Democratic Candidate Shares Ideas, Fields Questions

Democrat Gary Vaccaro is pushing for a “new voice” in Lacey Township. As a first time candidate for township committee, Vaccaro on Wednesday night.

“The reason I’m running is, I think we have a great town here,” Vacarro said. “I love Lacey Township…There are a lot of great attributes but over the past couple years I’ve been becoming very concerned about the direction the township is heading.”

Economically, Vaccaro noted that taxes continue to rise, furloughs have been proposed, there has been a reduction of services, and no responsible planning by the majority party.

“Secondly, I’ve seen the anger and frustration in people due to a lack of transparency and I think we need to build some confidence and trust so people trust the people up there,” Vaccaro said. “I’m running, and this may sound corny, to give back to the community."

Vaccaro is focusing on four areas for his campaign: fiscal responsibility, public safety, quality of life issues and building trust and confidence.

“When I first got involved with the campaign, one of the things I felt was that there was a lot of negativity out there. And one of my first thoughts was that I want to be a positive voice,” Vaccaro said. “I really believe where we can solve our problems is to work together as a community.”

Vaccaro is proposing to begin a volunteer’s citizen patrol and waterways commission, seek grants, restore the town’s waterfront areas and enhance the parks and recreation programs.

“We have a lot of great things in this town,” Vaccaro said. “I don’t want to bare bones the town. To cut things is a simple thing. I could just cut everything and we have nothing. I don’t want to do that. There are things that are important to this town that we have to find a balance.”

A financial report of the township was presented in which Vaccaro noted that since his opponent, current Committeeman David Most took office there has been a steady increase in taxes, he said.

For the average assessed home, taxes have gone up 116 percent over the last six years while the school has gone up 10 percent and the county has gone up 19 percent, Vaccaro said.

In 2005, the total amount residents paid in taxes to support the budget was $3.3 million, he said. In 2011, they paid $7.5 million. In 2005, residents supported 15 percent of the budget but they now support 29 percent.

“Each year you’re reaching deeper and deeper into your pockets to support this budget,” Vaccaro said.

Vaccaro also noted that Lacey Township gets the highest amount of municipality state aid in Ocean County and gets the seventeenth highest in the state. Forty-four percent of the state aid supports the township’s budget. On average, state aid supports 10 percent of municipalities’ budgets.

“We should be a lot better off than other towns are,” Vaccaro said. “If they were operating like we are, every other town would be bankrupt.”

The current budgeting strategies consist of depleting surplus, financial budgeting gimmicks such as deferring school taxes, raising taxes and transferring funds, Vaccaro said.

“I don’t have all the answers but I know when things are wrong. And this is wrong. What we’re doing, we’re mortgaging the future of this township,” Vaccaro said.

In order to have a successful budgeting strategy, the township needs cost control, revenue generation and long-term planning, he said.

Vaccaro plans to prioritize spending based on wants verses needs, aggressively seek shared services, investigate operational efficiencies and savings, institute competitive professional services (a pay to play ordinance to limit campaign financing by professional companies), explore alternative energy sources, vigorously seek grants and set financial goals over five and 10 years.

“Every successful company does this,” Vaccaro said. “If you don’t set goals, you don’t know where you’re going.”

Lanoka Harbor resident Patricia Doyle asked for the budget process to be laid out in a more down to earth manner so average citizens could understand.

“There really needs to be a lot more sunlight shed on the budget,” she said.

Vaccaro proposed having town hall meetings with a PowerPoint presentation for the locals.

“It doesn’t have to be a closed door thing,” he said.

The Future of Oyster Creek

Several residents showed their concern regarding the state of Oyster Creek Generating Station and how its closure will affect the township.

The township receives an energy tax from the state for housing Oyster Creek, which accounts for 42.6 percent of the budget. Vaccaro assured residents that unless legislation changes, the township will continue to get that funding whether the nuclear plant is operating or not.

Vaccaro also pointed out that Maxim Power Corp. is located behind Oyster Creek. In 2008, the company acquired the 86-megawatt plant and the 30 acres of land. Maxim Power has an agreement with JCP&L as long as they provide backup power to Oyster Creek, Vaccaro said.

Vaccaro called Maxim Power and spoke to the Vice President of Operations. The company has yet to speak to someone from the township but showed interest in possibly exploring the potential of expanding the facility, he said.

It’s also possible that a solar or manufacturing facility could be built at the location to provide jobs, Vaccaro said.

Lacey resident Tony Risoli asked Vaccaro a yes or no question – would he support a new nuclear plant? He also questioned what perks, such as tax incentives, would he give the operator to make sure they want to build in Forked River.

“The operator is not going to want to stay unless they make bottom line. Are you going to offer tax incentives?” Risoli said. “These are the kind of decisions, if you’re a member of the township committee, if you’re in charge and you want that power plant there, you’re going to have to make some pretty tough decisions.”

Unable to answer simply yes or no, Vaccaro explained that he supports nuclear power because of its clean energy but has safety concerns, he said.

“If something goes wrong, it really goes wrong,” he said. “I’m not totally opposed to it. I’m not going to be marching the streets against it. I do have some serious reservations about it.”

He rather see a solar farm or solar manufacturer at the site, Vaccaro said.

“There are a lot of opportunities out there,” Vaccaro said. “My responsibility as a township committee member is not to replace an energy source the BPU (Board of Public Utilities) has to replace. I have to make something that is affordable to the town and efficient to the town and that’s going to be my main priority.”

Vaccaro asked Risoli whether he answered his question.

“You answered like a politician,” Risoli said.

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