ELECTION 2011
By Jane Meggitt, Special Writer
UPPER FREEHOLD The only member of the all-Republican Township Committee running for re-election this year faces no opposition on the ballot.
Robert Frascella, 47, is seeking his second term on the five-member municipal governing body. Dr. Frascella, a dentist, is married with two children and resides in the Woods at Cream Ridge development.
No Democrats filed to run for the seat, which is for a three-year term.
When asked about important issues facing the township, Dr. Frascella pointed to the need for the municipal governing body to continue keeping a close watch on how taxpayers’ money is spent.
”We’re very cautious in how we spend taxpayer money on things that aren’t absolutely necessary,” Dr. Frascella said.
Dr. Frascella noted that at the Oct. 13 Township Committee meeting, for example, the township saved a “couple of thousand dollars” by deciding to have a volunteer run the community basketball program this season. Previously, that job had been a paid position.
During his term on the committee, Dr. Frascella has consistently voted against spending any money to comply with the directives of the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH). COAH was eliminated Aug. 29, by Gov. Chris Christie, who transferred affordable housing functions to the Department of Community Affairs.
Dr. Frascella cites with satisfaction a Sept. 8 letter that DCA sent to the township’s COAH planner, Richard Coppola, regarding Upper Freehold’s prior request of a stay of its third-round COAH affordable housing obligation.
The DCA letter states that due to an Oct. 8, 2010 court decision invalidating the third-round rules and a Dec. 8, 2010 COAH resolution, it will refrain from further review of municipal third-round plans and, therefore, the township does not need to request a stay of that growth-share obligation.
COAH’s invalidated growth-share methodology had based a municipality’s affordable housing obligation on the number of new market-rate housing units and nonresidential units being built there. Third-round rules covering the years 2004-2018, had required a one affordable unit to be built for every five market-rate units built, and one affordable unit to be built for every 16 jobs created.
On Aug. 4, Upper Freehold changed its land use regulations by adopting an ordinance that permits an “Inclusionary Housing Development” to be built on its border with Allentown. The site, known as the Stein property, will help the township meet its prior second-round COAH affordable housing obligation.
Dr. Frascella noted that the five current members of the governing body work well together in dealing with the business of the township, and are generally “on the same page.” He added, “We agree to disagree on some items.”