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Mayor’s Statement
Kevin R. Tubbs
January 3, 2008
Congressman Frelinghuysen, Assemblyman Bramnick, Reverend Father, my fellow members of the Township Committee, distinguished guests, friends, and Citizens of Chatham Township, it is with a great deal of pleasure and pride that I stand before you this evening ready to begin a second year as Mayor of this outstanding community. I would like to thank my fellow Committee members for their support and confidence and my wife Michele and children Jessica and Matthew for their continuing support and tolerance. I would like to congratulate Committeewoman Nicole Hagner on her re-election and welcome Bob Gallop to the Township Committee. I look forward to working with Bob and I am sure that he will be an asset to our team. I would also like to congratulate Senator Kean and Assemblyman Munoz who could not be here tonight and Assemblyman Bramnick on their re-election and Senator Kean on his selection as Senate Minority Leader. We in District 21 continue to be fortunate to be represented by three of the finest legislators in Trenton and thank them for their continuing support and assistance.
As I reflect back on 2007, if one were only to read the local newspapers, you may get the impression that this past year was a quiet year in Chatham Township, at least in comparison to our neighboring communities. While, relatively speaking 2007 was non- controversial, that does not mean it was uneventful. 2007 saw the completion of Lum Field, our joint recreation project with Chatham Borough and the Chatham Athletic Foundation, the Library of the Chatham’s centennial celebration, as well as the rousing success of our inaugural Chatham Township Summer Series spearheaded by Anna and Bill Riker. Following a well-attended public meeting, the first steps of the Remedial Investigation of the Rolling Knolls Landfill began under USEPA oversight. Our new DPW Salt Dome was completed and put into service as were the new tennis courts at the Colony Pool complex. We had a change in leadership at the DPW with the retirement of Joe Smith and the DPW is now in the capable hands of Joe Barilla. In November Chief Goeckel announced that our police department would begin the State Accreditation process.
In December, our Citizens Emergency Response Team or CERT was activated for the first time to assist the Police Department during an ice storm. The Township Committee enacted ordinances to allow Deer Hunting by Shotgun, to preserve the beauty and safety of our community by setting minimum standards for property maintenance, and to conduct background checks for our recreation volunteers. We also committed to move forward with the televising of Township Committee meetings. Through productive negotiations, we reduced the Township’s Insurance Premiums. We provided citizens with the ability to pay certain municipal fees online and to conduct business here at the Municipal Building in the evenings once per month. Yes, 2007 was an eventful year.
2007 is behind us now, and we need to move forward to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Reconstruction of a new Castle Park will begin this spring much to the delight of our young people and their parents. We are diligently working on a second joint recreation project with Chatham Borough and the CAF at either Shunpike or Esternay fields depending on the results of ongoing discussions with the NJDEP. We realize the importance of this project and will work as hard as we can to move forward on this project as quickly as possible. I am pleased to announce that Noe Avenue will be repaved thanks to a $160,000 grant that we have received from the State of New Jeresy. We expect to begin televising our Committee Meetings during the first half of this year, making this, in all likelihood, the last reorganization meeting that is not televised. We intend to build on the baseline report on energy usage and climate change emissions developed by our Environmental Commission and look to implement projects that will reduce both our costs and our emissions. The process has been started by hiring an architect who will be proposing upgrades of this facility including energy saving opportunities. While I am on the subject of this building, 2008 should mark the beginning of physical improvements to our Senior Center that were budgeted in 2007. We are also actively exploring several solar energy projects at Township facilities. I expect to enact an improved tree ordinance thanks to the efforts and dedication of our Tree Protection Committee.
We will be faced with the need to address aging infrastructure at our Wastewater treatment plant WPC2 and resolve longstanding permitting issues at our Tanglewood wastewater treatment facility. It is also a goal of this Committee to before year end make good on a longstanding promise to construct a 9/11 memorial.
Budgets will continue to be tight as pension and medical contributions continue to rise. Finding ways to do more with less will to be a way of life. We need to continue to be creative and find ways to reduce costs and share services while still providing the high quality of service that our citizens expect. New Court Ordered State Affordable Housing Regulations will be coming into effect and we must carefully monitor and prepare for their impact on our community.
Chatham Township is a wonderful community and your Township Committee is committed to working hard to make it a place that is second to none. I would like to thank our numerous volunteers who service in our various volunteer organizations, boards and committees. Our future is bright because of you, and without you, this would not be the community that it is today. I encourage all of you who are not currently involved to please do so. Ronald Reagan once said that “Every one of us put on this world has been put there for a reason and has something to offer.” Your involvement can make a difference in our community. One of our organizations has an opportunity to put what you have to offer to good use. Our Fire Departments, Rescue Squad, Committees and Boards continue to need volunteers. Please consider getting involved.
Thank you all again for coming here tonight, and for your continuing support and trust. Together, God willing, we will continue to make Chatham Township a great place in which to live, a great place to work, and a great place to raise our families.
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