implementing an immediate municipal employee hiring freeze;

On January 1, 2008, Mayor Hornik directed Marlboro's Business Administrator, Alayne Shepler, to immediately implement an across the board municipal hiring freeze. (Jan. 31)

discontinuing wasteful litigations commenced by Town’s prior administration;

With the assistance of the township attorney, we have diligently moved forward in our promise to cut legal fees and discontinue wasteful litigation.  In fact, our legal professionals have agreed to lower fees and have provided us with caps for legal services. We have successfully resolved employment litigation lawsuits that were filed against prior administrations, and are currently negotiating settlements with several active litigants in land use and municipal law matters.  To prevent incurring additional future expenses, I have successfully negotiated stays on several internal lawsuits, pending the police department audit.

actively seeking an experienced municipal grant writer who prefers to be paid on a commission basis;

We expect to shortly retain an experienced municipal grant writer, Patriot Associates, which has agreed to be compensated substantially on a contingency basis.    The firm will not only identify municipal grants for which Marlboro is eligible to apply, but will also prepare the grant application and oversee the entire application submission process.  The receipt of grant monies in the future to fund many municipal programs will defray municipal expenses, thereby reducing the need to increase your taxes. (Mar 17)

soliciting independent professional consultants to conduct a comprehensive review of our government’s efficiency;

The New Jersey State Department of Community Affairs granted our application and has agreed to pay for and conduct a comprehensive audit of our police department, thereby saving our Town over $100,000.  The results of the audit will yield further savings to the Town in terms of improving efficiency in government. (Mar 17)

exploring bulk purchasing/shared service arrangements with neighboring Towns (e.g., garbage/bulk pick-up/solar power for our buildings);

Marlboro and Manalapan officials have met and begun exploring sharing the cost of road maintenance equipment and services, animal control, and use of the Swim Club). (Jan. 31)

insisting that there be “tangible evidence” underlying the reason why every tax dollar is spent;

I have worked with our Business Administrator, Alayne Shepler, our CFO, and the Township Council to insure that ALL appropriations for expenses are presented with proper documentation as to the exact cost and need for the item or service.  In addition, we have instituted a transparent proposal system for all vendors, including professionals, to insure that the Township receives the best quality service for the least amount of taxpayer funds.

preparing and presenting a municipal budget that is efficient and lean.

This year’s budget process is well under way and has revealed to me that while revenues have dropped substantially from last year, mandatory non-discretionary increases have put us over two million dollars behind our 2007 budget.  To help meet this challenge, I have instructed each of the department heads to reduce discretionary expenses without compromising the quality of our services.  During the next several weeks, I will be meeting with the individual departments to review the budgets in greater detail.  These meetings will include participation of the members of the Township Council, who will assist in assessing each department’s budget for 2008.  I am confident that utilizing this budget process, along with my commitment to increasing grant opportunities, and stimulating economic development, will stabilize our municipal taxes and provide the community with quality services and infrastructure.

re-constituting the Economic Development Committee, whose dual mandate will be to support our current small businesses and to encourage new/dynamic businesses to take root in Marlboro;

23 experienced business people were appointed by Mayor Hornik to comprise this group.  Their mandate is to ensure the long-term stabilization of residential property taxes. (Jan. 31)

exploring potential “public-private partnerships” that will allow our Town to “partner” with the private sector in order to leverage both public interests and private assets;

We have had several exploratory meetings with members of the private sector who are interested in bringing a state of the art wellness center to Marlboro, thereby increasing commercial ratables, and are willing to partner with us so that our residents can use this facility at discounted rates or at no cost. (Mar 17)

identifying which current or future Town programs and/or initiatives can alternatively be supported through the creation of private foundations and/or State funding;

 Our Community Events Committee is planning a special Green Day and  expects to receive State funding  that will allow us to promote a more conscientious use of our natural resources.  In addition, our  recently hired dedicated grant writer will be applying for more grants to benefit Marlboro.

holding the first of what will be periodic business lunches, to be attended by government representatives and local business owners/managers;

The first of our periodic business lunches will occur on April 8, 2008, from 12 pm to 2 pm at the Rec Center.  Representatives from all local businesses will be invited to meet with me and many of our elected leaders and appointed officials. (Mar 17)

exploring the potential benefits of an independent Redevelopment Agency.

Councilman LaRocca and Deputy Mayor Rosen attended seminars in Trenton to explore the creation of an independent Brownfield steering committee.  As a result, the newly formed and reconstituted Economic Development Committee has established a brownfields subcommittee to examine the needs of our community.  I am working with this committee, the township engineer, and planners, to investigate the benefits to Marlboro in establishing a formal committee to determine if it is best to designate specific Brownfield Development Areas (“BDA”) in town.  As stated on the DEP website, these are some of the benefits.

• Under this innovative approach, NJDEP works closely with the communities affected by multiple brownfields to design and implement remediation and reuse plans for these properties simultaneously, so that remediation and reuse can occur in a coordinated fashion. The BDA process provides a framework and resources to empower affected neighborhoods to address these difficult brownfields where additional assistance may be needed from all stakeholders, including developers, property owners and parties potentially responsible for the cleanup. It is important to note that the purpose of the BDA initiative is to help reuse of these properties.  In the selected BDAs, NJDEP will work closely with other involved agencies and offices, including the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) and the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Office of Smart Growth (OSG), to remediate and revitalize communities and neighborhoods, not just individual properties.

taking all steps necessary to protect Stattel Farm from residential development;

Councilman LaRocca and I met with representatives from COAH and informed them personally that Stattel Farm would not be part of our affordable housing plan.  As promised, I have also informed all parties, in writing, that we will not proceed with the proposed written agreement, presented to the prior administration, to develop this pristine section of our community.  We also met with the Stattel family to explore alternatives to residential development, which include the preservation of the farm as open space.

meeting with Monmouth County officials to identify viable options for the creation of a county park in Marlboro;

I recently met with Monmouth County officials and also received a letter from the County expressing interest in purchasing certain land in Marlboro for the creation of County Park.  Discussions are preliminary, but very positive. (Mar 17)

developing a COAH strategy that works for our Town;

Developing a comprehensive COAH strategy that works for our Town is critical.  We have therefore engaged our professional planners to work in conjunction with the State of New Jersey’s Smart Growth Program.  We have applied for a grant to defray the expenses of this State developed comprehensive program, and are cautiously optimistic that it will be awarded to us. (Mar 17)

meeting with State officials and issuing a status report regarding the State Hospital property;

I delivered a detailed status report to the community at the April 3, 2008, Township Council meeting.  In the report, I outlined the procedures discussed with the State as to the State’s agreement to cooperate with my administration for the sale and development of the Marlboro State Hospital Property.  In addition, on April 3, 2008, I received written confirmation that Marlboro Township officials will be permitted access to the property to conduct environmental testing that will be paid for with the proceeds of an HDSRF grant.

encouraging public-private partnerships for the construction and operation of recreational facilities at no or low cost to the Town;

We have had several exploratory meetings with members of the private sector who are interested in bringing an indoor sports complex to Marlboro, thereby increasing commercial ratables, and are willing to partner with us so that our residents can use this facilitity at discounted rates or at no cost. (Mar 17)

We are also in advanced discussions with several private businesses and are optimistic that we will soon commence construction of a public dog run in the municipal complex that will be funded largely by private sector contributions. (Apr 2)

pursuing viable grant opportunities that will help our Town preserve its open space;

In addition to retaining a professional grant writer at no hard cost to the township, my administration has, for the first time in Marlboro, applied for the following grants to help preserve and improve upon our open space:

• Smart Growth Future Panning Grant
  Smart Growth is the term used to describe well-planned, well-managed growth that adds new homes and creates new jobs, while preserving open space, farmland, and environmental resources. Smart Growth supports livable neighborhoods with a variety of housing types, price ranges and multi-modal forms of transportation. Smart Growth is an approach to land-use planning that targets the State’s resources and funding in ways that enhance the quality of life for residents in New Jersey. Smart Growth principles include mixed-use development, walkable town centers and neighborhoods, mass transit accessibility, sustainable economic and social development and preserved green space.  Marlboro will be utilizing this service, and grant, to address our affordable housing needs in a fashion that supports preservation of open space, improves recreation, and stimulates economic development, all with a low impact upon our taxpayers.
  
  
• Green Communities Challenge Grant
  In response to the passing of the New Jersey Shade Tree & Community Forestry Assistance Act in 1996, the New Jersey Community Forestry Program's 2008 Green Community Grants is awarded to communities for the development of comprehensive community forestry management plans. This grant allows a county or municipality to hire an outside firm to assist in the production of a community forestry management plan.  We are happy to report that based upon the good work of our newly reconstituted Shade Tree Commission, in 2008, Marlboro was awarded the maximum Green Community Grant possible.

In addition, we are in the process of developing future applications and perfecting previous grants from Green Acres for farmland preservation, recreational development, and open space acquisition.

• Green Acres Grants
  Green Acres has made grants and loans to municipal and county governments for open space acquisition and recreational development for the past thirty-eight years. Since 1989, Green Acres also has provided matching grants to nonprofit conservation organizations for open space acquisition.  These funds have been used to acquire additions to state parks, forests, natural areas, historic sites, and wildlife management areas and to develop park and recreational facilities within these state lands.  The Green Acres Program applies a priority system to its expenditures. For both Local & Nonprofit Funding program and the State Land Acquisition program (additions to state-owned open spaces), potential acquisition sites are evaluated based on a number of criteria. The land's environmental characteristics are among the most important, but there are many other considerations that determine whether a particular parcel of land will be preserved now or in the future.
  
  
• HDSRF Grants
  Municipalities can qualify for up to $3 million per year in total grant and loan assistance for all projects within their boundaries. Municipalities across the state use the HDSRF program to reclaim and restore sites. In addition, no matter what their size, they share two attributes that make them suitable for the program. They are believed to be environmentally damaged and they offer real opportunities for redevelopment if they can be cleaned up.  We are currently perfecting the $130,000.00 HDSRF grant for environmental testing of the Marlboro State Hospital Property.

re-instating the “Shade Tree Commission,” thereby entitling Marlboro to receive   thousands of free trees from the State;

Mayor Hornik appointed a full board to oversee and resuscitate this long dormant Commission.  Marlboro is now eligible to receive thousands of free trees.  The initial tree order will be submitted this month.
(Jan. 31)

re-examining Marlboro’s Master Plan so that it contemplates COAH issues and commercial ratables, and emphasizes a system of open space areas, parks, and recreation facilities.

On February 21, 2008, I drafted a resolution offered by Councilman LaRocca and unanimously approved by the Township Council to allow Marlboro to participate in the NJDCA, Office of Smart Growth, Smart Future Planning program.  This program will allow us full access to state resources in re-examining our master plan to address the future economic, recreation and affordable housing needs of our community.  The visioning process required in this program will call for public hearings where the entire community will be encouraged to participate in shaping Marlboro for the future. For more information on this process, please visit the state’s website at:

http://www.state.nj.us/dca/osg/resources/grants/index.shtml.

exploring transportation options to assist our Seniors in traveling to physicians, hospitals, shopping etc;

A new transportation van for use by the senior community was dedicated in February, and the administration is exploring various proposed stops for access to such places as Target, the Freehold Mall, etc. (Jan. 31)

enhancing the Senior Advisory Council;

To enhance the Senior Advisory Committee, I have appointed senior advocate Jay Solomon (who is also an Executive at Centra-State Hospital) to chair the Senior Advisory Committee and also appointed Peggy Gamza as the Mayor’s delegate to this critical committee.  In addition, Councilwoman Randi Marder has been appointed as the Township Council delegate, and we added additional seniors to the Committee as well.  At the committee’s initial meetings, the mission statement and by-laws were  amended so that all the seniors residing throughout Marlboro Township would benefit from the work of this Committee.  Additionally, the  committee has begun to identify its priorities for 2008.  In concert with the Recreation Department, the Committee is working on the re-opening of the Morganville Senior Center. (Mar 17)

increasing the number of annual visits to our Town by the “wellness van” for health screening and education;

Centra State Hospital has committed to 10 wellness screening events.

identifying and promoting special programs that promote healthy lifestyles and living;

Centra State Hospital has committed to 4 lectures on healthy eating, and 2 additional lectures on issues unique to senior citizens.

The Teen Advisory Committee will be working in conjunction with the Senior Advisory Committee and the Senior community to provide cell phone instruction and social Wii games activities.  This is a great opportunity for mentoring by both seniors and teens. (Mar 17)

facilitating a community-wide CPR program;

The first of four 2008 CPR certification training sessions for residents of Marlboro is scheduled for 9 AM on Saturday June 7, 2008 at the Rec Center.   Training will be conducted by Marlboro First Aid at no charge to residents!  Additional information regarding registration for this class will be provided shortly.

continuing and improving computer-training classes;

The Teen Advisory Committee will be working in conjunction with the Senior Advisory Committee and the Senior community providing computer training.  This is a another great opportunity for mentoring by both seniors and teens. (Mar 17)

identifying and presenting volunteer and mentor opportunities.

Since our post election day “call for volunteers,” we have received resumes and inquiries from over 175 residents interested volunteering for our various committees, commissions and boards.  Our newly established Teen Advisory Committee has set forth specific goals, including the exploration of various synergies between teens and seniors.  Currently, plans are being made by our teens to begin providing volunteer computer and electronics training for our seniors.  In addition, the members of our Senior Advisory Committee have been actively meeting and are considering mentor opportunities for the teens as well.

forming a committee that will be charged with (i) assessing whether the number and quality of our athletic fields and recreational programs/facilities are adequate and (ii) creating and implementing a “Master Recreation Plan.” The committee will ideally be comprised of representatives from the various youth-related sports and recreation programs, as well as from the Township Recreation Committee, Town Council and others;

A 22 person Committee was appointed by Mayor Hornik, and has submitted an initial assessment of the number and quality of our athletic fields and recreational programs/facilities. (Jan. 31)

granting official Town Committee status to the Marlboro Teen Advisory Committee;

On February 7, 2008, the Town Council approved a resolution granting official Town Committee status to the Teen Advisory Committee, thereby giving the teens of Marlboro a voice on our local government. (Jan. 31)

exploring intra-Town transportation options for our youth;

We received a commitment from a local transportation company, which has offered to us the use of its company vans during non-peak business times.  Logistics  (days of service, and times and locations of pick-up) are currently being reviewed and considered by the Teen Advisory Committee and the Administration.

developing a “teen classified” section on the Town website that will assist our teens with summer and part-time employment opportunities;

At the February 7, 2008 Town Council meeting, Marlboro's Teen Advisory Committee (TAC) was authorized by the Town Council to proceed with TAC's recommendation to create a "help wanted" section for Marlboro's teens on the Township website.  When this section of the website is constructed, it will be a convenient and cost-free forum where Marlboro's teens in search of part-time and summer employment can be matched with Marlboro's businesses that are in need of teen labor.  TAC has sent a letter to each of Marlboro's businesses (a copy of this letter is posted on the home page of the website) inviting them to post a free classified job listing on the Township website.  Letters are also being delivered personally to Marlboro's business by representatives of TAC, and this program will be publicly announced at Mayor Hornik's business luncheon at the Rec Center on Tuesday April 8, 2008. (Apr 3)

studying the feasibility of a new teen center;

We are evaluating several options for a teen center that were presented to us following the TAC presentation on February 7, 2008, including raw warehouse space that would be available to our teens for only a short period of time, and which would require us to both design and built-out the interior; and an existing structure (house) that can be re-furbished by us and used by our teens as a more permanent center. (Apr 4)

inviting our Town’s youth who participate in the Marlboro Teen Advisory Committee to present their recommendations at a Town Council meeting.

Nine representatives of Marlboro's Teen Advisory Committee appeared before the Town Council on February 7, 2008, and articulated the need for a Teen Center and a youth intra-Town transportation van, as well for  a classified section on the Town website that will post summer and part-time help-wanted listings for teens. (Jan. 31)

developing a “Town of Marlboro Vision Statement;”

We have developed a Vision Statement for our Town that will be posted on our web site.  It emphasizes government integrity, transparency, accountability, and a commitment to making Marlboro a great place to live, learn, play, raise a family, grow a business and visit. (Mar 17)

increasing efforts to acquire resident e-mail-addresses that will allow us to create an effective communication network between our Town and its residents;

Our aggressive e-mail address acquisition initiative has resulted in more than a doubling of the number of people who have registered to receive e-mail updates whenever new and important information is added to our Township web site.  This is critical for us to improve government communication and transparency.  Because of our initiative, we are now among the highest ranking municipalities in the State in terms of number of residents registered to receive municipal e-mail updates.  To continue this initiative, I have asked that on your next tax bill, you include your e-mail address. (Mar 17)

commencing a safety investigation to assess the safety of the various pedestrian walkways and crossways in our Town;

As a first step towards our comprehensive safety investigation, we accumulated three years of traffic and accident data from various departments and entities in Marlboro, which reflect the severity of the accidents, as well as the occurrence locations.  This data will be studied in detail and a plan implemented to improve the safety of our pedestrian walkways and crossways. (Mar 17)

making government more accessible to our residents by periodically changing its hours of operation (e.g., open evenings, early mornings, etc);

To make our government more accessible to you, and to accommodate our many commuter residents, we are launching a pilot program of extended municipal hours for certain departments, as follows:

ZONING:  The Zoning Officer will be available to meet with residents prior to regular business hours.  Appointments can begin as early as 7:15 am Monday through Friday.  After hours appointments are available the first and third Tuesday evenings of each month, by appointment.  Phone conferences are also available by appointment.  Call 732-536-0200 and ask for Sarah Paris.

CONSTRUCTION:  A Construction Official is available to meet with residents starting at 6 AM Monday through Friday, by appointment only.  Phone conferences are also available by appointment.

ENGINEERING:  The Town Engineer is available by appointment to meet with residents on Thursday evenings, twice a month (on the same Thursday evenings on which Town Council meets—check our web site at www.Marlboro-nj.gov.  Phone conferences are available by appointment.

TAX COLLECTOR:  Open to accept tax payments between 7:00 pm and 8:30 pm on the following Wednesday nights during the tax quarter:

May 7, 2008
August 6, 2008
November 5, 2008

automating the flow of critical information between the Zoning Committee, Planning Committee, Building Department, and Engineering Department;

We have integrated our several computer systems and databases that are used by our zoning, planning, building and  engineering departments, and by doing so have automated the flow of critical project information that is supplied by each of these departments.  This investment in technology will result in a more efficient government, which in turn should eliminate the necessity of our residents having to go from one department to the next asking questions. (Mar 17)

upgrading  our  Town website to increase functionality, and make it more user friendly  and informative;

Since taking office on January 1, 2008, we have endeavored to update the Township website with regularity and to make it more user friendly and informative.  We added the ability for site visitors to access the forms and written information that are most frequently requested of our municipal employees.  This includes a "General Guide as to Which Permits are Needed for Home Improvement and Home Construction," applications for Dog and Cat licenses, "Code Compliance for Residential Decks," as well as many others (see our Quick Links drop down menu on the home page and click on  "forms/permits").  The website will be undergoing a major overhaul and re-design in the ensuing months so that it more effectively addresses our Town's needs and better reflects our image as a Town.  Please let us know if you have any suggestions, as my administration is committed to improving our information technology and our ability to communicate with and serve you....our residents, businesses and visitors! (Apr 4)

proposing an ordinance that will eliminate or greatly reduce the number and/or size of   campaign signs in our Town;

At the January 17, 2008 Town Council meeting, Mayor Hornik proposed a sign ordinance that is being discussed with Town Council and reviewed by our Town attorney to insure that it is compliant with the US Constitution.
(Jan. 31)

studying the feasibility of implementing a “311” call number for Marlboro residents to access non-emergency and government service information.

On April 1, 2008, a "311 Call Service Needs Assessment Survey" was posted on the Township website and delivered via e-mail to the approximately 1000 individuals who have registered to receive e-alerts from the Town.  Upon receipt and tabulation of the survey results, we will determine whether Township residents favor having a 311 information service in Town. (Apr 2)

broadcasting on Marlboro’s cable channel 77 the open session of all town council and board meetings;

All meetings this year have been recorded and will soon be broadcast on Cable Channel 77. (Jan. 31)

e-mailing periodic reports from the Mayor on the progress of his administration to all Town residents who sign up to receive them;

On January 31, 2008, Mayor Hornik issued a "progress report" which has been posted on the Town website. A second progress report was issued on March 17, 2008. (Mar 17)

holding periodic “town-hall format” meetings at which Mayor Hornik and the Township Council will be available to meet and informally chat with our residents;

Our first roving town-hall meeting has been scheduled for 8:00 pm on April 9, 2008 at Greenbriar.  We look forward to meeting with you and discussing all of the issues that confront our Town, and reporting to you on the status of our Plan for Progress in Marlboro. (Mar 17)

requiring competitive solicitation from all service providers and vendors that conduct business with our Town;

All service providers and vendors that conduct business in Marlboro Township are now required to go through a competitive solicitation process.  The Township awarded engineering and attorney contracts at rates substantially less than the prior administration as a result of this process. (Jan. 31)

ensuring that each volunteer committee mandated by Town law is engaged and working hard towards meeting its goals.

On January 10, 2008, Mayor Hornik met with the head/chair of every Town committee.  This group will meet periodically and the committee heads will update their progress. (Jan. 31)

creating an administration as diverse as Marlboro’s population;

Individuals from each of the diverse ethnic groups that live in our Town were appointed by the Mayor to leadership and other important positions.
(Jan. 31)

identifying on the Town calendar the dates of all major annual festivals and holidays for all of our Town’s cultural and religious groups; and

The major holidays that are celebrated in 2008 by the Indian, Chinese, and Islamic cultures have been incorporated into our Town's electronic calendar on our Township website, joining the traditional Judeo/Christian and other prominent holidays. Please note that many cultural and religious holidays are based on the lunar year and will vary from year to year.
(Apr 3)

promoting a “call for volunteers” program

The administration's “call for volunteers” that was broadcast on Cable Channel 77 resulted in over 180 letters and emails from our citizens volunteering to work on one or more committees! (Jan. 31)

"All this will not be finished in the first 100 days.  nor will it be finished in the first 1000 days, nor in the life of this administration, nor perhaps in our lifetime on this planet
….but let us begin."

John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Inaugural Address January 20, 1961