READINGTON TWP. — Republican Gerard Shamey, sworn in as mayor at last Tuesday’s reorganization meeting for the second year in a row, said the committee will stay focused on pursuing open space and achieving its goals on Solberg Airport despite what he described as often scathing criticism from “a small but vocal group of people.”

The committee unanimously supported a motion by Committeeman Thomas Auriemma to reappoint Shamey as mayor. Shamey, who is starting his ninth year on the committee, was sworn in by Municipal Attorney Sharon Dragan with his daughter, Rachel, standing by his side.

Auriemma and Committeewoman Beatrice Muir, both Republicans, were each sworn in for three-year terms on the all-Republican committee. Both won re-election in last November’s election.

Auriemma, who will serve as deputy mayor this year, said that 2006 was a year in which the township “persevered in protecting the township’s quality of life” and worked to create more civic activities.

Acknowledging some of the sharp criticism that has resulted from some of the committee’s decisions, Shamey said the committee would stay focused “in the face of often personal and demeaning attacks on our character.”

“We’ve heard cries of McCarthyism, hidden agendas and personal gains,” said Shamey. “I have not gained personally from this experience as has been intimated.”

He said the township is dealing with “oppressive if not abusive” Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests from a couple of residents, and thanked the clerk and her staff for persevering “in the face of these daunting requests seeking nothing less than to empty out the entire municipal building.”

In his comments, Shamey took a look back at 2006, a year of “highs and lows,” which included the breakdown in negotiations with the Solbergs, and also highlights such as the township’s first Memorial Day Parade and two new ambulances for the Whitehouse Rescue Squad. He outlined some of the committee’s goals for 2007 which include keeping taxes stable, continuing to defend zoning, preserving farmland and open space, and focusing on the Route 22 and the Main Street corridors as well as some of the smaller villages such as Stanton.

On the issue of taxes, the mayor said that property tax relief must come from Trenton, but that he would like to form a citizens’ group to take a look at the tax situation in the township and to see if there are areas to cut. Shamey said he intends to submit names of people to serve on the citizen’s group for consideration by the Township Committee.

Shamey said 2006 was a year that saw the completion of the Lake Cushetunk walkway that connects Lake Cushetunk by the Mirota Senior Center to Main Street. The township has two new banks as well as a CVS pharmacy on Route 202, as well as a senior citizen condominium development on Route 22.

He noted that the township entered into a sewer agreement with the Readington Middle School and Holland Brook School which he described as a “win-win situation” for both the township and school district. He added that Readington is the first municipality in Hunterdon to have a K-9 unit. The unit is manned by one officer and funded through a law enforcement funding source.

Last year, residents voted in favor of doubling the budget for the Length of Services Award program (LOSAP), and Branchburg purchased a new pumper for the Readington Volunteer Fire Company. The fire company serves a large portion of Branchburg.

Museum Program

The mayor described the township’s museum program as “alive and well,” noting that renovations were completed to the Eversole-Hall House, which is located next to the municipal building. The Historic Preservation Commission was active documenting and photographing all of the township’s historic districts, drafting guidelines for historic preservation, and compiling documents to apply for putting Whitehouse in the National Register of Historic Places. The commission also worked with local businesses and residents interested in renovations by giving them guidance on maintaining the historic integrity of their structures, said the mayor.

On a sad note, Shamey said that longtime resident Ernesto Renda died in 2006. Renda was a Pearl Harbor survivor, businessman and family man, said the mayor. “He was a fixture in the community for many years. He helped a lot of people and touched a lot of lives.”

In the area of open space and farmland preservation, the mayor described Readington as a “statewide leader,” and has preserved or has under contract nearly 8,000 acres, which equates to more than 25 percent of the land in the township. In 2006, the township was reimbursed $8.5 million on farmland and open space purchases from various sources, which is the highest annual amount the township has received to date, he said. Readington is currently seeking reimbursements on 12 other farms for a total amount of about $8 million.

On the subject of Solberg Airport, Shamey said the township’s position has been “clear, complete, factual and transparent,” and that information is posted on the township’s Web site.

Last September, Readington filed an eminent domain suit to take ownership of 625 acres of open space around the airport, and to buy development rights to control the future of the airport. In November, a state Superior Court judge said additional discovery was needed before a ruling could be made, and gave the Solbergs and the township until March 2 to collect more information on the matter.

Shamey said last Tuesday that he was troubled that Solberg Aviation’s legal filings rely on an aviation study commission report that has goals that are inconsistent with the township’s goals. In particular, the report calls for a minimum runway of 4,700 feet, he said.

Support From Voters

Shamey said that the committee’s actions on open space have the support of the majority of township voters. “Time after time in the electoral process and the bond referendum, voters have expressed their preference that we continue our preservation of open space and natural resources.”

As for the critics of the committee’s actions, the mayor said he respected the views of those who disagreed with its positions, “but the bottom line is were just going to have to agree to disagree.”

“To those who disagree with the township’s policies on open space, show us a better way,” he said. “It is clear that open space pays.”

Some of the appointments included: Sharon Dragon, township attorney; Clay McEldowney, township engineer; Supplee, Clooney & Co., township auditor; attorney Robert Ballard, township prosecutor; Patti Jo McConnell, deputy township clerk; and Vita Mekovetz, assessment search officer.

© Recorder Newspapers 2007

Date: January 10, 2007 Source: Hunterdon Review
URL: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17695039&BRD=1918&PAG=461&dept_id=506546&rfi=6