BY LAYLI WHYTE
Staff Writer
LAYLI WHYTE Red Bank Borough Council candidates Robert J. Bifani and Sharon Lee, Democrats, and Marnie Goulart and Kay Ernst, Republicans, addressed questions from voters Oct. 13 during the annual Candidates Night sponsored by the West Side Community Group. RED BANK — The Westside Community Group (WCG) held its eighth annual Candidates Night at the River Street Commons Oct. 13.
The four Borough Council candidates, Councilman Robert J. Bifani and Sharon Lee (both Democrat), and Marnie Goulart and Kaye Ernst (both Republican), were in attendance, as were members of the current council and Mayor Edward J. McKenna Jr.
Ben Forrest of the WCG said he counted 90 people in attendance.
“It’s the biggest turnout for a council debate,” he said. “I think it’s even more than the last mayoral debate.”
Councilwoman Jennifer Beck was there in support of her party’s two candidates, and Councilman Thomas Hintelmann, Bifani’s former running mate who is retiring this year after 30 years on the council, watched his protégé answer questions from the public.
The format provided each candidate three minutes for an opening statement, 45 minutes of answering questions from the public, and three minutes for a closing statement.
The order of the opening and closing remarks were determined by picking numbers out of the hand of moderator Amy Goldsmith.
Bifani went first in the opening remarks, giving a brief history of his accomplishments, including being one of the founding members of the borough’s Environmental Commission. He said he helped cut $150,000 off the payroll at the Department of Public Works, adding, “It’s more customer-friendly down there now.”
Bifani also cited his work with the Neighborhood Preservation Project, which distributed $1.1 million in grant money to rehabilitate homes on the west side of the borough.
Bifani’s running mate, Lee, spoke next, and briefly.
“This is a new experience for me,” she said. “I, like many of the residents of Red Bank, have spent a lot of time just trying to survive Red Bank.”
Republican hopeful, Goulart said she has lived on Shrewsbury Avenue for 12 years and was one of the founding members of the Renaissance Group, which has since turned into the Westside Community Group, and of Preservation Red Bank, which helped to preserve the Century House.
Ernst, who ran for council last year, losing by only 24 votes, began her opening statement by saying:
“A lot of you might recognize me, because a lot of you voted for me last year.”
She spoke about the importance of preserving the spirit of the borough and of the importance of balance on the council, not only in terms of political parties, since Beck is the only Republican on the council, but in terms of gender, she is also the only woman.
“Not a single council member lives below Maple Avenue,” she added. “That leaves half the population without representation.”
The main focus of many of the questions from the audience was property taxes. Resident James Harris asked what the candidates plan to do about the increase in taxes, and if that means the borough will be “cutting unnecessary positions or cutting service to residents.”
Ernst and Goulart both said that implementing a “budget freeze” for a few years would help the borough slow down the tax increases. Goulart also
suggested that it might be prudent to hire an independent consultant to help find ways to cut taxes. She said that this is a tactic other towns have used.
Lee said that although taxes are high, they are within the normal range for the area. She said she does not agree with the plan to freeze the budget.
“If we do that this year,” she said, “we’ll have to double up next year.”
Bifani said that if the residents want to continue to get the kind of public service they are used to, then there would have to be a rise in taxes.
“You can’t have a road program without a tax increase,” said Bifani.
Bifani also mentioned the toll the Charter School takes on property taxes in the borough.
“When you have a whole new school with a new administration,” he said, “taxes will go up.”
The controversy over the plans to demolish the Olde Union House and redevelop the site was a question posed to the candidates.
Ernst said that she believes that if the structure is not sound enough to be saved, then, despite any historical or personal significance, it should be replaced, specifically with something that is appropriate in size and form.
“We should preserve as much of the structural integrity as possible,” said Ernst.
“Almost every project that comes into town,” said Goulart, “comes in too big.”
Lee did not disagree with her opponents.
“The structure is not sound,” said Lee. “The building cannot continue to exist in the town as it is.”
Bifani also agreed, saying that the setbacks don’t work and there is not enough open space in the proposed plan.
“All four of us are on the same page,” said Bifani.
Ernst criticized the current administration for its lack of communication with the public.
“The thing the council needs most is communication from the community,” she said, “because we cannot be at every place at every minute.”
In closing, the candidates each took a different tack, with Ernst saying that she and Goulart had canvassed the town and met thousands of residents, which she believes has prepared her to represent the public in a balanced way
Goulart pointed out that overdevelopment, congestion and taxes are what she will focus on if elected.
“Red Bank is at a crossroads and I know this is an important election,” said Goulart.
Bifani took the closing remarks as an opportunity to acknowledge Hintelmann, and to be straight forward with the audience.
“If in the last three years I have not proven that I am putting forward a good effort,” he said, “I am certainly not going to convince you in the next three minutes.”
Lee’s closing praised the current administration for its role in curbing overdevelopment.
“We Red Bankers know what a great town this is,” said Lee, “It is a sleepy little town stuck between two rivers. We’ve had it to ourselves for years. We’ve been discovered. The current administration has done what it can to harness development, but maybe they need a softer hand.”