Clark Mayor Appoints Downtown Village Committee

Mayor Sal Bonaccorsco announced at Monday night's council meeting a plan for a three-person committee to talk to business owners and residents to create a plan for a vibrant downtown area in Clark's fourth ward, which includes much of Westfield Avenue. 

The committee will submit a plan to the mayor and town council as a suggestion to consider in developing a town center. The suggestions will be compared to the town's master plan, he said. 

Bob Weisensee, who Bonaccorso said is a long time friend and supporter of the current administration – and also has a stake in future downtown development, as he owns two downtown buildings – will be the first committee person to be appointed. 

Gary Slodowski, the second committee person to be appointed by the mayor, had actually at one time opposed the mayor in an unsuccessful campaign for his position in 2008. 

The third appointment will be John Laezza, Clark's Business Administrator, who was also the former administrator in Cranford, as well as a member of their Downtown Management Committee.

This bipartisan approach, the mayor believes, will bring a strong and universal voice for the betterment of Clark's downtown development. The three, dubbed the "Downtown Village Committee" will look at the downtown area in the fourth ward and make a recommendation on how to move forward, Bonaccorsco. The mayor wants the three to talk with land owners, discuss future plans, and together make recommendations to the mayor and council.

"In 2005, we developed the Downtown Village in our Master Plan update," Mayor Bonaccorso said. "We knew it would take years to develop naturally, rather than forcing the issue. However, I am becoming increasingly impatient with the current progress." Bonaccorso said he believes this is the missing piece to Clark.

In 2004, the town began to set up the foundation for a downtown center, but "movement was slow," he said. It's time for a re-examination of the area, he said, and expects the committee to make a plan that will benefit the town as a whole.

"There are a few areas that have been vacant for a while and they are a blight to the town," Bonaccorsco said. "We have a framework on how to make an area, but the committee will make a well-educated recommendation."

"It's about time for this," said Councilman Alvin Barr. 

"We will do whatever it takes to make the right changes to benefit Clark," said Fourth Ward Councilman Brian Toal. 

In a press release on the Downtown Village Committee sent Monday, Bonaccorso wrote that "over the past twelve years of the Bonaccorso administration, Clark has been recognized as a top place to live in NJ, as well as being recognized as a top place to live in the United States. As part of the plan to live up to this recognition, the Downtown Village Committee will have a lot of work to do."

OTHER NEWS:

NJ Monthly Magazine ranked Arthur L. Johnson High School as the 40th best high school in the state out of 328 school districts. The school was ranked 101th last year.

The council approved on first reading a capital improvement ordinance that will proved $70,000 to revamp the civil services’ radio technology. It’s part of a statewide upgrade where police, fire and emergency services need to have updated radio equipment by Jan. 1, 2013. The final vote will be on Sept. 17.

The council approved an agreement to switch phone providers in town hall to Monmouth Telecom that will reportedly reduce costs from $4,152 a month to $2,727 a month.