New Administration 11/13/03

The balance of power in Hazlet has shifted. The task of managing township business has become the responsibility of the leaders in our local Republican Party.

The results of this past election present an opportunity for our newly elected and currently serving officials to reflect on the concerns of the residents.

As Democratic Party boss, Marc Nusbaum, predicted, the citizens of Hazlet have cast their “final and deciding vote”. We made it known that Hazlet is ready for a change. The old administration has been swept from office, and the Republicans are ready to clean up the mess left behind by the previous administration.

The Republican candidates, Paul Coughlin and Scott Aagre won the election by a large margin, and the open space tax was defeated again, by a much larger margin than last year.

Committeemen-elect, Scott Aagre and Paul Coughlin, along with committeepersons Michael Sachs and Tracey Maffiore, are working hard to develop a plan of action for their first 100 days in office.

Their plans include cost saving measures such as restructuring the administration, establishing contact with members of the state and county legislature to secure more state aid, and a continued search for a solution to the town hall dilemma and the issue of the management of our sewer system.

I have not heard this group talk of savings in sound bites, or of vague promises like the creation of pocket parks. Their ideas promise to create more than just the illusion of progress. I have heard them debate meaningful changes that will have a positive effect on Hazlet now and in the future.

The republicans ran a clean campaign, and were able to reach the citizens without the aid of last minute misleading ads, or oversized, illegal campaign signs. The republican candidates wanted an opportunity to debate the democratic candidates, but the Democrats decided to take their campaign door to door, where no one would publicly challenge their version of the issues.

The democrats tried to deceive and confuse the voters with their inconsistent position on land use and open space. In a last minute, full-page ad in this paper, Mr. Cullen blamed Tracey Maffiore, Scott Aagre and (for some unknown reason) Paul Coughlin for the destruction of the last piece of farmland in Hazlet. He did not blame the township committee for ignoring the planning board’s desire to review and recommend changes to our land use laws. He did not blame the farmer for selling his land, nor did he blame the developer who submitted a clean application.

Mr. Cullen did however vote to approve the Fox building at Middle Rd. and Poole Ave. That application also came in clean, and as a member of the planning board, Mr. Cullen was obligated to cast the same vote for which he chastised the republicans.

I think the township democrats are correct in assuming that savings can be obtained with changes to the operation of our sewer system. Mr. Cullen’s attempts to initiate such action were halted by a lack of planning and a still unclear picture as to what additional costs may be incurred by this action. Partisan politics became the democrats’ primary motivation to dissolve the sewerage authority.

The leaders of the Democratic Party in Hazlet are to blame for the continual dismissal of legitimate concerns raised by Hazlet citizens. Their behavior has led to the waste of money and resources in our township. Our best defense to this practice, as constituents, is to stay aware by attending the township’s committee meetings, and by becoming involved, when we think we can help.

I believe that each member of the 2004 Hazlet Township Committee has the integrity to abandon the focus on the maintenance and exertion of power that our community has endured during the last few years. Such government only brought us a divisive, angry agenda of ill-advised, ill-planned and ill-explained projects.

I am tired of feeling sick from watching our government in action, and I look forward to contributing to positive change. It is my hope that other dedicated and qualified citizens join the rehabilitation of our local boards and committees.

I challenge the new administration to reincorporate a steady focus on leading as many people as possible to work together to improve our community. Our support will enable the township committee to turn a healing trend into a more functional and responsible government.

Rich Kohler is a long-time Hazlet resident. Rich contributes regularly to the privately owned informational website, www.hazlet.info. Send comments and question to Rich at richkohler@comcast.net.