Candidates duking it out
in heated Helmetta race
By Sandi carpello
Staff Writer
HELMETTA — The lines have been drawn, and the race for two seats and control of the Borough Council is heating up.
Tom Reid, a former Democrat running for re-election on the Republican ticket, has criticized Councilman Andrew Tancredi as part of a group of Democrats who have abused their authority and contributed to rising property taxes.
Tancredi contends that Reid "is no angel." He says the Democrat-turned-Republican has abstained from approximately a third of the Borough Council’s recent votes and often obstructs the council’s ability to move ahead on important issues.
On Nov. 5, Tancredi, 32, will seek his second council term alongside Democratic newcomer Nicole Perdoni-Byrne, 30.
Reid, a 46-year-old councilman who has served since 1996 and switched parties this year, is running on the GOP ticket with his sister-in-law, Christine Reid, 44.
The election will determine the control of the council, which is currently composed of three Democrats and three Republicans. The seventh member of the governing body, who votes in the event of a tie, is Mayor Frank Hague, a Democrat.
Tom Reid, the owner of a local construction and excavation business who has lived in the borough his entire life, dismissed the Democrats who are in office as being self-serving.
He said an example of the way the Democrats work could be seen when Tancredi voted on an ordinance to build a new sidewalk in front of his house, something Reid said was a conflict of interest.
"It’s a dirty pool," he said of his political opponents. "It is disgusting. They want their click. There has to be rules for everybody."
Councilman Reid claims the Democrats have used taxpayers’ money to allow part-time borough employees to gain full-time benefits.
Reid said that, if re-elected, his primary goal would be to ease residents’ financial situation.
"If I get re-elected, part-time employees will not have benefits," he said.
He said that he would create a system in the municipal building to ensure that no employee is getting paid for hours they do not work, which he claims has been a problem in the past.
On the issue of the proposed redevelopment of the former snuff mill, Councilman Reid said he supports the use of the property for light industrial and senior housing only.
Both Reid and his running mate are opposed to the Matrix Development Corp. building luxury apartments on the property, as has been proposed, fearing the project would add children to the school system and raise taxes.
Reid, discussing his record, said he saved the borough thousands of dollars when he, along with Republican Councilmen Lou Adornati and Ed Romano, voted to eliminate the salaries of the mayor and council in a 3-2 vote in January.
Reid said that Tancredi cast a dissenting vote in the matter.
Tancredi said the approximately $1,000 annual salary he was getting merely paid for the expenses that go along with being a councilman, such as clothing dry cleaning and other bills that add up during the year.
"I thought it was wrong [to cut the salaries]," he said.
Tancredi is a fifth-generation resident who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Rider University, Lawrenceville. He owns a power washing and exterior restoration business in the borough.
Reid has accused Tancredi of being delinquent on his property taxes, something Tancredi acknowledged but attributed to being self-employed during difficult economic times. Tancredi said his taxes will be paid in full before the November election.
As for Reid’s claim that the Democrats have been taking down the Republicans’ campaign signs around the borough, Tancredi said he had not taken down any signs and was unaware of anyone else who has done so.
Tancredi, who is chairman of the council’s streets and roads subcommittee, said he is dedicated to improving the borough’s infrastructure. He said he was instrumental in securing grant funding to install sidewalks in the borough’s downtown area.
As for the claim that Tancredi voted in a conflict of interest to build a sidewalk in front of his house, Tancredi said Main Street was the only place the sidewalks could be built, and that if they weren’t built there, the borough would have had to return the funds to the state.
Tancredi said he would like to continue with a "positive and responsible redevelopment" process for the historic snuff mill.
"Through proper control and professional advice, I feel it could be developed into a positive for Helmetta," he said.
Tancredi said he was unable to comment on what he feels would be the best use for the snuff mill until a redevelopment study is completed.
Tancredi said more cooperation among the council members would yield more accomplishments for the borough.
"I am looking to be on the same page with the rest of the council members," he said.
Tancredi said that Tom Reid approaches the governing process with a "vote now, think later" formula, sometimes retracting his vote and wasting time that Tancredi said could be used more productively.
In addition to local politics, Tancredi has been involved with the borough’s Drug and Alcohol Alliance for nearly four years. Now serving as president, Tancredi helps implement programs for children designed to deter the use of drugs and alcohol.
Lifelong Helmetta resident Christine Reid, 44, lives in the same house she grew up in on Railroad Avenue. Her husband is Tom Reid’s brother, Bill.
She is employed by a Jamesburg-based insurance company.
She said her primary goal, if elected, would be to focus on recreation in the borough for children and teenagers. For example, she said, the Republicans have a property in mind for active recreation. Tom Reid said it is located on Main Street near Helmetta Lawn and Garden.
Christine Reid said she is running for council because she wants to strengthen the community.
"[My] heart and soul is in Helmetta," she said. "People who love Helmetta never leave Helmetta."
Monroe-native Nicole Perdoni-Byrne, 30, is a banking and securities attorney with Hill Wallack, Princeton. Although she has only lived in the borough for a little over a year, her grandparents and parents live here, and she said she has always considered Helmetta her second home.
Perdoni-Byrne said she is committed to bringing integrity back to the council and focusing on important issues.
She said she has not been attending council meetings recently due to what she described as a lack of productivity on the part of the governing body.
"It was a very frustrating experience," she said about attending meetings. She said the Republicans continually fight with the Democrats.
Perdoni-Byrne said she would also like to help stabilize taxes and encourage the redevelopment of the snuff mill in a way that will bring additional revenue to the borough.
A girls’ soccer coach in Monroe, Perdoni-Byrne said she would like to develop more recreation opportunities for local children. She said, however, that soccer and baseball fields may not be in the borough’s future.

