Primary Profile: Democrat Hedy Grant

Name: Hedy Grant

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Years in the Borough: 26

Education: B.A., M.S., J.D.

Work: Attorney, Editor (Asterisk*Editors), Internet Retailer (PuppyPurse®)

Political & Civic Experience:

• Council candidate in 2009
• New Milford Democratic Club (President), 2009-
• Planning Board, 2008-
• Library Board of Trustees, 2010-
• Historic Preservation Commission, 2010
• Environmental and Energy Commission, 2008-2009
• New Milford Rabies Clinic, 2010 –
• Women Lawyers in Bergen (President 1990-1992), member since 1985
• Women’s Rights Information Center, 1985-1993

Top Issues:

United Water. The United Water Company property is a huge issue in New Milford. I am as concerned as everyone else about the future of this property and the potential impact on borough residents of proposed changes. Unfortunately I cannot comment on the matter at this time because any development proposal might come before the Planning Board and, as a member of the Planning Board, I am not permitted to discuss the matter prior to its resolution because I might have to vote on it. However, I promise that if the matter comes before the Planning Board, I will listen to all the testimony carefully always keeping New Milford’s best interests in mind. I encourage everyone in New Milford who has an opinion to attend the hearings, ask questions and make their opinions known.  Should the matter be resolved prior to the election or should it become clear that it will not come before the Planning Board, I would be more than happy to discuss it.

Budget.  The current Mayor and Council raised the budget almost to the maximum allowed by state law. That is too much! All areas of the budget should be reviewed and all superfluous and unnecessary expenses, such as providing bottled water for council, board and commission members, be reduced or eliminated.  Air conditioners, lights and similar items should be energy efficient. Sharing more services with nearby towns and the county will result in savings. No area of the budget is sacrosanct and everything in it should be carefully scrutinized for value received and ways to to save. All systems should be analyzed to find areas that are duplicative or wasteful. We must be creative and innovative. In addition, to increase government transparency and accountability, New Milford’s line-item budget should be posted on the borough’s website for all to see.

Flooding. My property is in a flood zone. I co-founded RAID (Residents Against Indiscriminate Development), which successfully fought construction of a 28-unit apartment building on a 1.2-acre tract of land part of which was in a flood zone.  I think the flood mitigation plan submitted by Boswell Engineering and approved by the council under Mayor DeBari should be implemented as it will help reduce flooding. I also think we should join with nearby towns to explore ways we might be of mutual assistance. We should seek advice, assistance and funding from the county, state and federal governments, from anyone and everyone who might be able to provide solutions and additional funding. I also think we should establish a working relationship with the United Water Company in order to make them more responsive to our needs.

Environment. I would like to preserve open space, plant more trees, and restrict overdevelopment. We should improve our parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities. In addition, to preserve the ambiance and symmetry of any given neighborhood, new houses should "fit in" with the neighborhood. 

Garbage. Garbage should not be collected less frequently than it is now – something that has been suggested by the current administration.

Appointments. A number of extremely well qualified and knowledgeable New Milford residents and professionals were not reappointed to their respective boards or commissions this year. One can only wonder whether this was done for political reasons. 

Minutes. Until this year, minutes of Mayor and Council meetings were always comprehensive and thorough. The current Mayor and Council voted to lower our standards by voting to have that minutes meet only the bare minimum required by the state statute. Minutes now need only show actions taken, not discussions, ideas, suggestions or reasons for actions taken. I believe minutes of all work and public sessions of Mayor and Council meetings, board meetings, commission meetings and committee meetings should be comprehensive in order to keep New Milford residents fully apprised of what's going on and to create an historic record. 

Library. After seeing the library in Northvale close, I realize even more strongly how lucky we are to have such an excellent library in New Milford and how important it is that we continue to support it. 

Tax Bills. To reduce confusion, I think our tax bills should more clearly show how much of our tax money goes to the borough and how much to the schools.