had not cut spending by reducing the mayor’s budget over the past three years. Let’s set the record straight: former Councilman Broderick’s all-Republican council increased municipal taxes by 43 percent from 1994-1997.

With regard to development, Mr. Broderick failed to mention that in late 1997 he and his Republican colleagues approved a settlement with Anthony Spalliero, giving him the right to build more than 600 new homes.

By acting aggressively, the newly elected Democrats renegotiated the settlement and reduced the number of homes by half, an agreement warmly applauded and approved by Mr. Broderick while he was still on council.

In addition, where possible, we have worked hard to soften the blow of new building by encouraging the construction of senior housing, which lessens the impact on our already burdened schools.

In truth, the Planning Board, appointed by the mayor, has the responsibility for reviewing applications for new development.

With regard to traffic, we have worked tirelessly to coerce the state to install a traffic light at the intersection of Union Hill and Tennent roads, and will continue to fight until it is completed this spring.

Finally, it is interesting to note that New York City is now considering enacting cell phone and scooter helmet ordinances to protect the safety of its citizens, following the lead of the Marlboro Township Council.

Barry D. Denkensohn

Steve Gustman

Township Council members

Marlboro