Mayor Jonathan Hornik
Inauguration Speech
January 1, 2008

COUNCILWOMEN MARDER AND TRAGNI, COUNCILMEN LAROCCA AND CANTOR,   RABBI SHY, FATHER ROBERTS, FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, TODAY MARKS THE START OF A NEW BEGINING FOR OUR TOWN;  AND I AM HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU AS YOUR NEW MAYOR.

27 YEARS AGO I STOOD IN THIS VERY ROOM AND WATCHED MY FATHER TAKE THE VERY SAME OATH I PLEDGED JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO.

THE YEAR WAS 1980, AND MARLBORO WAS A YOUNG COMMUNITY WELL ON ITS WAY TO BECOMING WHAT I CALL “MODERN DAY MARLBORO”.  AS A LOOK AROUND THE ROOM, I SEE MANY A FAMILIAR FACE FROM THOSE DAYS, ALTHOUGH MANY OF YOU HAVE AGED JUST A BIT, BUT SO HAVE I.

MARLBORO WAS A SMALLER TOWN IN 1980, ITS POPULTATION A LITTLE SHY OF 17,000.  THERE WERE ACTIVE COW FARMS, MILK WAS DELIEVERED BY FARMERS TO OUR HOUSES AND THE STREETS WERE QUIET AND DARK AT NIGHT FOR THERE WERE NOT MANY WELL LITE ROADS. OUR RECREATION FACILITIES WERE YET TO BE DEVELOPED, AND OUR TOWN TOOK MUCH PRIDE IN SHOWCASING ITS NEWLY COMPLETED TOWN HALL AND SWIM CLUB FACILITY.

THERE WAS A FEELING OF OPTOMISM IN 1980, AND OUR TOWN LEADERS WERE EAGER TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THEIR TIME.

TODAY, I FEEL THE SAME SENSE OF OPTOMISM AND ASSURE YOU THIS NEXT GENERATION IS READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO LEAD MARLBORO TOWARDS ITS BRIGHT FUTURE.    

MARLBORO WAS AND REMAINS A GOOD COMMUNITY TO GROW UP AND LIVE IN;

MARLBORO’S POSITIVE REPUTATION AS A FAMILY ORIENTED COMMUNITY WITH A STRONG SCHOOL SYSTEM IS NOT THE RESULT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL.   

MARLBORO’S STRENGTH COMES FROM THE DIVERSITY WITHIN ITS COMMUNITY, OUR CARING NEIGHBORS AND RESIDENTS; THE VOLUNTEERS THAT RUN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS, OUR CLERGY THAT GUIDE US IN OUR PRAYERS, THE GOOD MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR POLICE, FIRE AND FIRST AID SQUADS;

IN SHORT IT IS THE COLLECTIVE EFFORT OF ALL OUR RESIDENTS THAT MAKE MARLBORO SO SPECIAL. 

HOWEVER GOOD WE ARE TODAY I ASSURE WE CAN GET BETTER AND WE WILL.  WHILE TODAY MARLBORO IS A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE OUR FAMILIES, I KNOW WE CAN BE GREAT.

ITS IS TIME WE RAISE OUR EXPECTATIONS OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS AND TOWNSHIP EMPLOYEES.  IT’S TIME THAT THOSE WHO SIT ON THE SIDELINES STAND-UP AND GET INVOLOVED.  I AM AGAIN TODAY CALLING ON ALL MARLBORO RESIDENTS AND ASKING YOU TO TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR COMMUNITY BY GETTING INVOLVED WITH YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

VOLUNTUNEER YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS TO IMPROVE OUR TOWN.  IT IS TIME WE SHOW OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS IN MONMOUTH COUNTY AND THE REST OF NEW JERSEY WHAT MARLBORO REALLY IS ABOUT.

WHILE CAMPAIGNING OVER THE LAST YEAR, RANDI, FRANK  AND I HAVE KNOCKED ON OVER 2,000 DOORS AND WE HAVE MET AND LISTENED TO OUR NEIGHBORS, I HAVE SEEN FIRST HAND HOW SPECIAL AND DIVERSE MARLBORO REALLY IS.  

I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OUR ASIAN NEIGHBORS AT THE HXSIA, FIDELITY AND MONMOUTH CHINEESE SCHOOLS IN MARLBORO;

I HAVE VISITED  WITH OUR INDIAN NEIGHBORS AT THE HINDU TEMPLE ON WOOLYTOWN ROAD;

I HAVE REACHED OUT TO OUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS AT THE ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY AND AT THE HOLY CELEBRATION OF EID JUST LAST WEEK;

I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE HONOR OF LIGHTING THE NEW MENORAH DURING CHANUKAH WITH OUR JEWISH NEIGHBORS OFF OF TEXAS ROAD;

I HAVE SPENT TIME WITH FATHER ROBERTS AT ST. GABRIELLES CHURCH; AND

I HAVE DEBATED AT THE VERY TEMPLE I ACHIEVED MY BAR MITZVAH.

I HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE IN MARLBORO. AND IN THAT JOURNEY I HAVE LEARNED THAT THROUGH OUR DIFFERENCES WE ARE UNITED AS RESIDENTS OF ONE COMMUNITY. A COMMUNITY WE ALL CARE DEEPLY ABOUT.

BUT WE CANNOT IGNORE OUR DARK AND DISTURBING RECENT HISTORY THAT WE MUST NOW, TOGETHER, REBUILD FROM.  IN RECENT YEARS, MARLBORO HAS BEEN ON THE MINDS OF PEOPLE FOR THE WRONG REASONS. CORRUPTION HAS TAINTED OUR REPUTATION AMONG OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.

IT IS NOW TIME TO TURN THE PAGE ON THAT CHAPTER OF MARLBORO’S PAST.

THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR US, TO MEET THESE CHALLENGES, I AM PROUD TO INTRODUCE MY ADMINSTRATIONS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.  

MY TRANSITION TEAM AND I HAVE SPENT HOURS UPON HOURS CAREFULLY DEFINING THESE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND BELIEVE WITH YOUR HELP THEY CAN AND WILL BE ACHIEVED.  WE CALL THIS “MARLBORO’S PLAN FOR PROGRESS,  100 DAYS AND BEYOND”.

 IT IS TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE FIRST TIME ANY MARLBORO MAYOR HAS INTRODUCED SUCH A DETAILED SET OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.

THE PLAN WHEN IMPLEMENTED WILL MOVE OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD AND ENABLE US TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD WHICH INCLUDE:

RESTORING FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INTEGRITY TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, STABILITZATION OF PROPERTY TAXES AND THE PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE, INCLUDING STATTEL FARM.

IT IS OUR HOPE THAT “MARLBORO’S PLAN FOR PROGRESS” WILL END THE “POLITICS OF THE PAST” AND ALLOW ALL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS TO WORK TOGETHER IN A UNITED AND AN OPEN FASHION.

AND I PLAN ON KEEPING OUR RESIDENTS INFORMED AS WE MAKE PROGRESS ON EACH AND EVERY OF THE 50 OBJECTIVES WE HAVE SET OUT TO ACHIEVE.
100 DAYS FROM TODAY I PLAN ON REPORTING BACK TO YOU TO LET YOU KNOW THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE.  AND I EXPECT THAT PROGRESS TO BE SUBSTANTIAL.

ALL OUR PLANS FIRST START WITH THE MOST BASIC NEED. THAT IS THE NEED FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.  WITHOUT SOUND FISCAL PLANNING, NOTHING CAN GET DONE.

DURING THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF MY ADMINSTRATION WILL MAKE SURE THAT EVERY TAX DOLLAR SPENT IS ANALYZED, REVIEWED AND JUSTIFIED. 

WE WILL PREPARE A MUNCIPAL BUDGET THAT IS EFFICENT AND LEAN AND WILL ACTIVELY SEEK A PROFESSIONAL GRANT WRTIER TO MAKE SURE MARLBORO RECEIVES MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE OF FUNDS FROM FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY PROGRAMS. 

WE WILL EXPLORE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER TOWNS SO WE CAN SHARE SERVICES TO LOWER THE COSTS TO OUR TAX PAYERS.

TO THAT END, WE ARE FORMING A “SHARED SERVICES COMMITTEE” WHOSE MANDATE WILL BE TO IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS WHERE A SHARED SERVICE CONCEPT MAKE SENSE.

THE DIRECT WAY A MAYOR CAN AFFECT YOUR TAXES IS THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL RATABLES THAT ADD TO THE TAX BASE BUT NOT TO THE EXPENSES OF EDUCATION.

CLEAN COMMERCIAL RATABLES THAT AT THE SAME TIME IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

LIKE A TOWN CENTER OF SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, THEATERS, AND OFFICES THAT DRAW OUR RESIDENTS TO WIELD THEIR ECONOMIC POWER IN MARLBORO,  AND ENCOURAGE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES TO SPEND THEIR DOLLARS HERE.

IT WILL BE THE JOB OF THIS MAYOR TO FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES HERE.

DURING THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF MY ADMINSTRATION WILL TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS STIMULATING COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN OUR TOWN.

THESE STEPS WILL INCLUDE THE RECONSTITUTION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WHOSE MANDATE WILL BE TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ENCOURAGE NEW BUSINESSES TO COME TO OUR TOWN;

WE WILL EXPLORE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN OUR TOWN AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND EXAMINE CREATION OF A REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY TO IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS OF TOWN THAT CAN SUPPORT QUALITY COMMERICAL IMPROVEMENTS WHICH ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE CHARACTER OF OUR TOWN.

WITH SOUND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WE CAN CONTROL RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND STILL COMPLY WITH OUR COAH OBLIGATIONS. ALL WITHOUT DEVELOPING PRISTINE OPEN SPACE AND FARMS.

THE LONG TERM PRESERVATION OF OUR REMAINING OPEN SPACE IS A MAJOR OBJECTIVE OF MY ADMINSTRATION.

DURING THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF MY ADMINISTRATION WE WILL TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO PROTECT STATTEL FARM FROM BEING DEVELOPED; WE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR PROFESSIONALS, AND STATE OFFICIALS TO DEVELOP A COAH STRADEGY THAT WORKS FOR OUR TOWN;

WE WILL SPEAK WITH MONMOUTH COUNTY OFFICIALS ABOUT ESTABLISHING A COUNTY PARK IN MARLBORO AND WILL RE-INSTATE THE “SHADE TREE COMMISSION” TO MAKE SURE OUR TOWN IS ADDING TREES EACH AND EVERY YEAR SO OUR SENIORS, CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN CAN ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF A GREEN MARLBORO;

IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR SENIORS AND YOUTH IS ALSO A MAJOR GOAL OF OUR ADMINISTRATION. WE WILL WORK HARD TO ENHANCE OUR TOWN’S SENIOR PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES AS WELL AS OUR TOWNS RECREATION AND YOUTH SERVICES.

FOR OUR SENIORS, WE WILL EXPLORE CREATING TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS TO AID IN TRAVEL; WE WILL ENHANCE THE SENIOR ADVISORY COUNSEL; INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VISITS OF THE “WELLNESS VAN” FOR HEALTH SCREENING AND EDUCATION; CONTINUE AND IMPROVE COMPUTER TRAINING AND IDENTIFY VOLUNTEER AND MENTORING OPPRORTUNITES.

FOR OUR YOUTH, WE WILL GRANT OFFICIAL TOWN COMMITTEE STATUS TO THE MARLBORO TEEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE; WORK TO DEVELOP A “TEEN CLASSIFIED” SECTION OF THE TOWN WEBSITE TO ASSIST OUR TEENS WITH SUMMER AND PARTIME EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITES AND WILL STUDY THE FEASABILITY OF A NEW TEEN CENTER AND PROGRAMS.

WE ARE COMMITED TO FOSTERING A CULTURE OF HONESTY AND INTEGRITY IN OUR TOWN GOVERNMENT.  WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL BY INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF OUR “GOVERNMENT AT WORK”. 

DURING THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF MY ADMINISTRATION WE WILL BEGIN TO BROADCAST OUR TOWN COUNCIL AND OTHER MEETINGS ON MARLBORO’S CHANNEL 77.

THIS WILL ALLOW OUR RESIDENTS TO VIEW YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN ACTION AND WILL ALLOW YOU TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE.  THIS IS A GOOD THING.

WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH READILY AVAILABLE ACCESS TO THE MINUTES TO ALL TOWN COUNCIL, PLANNING BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND PLAN TO HOLD PERIODIC MEETINGS IN TOWN HALL TO ALLOW FOR INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN MYSELF, YOUR ELECTED COUNCILPEOPLE AND OTHER OFFICIALS.

FOR TOO LONG, MANY OF OUR VOLUNTEER COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN DORMANT FOR LACK OF COMMMUNITY INTEREST.   I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE TODAY THAT THROUGH THE AGGRESSIVE EFFORTS OF MY TRANSITION TEAM, WE HAVE RECEIVED RESUMES AND SUBMISSIONS OF INTERSTS BY 170 MARLBORO RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO WORK WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION TO BETTER OUR TOWN.

WITH THAT RENEWED LEVEL OF INTEREST, I AM OPTOMISTIC WE WILL MEET OUR GOAL THAT EACH VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE BE FULLY ENGAGED AND WORKING TOWARDS ACHIEVING ITS GOALS WELL BEFORE THE 100 DAY MARK OF MY ADMINISTRATION.  

WHILE OUR RECREATION PROGRAMS REMAIN SOME OF THE BEST IN THE STATE OUR FACILITIES ARE DATED AND TOO SMALL TO ACCOMMODATE OUR INCREASE IN POPULTATION.

OUR CURRENT RECREATION CENTER WAS BUILT WHEN OUR POPULATION WAS 27,000.  TODAY, MARLBORO HAS 43,000 RESIDENTS, AND THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO INCREASE.

THIS ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED TO COMING UP WITH A PLAN TO IMPROVE  OUR RECREATION FACILITIES OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND BEYOND.

WE HAVE FORMED AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RECREATION DEVELOPMENT WHICH WILL CREATE THIS “MASTER RECREATION PLAN”.  ONCE THE PLAN IS CREATED WITH THE COORDINATED EFFORTS OF THE RECREATION COMMISSION, WE WILL IMPLIMENT THE PLAN.   

I AM PROUD TO INFORM YOU THAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS ALREADY BEEN FORMED AND HAS HELD MEETINGS TO BEGIN ITS HARD WORK.

I AM PERSONALLY COMMITTED TO SEEING THAT A NEW STATE OF THE ART COMMUNITY CENTER AND RECREATION FACILITY BE PLANNED AND DEVELOPED IN OUR TOWN WITHIN MY TENURE AS MAYOR.

THIS NEW CENTER WILL ALLOW FOR OUR EXSISTING FACILITIES TO BE REFOCUSED ON SENIOR ACTIVITIES, ADULT EDUCATION, TEEN ACTIVITIES, MULTI-CULTURAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS.

WE WILL LOOK TO FUND THIS COMPLEX THROUGH A COMBINATION OF GRANTS, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FUNDS; ALWAYS BEING MINDFUL OF OUR COMMITMENT TO KEEP TAXES STABLE.

WE WILL NO LONGER LOOK AT NEIGHBORING TOWNS IN ENVY AS THEIR FACILITIES ARE IMPROVED AND REDEVELOPED AND OURS REMAIN STAGNANT AND DATED.  MARLBORO WILL AGAIN BE KNOWN FOR HAVING THE BEST RECREATION FACILITIES.

WE WILL IMPROVE OUR TOWN WEBSITE TO MAKE IT MORE USER FRIENDLY AND TO ENHANCE THE INFORMATION OUR RESIDENTS CAN EASILY OBTAIN.

THE GOALS I HAVE SET OUT FOR THE TOWN ARE AMBITIOUS, NEW AND SOME UNTRIED BUT THEY ARE REALISTIC, ECONOMICALLY SOUND AND WITH THE HELP OF EACH OF YOU CAN BE ACHIEVED.

I PROMISE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT SHOULD WE FALL SHORT ON ANYONE OF THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WE HAVE OUTLINED IN THE “PLAN FOR PROGRESS”, IT WILL NOT BE FOR LACK OF EFFORT.  

AS PRESDIENT KENNEDY SAID IN HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS IN JANUARY 10, 1961, “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 …BUT LET US BEGIN.”

I THANK YOU FOR THE TAKING THE TIME TO PARITICPATE IN TODAYS EVENTS,  I AM HONORED TO BE YOUR MAYOR AND WISH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR.