Thank you all for joining us today in this annual celebration of our democracy.   While all around the world dictators jealously hold onto power and repress the right of their people to freely choose their leaders, here in the United States, that right is preserved through the simple process of placing ones hand on the bible and taking the oath of office. 

But that right does not come without a cost.  It is because of heroes who willingly put their lives on the line that this great land of our remains the beacon of freedom lighting the way for democracy around the world.  In 2007 one of our own young heroes lost her life in Iraq so that days like today will continue.  Let us all stand for a moment of silence in memory of Trista Moretti and those nearly 4,000 young Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq and Afganistan.

Although today we see a change in the council majority, we are all fortunate to be citizens of the greatest country in history and agree that we are blessed to be Americans.  Welcome council members McConville and Rusnak.  I know I don’t have to tell you that you have today achieved the highest honor anyone in a free society can claim, the position of a representative of the people.  Continue to listen and work hard and you will succeed.

Best wishes to Council members Dennis Cerami and Kathy Thomas.  You have served the residents of South Plainfield with honesty, dignity and respect.  Our borough is better off because of that service.  For his entire 12 years on the council Dennis was Chair of Public Safety.   Our police department, fire department, rescue squad and emergency management department are recognized as among the best in the state.  That status was achieved not only because we are served by outstanding officers and volunteers but because they had a tremendous advocate in Council President Dennis Cerami.   Whether it was equipment needs or manpower issues, Dennis always made sure that these essential departments got the support they needed from the governing body.  Thank you Council President.  I will continue to call on you for guidance in this essential area of public safety.  Although Council member Thomas only served on the council for three years, she has made an impact which will last for decades.  As a result of her leadership as Chair of Administration and Finance our homeowners were the only residents in Middlesex County to receive a tax cut on the municipal portion of their property tax bill this year.  In addition South Plainfield’s municipal debt is amongst the lowest in the state and our operating expenses have remained flat.  South Plainfield’s fiscal health is sound because of Council member Thomas’ leadership.  Kathy’s greatest legacy however is the beautiful new library which will be built almost next door to borough hall.  The difficult engineering and architectural design stage of the project in complete and nearly a half million dollars in grants have been awarded for the project.   In addition, a nonprofit foundation has been formed to help offset costs.   I urge the new council to put the financing in place as soon as possible so that construction can begin this spring.    Thank you council member Thomas for your excellent work.  

2007 was an outstanding year for South Plainfield.   Phase II of the Hamilton Boulevard project was completed establishing four lanes all the way from the intersection of Durham Ave to Stelton Road with a traffic light at South Clinton Ave.  In addition, with the help of Assemblyman Diegnan, the State Department of Transportation reconfigured the exit ramp off 287 to provide for two right turning lanes. These improvements have made a tremendous improvement in traffic flow on this intensely traveled route.  We also widened the intersection of South Clinton Avenue and New Market Avenue to allow for an improved turning radius for trucks.  Most importantly we acquired and demolished the properties at the intersection of Hamilton Boulevard and New Market Avenue.  We have also instituted condemnation proceedings to acquire the necessary property from the former Cornell Dublier site to extend New Market Avenue.   The condemnation hearing is scheduled for early March. The engineering design for the New Market Avenue extension is complete.  The only remaining items are passing the necessary bond ordinance and awarding the contract to begin construction.   I promised last year that the New Market Avenue project would be under construction by the summer of 2008 and everything is in place to do so.  Now that this project is ready to go there is absolutely no reason to return trucks to Hamilton Boulevard.  The incoming council majority has been unclear on its intention concerning putting trucks back on Hamilton Boulevard.  Let me make myself crystal clear.  I will do everything in my power as Mayor to keep trucks off Hamilton Boulevard.  The residents of the South Side deserve to live in a safe, residential neighborhood, free of 18 wheelers.

In 2007 we saw the demolition begin on the Cornell Dublier site and to date fifteen of the eighteen buildings have been removed.  The remaining buildings will be demolished by the spring and the EPA is in the process of completing the plans to clean up the soils.  Although the cleanup will take some time, once completed, we will have a property free of dangerous contaminants.
In 2007 we again expanded our pay as you go road improvement program.  South Plainfield was the first town to repave our roads as a cooperative venture with Middlesex County.   To date we have repaved over 40 miles of roads on a pay as you go basis.  I encourage the new council to continue this program.
In 2007 we put in place the process to extend the decorative lighting and pavers across the overpass and all the way to Borough Hall.   With the new council’s support, installation will begin in the spring.  We have also received a grant from Middlesex County to install a safe pedestrian crossing on Plainfield Ave. between Monument Park and Spring Lake Park.  I ask for the council’s support to extend the jogging/walk way all the way behind the senior center and around the entire perimeter of Veteran’s Park.  This can be completed for very few dollars by our public works department and would tie all of the parks together.
I have begun discussions with Freeholder John Pulomena to explore the possibility of putting decorative lights and pavers on Park Avenue.  I think that would really beautify that gateway to our borough as it has done on Hamilton Boulevard.

Last year more open space was preserved in South Plainfield than ever before.  We acquired the former bus lot on New Market Avenue and demolished that eyesore.  In addition we just closed on the former WERA parcel on Oak Tree Ave which was bought by Halls Trucking.    At one time 20 condominiums were proposed for that site.  We also are under contract to purchase over 20 acres on the former Texas Eastern site.  Over the last decade South Plainfield has permanently preserved many acres from development through funds made available through the Middlesex county open space program.   I ask the new council, as expeditiously as possible to identify parcels for open space designation. 

Without doubt the one achievement which sets South Plainfield above virtually any other municipality in the state is our outstanding finances.  Our debt has been reduced in half over the last decade and will be reduced further in the upcoming fiscal year even with the bonding for the library and New Market Avenue.  We have reduced our work force without sacrificing efficiency and we have followed pay as you go.  This year that fiscal discipline led to a tax decrease and in five of the last seven years it resulted in municipal budgets without a tax increase.  Although the Democrats are no longer the majority party I will do everything I can as Mayor to see that conservative financial policies remain the standard in South Plainfield.  I realize that we are in an economic downturn and it is unreasonable to never see a property tax increase.  However let me put the council on notice that I will not accept a budget that includes a large property tax increase.   Sharpen your pencils and get out your erasers.   Our homeowners deserve no less.

Although I have been disappointed by the partisanship that the new majority demonstrated in appointments today I can assure you that Council members Petronko, Scrudato and I are committed to put party labels aside and work with all members of the council to achieve positive results for our wonderful borough.   As someone who was born, raised and educated in South Plainfield I know what a special and unique place this is to live and raise a family.  We must all remember that we are servants of the people and not of a particular political party.  Let us today pledge ourselves to always remember the sacrifice which so many before us have given to keep this country strong and free.  If we always do what we know in our hearts to be right we can never go wrong.
May God bless you and your family in 2008 and may God bless and protect all of those in the armed forces around the globe.
Thank you.