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Lower Candidates Talk Consolidation, Less Spending
Lower Township mayoral candidates, from left, Independent Michael Beck, Republican Glenn Douglass, Democrat Harvey Roach. Photo by Jack Fichter
VILLAS -- The audience that packed Millman Center Saturday, Sept. 20 for Candidates’ Night, sponsored by Lower Township Taxpayer's Association, heard three candidates for mayor and three candidates for council-at-large answer five pre-selected questions.
Since the event was not a debate, there was no winner. All participants received applause for their answers.
Republican mayoral candidate Glenn Douglass, a current council member, is running with Deputy Mayor Robert Nolan, who is seeking to retain his seat. Nolan is Lower Township Republican Party leader.
Independent mayoral candidate Michael Beck, a former two-term township councilman is running with Kevin Lare, a former West Cape commissioner, who is seeking the council-at-large seat.
Democrat Harvey Roach, a former township councilman and his party's leader, is running with Peter Smith, who is making his first run for township council.
Beck said he and Lare were running as independents for one reason, “We do not wish to owe the Republican Party, we do not wish to owe the Democratic Party, we only wish to owe you the people of Lower Township.”
Smith said he was running as a Democrat because he did not believe he could “mount the campaign necessary to win as an independent.”
On a question of what were candidate's short term and long term plans for the township and its residents, Roach said there were no easy answers to return the township to where it was 12 to 14 years ago. He called for a “pragmatic common sense approach” to manage the township's increasing taxes and debt service payments.
Roach said the township Municipal Utilities Authority could produce income through renewal energy. He also promised to improve water and sewer services.
Douglass said water and sewer should be made available to new customers at an affordable price, and that the county airport should be further developed to create new jobs. He called for the formation of a board to find new sources of revenue for the township.
Beck said he would form a mayor's advisory board and “dramatically” increase citizen involvement in government.
“We also promise to have the most open government in New Jersey,” he said, noting he would put bills on the township's Web site before they are paid. “We will open up our town like a can of soup and take the lid off so everyone can see what is going on in government.”
He said he and Lare believed in strict property maintenance codes and landlord responsibility legislation. Beck suggested moving the police department back to Bayshore Road from the airport.
Nolan said the township needed new businesses that paid more than minimum wage. He said the township needed a strong police force and needed to find a balance between development and the need for new ratables.
Lare said he would greatly expand information on the township's Web site including posting agendas before meetings and establish “robust” Neighborhood Watch programs. For problems such as those occurring at Mulligan Field, a watch program working in conjunction with police “would get thugs out of your neighborhood.”
He suggested the township study buying hybrid vehicles as a cost savings measure. Lare said stabilizing taxes all came down to regionalization and consolidation of services.
Nolan suggested the township perform vehicle repair services for neighboring towns under an interlocal agreement. He said storm sewers could be cleaned out for 25 percent less than current cost by an outside firm.
The candidates all agreed further regionalization and sharing services was needed as well as alternative energy sources to lower expenses.
Douglass suggested the township bid to handle trash collection and recycling for neighboring communities such as Cape May Point.
Beck said the township needed a leaner workforce but only through attrition with no layoffs.
On a question of promoting the township's image and identity as a place to work, reside and enjoy, Roach said a “well-managed and progressive government promotes a wonderful place to live.”
Beck said the Sweet Briar Motel damaged the township's image and it was he that held the county accountable for what took place there.
“As mayor I would have spoken out when a former state senator received a $130,000 a year job after he voted for a school funding formula which hurt our town and its taxpayers,” he said.
Smith the DRBA needed to be held accountable for how it is promoting the airport. He said the township needed to promote light industry and build on the tourist industry.
“We lost our theater, we have a shopping center closed down, we are not Camden or Trenton, we are not inner city, we need not look like we are though,” he said.
Lare said council needed to govern in an “open and honest way, not behind closed doors or in the backroom which tends to subject our town to satire and negative editorials.”
He said the entrance to Bennett's Crossing recreational complex remains a “mess.” Lare said he blamed poor leadership not township workers.
On a question of the township's most pressing problems, Smith said campaigning door-to-door, he was hearing more complaints about water issues than taxes. Residents also complained about a lack of professionalism in completing projects, renewable energy sources not being addressed, growth of the budget and problems with bulk trash, leaf and grass pick up, he said.
Smith said he and Roach would address those issues “since we pay good money for people to handle this…”
Roach called for a drastic reduction of capital expenditures.
Douglass said he concurred with Roach. He also called for waterlines to be brought to the Town Bank/Cox Hall area and flooding addressed by repairing outfall pipes.
Beck said the township has lost 11.3 percent of its population since 2000. He said he has seen empty homes as he campaigned which affect businesses, grant money and tax collections.
Nolan warned infrastructure in the township was beginning to deteriorate and was 60 years old in some spots.
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Comments (25)
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Wed, 10/08/2008 - 3:15pm - Posted by: Anonymous
Push to demolish the facilities at the old Ponderlodge before we have an even bigger fire threatening the whole adjacent neighborhood. Delaying demolition in effort to see if someone will take them over will prove eventually an increase in taxes for Lower Township taxpayers. In essence, we will be the ones who get stiffed so some outsider from Cape May City can use money to promote her projects; i.e., security, upkeep, etc.
There is a concerted effort on the part of outsiders to use Ponderlodge at the expense of those who live here and is an infringement on our quality of life.
Mon, 09/29/2008 - 11:07am - Posted by: Anonymous
Beck wants everyone to think he was an outstanding Philadelphia with awards. Well the only one he received was for his service at the academy. No life saving, no combat, no major cases solved. And why was he assigned to the academy. Not for his job performance but because of his conduct, wanted him where they could watch him close. Sometimes something is not what it appears I know the full story………..D.V.
Mon, 09/29/2008 - 9:26am - Posted by: Anonymous
A fire at the Ponder Swamps mansion house! Now it really looks like a bomb went off back there!!! Thanks for putting the Villas name on it Mr. Beck, it's very fitting.
Thu, 09/25/2008 - 10:27am - Posted by: Anonymous
Here's one for you! Mr. Beck was so hell bent on naming Ponderlodge (The Villas Wildlife Management area). It was his baby and he thought it would put the Villas on the map. Well, the place looks like a bomb went off back there and nobody cares. I know the state owns it but somebody needs to address it and get on the state! I don't mean to get off of the subject but my point is...after he got what he wanted, he was done! I know if I fought for that dump, I'd be on the state every day to address all of the hazards back there. Oh, while we are on the subject, does anyone know why the LTPD patrols back there? I'm certain the state does not pay our PD for this service! I just can't believe that after all that the state did by going behind our backs and buying the property, we provide free patrols. Does that seem right? What if an officer gets hurt back there? Will the townships insurance cover him or her? HMMMMM.
Thu, 09/25/2008 - 9:06am - Posted by: Anonymous
This town needs all the cops we can get. Something needs to be done at the Ponderlodge, it is a disgrace. All the windows are broken at the house, there is a big opening in the fence, the only wildlife there is crickets and hoodlums. Someone needs to listen to the people and not just turn the other cheek or say it is out of my hands. We can't even get recycled picked up every week and Douglass wants to contract with Cape May, get real. Fix your own problems before creating more. God help us.
Wed, 09/24/2008 - 5:46pm - Posted by: Anonymous
DO TELL!
Wed, 09/24/2008 - 2:21pm
You want a source? Ask Mr. Beck why he was taken off the street. I'll give you a hint, it wasn't a promotion.
Wed, 09/24/2008 - 3:21pm - Posted by: Anonymous
You want a source? Ask Mr. Beck why he was taken off the street. I'll give you a hint, it wasn't a promotion.
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 9:58pm - Posted by: Anonymous
The poster who wants to vote for Beck because the police hate him. Well I am not a cop and I think he is just frustrated when he worked not on the street by the way police were not paid well and he resents it. I just hope if you need a cop in a hurry and there is not one there you remember this. It seems like any retired cop who runs for political office always has an ax to grind it happened a few years back remember. Jealousy can destroy you !!!!!!!
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 4:00pm - Posted by: Anonymous
I hope beck does win, cause THE PEOPLE of LOWER TOWNSHIP, you are going to be screwed.. So I guess "YOU" the people of lower township really do not care about loosing police. I have read in the paper about a 20 year old male meeting a 14 year old boy at mulligan field. and later the 20 year old male was charged with sexual assault. I guess you people would like perverts and criminals roaming the villas. cause I believe the police now do a fantastic job keeping these scumbags out of the township. I really believe if you do not rehire police officers crime like these will become an everyday occurrence. I am a villas resident and I would like to see more officers in my area, I just don’t understand how you people would vote for someone that is not going to hire any additional cops. Times now are different after 911 and we need all the protection we can get. so I don’t see the since in now hiring additional protection. And another topic mike beck continues to talk about is moving the police department back in town.. what town? there are 3 other sections of lower township. I’m pretty sure the residents in Diamond Beach, Shaw Crest, and South of the Canal will not be happy to see the PD go back into the villas. It really does not makes since he is all worried about saving money for the tax payers, the taxpayers would be spending more money moving the PD once again. WonderWoman go ***** yourself, the comment about Don Vananman was uncalled for.
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 12:35pm - Posted by: Anonymous
I hope Beck wins. He is the only one that cares about the people. I don't care if the cops hate him. In I am going to vote for him because the cops hate him. The cops only like the ones that are going to give them more cops and stuff. Maybe they are mad because they don't have the love shack parked at the airport anymore.
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 11:23am - Posted by: Anonymous
To 10:02pm
You need to read further in the thread I believe you are referencing. This wonder woman goes on to ask why this additional salary and medical payment was created by ordinance and provided only to township personnel called to duty. She makes the point that this is an additional benefit to township employees paid for by the taxpayers. Good points. Why instead of this ordinance to give this additional benefit only to township employees, wasn't a township fund created that would have provided assistance to all township residents called from reserve to Iraq, where their employer was not paying their full salary or continuing their benefits? I see about 10 pictures of our Township boys serving in Iraq, if we are paying for the township employees, we should be helping our own boys and girls too. Fair is fair. This stinks. It should have been given to every eligible township military or no one.
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 11:20am - Posted by: Anonymous
Dimwits seem to think that a soldiers salary is about $10 a month. We all know police are not the highest paid profession, but more than likely higher than average in that part of the country. But a deployed SGT + gets a lot of benefits, Variable Home Allowance being a large part, which I would say would be higher than average for that part of the country. Also Separation Pay and Hostile Fire pay are a part of it. If the officer surrendered his military pay, there is a chance of it being break-even, if not more for the city.
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 11:17am - Posted by: Anonymous
Since the current administration (Mr. Douglass) gets bad marks and Mr. Beck had his chance, it must be Mr. Roach's turn. It's only fair. After he fails at his mayoral turn, who can we trash then? Lower Twp is a bunch of whining *** to let the situation get this bad. It's time to "vote the bums" out and do this consistently until we get the kind of government we deserve.
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 8:23am - Posted by: Anonymous
It's all over anyway folks if Beck gets in. He wants to eliminate two detectives a Captain and a Lieutenant plus four more officers through attrition. His open form of government is to allow the people have more of a say. Like the one who got up at the last township meeting and complained about "Bird Seed". Now the cops have to go after the bird seed Bird Seed Bandit who is throwing bird seed on peoples lawn. She's a Beck supporter. And remember the Cape May County Gazette and how nice that was because it was delivered.....no more. Thanks to one person on the Lower Township Taxpayers Association who is one of Becks right hand men. This bozo who lives in Mickels Run complains about everything. Real Estate Signs, news papers etc. He wants the Township to put a flag, bushes and lighting at the entrance to Mickels Run and he wants the Township to pay for it and the monthly electric along with maintenance. You see Mr. Beck has his people who support him. But they have their agenda also. I honestly hope Beck wins. This way I can get up at every township meeting and publicly bash him every time there is a break in, fight, loud party, or even a stinking barking dog. That's right Beck.....if my quality of life diminishes in the slightest aspect, I will hold you accountable, Every Meeting, Every Day, Every Minute !
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 11:02pm - Posted by: Anonymous
In a discussion thread on the Online Spout Off, in which the president of the Lower Township Taxpayer's Association was complaining about how much the township is paying to the police, she said the following:
"Lwr. Twp. recently welcomed officer Vanaman back from his tour of duty in Iraq. ***Which while I am talking about this particular situation..........a thank you to the taxpayers of Lower Twp. would be nice....since the law only requires a job be held for a called up reservist ..but Lwr. Twp. went a lot further and paid his full police salary and benefits to his family and all the department OT to cover his position for the year he was doing his duty in the military."
I would like to see the candidates repudiate this kind of selfishness and pledge never to take anything away from this township's employees who serve America in any branch of service especially when deployed overseas.
I can't imagine the taxpayer of any municpality expecting an Iraq War Vet and Bronze Star recipient, to THANK THE TAX PAYERS for holding their job while they were overseas, serving their country! Paying their salary and benefits, after they turn over their military salary is the LEAST we can do for them and their family! But to expect returning vets to THANK US is an unbelievable opinion to have!
Besides, the officer DID say thank you at the town meeting! Maybe if you were paying attention, you would have heard it!
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 9:18pm - Posted by: Anonymous
what you people do not seem to realize is that mike beck is the reason our budget and township are in the turmoil it is in now. when he was on council when Starner was mayor, that was when they made the choices that put us where we are now, but it looks like the current governments fault (which it's not). now he wants to come rallying in on some high horse and try and fix the problems he has caused? not gonna happen sir. as far as the mulligan field issue, i can speak first hand that the problem is not as bad as mike beck makes it seem. it's a park for kids to hang out...and thats what they do. deal with it. if mike beck is voted into office you will see this town go to hell in a hand basket. police protection will not be adequate because he does not want to rehire those who will be retiring soon. he also has no real plan to balance our budget. all he keeps talking about is making government "people friendly". well mr. beck, how come government was not like that when you were in office as a council man? is that because the choices you made hurt this township in the long run and we are paying for it now? i think so....all i have to say to all the voters in lower township is please....anyone but beck.
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 8:15pm - Posted by: honest abe
There's so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it ill behooves any of us to find the fault in the rest of us. Tell me the source of your vitriolic
(means caustic and bitter) statement regarding Mike Beck being Phillie's biggest embarassment as a "cop".
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 8:08pm - Posted by: honest abe
I was so happy to hear that Mr. Beck is willing to help the residents near Mulligan Field who, by their own testimony at council meeting last week, have had to leave the park because of verbal threats and lewd remarks from a bunch of young kids. Never heard Mr. Beck or the woman who spoke at the meeting refer to any ethnic group. I was there. Since I have lived here 43 years (and in CMC for 66) and my children attended the local schools I am aware that full time jobs with excellent pay is not easy to find. I'd suggest those who can't get a job leave. That would sove their complaint. Now I ask you...doesn't that sound like a silly thing to suggest and yet one person here suggests Mr. Beck move rather than live across from Mulligan Field. Kinda narrowminded and well, foolish. Try to keep the conversation on a level above, well, let's say....kindergarten.
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 7:18pm - Posted by: Anonymous
I heard that Beck was the obvious winner and that Nolan did well....the only other consistent comment was that Douglass did the worst and made a fool out of himself!
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 6:17pm - Posted by: Anonymous
Electing one of Philly's biggest embarassments of a cop to a council seat is nothing more than dangerous. Vote for him at your family's peril.
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 4:39pm - Posted by: Anonymous
I have lived in lower township my whole life, and i have been struggling to get a fulltime job in lower township. From what i heard come out of Mie becks mouth, it seems pretty clear i will never get a job if he takes seat as mayor. Mike beck states "he is he for the people of lower township." well i find that to be a bunch of ***. And he also states there is a problem with "Thugs" congregating at Mulligan Field. I never see any "Thugs" at the park. All i see is a bunch of kids playing basketball, football exc. just cause there are blacks, mexicans, puerto ricans hanging out at the park now does not make them "Thugs." if you have a problem with kids playing at the park then MOVE. that would solve all your complaints MR. BECK.
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 4:11pm - Posted by: Anonymous
In reading this article it occurred to me each candidate had an idea to generate money for the township with the exception of Beck the only thing he said is we need to open open government up like a can of soup, he had no ideas how to generate money other than not filling already existing positions.
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 10:56am - Posted by: Anonymous
Elect anyone but those currently on council (Douglass and Nolan). We need some fresh ideas, not the same approach that has gotten us into the financial mess we have now.
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 5:48am - Posted by: Anonymous
This may not have been a debate, but from what I heard from the people who attended, they clearly decided based on what they heard who were the "winners" and who were the "losers".
Sun, 09/21/2008 - 9:27pm - Posted by: Anonymous
DOUGLASS FOR MAYOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!