By Allison Perrine
MONMOUTH COUNTY – Two municipalities in the Two River area will soon consider changing their existing partisan forms of government, as determined by voters this week.
When voting in this year’s general election, residents of both Red Bank Borough and Holmdel Township were asked to weigh in on whether or not they wanted their municipalities to form charter commissions to study the options for alternate forms of government and to make recommendations for possible changes.
According to preliminary results posted on the Monmouth County Votes website as of press time Wednesday, Red Bank voters approved the question with 1,996 votes to 884. And of the 11 residents who ran for seats on the five-member board, Nancy Facey-Blackwood, Mark Taylor, Kathryn Okeson, Michael R. DuPont and Benedict Forest lead the polls.
“The voters of Red Bank have shown their maturity in overwhelmingly voting ‘Yes’ to scrap the outdated 1907 Borough Charter that is worn and inefficient. I am proud that this year I moved the council to approve the Referendum question on change that won the day,” wrote Mayor Pasquale “Pat” Menna on election night. “Now let’s move on in confidence to craft a new governing structure for the forward moving urbane center which (we) are.”
In Holmdel, preliminary results show that voters approved all three ballot questions at the polls this year – including a proposal to establish a charter commission, approved with 3,013 votes against 2,762 opposing votes. There were five individuals who ran for the five-member board, including Janet M. Berk; Gerald Buffalino; Kin Gee; C. Zachary Gilstein; and William D. Kastning. If the commission recommends a change, it would be submitted to Holmdel voters in a future election as a public question.
Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso, a Holmdel resident and former township mayor, shared on Facebook that she voted ‘Yes’ to establish a charter commission.
“I don’t see any reason why we can’t look into different forms of government, that may or may not work better for our community,” she wrote. “Anyone that knows me, knows that the term ‘we’ve always done it this way’ is a pet peeve of mine. If there is a better way of doing things I’m always open to looking into it. Why should this be any different?”
Red Bank’s Government Style
The idea for a change to the partisan borough council style is not new in Red Bank. Some residents in the borough, which has been under majority Democratic rule since the 1990s, have petitioned for changes for some time but the issue was never addressed, according to Menna. And when the borough began operating under its current style of government, it was “a sleepy riverfront trading center” and its economy was surrounded by adjacent residential farms and railroad-driven commerce, he added.
Other towns throughout New Jersey operated the same way and have since looked at their government style “to explore whether it is still relevant, operational, as well as efficient.” That includes Highlands Borough which changed from a partisan borough council to a nonpartisan borough council in 2014.
The move follows a time of divisiveness among members of the Democratic party in town. Monmouth County Democratic Chairman David G. Brown II, in a letter dated Oct. 19 to Red Bank Democratic Chair Ed Zipprich, wrote that it was brought to his attention “that the Red Bank Democrats are clearly not supporting their party nominee,” incumbent Councilwoman Kate Triggiano, who was reelected this week.
“When we met earlier in the summer, you committed to me that you would help unite the party and support its ticket. That is your responsibility as Municipal Chair. Judging by this recent mailer which erases Kate’s name as well as the constant effort since the primary not to support the party nominee, I am speechless,” Brown wrote. “In all my years being involved in the Monmouth County Democrats, I have never seen a Municipal Party not support their own party nominee after the primary is over. What is happening now in Red Bank is a disgrace and not only insulting to me, but our entire party as well as our Governor.” He ended the letter by “strongly urging” Zipprich to “change course” or he would not have Brown’s support moving forward.
Zipprich responded in a letter dated that same day. He wrote that he found Brown’s letter to be “lacking in substance” because he was never interviewed by anyone in the Monmouth County Democratic organization and therefore found his conclusions “based on hearsay and there is no evidence.”
“I find it curious as to why you are critical of me and the Red Bank Democrats and yet fully supportive of candidate Triggiano. In reviewing her campaign literature, lawn signs and website, there is no mention of the fact that she is a Democrat and I find that insulting to the entire ticket and the party at large,” Zipprich continued.
As of press time it appears Triggiano has been reelected to the council with 1,387 votes.
Holmdel Township’s Government Style
In Holmdel, the charter commission question was listed as the third of three proposals on this year’s ballot. The first public question asked residents if the township should increase the levy for the existing Open Space, Recreation, Floodplain Protection and Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, from the existing annual levy of 2.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to 3.5 cents per $100 of equalized valuation.
According to preliminary results, the question was supported by 3,249 voters and opposed by 2,615 voters. Now, the average household contribution total will rise from $175 annually to about $245. The change will go into effect in 2022.
The increase will mark the first trust fund raise in 21 years. The trust fund was established in 1998 when residents paid 1 cent per $100 of equalized valuation into it each year. Two years later, it increased to 2.5 cents per $100. Since then, the township has collected just over $15.8 million for the fund and has spent “just under” that amount, according to township administrator Cherron Rountree. It has helped the township maintain over 300 acres of parks facilities to date along with other open spaces such as DePalma Farm, Two Brooks, F&F Nurseries, Callan Farm and HMF.
The second public question in Holmdel was if the township should increase the benefits under the Emergency Services Volunteer Length of Services Award Program (LOSAP) Act from the existing amount of $1,150 per volunteer to $1,580, and further authorize automatic cost of living adjustments in future years, without the need for voter approval, according to the ballot.
Holmdel voters approved a LOSAP in 2002, which rewards volunteer first responders from the Holmdel Township Fire Department and First Aid Squad with fixed annual contributions into a tax deferred income account, the ballot continues. It was supported by 4,001 voters and opposed by 1,867 voters, according to preliminary results.
The article originally appeared in the November 4 – 10, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
