Four state views on life in Manalapan
Candidates bid for seats on Township Committee in Nov. 4 election
BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

Bill Garcia

Editor's note: This is the second part of a two-part article on the upcoming Township Committee election in Manalapan. Part one was published on Oct. 1.

MANALAPAN — Two seats on the Manalapan Township Committee will be up for grabs in the Nov. 4 election. The seats carry a three-year term running from Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2001.

Democrats Michelle Roth and Don Holland will square off against Republicans Ryan Green and Bill Garcia on Election Day.

Committeeman Anthony Gennaro is not seeking re-election.

Roth, 51, is seeking her second elected term on the governing body. Roth heads an investment firm that specializes in global mining companies.

Holland, 70, currently serves as the chairman of the Manalapan Planning Board. Holland is a retired pipe-fitter who now works on his family farm full-time.

Green, 28, is a 20-year resident of Manalapan who works as a school social worker in the Perth Amboy School District. Green is a member of the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education and he will have to resign from that panel if he is elected to the Township Committee.

Ryan Green

Garcia, 42, is a project manager for a financial institution in New York City. He has lived in Manalapan for two years.

All four candidates were asked and answered the same questions regarding their candidacy and what they would do on the governing body if elected. This article contains their answers to two of the questions that were asked.

The candidates were asked what goals or priorities they would set and/or pursue if they are elected to the committee.

Garcia said his first priority would be to bring spending under control.

"I have ideas we can implement that will give money back to the residents of Manalapan and not affect our quality of life, but I'm not ready to tip my hand just yet," he said.

Green said he would aggressively pursue additional shared services agreements with the school district and surrounding municipalities.

"I have already been a part of successful shared services agreements with the township and I know how to get the job done. For example, the Manalapan-Englishtown school district provided the buses for the Manalapan recreation summer program in exchange for parking lot repaving at two of our schools. Agreements such as this save the taxpayers money and need to be a priority for the Township Committee," he said.

Don Holland

Holland said his priority would be to stabilize taxes by cutting costs and improving efficiency in local government.

"The Township Committee has no control over the state funds or (affordable housing mandates), but by continuing their efforts to expand shared services agreements with the Board of Education and neighboring towns, there is a chance to lower our costs for services, equipment and labor," he said.

Holland also said he would continue to work to preserve farmland and open space, noting that as the head of the township's preservation program he has already helped to preserve 1,248 acres of farmland in Manalapan.

He said he wants to pursue solar energy initiatives as a way to cut electricity costs at schools and the municipal building. Holland said he would seek to take advantage of available grants that would retrofit solar arrays on existing municipal buildings and be a requirement for all such future buildings.

Michelle Roth

As to what goals she would pursue in a new term, Roth said, "Preserving open space is a must. It is the only way to control growth and our tax burden. Even though each new home brings in new tax dollars, the amount charged (in taxes) does not cover the expense it generates. The rest of the township then has to pick up the difference. Commercial ratables must be added in a smart way so that they add value and don't create problems."

All four candidates were asked to say what they believe is good about life in Manalapan and what may not be so good.

Garcia said that for him what is good about Manalapan are the people.

"Friends and neighbors are amazing in Manalapan and the last thing I want is to see them move because of the financial burden we feel on an increasing basis," he said.

As to what is not good, "metaphorically speaking of course," is the "giant billboard that greets developers at Manalapan's borders," according to the candidate.

"We've been No. 1 in Monmouth County over the past three to five years in construction permits. That has to stop," he said.

He said what needs to change is Manalapan's "free-for-all" construction.

"Open space is diminishing before our eyes and it is time we embrace it again," Garcia said.

Green said the best thing about Manalapan is "the people who live here."

"I've had the opportunity to meet hundreds of residents during this campaign and I keep finding common themes: Manalapan residents care about our community and love raising families here. In addition to our residents, we are fortunate to have outstanding recreation facilities and exceptional police and emergency service workers," he said.

As to what is not good about life in Manalapan, Green addressed rising property taxes.

The candidate noted that in 2006 the municipal budget was $28.8 million and was supported through the collection of $11.9 million in local property taxes. The current municipal budget is $31.7 million and is supported through the collection of $17.9 million in local property taxes—that is an additional $6 million in taxes, he said.

"I want our current residents to be able to stay here for years to come and for some people, rising property taxes threaten that possibility," he said.

In speaking about what is good about Manalapan, Holland referred to a magazine article of several years ago which judged the town to be the second best place to live on the east coast, noting, "It just about says it all. Good schools, great recreation facilities, good location and transportation for commuting and last but not least, great people."

Asked what is not good about Manalapan, Holland said, "Manalapan has all the down sides of its good issues; overdevelopment, rising taxes to fund all of our great attributes and traffic congestion."

Roth said what is good about Manalapan is "the people, the quality of our school systems, a safe neighborhood in which to live and raise a family, our award-winning parks and the diversity of our community."

Remarking on what might be bad about Manalapan and noting that she has lived in the township since 1986, Roth noted the increase in traffic and the parking issues facing residents who commute to work via public transportation as two concerns the township has to deal with.

"Had there been more forward thought back then as to how the township should develop and grow, we might not be faced with the issues we are dealing with today. That's why we have to be forward thinking in our approach to government," the candidate said.

After discussing the good and bad aspects of life in Manalapan, the candidates were asked what, if any, improvements they believe are needed and what or how they would work to pursue them.

Garcia said that as an elected official his goal would be to reduce the level of overdevelopment and to continue the drive for open space, farm preservation and to use Green Acres funding. He noted that Manalapan is facing a "major challenge" due to New Jersey's affordable housing requirements.

"As it stands now, our wonderful state has mandated that Manalapan must construct over 1,000 units (of affordable housing). While I believe that everyone has a right to achieve the American dream, this dream that has been designed by the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) will have a devastating effect on the quality of life for Manalapan."

Garcia said the COAH mandate will lead to overcrowding in local schools, which will in turn push up the school tax requirements, increase traffic and reduce home values.

He said if he is elected to the Township Committee he would work with officials in neighboring municipalities to develop incentives aimed at helping him realize his goals.

Green said the improvements he saw necessary were to work to reduce the tax burden on residents by seeking to cut wasteful spending, expanding shared services agreements and finding new sources of revenue for the township.

He said one way to increase revenue would be to explore the possibility of allowing advertising on Manalapan's sports fields.

"If done in a tasteful manner and properly regulated by the Township Committee, advertising could be a strong revenue source to offset taxes," the candidate said.

Green said the greatest challenge facing the committee is how to do more with less.

"As state aid decreases and certain costs rise, we need people on the committee who can find ways to cut wasteful spending while maintaining our quality of life," he said.

Holland said that as far as needed improvements go, he believes municipal officials must work with the state on implementing established Smart Growth initiatives in order to improve Manalapan's development plans and infrastructure.

"We need to be more diligent and aggressive in obtaining any and all available grants for township projects. We need to prioritize our needs and objectives. We can't have it all," he said.

Holland said the changes he would work to effect include stopping what he called the "party affiliated influences on our Township Committee."

"Politics should end when the polls close. I would like to see the boards and committees filled by a process of qualifications and experience, rather than favored appointments," he said.

Roth said improvements are still needed.

"I have been in the unique position to have already initiated improvements throughout our township. Going forward, we still need to be creative in the way we problem solve with regard to funding cuts from the federal, state and county governments. We have to look at alternative ways to cut expenses while continuing to deliver services to our residents," she said.

As to the challenges facing Manalapan going forward, Roth said, "One of our biggest challenges will be how we deal with our COAH obligations."

She echoed other state lawmakers in saying that COAH administrators "erroneously dictated an inflated number of housing units" for Manalapan to build.

Roth said the COAH matter needs solidarity as well as sound leadership, and said she could provide that leadership.

"We, along with many other municipalities, are fighting with the state to correct this. I understand the process and am able to protect our township from additional unnecessary development of market rate homes that are wanted by many of the builders of COAH units. It is critical that we do not allow the developers to dictate and control this process. We will be continually challenged on the budgeting front as the federal, state and county governments continue to cut funding and grant monies that should be available to municipal governments. As they cut their budgets, we must get more creative in finding ways to continue to deliver services to our residents," she said.