Reorganization meeting reveals focus of new agenda, new council members sworn in.
By: Joseph Harvie
Open space, road improvements and police issues will be at the forefront of the Township Council’s 2005 agenda, members said during Sunday’s reorganization meeting.
Council members said they want to move forward with the purchase of the 100-acre Stanton property, considered to be the last remaining large parcel of undeveloped land in Kendall Park. They also plan to push the state to widen Route 1, hope to complete Route 522, kill Route 92 and increase the size of the township police force.
Council members offered their goals during a reorganization session at the Senior Center that also featured the swearing in of Democrats Carol Barrett, Charles Carley and Joe Camarota, who were elected by voters to four-year terms on council in November. They join Mayor Frank Gambatese and Councilman Chris Killmurray on an all-Democrat council.
The meeting began with a flag salute led by Boy Scouts Troop 10 and a prayer recited by the Rev. Robert Lynam of St. Augustine of Canterbury R. C. Church.
Then the South Brunswick High School Choir sang "My Country ‘Tis of Thee," before Township Clerk Barbara Nyitrai announced Ms. Barrett, Mr. Carley and Mr. Camarota as the winners of November’s General Election.
After the ceremony, Ms. Barrett thanked those in the audience and those watching on television for re-electing her.
"I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you out there," said Ms. Barrett, who is starting her third term on the council. "You are close to me and my heart."
Mr. Camarota, who is starting his first term, said he is looking forward to working with a group of local citizens and officeholders to defeat Route 92, the proposed 6.7-mile N.J. Turnpike extension that would connect Exit 8A with Route 1 where it meets Ridge Road.
"One thing we are all in agreement on is we don’t need this road in our town," Mr. Camarota said.
Mr. Camarota said he also wants to expand the amount of open space used for recreation. He said he would like to see the township build fields and facilities for lacrosse and soccer.
Mr. Carley, who also is starting his first term, said he had two major goals for 2005, one is the purchase of more open space, in particular the Stanton property in Kendall Park, and increasing the size of the South Brunswick Police Department.
The Stanton property is a 100-acre parcel of wooded and undeveloped land in Kendall Park, some of which is owned by Robert Stanton, of New York. The property is located near New Road and stretches around Wheeler Road to Little Rocky Hill.
"The purchase which is number one on my list is the Stanton property," Mr. Carley said. "It is the last piece of habitat in Kendall Park."
Ms. Barrett said one of her major goals for the year is finally seeing the completion of the jughandle at the intersection of Route 522 and Route 1. She said she also would like to see an addition built onto the Senior Center.
She said the council will also push to get the county, state and federal governments to help widen Route 1, which is a state highway.
"We will promise today, this council is going to aggressively, I say aggressively, pursue the widening of Route 1," Ms. Barrett said.
Mr. Killmurray, who is entering the third year of his first four-year term, said he is looking forward to 2005 and thanked the people who volunteered their time for the various boards and commissions in town.
Mr. Killmurray said that council members may be from the same party, but that there would be discussion on issues and that the five members will not agree on everything.
"Our government is open and honest," he said. "Whatever the vote is and the disagreement is, there is always the next item on the agenda."
Mayor Frank Gambatese said he wants the township to complete parks that are under development, such as Rowland Park, which will house several baseball and soccer fields. He said he would also like to see the township preserve more wooded areas.
"We should preserve land so people can enjoy the peace and quiet that South Brunswick enjoyed in the past," Mayor Gambatese said.
Mayor Gambatese also said the township would push the state Department of Transportation for new lanes on Route 1 and that he would like to see some of the traffic lights on the highway be eliminated in favor of overpasses.
He said the township should also expect to see construction start on the extension of Route 522, from Route 130 to Ridge Road near the N.J. Turnpike overpass.
"That’s our answer to Route 92," Mayor Gambatese said.