Milltowners like pizza, beer and redevelopment
Resident's survey gathered views on variety of topics
BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

MILLTOWN - Borough residents sounded off on everything from the Ford Avenue redevelopment plan to their feelings on clowns in a survey taken at the recent Pride in Milltown Day.

Conducted by Chris Grotkopf and published on his new Web site, "The Milltown Voice," the survey had 117 respondents to 32 questions.

"I thought it would be fun," said Grotkopf. "There are so many people saying people in Milltown want this or they don't want that, so I thought that I would find out for myself."

Under the "Milltown Topics" section of the survey, there were four questions dealing with the Ford Avenue redevelopment. A majority, at 78 percent, said they would like to see the former Michelin factory buildings redeveloped. Respondents were then asked what they would like to see on the site, with the ability to choose more than one option. The most popular response, at 73 percent, was commercial development. The Top 3 concerns about the project were environmental issues, increased traffic in town and too many residential units.

The borough's current redevelopment plan calls for 276 age-restricted residential units, along with commercial uses and open space.

Grotkopf said he was surprised at the 40 percent of respondents who said they did not agree with the way the borough is handling the project, since most said they support redevelopment. A close 33 percent said they agreed with the borough's plans, and 27 percent were unsure.

Some wrote in comments that took issue with the trustworthiness of officials and failure to listen to residents, with one respondent saying they are "a little abrupt." Others said they agreed with the redevelopment agency's decisions, and that it is doing what is best for the town.

On another topic, an 87 percent majority said they would like to see a historical commission established in Milltown. The question was asked in light of the ongoing discussion as to whether an advisory committee should be formed to focus on historical preservation, as opposed to a more powerful commission.

One respondent wrote in that a committee would be more appropriate, which is what the council is now moving toward creating. Another, who agreed with the idea, added, "But don't 'dis' the Milltown Historical Society."

When asked who they would nominate if there was a "Mr. or Ms. Milltown," or someone who is considered a major player in the town, the answers were varied. The most popular, with 17 percent of the vote, was Jerry Guthlein, owner of Bronson and Guthlein Funeral Home, North Main Street, and volunteer for various efforts in town.

"He's pretty much everywhere," Grotkopf said. "He's one of those people everybody in town knows."

Mayor Gloria Bradford came in second, with 14 percent of the vote.

The "Milltown Favorites" segment of the survey questioned respondents on everything from their favorite pizza place - Bella Villa on North Main Street - to their favorite place to go out for a beer, which was the Golden Lion Inn on South Main Street.

Residents said their favorite event in town is the Fourth of July celebration.

A more lighthearted portion of the survey asked about favorite television shows, bands, foods and drinks. CSI, U2, pizza and beer were the top choices, respectively.

But Grotkopf's favorite question was one likely not included on any of the other surveys that have been conducted in town. It was a fill-in: "Clowns make me feel ... " More than half the respondents not only expressed a dislike for clowns, many also said they were afraid of them.

Grotkopf said he was given a copy of a survey conducted in May 1974 in Milltown, which was mailed to residents. He plans to publish those results on his Web site, milltownvoice.com, in order to provide a perspective of how far the town has come in terms of various issues.

The "Milltown Voice" site was launched by Grotkopf in July after he resigned from his position as webmaster for the borough's Web site, milltownj.org. The issue of who would run the borough's home page and just how it would be run had become a contentious topic during the prior year.

"This kind of Web site is more of what I like doing anyway," said Grotkopf, who previously ran for Borough Council as a Republican. "It's more topical, more creative. It's more interesting and current."

Grotkopf said residents have had a positive response to the site because it provides an open forum for their views.

"It's interesting to know what other people are thinking," he said.