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JAMESBURG: Kostbar, Carpenter start new terms on council

By David Kilby, Staff Writer
   JAMESBURG — Democratic Councilman Otto Kostbar and Democratic Councilwoman Barbara Carpenter were sworn in and began their new three-year terms at the borough’s reorganization meeting Wednesday.
   Mr. Kostbar and Ms. Carpenter defeated Republican candidates Corrine Larsen and Shannon Spillane in last November’s elections. Ms. Carpenter was elected to her fourth term on the council. Mr. Kostbar was on the council from 1999 to 2009.
   The council unanimously voted Mr. Kostbar as president of the council.
   Mr. Kostbar said the main issue the borough faces is the municipal budget.
   ”We have to try and find a way to fit the 2 percent cap and keep property taxes down,” he said. “We understand there may be some significant increases with the school budget as well due to the new (Monroe) high school.”
   He added, “As we go forward, I want to make our government as transparent as possible, and I hope to get the people involved as much as possible.”
   Ms. Carpenter said she will pursue more shared services with area towns to help Jamesburg get through tough economic times, and she also hopes to receive more input from the public.
   ”We want to be a more open government this year,” she said. “We want to get the townspeople more involved. Residents have a right to know what’s going on.”
   She added, “I am extremely grateful for all the residents in Jamesburg for having confidence in me.”
   At the meeting, Mayor Anthony LaMantia also made his appointments for the year.
   Bernard Long was appointed as the mayor’s representative to the Middlesex County Housing and Community Development Program Committee for 2011.
   Mr. Kostbar, Ms. Carpenter and police Chief Martin Horvath were appointed as the mayor’s representatives to the Middlesex County Transportation Coordinating Committee for 2011.
   Councilman Pat Connelly was appointed as the mayor’s representative to the Monroe Township Utilities Authority for 2011.
   Councilwoman Brenda Deans was appointed as the mayor’s representative to the Middlesex County Solid Waste Advisory Committee for 2011.
   Councilwoman Daria Ludas and Councilman Thomas Busco were appointed as the mayor’s representatives to the Lower Raritan-Middlesex County Water Resources Association and as the borough’s representatives to the South Central Middlesex County Flood Control Commission.
   Mayor LaMantia and Business Administrator Denise Jawidzik were appointed as alternate representatives of that same commission.
   Mr. Kostbar and Ms. Carpenter were appointed as the mayor’s representatives to the Route 1 Regional Growth Strategy Committee for 2011.
   Ms. Carpenter also was appointed as the mayor’s representative to the Jamesburg Public Library board of trustees for 2011.
   Brian Wright was appointed as a member of the Land Use Board for a term that expires Dec. 31.
   Sandy Sussman and Jon Kelty were appointed to the Land Use Board for terms that expire Dec. 31, 2014.
   Joseph Howard was appointed as an alternate member of the Land Use Board for a term that expires Dec. 31.
   The Jamesburg Council also made its appointments while changing and adding to its committees.
   The council changed the name of the Finance Committee to Finance/Grants and Infrastructure Committee so it’s understood the committee oversees small grants and projects such as those for curbs and sidewalks, Ms. Carpenter said.
   The chairman of the committee is Mr. Kostbar, and the members are Ms. Deans and Mr. Busco.
   The council also established an Ethics Committee chaired by Ms. Deans with councilmen Kostbar and Greg Newton as members.
   The council also merged the Public Works and Buildings and Grounds Committees and added the Buckelew House to the list of things the committee oversees. Mr. Busco is the chairman of the committee, and the members are Ms. Ludas, Mayor LaMantia and Joseph Intravartola, the Department of Public Works foreman.
   ”We’ve put some thought into it,” Councilman Kostbar said. “We think we can work well with these committees.”
   The council also re-appointed the members of its other committees.
   For the Police Committee, the commissioner is Ms. Deans, and the members are Mr. Kostbar, Ms. Carpenter and Mr. Horvath.
   For the Personnel and Policy Committee, Mr. Newton is chairman, and Mr. Kostbar and Ms. Carpenter are members.
   For the Public Events Committee, Ms. Carpenter is chairwoman, and Mr. Newton and Mr. Busco are members.
   For the Education Committee, Ms. Ludas is chairwoman, and Mr. Newton is a member.
   For the Public Safety Committee, which includes the First Aid Squad and Fire Department, Ms. Ludas is chairwoman, and Mayor LaMantia and Mr. Busco are members.