ELECTION ’08: Milltown

At stake: Two three-year Borough Council terms

Lawrence F. Citro (R) Citro, 40, has a wife, Sheryl, and three children, ages 5, 4 and 2. He is an attorney and has lived in Milltown for more than seven years. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers University Camden School of Law in 1992 and a Bachelor of Ar ts degree from Rutgers University in 1989. He is a youth soccer coach. Lawrence F. Citro (R) Citro, 40, has a wife, Sheryl, and three children, ages 5, 4 and 2. He is an attorney and has lived in Milltown for more than seven years. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers University Camden School of Law in 1992 and a Bachelor of Ar ts degree from Rutgers University in 1989. He is a youth soccer coach. What proposals or plans would you like to introduce or support as a Milltown councilman over the next three years?

Citro: I would support measures to try and take as much control over the Ford Avenue development process as possible. The borough’s control has been severely limited by the pending lawsuit, but there are measures such as local housing office control, zoning ordinances and master deed restrictions that can help the borough maintain some element of control over the implementation of our affordable housing obligations. I would also support measures to look into ways to control the cost of electricity for the residents as well as address the growing vandalism/ graffiti problems in town.

Dixon: Past and current use of the utility and its generated surplus to offset municipal budget spending is poor fiscal planning and bad budget policy, which cannot continue. To ensure this practice will not continue, one of my first acts after being sworn in as a councilman will be to introduce an ordinance that permanently caps the yearly increase of the utility rates to no more than the increase in operating costs of the utility.

Ronald Dixon (D) Dixon has lived in Milltown for four years. He is retired from the position of lieutenant investigator with the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. He serves as post commander of American Legion Joyce Kilmer Post 25, a position he has held since 2003. He attended Glassboro State College for specialized training and is a graduate of the National Academy, FBI, 148th Class, 1987. In 1988 he was elected president of the National Drug Enforcement Officers Association Inc. and served three terms. He is a certified DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instructor and was the Middlesex County DARE coordinator for the 45 Middlesex County DARE officers. Ronald Dixon (D) Dixon has lived in Milltown for four years. He is retired from the position of lieutenant investigator with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. He serves as post commander of American Legion Joyce Kilmer Post 25, a position he has held since 2003. He attended Glassboro State College for specialized training and is a graduate of the National Academy, FBI, 148th Class, 1987. In 1988 he was elected president of the National Drug Enforcement Officers Association Inc. and served three terms. He is a certified DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instructor and was the Middlesex County DARE coordinator for the 45 Middlesex County DARE officers. Farella: According to published reports, the Milltown municipal clerk stated that the council used $1.1 million in anticipated surplus from the electrical utility to offset the 2008 municipal budget. According to the 2007 Milltown audit report, the electrical utility surplus at the end of 2007 was $732,000. This means that the 2008, 70 percent utility rate increase, voted in by Republicans, raised $400,000 more than was needed to cover the actual utility costs. One of my first acts after being sworn in as a councilman will be to introduce an ordinance to recall the 70 percent rate increase and return that $400,000 to Milltown residents.

Michael J. Farella (D) Farella lived in Milltown from 1990 to 1995, and in early 2007 chose to move back to Milltown and bought the historical Lebar House. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1994 with a degree in administration of justice. Farella then attended the Ocean County Police Academy, graduating in 1995. He served as a police officer with the Allenhurst and Manasquan police depar tments. In 2001, Farella joined the Rutgers University Police Force, where he currently holds the rank of sergeant. At Rutgers, he commands a force of nine and is in charge of coordinating departmental training and instruction. Michael J. Farella (D) Farella lived in Milltown from 1990 to 1995, and in early 2007 chose to move back to Milltown and bought the historical Lebar House. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1994 with a degree in administration of justice. Farella then attended the Ocean County Police Academy, graduating in 1995. He served as a police officer with the Allenhurst and Manasquan police depar tments. In 2001, Farella joined the Rutgers University Police Force, where he currently holds the rank of sergeant. At Rutgers, he commands a force of nine and is in charge of coordinating departmental training and instruction. Harknett: 1) Keeping taxes down is most important. 2) I want to support a respectful plan for the Ford Avenue redevelopment. This eyesore has been there for too many years. An improved site will add to our tax base and increase the value of homes nearby. It must, however, be the right plan. 3) Serious examination of our firehouse situation and following through on the right plan is important to me and many of those that I have spoken to on this issue. 4) Full investigation of shared services with other communities is also needed. Let’s do it only if it’s right for Milltown.

Thomas Harknett (R) Harknett, 57, has a wife, Joan, and two children, Alison, 29, and Daniel, 25, as well as one grandchild, Nora, 10 weeks old. He is an engineer and manager and has lived in Milltown for 20 years. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in civil engineering and a master's degree in engineering. He is vice chairman of the Milltown Planning Board and past chairman of the Milltown Zoning Board of Adjustment. He has volunteered for charitable projects with the Knights of Columbus, has assisted with coaching of softball and soccer, and has been involved with the Fourth of July Committee. Thomas Harknett (R) Harknett, 57, has a wife, Joan, and two children, Alison, 29, and Daniel, 25, as well as one grandchild, Nora, 10 weeks old. He is an engineer and manager and has lived in Milltown for 20 years. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in engineering. He is vice chairman of the Milltown Planning Board and past chairman of the Milltown Zoning Board of Adjustment. He has volunteered for charitable projects with the Knights of Columbus, has assisted with coaching of softball and soccer, and has been involved with the Fourth of July Committee. The municipal and utilities budgets have been a major point of contention in recent years. What approach do you think the town should take toward stabilizing taxes?

Citro: We need to continue to look for creative ways to keep costs down and increase non-tax revenues. Exploration of additional grants must be pursued. Every expenditure needs to be evaluated, and if there are excesses, cuts need to be considered. Unfortunately, the rate that the borough pays for electricity increased at 100 percent last year. We need to renew the utility surplus to take care of repairs, equipment, etc., while looking for ways to relieve the cost burden on the residents, but not at the expense of simply taking money from elsewhere and then making up the rest by raising taxes.

Dixon: In 2008, the council sold a property for $119,000, used the 2007 municipal surplus of $500,000, and transferred $1.1 million in surplus from the utility to offset their 2008 budget, and yet they still had to raise taxes 7.8 cents. This is a clear example of bad budgeting and mismanagement of Milltown tax dollars. We must change the culture of our municipal budget practice by setting realistic projections, exploring grants and municipal funding programs, creating incentives for volunteer services, and finding budget cuts through comprehensive review and tough decision-making.

Farella: For years, Milltown was able to “hold the line” on property taxes. In 2008, property taxes are being increased by 7.8 cents, which, along with the 70 percent utility rate hike, has raised the annual cost of living by $700 for the average homeowner in Milltown. This is unacceptable. We believe that the problem may be remedied through responsible setting of initial budget projections; a review of current spending and expenses, state aid and grant programs; and exploration of available alternative grant and municipal funding programs.

Harknett: To me, lowering taxes by raising utility costs makes no sense. This never should have happened in 2007. It did. Now we are faced with fixing the old problem with reduced funding from Trenton. Methods to reduce costs need to be reviewed and fully examined. This is why I have requested the mayor and council to set up a bipartisan committee to study the utility issue in Milltown. There is no reason why a similar committee can’t be formed for taxes. With others involved, we can open our minds to more ideas and perhaps find a cheaper or better solution.

What do you think the governing body has done right, or wrong, over the past couple of years?

Citro: Over the past couple of years, the governing body has, at times, not been attentive enough to details, especially regarding Ford Avenue, which has not served the residents well. There has been too much partisan politics and not enough collective thought and cooperation by both parties. Raiding the utility surplus two years ago to tout “no tax increase” was particularly shortsighted and irresponsible, leaving no cushion whatsoever to help the residents absorb the recent spike in electricity costs. The current council has shown creativity and hard work to minimize the effects of reduced state aid and hold costs down.

Dixon: In 2008, the Republicans have raised property taxes, implemented a 70 percent utility rate increase, and had no meaningful movement on the Ford Avenue Redevelopment Project. Mr. Harknett and Mr. Citro are campaigning that they “will continue the progress.” This is not progress, in my view. Milltown needs real change, not more of the same, and that is why I ask the residents of Milltown for their vote. down in Milltown, because I had such fond memories of spending time here with my grandparents, Lucy and Jerry Photinatos. My excitement turned to frustration in 2008 when I saw my electric bill skyrocket when the Republicans raised the rates by 70 percent so that they could create a surplus to offset their 2008 municipal budget. Then I found out that even with $532,000 surplus from the 2007 municipal budget and $1.1 million from the utility surplus, the council still had to raise taxes 7.8 cents. In my view, that is just plain wrong.

Harknett: The recent council appears to be discussing issues openly, although those choosing not to run for re-election seem to be disengaged, and this detracts from the council’s mission. Open discussion allows a greater appreciation that full examination is occurring when necessary. Prior councils seemed to have had a script they followed, without room for change in position. They seemed to have known better than us. I didn’t think so. In our democratic form of government, we are not always going to agree on all the issues. This is fine. Hearing differences of views is just the way it should be.