PLUMSTED — Ken Francis is proud of his 13 years of service on the Township Committee. He is counting on that same pride among voters to return him for another three-year term.
Francis and his running mate, Committeewoman Ada Roberts, are seeking re-election to the all-Republican governing body in the Nov. 2 election. Democrats Mitch Geier and Don Knause are looking to unseat them.
Attempts were made to speak with Roberts but a reporter’s calls were not returned.
Francis said that when he joined the committee “all those years ago, there were things we wanted to accomplish and I think we have.” He said the objective to keep Plumsted a “better place, fun as well as safe,” has been met.
He said that with 3,000 acres of farmland preserved as open space, a primary goal has been accomplished and that has been to maintain Plumsted’s rural atmosphere.
Although criticized by Geier for not installing sewers in the downtown New Egypt section of the community in an effort to attract commercial ratables, Francis said the downtown area, “which had degraded,” has been improved over the years he has sat on the committee with the Republican majority.
Francis said the storefront facades have been improved.
“Downtown now compared to years ago is better, some of the buildings have come back,” he said.
As to whether sewers are vital to the revitalization of the downtown area, Francis said there are several reasons why sewers have not been installed along Main Street.
According to Francis, talks between Plumsted representatives and officials at nearby Fort Dix ended up being fruitless when the military ultimately decided it did not want to proceed with a sewer project.
Following that, he said, studies determined it would not be cost-effective to run sewer lines from Plumsted to Wrightstown.
He said one option considered was for Plumsted to build its own sewer plant. However, said Francis, the $5 million to $8 million projected cost of a sewer plant was deemed to be prohibitive to be put on the 450 to 500 rate payers who would end up being hooked into the system.
Francis said rate payers (business and residential) were looking at an initial price tag for sewer hookup to be between $17,500 and $19,500 each.
“It’s too much of a debt to put on these people,” he said.
However, said Francis, his challengers’ stated opposition to the construction of a planned retirement community near Route 537 is unwise. According to Francis, the township is in talks with a developer that could result in the developer installing sewer infrastructure
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer
while constructing an adult community that would not add children to local schools.
This way, said Francis, the town could have it both ways — an adult community to help offset the tax burden and an agreement with a developer for sewer installation in designated redevelopment sections which include the planned retirement community property and downtown New Egypt.
Regarding Geier’s election pledge to guarantee fiscal responsibility, Francis noted that Plumsted taxpayers have enjoyed a stable municipal tax rate for 14 years.
Noting that municipal employees worked for years in cramped trailers, Francis also proudly refers to the new municipal building that was built through savings, not bonding.
“Those people worked like that for years while we waited until we had saved enough money to build without bonding. I don’t know how you can be more fiscally responsible than that,” he said.
As to Geier’s assertion that a fire company substation is needed to guarantee an appropriate emergency response time to the far eastern section of the township, Francis said a fund has been established that developers are paying into. He said once the fund amount set by the Board of Fire Commissioners has been met, a decision will be made as to whether a substation will be built or Plumsted’s single firehouse will be relocated.
He noted that the committee established a full-time police department and is continuing to develop recreational activities.
“I think I’ve done a good job of keeping taxes stabilized, preserving land and getting things moving on improving downtown and I want to continue to be part of that process,” said Francis.
an appropriate emergency response time to the far eastern section of the township, Francis said a fund has been established that developers are paying into. He said once the fund amount set by the Board of Fire Commissioners has been met, a decision will be made as to whether a substation will be built or Plumsted’s single firehouse will be relocated.
He noted that the committee established a full-time police department and is continuing to develop recreational activities.
“I think I’ve done a good job of keeping taxes stabilized, preserving land and getting things moving on improving downtown and I want to continue to be part of that process,” said Francis.