Steve Bergenfeld and Frank Masterson are battling for one seat on the West Amwell Township Committee.
By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
WESTAMWELL Two candidates will vie for one Township Committee seat in the Nov. 6 general election.
Republican Stephen Bergenfeld and Democrat Frank Masterson responded similarly when asked to share their views on two West Amwell hot topics, development and sewers.
Despite the surface similarities in their responses each says he wants to limit development, and neither favors bringing sewers to the township there are nuances that set them apart.
They revolve around the Township Committee’s actions in recent years and whether they are seen as forging ahead in a welcome new direction or veering terribly off course.
Mr. Bergenfeld, 29, sees the current administration as supporting “failed policies.”
Mr. Masterson, 70, gives the administration kudos for courage.
Mr. Bergenfeld has said in a letter to this paper’s editor that he won support in the June primary because voters “saw a new direction, one that sustains the rural character of this community without resorting to the failed policies of recent years.”
In recent years, the committee has adopted a number of environmentally friendly ordinances to protect woodlands and streams, among other issues. At the same time, these ordinances are viewed as making it more difficult for builders to come in without meeting certain standards.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is Mr. Masterson. He cites the good brought about by the current administration, and he talks about “the courage of the Township Committee in recent years.”
Clearly, the candidates view the events of the past few years in a different light, but each said he would limit development, and each said he opposes bringing sewers into the rural township.
Mr. Masterson said, “I believe that when developers come here, we need to be able to tell them to keep their bulldozers away from our streams and don’t cut down so many trees. Thanks to the courage of our Township Committee in recent years, we can do that.
”That’s a big difference in this election because my opponent has said the protections against large-scale development that are on the books here are ‘without any real benefit’ to West Amwell. He said that in a mailing just recently. Everyone is for open space, but when developers come to West Amwell, they aren’t going to be driving their bulldozers onto preserved land. They will be bulldozing unpreserved land. What is that development going to look like? I’m very concerned about that. My opponent doesn’t seem to be.”
On the contrary, Mr. Bergenfeld said, “Land preservation and controlling development are my top priority. To improve our land preservation efforts, I would regain the trust of landowners by returning to open and fair negotiations. I have much experience negotiating from my business dealings.
”Fortunately, we are not currently in danger of too much development for a variety of reasons. This gives us time to plan carefully for the future. I am not in favor of repealing existing ordinances, but I do think we need to be very careful that the average homeowner is not burdened by these regulations.”
Mr. Bergenfeld is a graduate of Ewing High School. He said he continued his education “in the school of hard knocks.”
He began a lawn care service at 16 and opened his own store as part of his family’s pet supply business at 19. He also said he is involved in the renovation and construction of “a few single-family homes,” which he said are in urban settings.
His community service includes volunteering for seven years at an animal shelter. Also, “as a business owner, I do all I can for the communities where we live and have stores by making donations and supporting local schools and sports teams,” he said. “In the last couple of years, I have attended many meetings in West Amwell to educate myself in preparation for serving the community.”
Mr. Masterson retired as a lieutenant after 31 years with the New Jersey State Police. He holds a master’s degree in teaching and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Trenton State College. He served four years in the Navy.
”My wife, Pat, and I have been involved in the community for nearly 40 years, almost as long as we’ve been married,” Mr. Masterson said. “Over the years, I’ve been involved in all sorts of community events and charities, plus the police budget planning and with the referendum not too long ago on whether West Amwell should go to a five-member committee.”