Flooding, Taxes, Sewer Fees Top Debate Issues

There were few surprises at Tuesday night's debate among the four candidates running for two seats on the Township Committee. Issues involving flood control and redevelopment were the primary focus as residents continue to feel the after effects of Hurricane Irene.

Hosted by the League of Women Voters and the Cranford Jaycees, the debate took place in council chambers at town hall between Democratic candidates Dan Aschenbach and Thomas Hannen Jr. and Republicans Andis Kalnins and Lisa Adubato Nesi.

Kalnins is making his second bid for Township Committee, having finished third in a four-way race in 2010. He is a member of the Cranford Zoning Board of Adjustment and feels there is too much overdevelopment in the township, and too little focus on bringing new businesses into the downtown area.

"I want to see us stay on track with development," Kalnins said during his opening statement.

This is Adubato Nesi’s first race for a seat on the governing body. The local attorney is a member of the school advisory board at St. Michael’s School and has been active in a variety of township civic affairs. The daughter of a state legislator, Adubato Nesi said that too often, "politics" is seen as a dirty word.

"The political system can be used in a very positive way," she said.

Aschenbach, the current mayor and a veteran of more than 25 years in Cranford politics, is seeking election to his seventh non-consecutive term on the Township Committee. The mayor said his focus for 2011 is to get the township's "financial situation under control." Aschenbach said he has a 10-point plan for minimizing the local tax increase while retaining the same level of service.

Hannen, Aschenbach's running mate, served four terms on the Winfield Township Committee in the 1970s and 1980s. Hannen was also the mayor of Winfield for a number of years.

"I want to keep Cranford an affordable place to live," he said.

One of the first questions during the debate asked candidates how they can be sure that roperty taxes won't spike higher. Aschenbach defending the township's spending plan.

"We ahve a municipal government that does its job every day and that costs money," he said, also pointing to the coorpeative purchasing plan the town has for the police department.

Kalnins, an advocate of shared services, pointed to recent reductions in township personnel, saying there isn't much room for additional cuts.

"The way we're not gonna do it (reduce taxes) is through gimmicks," Kalnins said, adding that the township should consider refinancing some of its outstanding debts, as well as building up the "corporate ratables" in the township.

Adubato Nesi pointed out that in addition to the municipal taxes, residents also pay taxes to the county and school district. She said taxpayers "get very little back" for what they send to the county.

"I very strongly believe in a line-by-line budget review," Adubato Nesi added. She said the township also needs to pursue more grants and shared services agreements.

Hansen's approach to fiscal responsibility took a slightly different path. The candidate said the township should look at planning farther ahead with its spending plan and perhaps anticipating costs that may arise in the coming years. He is also an advocate for interlocal services agreements.

As the township continues to fight proposed construction on , another question posed to the candidates pertained to development and overdevelopment in the township. All of the candidates oppose the development, especially the Birchwood project, which would allow to be built in a flood zone. Both teams have also circulated petitions asking residents to oppose the project and builder's remedy lawsuits.

For several weeks, residents have attended meetings and contacted local officials with questions about the township's new sewer billing system, which charges homeowners based on usage, rather than property taxes. A question during this week's debate asked the candidates to explain the sewer tax. While Democrats blamed a $58,000 budget deficit and increases in fees imposed by the Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority, Republicans questioned the implementation of the new  billing system.

"It gets disturbing when there is a lack of disclosure," Adubato nesi said.

Kalnins said the township has a sewer fee "because the governing body chose not to cut services."

"I don't believe 100% in the way it was implemented," Kalnins added.

According to the mayor, "the reason for the sewer bill is that the fee for the RVSA went up."

Another topic on which most of the candidates seemed to agree was the township's response to Hurricane Irene, which flooded homes and businesses in late August. An audience member asked whether Cranford was prepared for the storm, and what the candidates would do to increase flood control.

Candidates pointed out that there was no real way to have been prepared for a storm of that magnitude.

"I don't thin there's anything more we could've done becuase we didn't know what to prepare for," Kalnins said.

Hannen agreeing saing Cranford was "as prepared as we could've been."

Adubato Nesi advocates for dredging the rahway River to prevent water from breaching its banks again during future storms.

"We just need action. We need to get the express storm sewers connected to the pump station," she said.

A few weeks ago, Aschenbach and Hannen toured areas of the Rahway River Watershed upriver from cranford to see what can be done to prevent future flooding. The mayor said the township needs additional funding to move the next phases of the town's flood control project forward. Phases 3 and 4 of the project come with a $16 million price tag, he said.