Taxes, safety weigh on candidates’ minds

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Editor’s Note: Each year, we ask candidates for the Borough Council to share their ideas and plans with Manville News readers to help voters make their choices on Nov. 7. The candidates’ responses can be viewed online at www.manvillenews.com through Nov. 7. Incumbent Democratic Borough Council members Ken Otrimski and Ted Petrock are facing challenges from independent candidate Richard Onderko and Republicans Eileen Coppola and Lilian Zuza for three-year terms. The two Republican candidates’ responses appeared in the Oct. 19 issue.
Tell us about yourself — your work, family and community experience. How will your background help you serve the community while on the Borough Council?

Richard Onderko
   I am a lifelong resident of Manville who really cares about what goes on in his home town. I have over 23 years of corporate finance and Information Technology (IT) experience and a BS and MBA degree from Rider University.
   My work experience in the private sector involves managing large budgets in order to meet strict expenditure objectives. I work in a business environment where budgets are being cut, not increased.
   I also have responsibility for managing a team of professionals with the goal of meeting challenging business objectives often in very short time frames.
   This experience will assist me in addressing the issues facing the town in a professional and business like manner with the impact on the taxpayers as my overriding concern.
   While conversing with citizens in Manville over the past several months campaigning, I am very much aware of their concerns over the rising cost of living in Manville. I am someone who wants everyone in Manville to be able to afford to live and retire in our town if they so choose.
   There is a property tax crisis in this state and the "tax and spend" mentality of our current government officials needs to be changed.
   I will provide the leadership for Manville to secure that change.
Ken Otrimski
   I am a lifelong resident of Manville, living in the town for 50 years, married for 26 years to my wife, Nancy Otrimski. We have two dogs, Jacob Marley and Misty.
   I retired three years ago from Franklin Township PoliceDepartment after serving 25 years. I have been a member of Manville Volunteer Fire Department for 32 years and am still active, serving two years as lieutenant, three years as captain, four years as assistant chief, four years as deputy chief and four years as chief.
   I am currently the director of the borough Office of Emergency Management, appointed in August 2000, a member of the Manville Planning Board since 1989 and was Planning Board chairman from 1997 to 2003.
   I am in my third year as councilman.
   I received the Mayoral Citizenship Award in January 2002; the Congressional Recognition Award from Mike Ferguson in April 2002; and the VFW Recognition Award for personal courage and guardianship of life and property in April 2002.
   This experience along with my background will help me continue to serve the residents of Manville and make Manville the best place to live.
Ted Petrock
   My name is Theodore Petrock III, I’m 49 years old and a life long resident of Manville.
   I am presently a councilman in the Borough of Manville (seven years running), holding many positions during this time.
   I am also a member of both the Manville Fire Department and Rescue Squad.
   I have memberships with both the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Manville and the Manville-Hillsborough Elks Lodge.
   I hold the position of executive chef/catering manager for Saint Mary’s Church.
   The town of Manville and its residents have been an inspiration in my life and have tried to repay them both with dedicated service and commitment. I will continue this effort.
   The bond that I and family feel with this great town has made it easy for me to serve without question.
What will you devote your first year in office to achieving for Manville? Please be as specific as possible to help voters understand how you will accomplish your priorities.

Ken Otrimski
   My first priority is the protection of life and property of the residents of the borough to continue my pro-active approach of early warning for impending disasters. To make sure that emergency responders continue to train for these disasters.
   To acquire grants for equipment to be used by the responders.
   I am currently working on the storm readiness program for the borough. Once accepted as a Storm Readiness Community, requirements are to have two community forums a year to discuss weather/storms related topics as well as making sure that our early warning devices are operational through monthly testing.
Ted Petrock
   priorities are still the same as they have been since the first day I took office and even before — the safety and well being of the residents of Manville.
Richard Onderko
   To better understand where my property tax dollars are being spent and question every town expenditure in the best interests of all taxpayers.
   We face some difficult financial challenges in our state that have a direct impact on Manville. I will push to have the municipal budget scrutinized as much as possible to ensure that the taxpayers are getting as much value out of their tax dollars for the same services rendered.
   There are many people living in Manville on fixed incomes. These are good people who have worked their entire lives and are now looking to enjoy their retirement. I hope to be one someday.
   I am very much aware of the impact of rising property taxes on those individuals as well as all our citizens. We must do all that is possible to control borough expenses and lessen the burden of rising property taxes as much as possible.
   Two town improvements to work for: I would like to see a 10-second left-hand turn traffic light at the intersection of Dukes Parkway and Main Street.
   I would also like to see the high school sidewalk finished completely around the block. It seems we now have new sidewalks in parts of town where no one walks — let’s complete the high school block were lots of students and residents walk for exercise daily.
What in Manville would you like to change? How could the Borough Council be effective in leading this change?

Ted Petrock
   What would I change? Manville’s ranking among surrounding towns.
   My goal is to have Manville ranked number one in many positive categories to include quality of life, education, disaster preparedness, child safety, senior citizen issues … and many more.
Richard Onderko
   I would love for the town of Manville to be protected from the raging flood waters of the Raritan and Millstone rivers. We need to press state and federal officials for a solution as the flooding will only become worse as the years go by.
   In order to achieve this, the Borough Council needs to partner closely with local, county and state representatives as well as the Army Corp of Engineers and our federal representatives.
   The Van Veghten bridge project is another example of something I would have liked to see changed. Why raise the bridge only 2 feet? That doesn’t solve the issue of Manville residents getting safely to Somerset Medical Center when the bridge is under 10 or more feet of water.
   Since when does wet land protection overtake the concerns for human life?
   I lived in a flood zone in Manville and experienced the flooding terror first hand. I fully understand the concerns of people who still live in flood prone areas better than most.
Ken Otrimski
   I would like to see something put in place to get all cars off the roads during snowstorms so they can be plowed curb to curb.
   I would also like to work with A&P and Wal-Mart to keep their shopping carts on their property and off our streets.