By: Vic Monaco
HIGHTSTOWN Next week’s election for two seats on Borough Council is a race between two Democratic incumbents with more than a dozen years on the governing body and two political newcomers on the GOP side who say their analytical approach would be an asset.
On the top two issues of the day, in separate interviews with the Herald, only one of the four men indicated a belief that council can control skyrocketing taxes. And none is keen on consolidating the local Police Department, although one said the force could be reduced in number.
Tuesday’s election pits Democratic Councilmen Larry Quattrone and Dave Schneider, the current council president, against Republicans Ron Niebo, a 32-year-old research analyst, and Dave Keeler, the 57-year-old owner of DMK Financial Services.
"If I could lower taxes, I could run for governor," said Mr. Quattrone, the longtime owner of Dom’s Getty on Mercer Street who is seeking his third, full three-year term after filling an unexpired term in 2000. "I think the people of Hightstown demand such services that it’s difficult to lower taxes."
The key to lowering tax bills, added the 64-year-old, lies with school district levies.
Mr. Schneider, 38, owner of the Carousel Restaurant in Princeton and Brass Ring Café in Hopewell, said that while he will continue to question expenditures with an eye toward streamlining government, he, too, believes the local tax rate is largely out of council’s hands. That is, he said, because of the borough’s landlocked status.
"Hightstown has somewhat extraordinary circumstances as the state formulas for figuring out property taxes and who gets what money are very tilted in favor of communities that actually can have new development," said the lifetime borough resident who is seeking a third full term.
Mr. Keeler, a 30-year borough resident, agrees with Mr. Quattrone that only school funding reform can help the borough tax rate. But running mate Mr. Niebo sounded more optimistic.
"Taxes are a huge issue with me and the way to move forward is the timely development of the rug mill and the Minute Maid (property) project," he said. "Both of those projects will bring in extra money to the borough that we need."
The GOP candidates have been critical of the time it has taken Borough Council to simply get to the point last month of naming the same firm for a second time as the conditional redeveloper of the rug mill project.
"The saddest part of this is that over the last two years while they were designing the box, this part of New Jersey had some of the highest property values but currently that’s on a downward spiral," said Mr. Niebo. "We missed that opportunity because things did not move in a timely manner."
Mr. Quattrone and Mr. Schneider, to a lesser extent, defend the three-plus years council has been talking to John Wolfington, who recently purchased the land on Bank Street. Mr. Schneider attributes some of the delay to market conditions.
"Anybody who believes we’ve been working 3½ years … this is a project going back at least 17 years with assorted people in Hightstown," he said. "It’s finally hit the point in history that it can be imminently developed. … I am optimistic of moving forward quickly."
Mr. Schneider said he thinks it’s fair that the borough plans a five-year PILOT (payments in lieu of taxes) program for the rug mill project under which the borough would not share any of that money with the regional school district. That is, he said, as long as the district continues to get the same amount being generated by the mostly vacant property now, which is about $31,000.
"If there are additional pupils at the end of five years, there would be a fantastic economic boon to the school district," he added.
His opponents, Mr. Niebo and Mr. Keeler, also said continuing to give the district its approximate $31,000 is fair.
"The current (redevelopment) plan is aimed at bringing in families that won’t burden the school district with a lot of children," said Mr. Niebo. "So unless there is an undue impact on the school system,, I don’t see a reason to share that PILOT money with them."
Mr. Quattrone, a borough resident for more than 50 years, said the district deserves more than the building generates now but declined to elaborate.
As for the borough’s only other significant piece of land that can be developed, the former Minute Maid plant, all four men said they approve of the mixed residential/retail plans of which borough officials have apparently only gotten a whiff of from a group that recently bought the land.
Mr. Quattrone said he is "very disappointed" with the lack of communication as it relates to current plans for the property.
"I’ve been on the committee 3½ years … and I haven’t heard anything," he said. "If they’re communicating with the mayor, he’s not communicating with me but I’m not sure they are."
All four candidates expressed strong doubt that consolidating the local police force with East Windsor’s the subject of current talks is an effective and safe way to save money.
"I believe there is little to no potential savings with a dramatic reduction in manpower," said Mr. Schneider. "We operate at a much lower cost per man than the East Windsor Police Department."
"I’m open to what the study reveals but I’m not sure I understand what makes everybody think they’ll provide enough police officers," said Mr. Keeler. "Where are the economies of scale going to come from?"
Mr. Niebo said, "The question has been asked by the people and the studies need to be done. We need to identify whether or not real savings can be found. That said I’m not willing to trade the quality of service for a few dollars off my tax bill. It would have to be a really good reason to make the change."
As for Mr. Quattrone, he said, "If we’re going to give up services, I’d like to see police go last."
But he acknowledged that several years ago he pushed for the local department to reduce its numbers.
"I still honestly and truly believe we could run the police force with 11 people but there was such strong public support to go the other way that I had to change my mind."
The Police Department is comprised of 14 members not including Chief James Eufemia.
Mr. Niebo, who grew up in the borough and returned in 2000, said he decided to enter the political ring because he is a friend and admirer of Mayor Bob Patten and because there are two issues he’d specifically like to address.
"My wife and I live in town and often we walk downtown to use shops down there," he said. "The traffic is congested and pedestrian safety is an issue."
Specifically, Mr. Niebo said he would like to see a traffic light at the entrance to the downtown, where South Main and Mercer streets meet, and work toward getting Mercer Street designated as a local, rather than state, road.
Mr. Keeler said he would like to continue the work on revitalizing the downtown.
Both Republicans said they could bring an analytical presence to council.
"With my training as an accountant, I tend to be very logical," said Mr. Keeler, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Trenton State College. "I like to remove the emotional component, and what is left is dollars and cents as long as you’re comparing applies to apples. The answers should come down to dollars and cents."
Mr. Niebo, who works for Everest Consulting Associates, of Cranbury, said, "My degrees are in science (bachelor’s from Washington and Lee; master’s from Arizona State) and in my everyday job I have to analyze data and summarize it and make recommendations for clients. I think that background can bring some perspective to the council. Also, I’m young and not jaded by the political machine of New Jersey."
Mr. Quattrone said he is most proud of his work with and that of the First Aid Squad, which he said is getting back on its feet, from a volunteer staffing perspective. While offering that he doesn’t believe in campaigning, Mr. Quattrone said he has shown his ability to listen to the will of the people.
"My opinions don’t count," he said. "I feel I have to represent the residents. They didn’t just put me there for my opinion. I think that’s my strong point."
While the all-Democratic council has been criticized for a lack of consensus, Mr. Schneider said, he is proud of the way the group has addressed issues with an open mind.
"A good council is one that debates, works things out and doesn’t vote the same every time," he said. "They work things out and they don’t always necessarily agree with each other. Party doesn’t matter."

