To the editor:
For years now the Hillsborough Township Committee has been composed of all Republicans. Five Republican members have been responsible for the running of Hillsborough, as well as the appointment of all significant commissions and boards.
The results have been disastrous for Hillsborough and our future. Today we have more businesses closing, terrible shopping inconveniences, increased traffic, no implementation of our Town Center Plan with a walkable main street and a complete lack of a comprehensive economic plan and vision for the Hillsborough we give to our children.
Each year, the Republican Township Committee appoints one of their own sitting members as “mayor,” as if our residents are electing our “mayor” as a deception on our voters. In reality our mayor is appointed annually by the Township Committee.
More importantly, the Republicans brag about how they are running Hillsborough as a business, yet each year they have continually raised our taxes.
Our Video, “Why?” shares the concerns of the residents of Hillsborough asreceived by our Democratic candidates as they have walked and talked withour residents. The Video can be viewed on YouTube and is posted on www.hillsboroughdemocrats2012.com.
The video shows one of our candidates, Mike Goldberg, in an informalchat with a Hillsborough resident as some of the following questions are raised:
Isn’t the posting of an important position such as township administrator a good due diligence business practice? If so, why did the Republican Township Committee not adhere to such good business practices, and instead of ensuring the best candidate was selected, simply give the position to one of their own republicans.
Isn’t it a good business practice to have a hiring process that ensures the Township residents of hiring transparencies? If so, why did the Republican Township Committee not adhere to such good business practices by either following a good hiring practice or having any appropriate hiring procedures? These questions have gone unanswered by the all-Republican Township Committee.
Why is there is no independent thought or intellectual conversations emanating from our Township Committee? All of their statements appear scripted.
Why did the Township Committee not seek input from all Hillsborough residents on the police consolidation issue that is so critical to our budget and safety concerns? Other local towns did.
Why has the Township Committee not pursued the Township Center plan laid out since 2004? Downtown Hillsborough is slipping further away as a possibility. Why has the Township Committee not developed a comprehensive economic plan to increase our township’s ratables and attract viable businesses? This would take planning of the type we have not seen in years.
Why are the 40 acres at the GSA site purchased by Hillsborough through bonding still not developed? More than talk, we need action and now.
Why has the position of Business Advocate and its impact not been reevaluated and the reevaluation shared with our residents?
Perhaps the all-Republican Township Committee believes that it is good business when it is ignoring the local employers and retail customers, our residents. We disagree. Failure to set a vision and show appreciable movement towards a better future is not good business practices.
You be the judge with your vote this November. Mike and Jim Farley call for the immediate establishment of a Hillsborough Future planning conference on our town center and economic revival. This task force must be composed of bipartisan stakeholders and residents reflecting the diversity and varied interests and needs of our community. We need to set a new course now.
Our Democratic candidates for Township Committee need your vote to balance the deafening silence of our all-Republican Township Committee.
Maureen Vella
Aldo Martinez
Co-campaign Managers
for Goldberg/Farley 2012

