Aberdeen Democrats for Township Council

The Democrats have put forward Fred Tagliarini for Mayor and Jim Lauro, Margaret Montone, and Greg Cannon for election to Township Council this November. I don't see a website for the campaign and the literature they are circulating says nothing about what they plan to do if they are elected. So I'll have to wing it.

The Dems have to run on their predecessors' record, all the more so because a new slate had to be developed with the abrupt departure of Mayor Sobel and company. I have some questions, which they are welcome to answer in this forum:

1. Why is the current Democratic administration going forward with a tax sale with a whopping six pages of residents that represents the removal of over 300 families from their homes and other properties this fall? It seems inhumane. What were the options? I guess there are no guardian angels in Pottersville after all.
   
2. Is it a mistake for Cliffwood and Cliffwood Beach residents to feel ignored by the current Democratic council? The only "development" the Council has attempted is to put over 300 units of low income housing on County Road to meet a state COAH mandate. Those efforts brought out angry citizens in the spring, but I see that a recent zoning board meeting discussed those plans again. What are your plans for Cliffwood and Cliffwood Beach if you are elected?
3. What would you do to develop the old Anchor Glass plant on Cliffwood Avenue? Why do you feel your plans would succeed when the current administration has been stalled in its efforts?
4. Likewise, what are your plans for developing the train station area and how would you do things differently from the current administration?
5. Would Jim Lauro do something he hasn't done for over 30 years as mass transit coordinator and find parking spaces at the train station for Aberdeen residents? The waiting list is a joke and supposed transit rules saying that parking must be made available to non-residents are no excuse for abandoning local residents in this matter. Maybe the fee is too low as there are plenty of empty spots in the lot in the morning? There must be other options.
   
6. Do you think the mechanisms in place are sufficient to keep decision making out in the open when one party holds power in the Council? What would you do differently from the current administration to make sure the public knows more about what is going on in the Council?
7. What do you think of the Keyport and Red Bank models for community promotion? What changes would you make to promote Aberdeen more aggressively and effectively? How effective do you think Aberdeen Day is in promoting local businesses?
   
8. What is your position on funding the Matawan Aberdeen Public Library? Would you continue to extract its building funds to reduce local taxes or would you instead support its building plans as part of a greater Matawan-Aberdeen renewal program?