By Kristine Snodgrass, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY — The future of the Skillman Village property has become a central issue in the race for the open seat on the Montgomery Township Committee.
Candidates Keith Hovey, a Democrat and Kacey Dyer, a Republican, sounded off on taxes and community debt to a crowd of about 50 as they sat side by side Monday night at Montgomery High School. The event, termed a “meet and greet,” was sponsored by the League of Women Voters.
Also featured at the event were Somerset County freeholder candidates Montgomery Mayor Cecilia Birge and Doug Singleterry, a North Plainfield councilman, and the incumbents, freeholder Director Peter Palmer and Bob Zaborowski.
Each candidate was allotted five minutes for an opening statement, three minutes for a response, and four minutes to answer a question prepared by the League of Women Voters. Afterwards, audience members were given the opportunity to ask the candidates questions on a one-on-one basis.
Ms. Dyer, the Republican candidate, quickly took the offensive on the Skillman Village property. At her urging last week, Committeeman Mark Caliguire suggested to Mr. Palmer that the county purchase the land as open space to create a park.
The township has been criticized recently as the developers tapped to submit plans for development of a 40-acre mixed-use portion of the property failed to do so. The site was considered crucial to recouping some of the $20 million the township has spent on the property.
”Why build a village in the middle of a rural area?” Ms. Dyer asked. “The Township Committee is trying to make the community into something it’s not.”
Citing township taxes that increased 18 percent between 2001 and 2007, Ms. Dyer said that selling the land would create an “instant debt relief” to Montgomery Township.
”The property now sits costing taxpayers an additional $880,000 a year in interest on the debt alone,” she said.
Mr. Hovey, the Democrat, who supports the village within a park concept, countered that before anything is agreed upon, the township needs a written agreement with the county with terms and conditions that would detail the use of the property.
”Right now everything is speculation because we don’t have an actual proposal,” he said.
A portion of the township’s affordable housing quotient is dependent on developing a portion of the site, he said. If this is not developed, he said, the township will have to fulfill its obligation elsewhere, on private property.
Ms. Dyer said she is in support of as little new development as possible, suggesting the use of existing homes and group homes to meet the requirement.
Mr. Hovey emphasized his life experience as qualification for handling township issues, including his training as a real estate lawyer.
”I deal with the issues … every day I go to work,” he said.
A former nurse, he also serves on the Montgomery Board of Health. In this role, he said, he is “keenly aware” of the health needs of Montgomery Township.
Ms. Dyer, who is an assistant vice-president at Merrill Lynch, repeatedly mentioned her connection to the town as a lifelong resident of Montgomery Township.
”Montgomery’s in my blood,” she said.
Ms. Dyer also said she does not aspire to higher political office. Her opponent, she said, may have other plans, citing his work campaigning for presidential candidate Barack Obama.
Mr. Hovey contended that though he grew up in Maine, he has invested himself in the community with a house and a wife who is expecting a child.
”I’ve made a commitment,” he said.
He also emphasized his accessibility, allowing residents to contact him directly by phone, e-mail, and through his Web site. He believes in an “open, honest, accessible” government, he said.
In the freeholder race, taxes were also a key issue, along with accusations of corruption on the part of the freeholders.
Mayor Birge and Mr. Singleterry hope to end Republican control of the freeholder board. In voter registrations in the county, Democrats have overcome Republicans, with 50,005 compared to 48,874 voters.
She pointed to this lack of a two-party government as a cause of corruption in the county.
”The county employee directory now looks like a family tree,” she said.
Mr. Singleterry cited the county Parks Commission scandal, which drew outrage after it was discovered that employees were living rent-free in county-owned houses, as evidence of the freeholders’ corruption.
”These abuses occurred entirely under their watch,” he said.
He also attacked the freeholders on their alleged pay-to-play practices. Sixteen contributors to Mr. Zaborowski’s campaign have received no-bid contracts from the Board of Chosen Freeholders, he said.
Mr. Zaborowski denied the charges, saying the board follows professionals’ recommendations.
”There is no pay to play in Somerset County,” he said, later adding, “I have no idea who contributes to campaigns.”
Mr. Palmer said Mayor Birge was responsible for rising taxes in Montgomery Township.
”Our opponents have talked the talk about controlling taxes,” Mr. Palmer said. “Over the past three years, we have walked the walk and they have not.”
