Republican Contract With Piscataway
As citizens of Piscataway seeking election to the Mayor's Office and Township Council, we propose to change Township policy and to restore the bonds of trust between the residents of Piscataway and their elected representatives.
To that end, we offer no posturing or evasion but rather, a detailed agenda for municipal renewal via this written contract with no fine print.
This year's election offers Piscataway the opportunity, after four decades of single-party control, to bring to the Township a new municipal government that will transform the way that government conducts its business on your behalf. This historic change would bring to an end a government that answers to county and state political bosses and spends your hard-earned money too freely. It can be the beginning of a governing body that finally begins to ease your tax burden while increasing service.
Within the first 100 days of the 2009 calendar year, we shall bring to the Council floor the following resolutions, each to be given full and open debate, each to be given a clear and fair vote and each to be immediately available this day for public inspection and scrutiny.
- Property Tax Stabilization: Because Piscataway residents are overburdened by taxes, we will lead the fight to cap spending and stabilize your property taxes by eliminating unnecessary and wasteful spending.
- Pay-To-Play Resolution: We will pass comprehensive "pay-to-play" restrictions so that your municipal officials answer to you, the voter, and not political party leaders and donors.
- Open Government Resolution: We believe in an open government and will televise all Township Council meetings on Piscataway Community Television. We will also post Meeting Minutes on the Township Website the day following each meeting. Finally, we will bring one Township Council meeting per year to each of the four wards in Piscataway, to bring government directly to you.
- Term Limit Resolution: We believe that lifetime membership in municipal government leads to corruption and waste; therefore, we will create a referendum for the next election to give you the ability to pass term limit laws allowing for mayors to serve no more than two consecutive terms as mayor and council members to serve no more than three consecutive terms on the township council.
- Eminent Domain Resolution: Your home is your sanctuary and we believe that the government has no right to seize your property to turn it over to private developers. We will craft eminent domain rules to protect your home from politicians who want to sell your property in the name of "progress."
- Fair Compensation Resolution: Last year, the Mayor and Council approved a 27% increase in your municipal tax, part of which went to pay raises for the Mayor and Council members. In fact, the mayor's salary has more than doubled in eight years, starting at $17,000 in the year 2000 and increasing to $41,328 in 2008. We will not allow any elected officials to fatten their bank accounts by plundering yours and will cut the salaries of the Mayor and Council by 20%, then freeze them for the next four years.
- Township Vehicle Elimination: Some township vehicles assigned for personal use by designated employees may be unnecessary. We will sell all vehicles for which there is no legitimate need, starting with the mayor's vehicle(s). In addition to revenue generated through sales, the township will save on gas, insurance and maintenance.
- Consolidation Resolution: We will work with the Board of Education to consolidate services and bulk purchases to save the Township and the Board of Education money which will help stabilize your taxes.
- Tax Consolidation Resolution: Presently, citizens of Piscataway pay a $190 sewer fee in addition to their property tax. We resolve to add the $190 fee to your property taxes which will eliminate the cost of mailing and processing the fee while allowing you to gain the benefit of having that fee count toward your state property tax rebate.
- Trash Collection Resolution: Presently, citizens of Piscataway pay anywhere from $300 to $500 annually for private trash collection. We resolve to investigate a less expensive alternative to the present system of collecting trash.
- Green Resolution: Last year Mayor Wahler and his Council spent hundreds of thousands of dollars re-roofing Police Headquarters and the Library but failed to install solar panels. We believe that the Township should work with the state and PSEG - both of whom give grants for the installation of solar panels - to install solar panels on as many township buildings as possible in an effort to cut down on energy costs and make Piscataway a cleaner, greener, community.
Respecting the judgment of our fellow citizens as we seek their mandate for reform, we hereby pledge our names to this Contract With Piscataway:
Joseph C. Schilp, Jr. | Candidate for Mayor
Gene Bozzo | Candidate for Township Council
Jan Braverman | Candidate for Township Council
Sean Moran | Candidate for Township Council