Middle’s Mayor States Her Case

To the Editor:
These are difficult times. Declining revenue and cuts in state aid, the economy, and the great blizzard and flooding this past winter required that township committee make some hard decisions. Regardless of what the future throws at us, however, I know that together Middle Township will pull through these times and come out better and stronger.
As your mayor, I have provided honest and steady leadership as we have worked to keep our township operating within its means. My record shows that I do not shy from difficult decisions, and that I do not ask others to do what I will not do myself. In my nine years on Township Committee I have never once submitted an expense reimbursement request, and I voted to eliminate such reimbursements from the budget. I voted to eliminate health benefits for part-time employees, including my own.
Since I have been elected, we have cut the township’s workforce from 253 employees to 203, entirely through attrition. This year we changed health care providers to save $350,000, and by bidding out our trash service we saved $100,000 a year. We cut other items large and small.
We also now generate over $500,000 a year in revenue by billing insurance companies for emergency services.
We have improved and expanded our recreation facilities, continued to advance our water and sewer systems, and this year we started an extensive program to improve our drainage systems and pave our roads. I believe that each of these projects has helped to preserve and improve the quality of life we enjoy here in Middle Township.
As Director of Public Safety, I work closely with the Chief of Police to ensure that our police department has the tools it needs to be effective and efficient. As a result, we have one of the best police departments in the state.
Operating the township, like any business, requires professional services. Every municipality in the state has these expenses. Each year, Middle Township goes beyond what the law requires to advertise and seek bids from qualified professionals.
I have been criticized by some for my vote to purchase the firehouse, which is right next to Town Hall. The firehouse was purchased with money that the township gained by selling land; we sold an asset we were not using, and purchased an asset we do use. Owning the firehouse has allowed us to bring back the Office of Vital Statistics to Town Hall, provide more efficiency in staffing offices, storage for police emergency vehicles and equipment, and providing additional spaces in the municipal parking lot. It is now and will be in the future an asset to the municipal complex.
It has been an honor and privilege to serve Middle Township as your committeewoman and mayor. I am proud of Middle Township, and all that we have done together. I serve with only one agenda: to always do what is best for Middle Township.
I respectfully ask for your vote.