Peter Brown, a candidate for the Third Ward Council seat, Rhashonna Cosby Hurling, a candidate for the Fifth Ward Council seat, and myself were the only candidates to attend, and answer questions from constituents and residents.

The venue has been a valid and well-attended stop during this campaign season – hosting a Primary Election candidate’s debate, and a Mayoral and Council President candidate’s debate only two weeks ago. Mayor Gerbounka and Council President candidate John Miliano faced off against Derek Armstead and James Moore at that event.

Tonight was the opportunity for all candidates running for Council to introduce themselves, present their platform and views on important city issues, and answer questions from city residents.

My opponent didn’t think it was necessary to attend, and it makes me wonder why. It was disrespectful to the event host, and disrespectful to those whose votes he seeks.

Why pass up the opportunity to face potential voters? Why pass up the opportunity to present your platform, and what you plan to offer the Second Ward and the city? Why pass up the opportunity to face your opponent one-on-one in a public forum.

Why?

Is this how he expects to treat the Second Ward residents and homeowners?

It’s easy to pass out a flier and put a sign on a lawn, but another thing to present yourself personally, share your ideas, offer solutions, etc. The two names on the lawn-sign with Mr.Krupski presented themselves at this debate forum (Mayor Gerbounka and John Miliano) – why didn’t Mr. Krupski?

Second Ward residents, and Linden residents want to know.

The funding had to be realized, and the budget had to be adopted.

Currently, every major city department is below complement, including our public safety forces. But ever increasing salaries, pension contributions, and double-digit increase healthcare benefits are strangling us financially. We simply do not have the commercial/industrial ratable income base we once had as a city to sustain the level of spending to which we were accustomed.

This will not happen again.

Next year will see drastic change in Linden municipal government.

Council cannot, and will not burden the resident/homeowner like this again.

Tables of organization for every municipal department will be carefully evaluated and modified to match positions with necessary services, and eliminate duplicate and unnecessary positions through consolidation and attrition.

Outsourcing of every service and position will be seriously considered.

And layoff plans, which takes over 100 days notice to each department to become effective, will be put into place so that we can adjust the complement of personnel to meet budgetary needs.

The tenure of the current Personnel and Finance Chairman ends in January, as will this infamous chapter in our city’s history.

In my opinion, this budget was mismanaged by the committee, with little outside input considered in it’s creation and building process.

Services will most likely be impacted, but emphasis will be to balance city services, with a leaner more effective workforce, which will bring greater value to Linden’s taxpayers.

If returned to Council in November, I have made clear my desire to each of the two individuals who will become our next mayor, to serve as a member of the Personnel and Finance Committee. Through innovative thinking and an aggressive agenda of departmental consolidation and downsizing, we will bring in a responsible budget, and gain back the trust of Linden’s residents.

Last week we sat in a meeting for over two hours rehashing benefits to part-time personnel, which we have been talking about for over two years. We’re treating this as some sort of symbolic victory, which will save the city money, but nowhere near what further consolidation and departmental restructuring can save us.  If we’re not going to be bold enough to publicly propose innovative savings, then why consider them at all?

We have to fast-track ssignificant savings initiatives so that we can realize savings next year. I will personally take the intiative to work with the respective committee chairs, and forward additonal consolidation plans which I outlined last month. And these are not new – the Consolidation Committee identified areas for savings three years ago, and most of the recommendations went nowhere. I ask Council to get on board, let’s work to get intelligent municipal consolidation plans moving forward. Anyone who would like a copy of my proposals and/or the consolidation report of 3 years ago, can e-mail me or visit my website. Sometimes by putting the cart before thehorse, you raise awareness, and get the ball rolling.

August 16th, 2010

1.  Engineering Department Report

–  The resurfacing of Cedar Avenue from Wood Avenue to Clinton Street, W. 11th Street from Wood Avenue to Winans Avenue, E. Henry Street from Chandler Avenue to St. Marks Street, Miner Terrace from Knopf Street to Blancke Street and E. Blancke Street from McCandless Street to Lincoln Street is anticipated to start this week and should be completed by August 31.

–  A preconstruction meeting for our 2 state aid streets; Dewitt Terrace from St. Georges Avenue to Swarthmore Road and E. Linden Avenue from Wood Avenue easterly is scheduled for August 19th.  Construction should start in September.

–  Bids were received on August 10th for the Resurfacing of Seventeenth Street park and the Resurfacing of Jackson Ave., Maple Ave., E. Henry Street, Fay Ave., West Munsell Ave. West 19th Street, Bergen Avenue and Garfield Street. These improvements will begin in September.

–  Construction is currently taking place for the removal of abandoned railroad tracks on W. Elizabeth Avenue and W. Blancke Street.  Traffic will be detoured around the area and construction will take 2 days.  The project was funded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

–  Resolution #253 on tonight’s agenda authorizes an agreement with Union County to modify an Interlocal Services Agreements to include information relative to the Union County Block Grant Program and Home Investment Partnership Program for fiscal year 2010-2011.

–  The West Elizabeth Avenue storm sewer construction project will soon be bid. We are waiting on a few pre-bid documents and we can proceed.

– United Lacquer Property: The progress of our current consultant relative to the United Lacquer property, is in my opinion, not acceptable. There’s a lack of urgency on their part which needs to be addressed. I’m requesting their presence at the next Engineering Committee meeting to identify why the progress of this project through Trenton is so deliberate.

2.  Department of Public Works

–  West Brook Clean-Up and Maintenance in the Second Ward – Scheduled to begin soon

3.  Public PropertyDepartment

–  I’d like to commend Al MacDonald and those members of the Public Property Department who made the extra effort to clean and rehabilitate Bauer Promenade. Two weeks ago I attended a concert and noticed very visible neglect and lack of care and attention. I brought this to the Mayor’s and Mr. MacDonald’s attention through some photographs and in less than a week, the promenade was cleaned of debris and litter, gardens weeded and re-mulched, and the cascading water feature which was not operable and filled with filthy, stagnent water, was cleaned, repaired and working in time for national Night Out last Tuesday. Thanks to everyone involved for their extra efforts.

4.  Planning Board

–   At the September 14th meeting the Planning Board, persuant to a judge’s order, will conduct a hearing to clarify the validity of two previously passed Council resolutions, whether the Duke property is to be developed as “Planned commercial development” in accordance with the Municipal Land Use Law or to be developed persuant to conventional zoning.

5.  Second Ward Specific

–   Water main replacement has been taking place on the 300, 400 and 500 blocks of Ainsworth Street this month. The contractor has been notified twice to clean the street of excessive dirt and debris, and to properly clean all streets upon completion of the project. The Brook Street easement has again been used to store vehicles and equipment. If any residents see problems with the cleanliness of the road, contact the Engineering Department or me.

–   Aggresive enforcement has been in effect on West Elizabeth Avenue, where commercial vehicles illegally block traffic to maneuver into business loading docks and encroach onto private property causing property damage. Street signage in the area hasa been updated to reflect current ordinaces, to deter trucks from idleing for extended periods of time and blocking traffic.

Municipal Budget Specific

Last night at Council Caucus I received criticism by some for publicly presenting some cost-saving ideas during my report last month and in a published editorial, for putting the proverbial cart before the horse. Every councilperson was asked by the Personnel and Finance Committee and Mayor to bring forth ways to help balance the budget, which I did. And these are not new – the Consolidation Committee of which I chaired  three years ago identified areas for savings, and most of the recommendations went nowhere. I’m quite honestly tired of those who consistently preach, “We have to do something…” but bring very little innovative thinking to the table themselves. Maybe if some of these ideas were seriously considered 3 years ago, we may not be in the financial situation we are now.

Last week we sat in a meeting for over two hours rehashing benefits to part-time personnel, which we have been talking about for over two years. We’re treating this as some sort of symbolic victory, which will save the city money, but nowhere near what further consolidation and departmental restructuring can save us.

If we’re not going to be bold enough to publicly propose innovative savings, then why consider them at all?

We have to fast-track ssignificant savings initiatives so that we can realize savings next year. I will personally take the intiative to work with the respective committee chairs, and forward additonal consolidation plans which I outlined last month. And these are not new – the Consolidation Committee identified areas for savings three years ago, and most of the recommendations went nowhere. I ask Council to get on board, let’s work to get intelligent municipal consolidation plans moving forward. Anyone who would like a copy of my proposals and/or the consolidation report of 3 years ago, can e-mail me or visit my website.

Sometimes by putting the cart before thehorse, you raise awareness, and get the ball rolling.

Mention:

–  Linden Summer Music Festival, August 21 · 11:00am – 10:00pm. – Memorial Field Complex, South Wood Avenue Performances by: Human Wheels • Prestige Worldwide • Street Hassle • Matt Koziol BandAdmission is only $10, and event proceeds will benefit Linden Recreation Department Programs.

– I had the pleasure of attending National Night Out Against Crime last Tuesday at the Bauer Promenade and thanks to the Linden Police Department for a great program and their continued efforts to promote neighborhood spirit and police/community partnerships.

–  Linden September to Remember Street Festival, Classic Car ShowSaturday, September 4th, 11:00AM to 7:00PM. Wood Avenue and adjacent blocks in front of City Hall. I’ll allow the Mayor to speak about the event in more detail.

To reach me with your thoughts and comments, and to keep up to date with city and Second Ward information, log onto Councilmankoziol.com, or find me on Facebook at Linden Councilman Richard Koziol, or call me at 862-6820.