Candidate Profile: John Catalano (R)

Editor's Note: Each of the eight candidates running for a seat on the township council responded to a questionnaire sent by Brick Patch. Their answers to our questions will be published on our site verbatim. Two candidate profiles per day – one Republican and one Democrat – in alphabetical order according to last name, will appear this week until all have been published. We have disabled comments on profile articles to ensure the candidates' statements speak for themselves and readers can decide, without additional, potentially anonymous commentary, their view on those running for office.

~

Full Name: John Catalano

Current Age: N/A

Highest level of education achieved (feel free to list your high school, college, and the nature of any degrees you have earned):

B.S. Midwestern University (Science and English). Bloomfield High School.

Occupation: Small business owner for over 30 years; currently owns and operates Country Store Jewelers in Brick.

Do you currently receive any public salary compensation? If so, from what public agency?

No answer provided. Candidate responded that he has served as BTMUA commissioner 2010-2011 and as Planning Board Chairman.

Have you ever previously held an elected office in Brick or elsewhere?

Current councilman (appointed to unexpired term in 2011).

If elected or re-elected to council, will you choose to receive taxpayer-funded health benefits from your elected position? Why or why not?

Yes I will be taking benefits from the Township.  As an elected official I am an employee and as any other employee the benefits are part of our compensation. For the record and contrary to what has been spoken I do not take any benefits and no salary as a Commissioner on the BTMUA.

~

Question 1:

 Like those in most New Jersey communities, property taxes are, perhaps, the primary concern of most township residents in this election cycle. Regardless of the impact of state policies on our property tax bills, summarize some specific ideas you have to stabilize or reduce the property tax burden for Brick residents.

The reduction in state aid, to the tune of $5 million cannot be taken lightly and it is wrong to think that there are other ways to instantly make up that shortfall.  That state aid was in fact our very own tax money that was coming back into Brick, now over the last few years, more of our tax money goes other places than home.  The Township over the years has relied on that aid to help in the balancing of our municipal budget.  In today’s economic climate it is very difficult to speak of reducing our property taxes especially when the Democratic led legislature fails to pass Governor Christie’s toolbox agenda. One of the ways my team and I can effect change is being an ally to the Governor to get Republicans elected to the legislature to finally stop abbot school funding and other state wide initiatives that take our local money. 

Locally we have implemented measures to help stabilize our taxes. This Council has been very proactive in downsizing our government and maintaining our services. We learn to do more with less. We implemented a shared service agreement for inspections and transportation that has saved the Township Taxpayers $1,700,000 since its start in 2008. We are negotiating a shared service agreement with a neighboring town to pick up their trash resulting in revenue of $700,000. We have downsized the workforce through attrition to the tune of 82 full time workers which has saved millions of dollars in salaries and benefits.  We were one of the first towns to negotiate contributions to health benefit for all union members. We did this before the Governor signed that law. With the inception of the Solar field and Traders Cove Park the Township will look forward to $millions in revenue.

Question 2:

Though it held relatively stable in the recent FBI Uniform Crime Report, crime in Brick has been trending upward in recent years. Compounding matters, our police department, due to budgetary constraints, also recently had to disband its Selective Enforcement Team (SET Team), a specialized anti-crime unit. Please describe your plan, including specifics, to maintain and promote public safety in Brick.

As compared to thousands of US cities with populations over 75000, Brick Township is one of the safest towns in the US as reported by our crime statistics. This past year we had an independent audit of the police department which told us that we should have a department of 125 officers which is what we have and will maintain, especially with the new officers we just hire to replace retiring ones.    

At a recent debate our Democratic challengers said that we have a shortage of officers in Brick Township.  Not one of them could tell you how many we actually have. It would be great to throw out accurate and honest facts and figures. The Chief is on top of his department and has made moves to make up for the current loss of the SET team. With the new officers hired the SET team shall return shortly.   It should be noted though that officers where reallocated to continue to do the job the SET team was doing.  The Democratic candidates also recite that they would institute a neighborhood watch program.  Where do they live?  Brick Township has had one for years and it is still very active and the Chief also conducts citizen education programs continuously.   The FBI even agrees that crime in most areas went down in Brick over the last year.

Question 3:

Please describe your vision for the former Foodtown site on Route 70, and how you would favor executing that vision and bringing it to fruition.

I would like to see a mixed use community featuring a hotel and banquet center, grocery establishment like Wegmans or Whole Foods and upscale restaurants built towards the pond where the redeveloper would include in his plan a transformation of the waters’ edge into a picturesque and functional playground.  Ie: paddleboats, fountains, plantings on land and water and decorative lighting. A place to refresh, relax and dine.  This area has progressed nicely in the last two years.  Remember, the Democrats bought this area in the early 2000’s to prevent Home Depot from moving in (which they did down the road anyway) and took $500,00.00 off the tax rolls.  It was this team that tore the Foodtown building down two years ago and are negotiating its development now to get it back on the tax rolls.  It should never have been bought by the town way back when, we really didn’t need to be in the real estate business but we are cleaning it up now.

Question 4:

Brick has more frontage on Barnegat Bay that any other community in Ocean County. In all, it boasts 53 miles of waterfront. Keeping in mind that many of these waterfront lands are privately owned, what is your plan to promote public access to natural areas and maintain other recreational facilities for Brick residents?

The Township offers ocean, bay and river front access to our waterways which include areas for recreation and gatherings plus various boat launching facilities. The newest to be Traders Cove Park which will be open to the public.  It should also be noted that Brick has the most water front properties in all of NJ, with that all of Brick Public Beaches and Public Bay Parks with the exception of maybe Wildwood  provide the most public access to the water anywhere in NJ.  With the Township being 98% built out there is virtually no vacant land available for more public access to the water. 

The miles of water front properties not owned by the Township for public access are occupied by private residences or private communities that are regulated by their associations. These properties represent a sizeable portion of our tax base and they pay dearly for those privileges. Other than the Township purchasing some of those properties or a donation, developing new water front access is a real reach, but again, Brick has more public access than any other community around.