Milltown officials share goals for 2009

Larry Citro Milltown kicked off the new year by swearing in two new councilmen and looking ahead to upcoming municipal projects at the Borough Council reorganization meeting last week.

Republican Larry Citro and Democrat Ron Dixon took their seats on the six-member council, keeping the governing body a GOP-dominated entity, with Dixon as the lone Democrat.

Dixon said he is optimistic about collaborating with the Republicans to help residents, and work toward common goals for the town.

"I think, Democrat or Republican, we're all there to help the people in the town," Dixon said. "If it's the right thing to do, it's the right thing to do."

According to Dixon, one of the right things to do is work on the borough's electrical infrastructure. He said the recent 70- percent electric rate increase was too much of a burden on residents. In addition, while officials applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds after a major storm a couple of years ago, no one has stayed abreast of where the town stands in terms of getting the money, he said, adding that he plans to look into the funding source.

Ron Dixon "With the council's assistance ... I hope to work whole-heartedly on the Ford Avenue project," Dixon said. "As a council, we have to address it together. Our goals are the same. Maybe we have different ways of getting there, but our goals are the same."

If Citro's objectives are any indication, Dixon is correct in his statements. Citro said he is looking forward to working closely with the Ford Avenue Redevelopment Agency, Planning Board and the borough's chosen redeveloper to devise the best plan for the controversial Ford Avenue tract.

"That's going to be my first primary focus," Citro said.

Like Dixon, Citro has plans to examine various aspects of the borough's electrical utility and make improvements. Two of his goals are to explore ways to lower rates for residents, and to determine whether the town should continue operating the utility as a private entity, or sell or lease it in order to provide the best service at the best price, he said.

To achieve these goals, Citro said he will pursue the idea of his running mate, Tom Harknett, to put together a bipartisan committee that would focus its energies on the electrical utility.

"I want to sort of pick up the gauntlet that Tom laid down, because I think it's a great idea," Citro said.

In addition, Citro stressed the importance of working with the borough's Finance Committee in order to create the trimmest municipal budget possible. He said Gov. Jon Corzine is taking more and more money away from municipalities throughout the state, making it more important than ever to keep spending down.

"We will face both old and new challenges in 2009," Mayor Gloria Bradford said in her annual address during the Jan. 5 reorganization meeting. "We anticipate the Ford Avenue lawsuit ending, and work to continue on the site. The firehouse project will continue, as well as continued efforts to clean up our water pipes. We must look at the health of our electric department, our rates and our surplus. Working together, we will handle these challenges and the new ones that will certainly arise."

Bradford also bid farewell to officials no longer serving while welcoming the two newcomers to the council.

"Congratulations to newly elected councilpersons, Larry Citro and Ron Dixon," Bradford said. "We welcome them to their first year of council service and look forward to their insight and contributions. On behalf of the entire community, I want to thank retiring councilpersons Michael Skarzynski and Joseph Cruz for their many years of service to the people of Milltown. They are leaving a legacy of dedication and accomplishment."

Along with the new councilmen, Bradford highlighted the importance of resolving litigation surrounding the Ford Avenue redevelopment project. The property owner, Lawrence Berger, initiated legal action against the borough in 2007, in part alleging that the town is not fulfilling its affordable housing obligation. Bradford assured residents that officials are working toward bringing an end to the litigation, while also finding the best way to meet the borough's affordable housing obligation.

Bradford pointed out that environmental cleanup at the 22.5-acre redevelopment site is ongoing, with testing for contamination at the Mill Pond in progress.

Thanks went out to former Ford Avenue Redevelopment Agency Chairman Anthony Zarillo, who resigned recently after seven years with the agency.

The mayor gave a special mention to the late Middlesex County Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel, a longtime borough servant and resident, who died Dec. 1.

She also extended thanks to Milltown Police Sgt. Clifford Kumpf, who retired from the borough department after more than 35 years of service. As Kumpf leaves the force, a new officer, James Mioduszewski, comes on board. Formerly a park police officer working for the state, Mioduszewski transferred into the Milltown Police Department fully trained, saving taxpayer dollars, Bradford said.

Two other new police officers, Ryan Uzunis and Eric Wachenheim, were deployed to Iraq soon after graduating from the police academy. The police department is holding the officers' positions in anticipation of their arrival home during the summer, Bradford said.

Improvements made in '08

Saying the past year was a fruitful one for the town, Bradford acknowledged finished projects while looking ahead to those slated for the coming year.A

mong the projects completed in 2008 was the Albert Avenue Park Pedestrian Path, an 8-foot-wide path that runs along Albert Avenue from Kuhlthau Avenue to Hill Street. Funding for the undertaking came from the Middlesex County Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Grant Program, Bradford said.

A grant from the state Department of Transportation (DOT) totaled $445,000 and provided for the reconstruction of Brook Drive from Hill Street to Fisher Drive. An additional $230,000 from the DOT will allow for completion of work on Brook Drive, slated for this summer, Bradford said.

The DOT also made improvements to the borough railroad crossing at Violet Terrace over the summer, covering all costs.

A Housing and Community Development grant allowed for 18 parking spaces to be added to the Milltown Senior Center lot, also providing better access to the Public Works annex building. Other grant funding allowed the borough officials and its Environmental Commission to conduct an energy audit and indoor environmental air quality study.

The past year also saw improvements to the municipal building in the form of a roof replacement. Further improvements this year will seek to stop leakage during rains, Bradford said.

Cleaning and lining of the town's water lines is ongoing. Last year, the long-term project commenced with the water main running down South Main Street, from the New Jersey Turnpike Bridge to Washington Avenue. It is slated to begin again in the spring, when workers will clean and line the main running from Washington Avenue to Elkins Lane. The plan is to eventually extend the project to all of the borough's water lines.

"This project will improve the drinking water quality and also increase water pressure within the system, which in turn will improve our fire suppression capabilities," Bradford said. "It is a project that will benefit all the residents."

Projects expected this year

In looking toward the future, Bradford said officials have called upon the county to evaluate drainage on Main Street and possibly add some drainage basins in order to deal with flooding on side streets. While there was no word on new basins, Bradford said a county cleaning of existing ones is expected to bring relief for the time being.

The mayor also discussed plans for the long-awaited firehouse. After a site feasibility study, officials chose to build the new facility at the South Main Street site of the existing firehouse. Design work for the new firehouse is expected to begin in spring, Bradford said.

A 25-acre county park is also in the works. County officials accepted bids for the recreation facility, to be located near Elkins Lane. It is slated to include a lighted, synthetic turf field for soccer and lacrosse, as well as playground equipment and a solar-powered comfort station, according to Bradford.

Bradford stressed the importance of creating a bare-bones municipal budget, touting officials' cuts of $180,000 from last year's tab. She said the sizeable cut was made without taking away services or laying off any borough employees. In 2009, the mayor said she does not expect to have to make any layoffs in order to balance the budget. She said officials will continue to seek grant funding from all possible sources.

In closing, the mayor thanked the borough employees and numerous volunteers, giving a special mention to the fire department and rescue squad.

"It is with gratitude that I begin my 11th year as mayor," Bradford said. "Milltown is in the midst of many challenges, and some tough decisions will have to be made. But, as long as we work together, Milltown will continue to grow and prosper."