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BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP: Incumbents discuss local game plan

By David Kilby, Special Writer
   BORDENTOWN — Deputy Mayor Michael Dauber and Committeeman John Moynihan are working to keep their seats on the Bordentown Township Committee this election as they pair up against their Democratic challengers Kershaw Weston and Stephen Benowitz.
   Deputy Mayor Dauber, a Republican, is on the Development-Redevelopment Sub-Committee and the Shared Services Sub-Committee.
   He is also department liaison to Public Works, Finance, Police, Administration, and the court.
   In the Bordentown community, Mr. Dauber is a member of the Knights of Columbus and a life member of the American Legion, and a coach for the Bordentown Community Soccer Association.
   He was elected in 2009, was mayor last year and is a former vice president of payroll operations for Merrill Lynch.
   Mr. Dauber, from Yorktown Road, said one of the main issues the committee will face in the next three years is keeping Bordentown affordable.
   ”While the past two years have been challenging for the township mainly due to reduced revenues and paying nearly $3 million in tax appeals, we have taken corrective actions, which have netted positive results for the township in 2012.”
   If re-elected, Mr. Dauber said he will make sure the township begins to repair and upgrade the township’s facilities and infrastructure, including streets, storm drains, Public Works and recreation, while increasing services to residents.
   Mr. Dauber also said it’s important to “continue to bring smart balanced development to Bordentown to increase our ratables.”
   He said shared services are important in helping achieve the township’s goals.
   ”Through shared services with our neighbors, Sewer Authority and school district, we can cut cost in the respective budgets as well as creating new revenue sources,” Mr. Dauber said.
   ”We have been in discussion with the school district for snow plowing, janitorial services, landscaping and garbage collection,” Mr. Dauber stated. “We have sent Fieldsboro a proposal on sharing our already shared Municipal Court and police services, (and) we have the police merger study with the city, that is still pending and will need to be revisited.
   He also emphasized the importance of smart and balanced development.
   ”We added $9 million during 2010 and 2011 and between the Team 85 and Phase 1 Waterfront we will have $100 million under construction,” Mr. Dauber said. “We continue to meet with perspective developers and land owners for areas throughout the township and will continue to work with our current projects to ensure their success.”
   He said the township continues to be conservative with its cost and expenditures.
   ”Thorough shared services and job reassignments, we have been able to reduce our salary and related expenses by 18.87 percent,” Mr. Dauber said.
   But he also added that the township has between $22 and $30 million dollars in facilities and infrastructure repairs needed in town.
   ”The conventional method of funding these would be to incur new tax payer funded debt,” he said. “We plan to use the Waterfront PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) revenue to fund these upcoming projects.”
   The committee plans to net around $80 million from the Waterfront Redevelopment Project, he said.
   Mr. Moynihan, a Republican, is a member of the Planning Board and the Veterans Advisory Committee, and is committee liaison to the Public Works Department and Senior Citizen Affairs. He is president of the Bordenshire Crossing Homeowners Association and a member of several trade and professional organizations in the field of renewable energy.
   In July Mr. Moynihan replaced Republican Anita DiMattia, who relocated out of the township. The committee chose Mr. Moynihan from three people selected by the Burlington County Republican Party, the other two being Jerry Boyer and Richard Carson.
   Prior to being appointed to the committee this summer, Mr. Moynihan ran for election in 2011.
   He is the operations manager for a New Jersey based solar and energy installation company and has worked on approximately 200 solar energy projects.
   ”I want to represent the taxpayers of Bordentown Township and make sure their best interests are served,” Mr. Moynihan said. “I will use my private sector business experience to streamline township operations and ensure our residents receive the maximum value from their tax dollars.”
   He said the number one issue in Bordentown is property taxes.
   ”We need to keep Bordentown Township an affordable place to live by taking a hard look at all the items that contribute to our tax bills,” Mr. Moynihan said.
   Commercial ratables and efficient government are also important, he said.
   ”Our township has to attract clean commercial ratables that will be good neighbors and help balance our property tax base,” Mr. Moynihan said.
   ”We need to concentrate on providing essential services in the most cost effective manner.”
   Voting polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6. Residents in Districts One and Seven will vote at the township hall at 1 Municipal Dr. Residents in Districts Four, Five and Eight will vote in the Senior Community Center near Township Hall. Residents in Districts Two and Three will vote in the Mission Firehouse on Groveville Road, and residents in District Six will vote in the Northern Community Park Pavilion on Groveville Road.
For more information regarding Election Day and voting districts, call Township Hall at 609-298-2800.