By: centraljersey.com
MONTGOMERY – Two new Township Committee members, Republicans Ed Trzaska and Patricia Graham, will officially begin their three-year terms at the committee’s annual reorganization meeting at 7 p.m. Monday.
Although the areas of focus for the new members have been discussed, Ms. Graham said, they will be officially announced at the reorganization meeting Monday.
"As in years past, Township Committee members will take responsibility as liaisons to various boards and commissions," Mayor Mark Caliguire said. "I will continue to serve on the Planning Board, as will Deputy Mayor (Kacey) Dyer."
"I am very excited to join the Township Committee this year," Mr. Trzaska said. "We have challenges, but also the opportunity to shape and improve our quality of life for years to come. It will be a privilege to serve with Mark, Kacey, Thom, and Pat. All bring to the table a true dedication to Montgomery and wonderful ideas to ensure that it remains one of the most attractive towns in New Jersey." "As we spoke about throughout the campaign," Mr. Trzaska said, "our main goals are to hold the line on municipal taxes and protect Montgomery’s rural character. The new 2 percent property tax cap is a big step forward for towns, but it does present challenges. Revenues are tight, so spending will have to be reduced. Also, our day-to-day operations must become more efficient. This includes pursuing opportunities to share services with the county and neighboring towns."
"This is a challenging time at all levels of government in New Jersey," Mayor Caliguire said. "Property taxes are already too high, and we need to continue to do more with less. Last year we cut spending to 2004 levels in order to avoid any tax increase, and we will continue to control spending. "Given the seriousness of our statewide budget woes we will have to be creative going forward in how we deliver municipal services," Mayor Caliguire said. "Business as usual will not suffice."
"I wholeheartedly agree with Gov. Christie’s 2 percent cap, and we will do what it takes to live within it," Mayor Caliguire said. "But it won’t be easy since we have already made so many cuts the last couple of years. In order to do so we will continue to look for efficiencies and to share services with other municipalities and with Somerset County."
"Regarding Montgomery’s rural character, I grew up in a nearby town that was full of open space and farmland," Mr. Trzaska said. "Sadly, this changed during the development explosion of the 1990’s and it is now a much different place. I moved to Montgomery after graduate school because it reminded me of what my old hometown used to be. The beauty and openness of this area must endure for future generations. As such, we will continue to aggressively preserve open space and farmland and work closely with Somerset County to create the ideal Skillman Park."
Mayor Caliguire is also looking forward to working with Somerset County. "I am confident it will be tremendous resources for Montgomery residents for generations to come," he said. "It is not only consistent with our town’s longstanding commitment to open space preservation, but we will also reduce our debt significantly as a result of the sale of the site to the county."
The outgoing committee members are Democrats Louise Wilson and Brad Fay. Ms. Wilson served as the mayor from 2002 to 2006 and in 2009. She has been a member of the Township Committee since 2001. Mr. Fay has served on the Township Committee since 2006.

