Mayor gives State of the Township address Speech emphasizes tax stabilization, community development BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer Mayor John E. McCormac said last week in his State of the Township address that keeping property taxes stable is his No. 1 priority. The mayor said that it is important to make sure that the services and programs provided through the taxes have a valuable return investment to the businesses and residents, and also, he said, it is important to make sure that the property values of each taxpayer have potential for future growth and investment, resulting in continued strong property and business values. "All mayors need to be concerned with the value of the programs and services provided to the taxpayer and the value of the taxpayers' property … these things are all intertwined," said McCormac. "In the end, this will lead to an improved and stable quality of life for businesses and residents." The mayor addressed over 200 business owners and residents at the Forge Inn on Jan. 22, including Carol Hila, president of the Woodbridge Chamber of Commerce; Mark Proudman, the current chairman of the Chamber's board of directors; Diane Recinos, the board's outgoing chairwoman, and president of Berkeley College; state Sen. Joseph F. Vitale (D-19); Assemblyman and Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas (D-19); Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski (D-19); Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel; Freeholder Stephen P. Dalina; Schools Superintendent Vincent Smith; Board of Education members; the Township Council, and members of the mayor's administration. The mayor addressed a smaller crowd later that night at Town Hall. The mayor, who started his first full term as mayor on New Year's Day, touched on ways his administration has worked to make the township run in a more cost-effective and more efficient way. Keeping stable property taxes in 2007 "We have reorganized the Department of Public Works, creating a paving program, provided a menu of services including free drop-off of bulk items for residents at the Convenience and Recycling Center in Keasbey, and extended the Town Hall hours for residents [on Tuesday nights]," said McCormac. The mayor announced the township's street and lot repaving and maintenance program on Sept. 25, 2007, which he said would save the township money in the long run. In March, the Township Council approved the purchase of new and upgraded construction and paving equipment for the DPW totaling $529,000, which allows the Department of Public Works to maintain and repair the municipal infrastructure, such as driveways, parking lots and smaller neighborhood streets, thus reducing the need to pay higher subcontractor expenses. Township officials said the Convenience and Recycling Center in Keasbey has allowed residents to bring their recycling and bulk waste items to the center for free, and if a resident would rather leave their bulk waste items at their curb, it will be picked up for free. McCormac said the township already has share grants with Carteret for health and library services, which allow both municipalities to streamline operations and work more efficiently. The mayor added that the township has entered into an agreement with the city of South Amboy to provide kennel services for lost and abandoned animals located in South Amboy. Under the contract, South Amboy will pay a minimum of $4,000 per year to house stray cats. The township is also in the final stages of negotiating a contract with the borough of Carteret to provide shelter and pet adoption services. "We spent $600,000 to refurbish a township building [the former pumping station in Sewaren] to become our new public animal shelter [which opened on Dec. 21], when it would cost us $1.2 million for a new building," said McCormac. The mayor said the township has received $5 million in grants in 2007, which has kept the tax rate stable. Grants received in 2007 include $500,000 from Middlesex County Open Space, $256,000 from a Transportation Trust Fund, $235,000 from Homeland Security, and $50,000 for a historical museum. McCormac called the innovative agreement with ProLogis, a Denver-based distribution facilities developer, to build eight warehouses in the Port Reading section ofWoodbridge a "winwin" situation where the township would receive 100 percent of the tax revenue from ProLogis. "We are making sure the ProLogis project succeeds by helping the company, and at the same time we can help the school district with amenities [windows, a new track at Colonia High School, new tennis courts at John F. KennedyMemorial High School in Iselin, and a synthetic turf field at Woodbridge High School] that they couldn't meet with their recent [$87 million] referendum," saidMcCormac in January 2007. The township will release the money from the bond in $1 million increments as each warehouse is finished. The project would pay the township $3 million in taxes when the project is complete. With one warehouse built, the mayor said they would receive their first tax payment of $313,000 for the fiscal year 2008 and that two more warehouses are expected to be finished within the year. The township also made contributions of $500,000 to help the Port Reading Fire District and the Port Reading First Aid Squad obtain equipment. The first aid squad unveiled its new 2007 Med-Tech ambulance in November. The township started its environmental initiative with the purchase of a dozen 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid vehicles to supplement the township fleet in March. The township received state and county rebates totaling $48,000 for the 12 vehicles - $4,000 for each vehicle. Keeping the value of each taxpayer's property The township had issued 5,401 summonses for illegal housing and property maintenance violations in 2007. "People don't see tax saving with illegal housing, which is not something that sounds good, but it was something that we needed to address," said McCormac. "I don't know what the township would look like in five years if this wasn't done. I personally think the town looks cleaner from the junk cars and the falling-down fences … people responded to the violations." McCormac said he would continue the illegal housing crackdown, but now he said the focus has shifted to speeding in neighborhood streets. "We have six police officers dedicated to daytime traffic enforcement, " he said. Over the past year, township officials have held community-visioning meetings for Avenel, Colonia, Fords, Hopelawn, Iselin, and Woodbridge proper as part of a $60,000 initiative to explore the township's business districts and the surrounding residential areas for changes to the township's master plan, which is expected to be completed by June. Ten-point plans are in the process of being implemented in the Iselin and Fords and Hopelawn sections of the township. "We have held three meetings for Avenel, but we are waiting until the cleanup is done on the General Dynamics site [which has been plagued by soil and groundwater contamination issues] before we proceed," said McCormac. Township officials envision an art village of upscale retail, boutiques, art galleries, and much more for the General Dynamics site. "We hope in five years, people won't remember that the General Dynamics site was even there," he said. In addition, Pantheon Properties, based in New York, has recently acquired a 26.7-acre, 325,000- square-foot industrial property in Avenel, 1500 Rahway Ave., which the mayor has called a good sign for the township. Keeping property taxes stable, and initiatives and services expected for 2008 The mayor said his administration is continually looking at ways to work in a more cost-effective and efficient way. "We are looking to continue making interlocal agreements and receiving state and county grants," said McCormac. On Feb. 4, township residents can expect to see a "resident friendly" 2008 garbage and recycling schedule, with recycling pickup on Wednesdays and trash pickup twice a week. A township-wide cleanup with free bulk waste pickup is planned for April. With the township's continuance of its environmental initiative, McCormac said his administration is working with the Environmental Commission to implement solar panels at municipal facilities, to start using biodiesel fuel, to promote energy efficient lighting, and to start a tree replacement program. McCormac also announced that he plans to expand the Tooling Around the Township With Tommy Toolbox program, adding that a contractor incentive program, which entails any redeveloper doing business with the township, would be asked to consider local contractors affiliated with the Tooling program for future business. The Tooling Around the Township With Tommy Tool Box program is a free township-wide home repair and fix-up service for senior and handicapped township residents. Five new restaurants opened in the township in 2007: Pollo Tropical, McLoones at Favorites, Bonefish Grill, Cheeseburger in Paradise, and Famous Dave's Barbecue. Four new restaurants are expected to be up and running in 2008, including Ariannas, Bahama Breeze, Kona Grill and Olive Garden. The mayor said residents should expect more events in 2008 like the farmers market, the Central Jersey Beer Fest and Craft Show, the fireworks shows, and the concerts, which he called a success. Also, the mayor said the revised school security plans that he first announced when he became mayor in November 2006 will be implemented in the next several months. McCormac's initiative of the school security plan to assess safety at every township school building- 28 schools- came after then-Gov. Richard Codey announced implementing a school security task force for every municipality statewide in early October 2006 after the three school shootings that occurred within days of each other in other parts of the nation. McCormac said the delay was due to slow funding. Half a million dollars was allocated for the school security plans from the innovative agreement with Pro- Logis. The mayor said a lot of promises were made when he became mayor. "We did what we said what we would do," said McCormac. "We are stronger than a year ago, but not as strong as what we will be this year."