Age: 57
Years in Maplewood: 25 ½
Profession: Principal in my consulting company, Directions Downtown, LLC. Consultant in downtown management, revitalization, Business Improvement Districts, Marketing for downtowns, Events, and more.
Past public service: Current: Maplewood Planning Board. Past: Maplewood Economic Development Commission, College Hill Neighborhood Association, Springfield Avenue Partnership, M/SO League of Women Voters, Tuscan School Theater and PTA.
1 Why should you be on the Township Committee?
I bring 20 years of experience and expertise in downtown revitalization to the table. My input is from a perspective unlike most others and with all of the redevelopment needed and currently happening in Maplewood, it’s important that this perspective and expertise be part of discussions and decisions. I also have a record of speaking my mind and not afraid to fight for what is right for Maplewood and am careful to consider all sides of issues before coming to any conclusions. Also, it’s important to keep the TC diverse and with Kathy stepping down after many years of dedicated service, it’s important to seat another woman in her place.
2. What is your position on the Maplewood Village Post Office redevelopment project?
As an expert in downtown revitalization, I strongly believe this site needs to be an active mixed-use. That end of Maplewood Avenue has long struggled because of a lack of active uses, even when the post office was in operation because it was closed after 5:00 and on weekends. While I think it would have been prudent to have done a study on the option of adaptive reuse of the existing building, I have no love for the existing architectural style of the current building (a large warehouse in the middle of a small downtown is not the highest and best use) and am comfortable with building a new one. I am also confident that the work of the architects and volunteers at the Village Alliance made sure the design was improved to be in keeping with the rest of the village and I can assure that when it comes before the Planning Board, I will, as I’ve always done, challenge the applicant on issues that the site plan might show and demand the best possible design.
3. What is your position on the Post Office project PILOT tax abatement?
PILOTs can be powerful tools for economic development, but since I was not privy to the negotiations on this PILOT, I do not know how the agreement was reached and so can’t support it or not support it without details. I can say, however, that a 5-year PILOT is not a very big one and given that construction will be taking place the 1st two years, when the town would get no revenue anyway, it’s practically a 3 year PILOT that nets the town about $400k more over 10 years than keeping the current building. I also want to look for opportunities in future redevelopment projects in town, to minimize the size and issuance of PILOTs where possible. I’d also like to see about the possibility of having future developers also pay a lump sum to the schools if they receive a PILOT in any redevelopment deal.
4. What are your top three priorities for the Township and what would you do on them if elected?
I want to address quality of life issues such as better code enforcement, cleaning up the parks and especially replenishing trees in town. I walk the town everyday and have been dismayed for the last several years that trees are not being replaced when they die or get destroyed by storms. I want to find a way to fund more trees to more quickly replenish trees in the parks and along our streets. I also want to help get a social anchor on Springfield Avenue that would not only serve the Hilton and College Hill neighborhoods, but the entire town. This will spur other good businesses opening around there as well. I also want to slightly restructure public comment at Township Committee meetings to improve communication while not extending meeting length too much. I’ve heard time and again that people don’t feel like they are being listened to when they address the TC; while I don’t necessarily believe this to be the case, it can appear that way, so I would like to see if this can be changed a bit to improve the interaction.
5. What would you do about our high property tax rate?
The best we can do is to do what we can to raise revenue. Where possible this would be through careful redevelopment of currently under-utilized properties and to look into expanding shared services where possible. I believe there are opportunities there in Recreation, Animal Control and First Aid. There may be more as well, but that’s a good start. The state needs to address the issue of the reliance on property taxes to fund municipal, county, and school services.
6. What services would you seek to cut and in what way to cut costs?
I would have to thoroughly research the budget to answer this question with any accuracy. I’m sure the governing body has been very prudent with the budget as is shown by the tax increase for the last 4-5 years being kept below the cap of 2%. In a town where property taxes are so high, it’s hard to fathom cutting services; rather I would look at ways to maximize efficiency and, as I mentioned before, looking to share services with other municipalities.
7. What services would you seek to increase and how would you pay for them?
Senior Services are lacking and the whole issue needs to be looked at thoroughly. I would engage the assistance of the Senior Share group, which recently formed to address issues in town regarding our senior population and how to keep that segment of our citizens in town and not have to leave because they can’t afford to live here. Sharing work on this with South Orange would be a natural since the new Village President has also shown Senior Services to be important to her.
8. What should voters know about you that they may not?
I’m a person who sees a problem and looks for a solution. I have demonstrated time and time again that I am a doer, finding solutions and acting on issues. I also speak my mind bluntly and thoughtfully (and sometimes with humor.) I will push for open discussion on major issues that affect our town and look for the best solutions. Also, I’m short. :-)
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