By David Sandhal, Hopewell Township
When Harvey Lester switched parties to nominate himself as mayor of Hopewell Township early this year, his stated reasons for the change were not clear.
What is now clear, however, is the direction of his decisions as mayor, which include more spending, higher taxes and no plan to meet state Supreme Court-mandated affordable housing requirements.
His is a costly and risky path for Hopewell Township taxpayers.
The budget adopted by Mayor Lester and his fellow Republicans on May 11 (“Democrats object, but budget is OK’d,” HVN on May 14, 2015 ) increases spending by nearly 9 percent over the prior year, the largest increase in Hopewell Township in over a decade.
Although the increase is partially papered over by one-time savings and draining township financial reserves, local municipal property taxes will increase, and the higher spending level, if not reversed, will cost township taxpayers tens of millions over the coming decade.
At the same Township Committee meeting, Mayor Lester was asked what his plan is for meeting the Supreme Court affordable housing requirements. His reply: that he hopes the court will “not get to” Hopewell Township, was unwise and exposes our township to additional scrutiny not only by the courts, but by developers given standing as interested parties.
The stance of the mayor is the opposite of generations of township officials, who preserved local control of land use planning by sensibly anticipating state affordable housing requirements.
Although voters did not have a choice in Mr. Lester becoming mayor in January, they will on Nov. 3. From what we have seen, he should not be returned to office.
David Sandahl
Hopewell Township
