Mayoral hopefuls discuss big issues

Patten, Sikorski agree on much

By: Vic Monaco
   HIGHTSTOWN — Both have lived all or most of their lives in the borough.
   Both are retired teachers in their 60s.
   Both are elected government leaders in their town.
   And, while both are cautious in their public comments, they have been much more likely to agree with each other while the rest of the Democratic Borough Council is often unable to reach consensus.
   So what differentiates Republican Mayor Bob Patten and Democratic Councilman Walter Sikorski, the candidates for mayor in the Nov. 7 election?
   The Herald tried to find that out, interviewing each this week on the big issues facing the borough. Neither candidate knew the questions ahead of time; their answers, in some cases, were edited slightly for space and clarity.
   
Is it within the power of the mayor and council to stabilize the tax rate or should voters expect to keep seeing tax hikes? And what specifically do you plan to do in the next four years to save taxpayer dollars and stop relying on extraordinary aid from the state?

   
Bob Patten: It’s always an obligation of mayor and council to set a budget based upon the policy that has been set. The power is there to be efficient and effective and reasonable. My experience as both a councilman and mayor is to look for new ways to save money. … I think we’re doing a heck of a job in that regard.
   We can do our municipal portion, which is 23 percent of the total. About 58 percent is school funding which we don’t have control over, except for encouraging our legislators to come up with tax reform.
   Walter Sikorski: There are so many fixed expenses to begin with and we’re faced with a large pension cost that we have to pay in April.
   There are only two alternatives. Seeking outsourcing or regionalization for the major services, police and EMT services. The cost for the EMT service next year would be equal to 5 cents on the local tax rate. Hopefully that’s something that can be resolved before December.
   I don’t know what Trenton is doing until the reports are due in November from the four committees on these consolidation and regionalization issues.
   
You both have said that you favor assistance from the state in studying the possible consolidation of the Police Department. Pending state legislation would have a commission look at the issue and make recommendations in a couple years. Why can’t this be done more simply and quickly by asking East Windsor how much money it would need to provide services?


   

BP: East Windsor could ask us how much it would cost for Hightstown to supply East Windsor with police-related services. There are four possibilities: leave things as they are; we can provide services to other municipalities; others can provide us; and there could be a joint effort. Right now I’m open to any option at all.
   As far as the time it takes, I have to go by what other municipalities have done in order to do an analysis. I would also have to look at what the state incentives are to have us do that. And there’s money; some studies cost as much as $100,000 to do a study. Where are we going to get that?
   WS: I don’t want to comment too much on that because we’re in the midst of the discussion.
   
   
Are there other functions of government that could be consolidated in the future?

   
BP: I would look into sharing other services such as garbage collection.
   There’s so much we already do. We’re part of a consortium to purchase office supplies. We’re in the JIF (Joint Insurance Fund); there are 13 or so municipalities in this pool to reduce insurance costs and (Borough Administrator) Candace (Gallagher) keeps looking at ways to save, such as with employee health costs.
   WS: We do provide public works services for Roosevelt. We use the STD (sexually transmitted disease) clinic with Hamilton. … Senior citizens is another shared service with East Windsor. We provide dispatching for Cranbury Township. With South Brunswick we lease mobile data terminal units used in our police cars.
   I think we need to explore the recreation component, considering so many young people have moved into town and that has become a bone of contention. It would have to be a situation where Hightstown children are not excluded.
   
   
There has been a recent proposal to merge the EMS contracts of Hightstown and East Windsor, but East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov has said she has no intention of trying to get out of the township’s five-year deal? Is that proposal dead?

   
BP: It’s never dead with me. You’re talking about the safety and well-being of people. We have to look at every avenue possible.
   WS: (Yes) unless we can make arrangements with other communities besides East Windsor.
   
   
Some folks have said they fear consolidation could take away the identity of the borough? Is that a valid concern?


   

BP: I just finished reading a book by Alan Karcher, former speaker of the Assembly, called "Multiple Municipal Madness." It’s an excellent book. The state made suggestions as to what to do and nobody listened to it because of home rule and identity, and politics came into play. Politics is the biggest part. I would consider the merits of any consolidation.
   Some people feel the loss if identity is an issue. I don’t. You look at businesses and banks merging, with one taking over the other for sake of survival. If it’s a matter of survival and maintaining the quality of life in your community, then you have to think about it.
   WS: Having lived in town all my life I would hope Hightstown wouldn’t disappear from the map. However, if we don’t solve our fiscal issues, we will disappear. It’s getting to a critical mass.
   The identity for Hightstown will always be there even if the services are provided by outsourcing or regionalization.
   
   
The borough has spent about three years looking at ways to redevelop the former rug mill property and negotiating, for the most part, with one developer. Both of you have criticized council for steps it took that delayed the process, but more recently defended the time this has taken. Do you believe this issue has been handled well or not? And what can you do as mayor to expedite the process?

   
BP: One of the problems is all these new people coming in to play the game. It’s part of the process. People leaving council, new people coming in. New people on the Planning Board. And that takes time. Could it have been done more quickly? Yes it could. But it’s important for everyone to understand the process.
   I think the important thing is that we’re all heading in the same direction. It’s a major goal and we have to do the due diligence and act on it without hesitating; just being effective and efficient as much as possible.
   I’ve committed myself and I would expect our elected officials to do exactly the same thing. If you can’t do it, then you need to step aside and we need find someone who can do that. It means more than just two meetings a month, sitting there two or three hours.
   WS: I think people are confused over a very difficult process which includes the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) issue, affordable housing issues, getting the right plan and getting it done right. I sympathize with council people who are not on the subcommittee in that they didn’t have the opportunity to see a lengthy process, which I think was working toward a common goal of getting a project that would benefit the town.
   Redevelopment in any community is a difficult process. I’d rather take the time and not regret a decision made in haste. And unlike others, this is a major redevelopment in a small, landlocked community. I defend the process. I was a critic before I was placed on the subcommittee.
   
   
Both of you are proponents of a five-year PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) program for that project that would allow the borough to keep all those payments rather than sharing it, like taxes, with the school district. Is it your belief that the borough should keep all that money? If so, is that fair to the district? If not, how do you think the money should be shared?


   

BP: I think we have to be fair. The school district should get at least what they’re getting now, which is about $25,000 (actually $31,000) a year and we’re getting about $10,000. The pilot program would bring in at least $400,000 to $500,00 a year. The major goal is to get that property redeveloped so it becomes a stimulation to that town. That’s more important than trying to determine how much we give the school district.
   It’s not going to impact the school district negatively if they don’t get more money. After five years, the school district would realize a tremendous amount of money. The longer this process takes, nobody is realizing any extra money.
   WS: I think some of that PILOT money could be returned as a contribution to the school district, but I still think the premise of it is a good one.
   I might add there’s confusion over the numbers of children that would be generated. I’ve seen studies that it would be a maximum of 23 children. And school taxes are not based on a per-child basis, but on ratio.
   The school district will benefit from this because currently they don’t see that much money but eventually they would see a substantial amount after the PILOT. Those details would have to be worked out.
   
   
What would you like to see the new owners of the former Minute Maid plant property do with the land?


   

BP: I would like to have a good mixed use where it will stimulate the entire town and region. We need more retail; we need some offices; and we need some more housing as well. I don’t think it’s a good idea to have a factory use in there.
   WS: I know the Planning Board has a subcommittee looking at rezoning some part of that land, but I’m not on that (subcommittee). I think a multiple use project would be helpful.
   
   
There have been ongoing complaints about truck traffic through the downtown, including from the Planning Board. With South Main Street a state road, is there anything that you, as mayor, could do to improve the situation from where it is now?

   
BP: I serve on maybe five transportation forums, everything from Route 1 to the Turnpike expansion. We’re looking at relocating exit 8 of the Turnpike to the 133 bypass. That definitely would be a benefit by reducing truck traffic into Hightstown.
   I initiated a letter several years ago as a member of council to have the speed limit reduced on Mercer Street, from Summit Street to Genovese’s restaurant, to 25 mph throughout. At the time, the state said its studies didn’t warrant that. But now I’ve had a meeting with DOT personnel and they’re going to be doing another study on that. If we can reduce the speed limit it may discourage truckers from coming through town.
   WS: The authorities would need to be contacted regarding any signage and rerouting that would be possible. But we did lose a lot of truck traffic when Minute Maid closed.
   
   
A couple times this past year it has been suggested by public officials and members of the community that the Peddie School could do more financially to help the borough. Where do you stand on this?


   

BP: The Peddie School is doing everything they possibly can. There is a tremendous partnership with the borough of Hightstown. Look at what they did with the old Hights Theater; what they did with the parking lot, they put in $500,000 with no expense to the borough. They spent close to $2 million to renovate the old theater and that has stimulated the economy in town.
   Their doors are always open, The Peddie School is involved with community projects. They give us about $100,000 in lieu of taxes per year. They don’t have to. They give the fire department and first aid squad money. We receive much more money from (from Peddie) than if their properties were taxed.
   The Peddie School campus is an asset to our community. We should be celebrating them being part of our town.
   WS: I’m sure Peddie has been generous in the past with its contributions for emergency services, for reconstruction of the parking lot on Stockton Street at their expense, and their commitment to the theater building and renovation of that.
   Unfortunately, state law prohibits taxation of any property occupied by Peddie.
   Some folks are confused when they see the recent $20 million donation to Peddie and think that goes into a general fund. It’s dedicated to specific programs and can’t be used for general expenditures.
   
   
Over the last year, you both have agreed on several issues facing the borough, including the rug mill redevelopment. What differentiates you from your opponent?

   
BP: My energy, my enthusiasm, my experience as a leader, that’s a big thing.
   For two years I was the head of Planning Board. I’ve served on the Planning Board since 1991 except for one year when I wasn’t a councilman. I was a council member for three years and president for one year.
   Just my relationships, the networking I have with other local officials, the county, County Executive Brian Hughes, district legislators. I’ve got (relationships with) senators and assembly members from all over the state from both parties. That’s a very important thing. I go places where other people wouldn’t tread.
   My relationship with townspeople; I have appointed people from all parties and all experiences. I’m a former teacher in this community and businessman. I understand people. I understand business. I’m a good listener and I enjoy being with people. I’ve probably taught half the people in this town, and their kids.
   And if you elect Bob Patten, you’re going get two for the price of one because my wife (Kathy) is so valuable to this community, being on commissions and volunteering for different boards.
   WS: I think the fact that I am more of a consensus builder and I don’t like to hold onto information and try to persuade people. I think we need to have more consensus building.
   The other issue is the lack of communication between commissions and boards in the borough with the council and I think that has led to some acrimony in the past which I would like to avoid.
   
   
Is there anything else you’d like to tell voters?


   

BP: I think I’ve done it all. People know me. I think they know exactly who I am, the integrity I have and the commitment I have. I’ve sacrificed personal things to make sure our town is better place.
   WS: I have the time commitment, since retirement, to make a full commitment to the borough for the next four years and I believe I have demonstrated this commitment during my three years of service to the council by asking questions, reading the background material on major issues and articulating reasonable positions for the decisions I make on council.
   I see the mayor’s role as a negotiator for the town’s best interests and an ambassador for Hightstown in Trenton.