Neary reflects on past decade and year ahead Mayor touts work to hold on to open space, control property taxes BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer William Neary EAST BRUNSWICK - Mayor William Neary had reason to discuss more than just current happenings during his annual State of the Township address last week. This year, he noted, marks the end of a decade since he began serving as mayor. During the Jan. 23 speech at the East Brunswick Chateau, Neary hailed the town's achievements, starting off with a focus on open space acquisitions. There were eight working farms left in East Brunswick 10 years ago, and five of them - the Keleman, Lapinski, Giamarese and Warren farms, as well as the Heavenly Farms recreation area - have since been acquired or preserved. Neary said another "major open space purchase" is in the works, but that it is premature to discuss the specifics. In conjunction with that, he touted his record of limiting new homes, saying that when fully developed, East Brunswick will have 53,000 residents, well short of the 70,000 that was estimated in the town's original master plan. Neary said highlights of the past 10 years include improving the overall business climate along Route 18, the marketing of Cranbury Road as a medical arts corridor, and work to bring four new adult housing complexes to the township. A large portion of the address focused on property taxes and the difficulties faced with each year's municipal budget. Neary lauded the work done by the administration and Township Council to manage municipal tax increases. Since 1997, he said, overall property taxes in East Brunswick have risen by 62 percent, but the municipal portion has risen by only 10.7 percent. As is the case in most towns, school funding is responsible for most of the property tax increase. Neary said the municipal budget has been affected by state mandates - requiring, for example, the implementation of new measures for stormwater management and more expensive land acquisitions for the road project at Route 18 and Tices Lane - while state aid to the township has not increased in five years. "East Brunswick taxpayers must face these burdensome costs on their property tax bills," he said. "Do not believe for one minute that this pain is not obvious to those of us who are in the trenches facing these problems head-on." Neary said officials have responded in part by reducing staff and turning down programs recommended by township professionals. He noted that the Golden Triangle Redevelopment Plan is also part of the effort to control property taxes. The plan calls for Tolls Brothers, which purchased the property from the township, to build residential, office and commercial uses as part of a "transit village" on the Route 18 property that is currently home to Sam's Club and other stores. "As a community, we must appreciate that in order to preserve our tax base and our quiet, safe neighborhoods, we must depend on innovative advancements along our retail corridor," Neary said. "Smart growth requires infill into previously developed areas, not new development in tranquil, undeveloped locations." As for what to expect in 2007, Neary said the township will see the construction of a multi-use arts center with an amphitheater and meeting rooms at Heavenly Farms, a project he noted will be funded with $6.2 million from private entities including Toll Brothers. The year will also bring the construction of a new commuter parking deck at the Transportation and Commerce Center park-and-ride with room for 40 percent more vehicles. The deck, he said, is being funded by the township's commuter parking utility, not with property taxes. He said the township should continue to see new tax ratables with adult housing, medical offices and, he hopes, the construction of Summerhill Square at the former Meyer's shopping center site. On the environmental side, Neary said that in 2006 the Department of Parks and Public Works planted some 108 trees, maintained 175 miles of municipal roads and collected 8,509 tons of leaves. It also oversaw cleanup activities at Ireland Brook, taught students about recycling, coordinated 50 community service cleanups with township groups, and helped with several Adopt-a-Road cleanups. While he touched on the work of every department - from the hiring of Municipal Clerk Nanette Perry and Library Director Carol Nersinger to new programs initiated by the police department - Neary said the Planning and Engineering Department oversaw the completion of road work around Route 18 and Tices Lane, coordinated the reconstruction of Old Stage Road with Spotswood, completed several road projects and secured more than $1 million in grants. Neary closed his address by referring to something he said before becoming mayor. "The only campaign promise I made to you over 10 years ago, I repeat once again in 2007: As your mayor, I promise to do my best."