Category Archives: Uncategorized

September 30, 2020

BEDMINSTER TWP. – Having spearheaded a multi-town fight against a proposed rate increase by New Jersey American Water (NJAW), township officials remain hopeful that the hike will be scuttled.

After negotiations failed to produce a settlement, hearings on the proposal began Monday, Sept. 21, before the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU), which will decide the matter.

The status was reported at the Township Committee meeting on Sept. 21. Committeeman R. Colin Hickey noted that NJAW had been granted rate increases in 2015 and 2018, so the increase would be the third in five years.

“I think the work that we have championed and the investment we have made in this is right because left unchecked, New Jersey American would just continue to hike rates and our residents would suffer and suffer tremendously,” Hickey said.

The impact “could be up to $100 per year and that’s every year,” he added.

The case was also discussed at the Peapack-Gladstone Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

“What the public should know,” said Acting Borough Administrator Randy Bahr, “is that New Jersey American Water is seeking double-digit increases within the next 18 months, in the midst of a pandemic when there have been a lot of lost wages, a lot of lost jobs.”

The consortium’s legal team “feels they have New Jersey American a little scared,” Bahr added. “We’re hoping to come to some sort of settlement.”

In the meantime, the participating towns plan to issue a press release, he said. “I don’t think the public is aware New Jersey American is seeking this kind of increase.”

NJAW, the largest water utility in the state, filed a proposal last December that would increase its annual revenue by $87.7 million. The utility said its rate request was based on “the significant investment the company has made or will make into its water and wastewater infrastructure.”

The Bedminster Township Committee launched a fight against the proposal on Jan. 27, when it hired a law firm and a public utility analyst. Township officials said that while NJAW put the proposed rate increase at 11 percent, the cost-per-gallon hike would amount to 28 percent.

Attorney William K. Mosca of the Bevan, Mosca, Giuditta and Zarillo law firm of Basking Ridge was hired as legal counsel for a fee not to exceed $25,000. Exeter Associates of Columbia, Md., an economic expert in the specialized field of public utility analysis, was also hired at a fee not to exceed $10,000.

Bedminster then asked other towns to collectively join as interveners and help pay the costs. Through early July, it received formal commitments from Bernardsville, Far Hills, Peapack-Gladstone, Bridgewater Township, Raritan Township and Raritan Borough.

By Aug. 17, the legal fees had grown to $69,000.

Also expressing interest in joining the consortium were Bernards Township, Branchburg Township and Hillsborough Township.

But at the Sept. 8 committee meeting, Bedminster Township Administrator Judith Sullivan said the three towns had chosen not to participate.

Bernards Township Mayor James Baldassare Jr., in an email response to this newspaper on Friday, Sept. 25, said that “after careful consideration and deliberation, the Township Committee felt it was in the township’s best interests to forego this litigation and instead use established channels” such as the ratepayer advocate office.

Baldassare said that while he didn’t recall a specific dollar amount to join the consortium, “I believe that it was based off of the number of meters which would have resulted in a significant portion.”

Bernards Township would have been the consortium’s second most populous member after Bridgewater Township.

“Added to this is the fact that this litigation is open ended and litigation costs could have easily gone up exponentially as time goes by for this statewide rate increase,” Baldassare said.

An initial discussion between consortium and NJAW representatives was held in June but failed to produce any movement, according to Bedminster officials.

At the committee’s Sept. 21 meeting, Hickey denounced the utility’s quest.

“Frankly, this is a blatant attempt by New Jersey American Water to serve their stockholders as opposed to the ratepayers,” he said.

He noted that the utility’s literature boasted that NJAW had a 27 percent rate of return on investments, which was seven points higher than the industry average; and over-performed on the stock market by producing a 152 percent stock price increase over the last five years.

“So they’re getting their returns on the backs of ratepayers,” Hickey argued. He said Bedminster is pushing for no increase in the rate.

“Our testimony and our economic analysis has had a tremendous impact on these proceedings,” he said. “We’ve convinced the company to lower their demands significantly.”

Mayor Larry Jacobs said the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on jobs and wages convinced township officials to “pull back” and rework the 2020 municipal budget in February. He said one might have thought the pandemic would make a utility “more circumspect and judicious” in reviewing a proposed rate increase, but NJAW “did not pull back.”

Jacobs said that while he meant no offense to the ratepayer advocate, he had been informed that “the research our attorneys and our economic advisor provided – they’re leading the way.” He said that at the initial hearing, the NJAW president was cross-examined exclusively by the consortium attorney.

“So these few towns,” he added, “that got together to challenge this increase will hopefully have profound impact for the towns involved and maybe with the rest of New Jersey who are New Jersey American Water customers.”

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in The Bernardsville News.

September 25, 2020

EDITOR: In what may be the final act to close out a brutally difficult 2020, it may take weeks to call some of the races in this year’s elections.

To my fellow Bedminster friends and neighbors, I ask for your support to ensure we re-elect Colin Hickey to the Township Committee. It has been nothing short of a privilege to serve with Colin over the past four plus years. I enthusiastically endorse and support Colin’s campaign and candidacy and hope you will do the same.

Colin checks all the boxes one would want from his or her local elected official. He is involved and dedicated. You’ve likely received that much needed update from Colin over social media concerning events in town.

Or perhaps you’ve run into him on Saturdays helping out at our Farmers Market. During our shelter at home directive this past Spring, Colin was at Town Hall daily, accepting and processing community donations for our Bedminster Food Pantry.

Colin gets results. In addition to performing his liaison duties with the Board of Education, Land Use Board, Recreation Committee and Environmental Commission, Colin willingly stepped to the front lines on behalf of all Bedminster residents serviced by New Jersey American Water this past year to challenge the water company’s rate increase application. Colin’s efforts led to a shared service arrangement between Bedminster and numerous other municipalities to challenge the water company’s application, enabling us to significantly offset our costs and expenses.

Colin also took the lead with interfacing with JCP&L over the frequent power outages in town. I witnessed him effectively broker tri-party discussions with JCP&L representatives and various community members.

While power outages remain a work in progress, Colin’s efforts to date have resulted in tangible enhancements and improvements to JCP&L’s electrical infrastructure servicing our community.

We on the Township Committee are proud of Bedminster’s ranking last year as the No. 3 town to reside in New Jersey. I’m here to confirm that Colin Hickey played his part in helping us achieve that lofty status.

Colin deserves another three years so please join me in voting for and re-electing him to the committee this fall. Thank you.

DOUG STEVINSON
Bedminster Township
Committeeman

Editor’s note: This Letter to the Editor originally appeared in The Bernardsville News.

September 21, 2020

EDITOR: It’s not about which party can get their candidate elected, it’s about which public servant should be elected to get the job done.

As he has proven over the last three years, Bedminster Township Committeeman Colin Hickey is that person. Motivated by a desire to serve the public, Colin adeptly represents our residents by taking seriously both the fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers and the delivery of outstanding community services.

Colin has been a great supporter of our local businesses. When our local restaurants had to close their doors, he wholeheartedly supported the special permits that were issued to allow restaurants to have outdoor seating, helping to keep these businesses alive.

Colin also understands that our residents need to stay physically and emotionally fit. To that end, he has been key in keeping our parks open for recreation and establishing new rules that allow the Farmers Market to continue in its third successful year.

Though it seems so long ago, Colin was instrumental in establishing our food bank to make sure that everyone who needed a meal would have one.

The Township Committee dedicates many hours to making our tax dollars work as hard as they can. Colin’s background in business start-ups gives him the skills to look at our town budget to see where it’s necessary to invest our tax dollars and where we should be frugal with them.

It’s all connected – healthy residents, healthy businesses and a healthy town budget. For the past three years, Colin has been getting the job done. He has earned your vote.

Join me in voting to re-elect Colin Hickey to the Bedminster Township Committee so that he can continue to work on your behalf.

RENEE MARESKI
Crestmont Road
Bedminster Township

Editor’s note: The writer is a member of the Township Committee.  This Letter to the Editor originally appeared in The Bernardsville News.

September 17, 2020

EDITOR: I served as mayor when Colin Hickey joined the Bedminster Township Committee, and every year our first job is to tackle the upcoming year’s budget.

This is a complicated task that sets the priorities for the municipality and determines, in large part, your property tax bill.

During Colin’s first budget, he commented to the rest of the committee, that it was important “that we spend the taxpayer’s money like we spend our own money, carefully and thoughtfully.” That made a complex task much easier with those guiding words and leadership.

If you remember nothing else about Colin this election cycle, you should know how seriously he takes his service to you and your hard-earned tax dollars.

I will be voting for Colin Hickey this fall for Bedminster Township Committee and I urge you to do the same.

When you get your ballot, fill it out, drop it off in the ballot drop box at Bedminster Town Hall, the Board of Elections in Somerville or by mail.

STEVEN PARKER
Airport Road
Bedminster Township

This Letter to the Editor originally appeared in The Bernardsville News.

September 17, 2020

EDITOR: During his tenure on the Bedminster Township Committee, Colin Hickey has shown by his actions that he will go to bat for Bedminster residents to protect their quality of life.

When complaints about the frequent and long-lasting power outages in Bedminster Township, particularly in The Hills, fell on deaf ears at JCP&L, Colin teamed with the home owners associations to reach out to the utility.

Collectively, this ad hoc committee invited the utility to appear at a Bedminster Township Committee meeting to hear public comments and answer questions. What began as a contentious discussion ultimately resulted in multiple technology upgrades that dramatically reduced the frequency and duration of power outages.

Another positive outcome is that Colin got JCP&L to agree to provide regular updates to the Bedminster Township Committee on ongoing technology improvements and their impact on power availability. Then tropical storm Isaias struck, causing widespread and long-lasting power outages that exposed several systemic issues – lack of maintenance spares, lapses in tree trimming, rotted poles, and more.

Throughout the power outage, direct updates from the power company were infrequent and inaccurate. Colin jumped in and communicated with JCP&L and kept residents informed of JCP&L’s progress and the Estimated Time to Restoration for each neighborhood.

On Aug. 27 at about 9:30 a.m., a vehicle hit a pole, again knocking out power to the same areas of Bedminster that were knocked out by Isaias. This outage was repaired quickly, but it was Colin who reached out to JCP&L for info and he relayed it to everyone in town.

In addition to successfully intervening with JCP&L, Colin continued to work with all utilities that serve Bedminster, and also the state Board of Public Utilities, to keep rate increases in check.

His focus on quality of life issues extends beyond public utility services.

He was also instrumental in the pop-up food pantry that ran during the Covid lockdown. Colin is definitely looking out for Bedminster residents tirelessly.

It is for these reasons, and many more, that I will be voting for Colin in November for re-election to Bedminster Township Committee.

JEFFREY S. LEONARD
Bedminster Township

This Letter to the Editor originally appeared in The Bernardsville News.

September 16, 2020

EDITOR: As chair of the Environmental Commission and a resident of The Hills for 21 years, I can attest that Colin Hickey, during his three years serving on The Township Committee, has established himself as an advocate for Bedminster residents whose individual voices were not being heard.

When residents shared their frustrations with public utilities and cable companies, Colin interceded to pursue quality services at fair rates for all.

In response to the notice of a substantial rate increase by New Jersey American Water, Colin Hickey analyzed the impact to ratepayers and organized a group of municipalities to collectively push back against the usurious rate inflation.

For many years, JCP&L seemed to ignore complaints about repeated power outages. Colin joined forces with the homeowner associations in The Hills to command the attention of JCP&L and to compel the company to upgrade their equipment.

Similarly, when the social media outcry against cable provider Altice showed increasing frustration with no satisfaction, Colin reached out to the company expressing his surprise at their silence and indicated that he had no choice but to educate our residents about the options that are on the horizon for them with emerging competition from streaming content services and 5G wireless broadband.

As chair of the Environmental Commission I worked closely with Colin. This has given me insight, not only to the inner workings of local government, but the man.

The same high standards and strong core values Colin practices in his personal life are the same qualities he is committed to and demonstrates with the township and the residents he serves. Colin’s strong and persistent advocacy has already yielded improvements, yet there is much more work to be done. Colin is the right person to continue these efforts!

Therefore, This November, I strongly urge my fellow residents to re-elect Colin Hickey to the Township Committee where I know he will continue to make local government work for Bedminster residents and businesses.

DAWN MARCH
Bedminster Township

This Letter to the Editor originally appeared in The Bernardsville News.

Sep 14, 2020

EDITOR: Bedminster is truly special and unique with its rural character and charm, low taxes and high quality of life.

But to attain and maintain what has become the standard in Bedminster takes skill, dedication, knowledge and experience. Along with Mayor Larry Jacobs and the Township Committee, Committeeman Colin Hickey has proven his keen ability to continue to successfully and conscientiously represent Bedminster.

I have had the pleasure of serving with Colin and he truly cares about Bedminster and its residents. Colin rises to any challenge, working hard each day to serve Bedminster and all of its residents. Colin meets each of these challenges with enthusiasm, and often a sense of humor.

Quick witted and understanding, he is able to form the relationships necessary across our communities to share ideas and efforts. Colin is a team player, but also always willing to work independently with a resident to help solve issues that may arise.

He has been a devoted resident for many years, volunteering for Bedminster as well as serving as your committeeman. He is fiscally conservative and responsible, always looking for creative ways to save taxpayer dollars.

The yearly budget process is very detailed and during this process and all year long, Colin applies his sharp business acumen to be sure to analyze expenditures and always searching for a way to keep spending low, but also to be sure to preserve the very valued and important services for Bedminster residents.

This year certainly has been a challenging one, but Colin, along with Mayor Jacobs and the committee, has worked extremely hard to protect the residents and to keep Bedminster the special and unique place that it is.

On Nov. 3 to ensure the continued success of Bedminster, please vote to re-elect Committeeman Colin Hickey for his tried and true experience, knowledge, dedication and skill.

STACI SANTUCCI
Bedminster Township

This Letter to the Editor originally appeared in The Bernardsville News.

September 14, 2020

EDITOR: This fall, I look forward to voting to re-elect Colin Hickey to the Bedminster Township Committee. 

During the past year – my first on the Township Committee – I have had the privilege of working alongside Colin and observing how he ably represents and serves Bedminster residents. Colin shows by his example that the role of Township Committee member goes far beyond attending Monday night meetings.

Evidence of Colin’s dedication and commitment is clear by the hours that he spends supporting our residents. Every day of each week, Colin rolls up his sleeves to help bring about great activities, e.g., family movie night, and services such as online tax payment options for Bedminster residents to enjoy.

From organizing and staffing the Bedminster pop-up food pantry five days a week for 10 weeks to directing traffic on Saturdays at the farmers’ market, to serving on the Land Use Board and as the Township Committee liaison to the recreation board and multiple committees, Colin is “all in.”

On an ongoing basis, when residents reach out with concerns and questions on a variety of topics such as COVID-19 testing, power outages or vote-by-mail instructions, Colin researches and publishes the answers for all to see.

To make certain that all of this important information reaches as many people as possible, Colin widely shares information via social media, the township website, fliers and public meetings. Of course, the Monday evening Bedminster Township Committee meetings are where we conduct official township business.

Colin’s professionalism, business savvy and comprehension of sensitive and complex topics result in a fair assessment of each decision that we face. His thoughtful and balanced viewpoints show that he is always looking out for the best interests of Bedminster residents.

We all win when local government works for you. I encourage you to join me in voting for Colin Hickey, an experienced leader with a stellar track record of serving Bedminster residents, for Township Committee.

GINA FERNANDEZ
Bedminster Township

This Letter to the Editor originally appeared in The Bernardsville News.

September 9, 2020

Federal election campaigns often dominate major headlines. Yet, flying under the radar, many local races can shape the outcome of important decisions made closer to home. In Bedminster Township, Colin Hickey’s re-election to Township Committee is good for the town and residents.

Colin Hickey has earned my vote.

What impresses me most is his dedication to the community. When the COVID lockdown struck Bedminster, Colin created the Pop-Up food pantry at town hall and was among those who manned it daily for ten weeks. This food pantry directly helped hundreds of families in a time of need. You’ll also see him volunteering his Saturdays at the Farmers Market directing traffic.

At town hall, he’s a leading advocate for residents. When he chaired the Environmental Commission, his business-minded approach was clear. More recently, as a Township Committeeman, Colin has helped maintain the town’s low tax rates and promoted the best interests of residents. Specifically, he has resisted efforts by the local water utility to raise prices, addressed persistent power outages, helped control engine braking noise on Route 206, and introduced measures to streamline some of the town’s operations (website design, tax collection, recreational facilities, etc). As co-author of the town’s current Master Plan Report, Colin showed he’s not afraid of detailed work and gained notable insight into township activities.  In short, he holds himself accountable, focuses on doing what’s right for residents and fights for a healthy and safe Bedminster.  

Experience and dedication are a winning combination. In Colin’s case, that’s true in spades. Colin Hickey has made a tangible difference to Bedminster’s residents. At a time when partisan federal politics can be polarizing, it’s refreshing to see a local candidate who’s right for ALL residents.  

To me, the choice is clear: vote to re-elect Colin Hickey to the Township Committee.

John B. Coates
Bedminster Township

This Letter to the Editor originally appeared in TAPinto Somerset Hills.

EDITOR: Three years ago, I wrote a letter in support of Colin Hickey for Bedminster Township Committee and I could not be more pleased with the job he has done.

Being on the Township Committee is a huge time commitment, but Colin seems to enjoy every aspect of the job. He helped implement Bedminster’s new website, spends every Saturday at the Bedminster Farmers Market directing traffic, answers residents’ questions on social media, sits on a variety of committees and helped distribute food to our residents during the COVID-19 crisis – and those are just the things I know about.

We are lucky to have such a talented neighbor willing to put so much of his own time into making our town the best place to live.

So, while we may have differing opinions on who is best suited to lead our country, there is no doubt in my mind that Colin Hickey is the best candidate to represent Bedminster.

TIM WALTER
Bedminster Township

Note:  This Letter to the Editor originally appeared in The Bernardsville News on September 7, 2020.

EDITOR: Here are some of the reasons why I will be voting to re-elect Colin Hickey to the Bedminster Township Committee.

After Colin heard from many Bedminster residents who were unhappy with the levels of service and lack of communication from JCP&L, New Jersey American Water, and other utility service providers, Colin became their voice and successfully opened channels of communication.

Speaking on behalf of residents, he addressed specific issues with each company, negotiated improvements, and kept the public informed by communicating via public meetings, the Township website, and social media. Colin’s efforts are moving the needle in the right direction and Bedminster residents continue to benefit from his dogged persistence.

In addition to his advocacy, Committeeman Hickey ably represents the fiscal interests of Bedminster taxpayers. Each year, as the Township Committee works on the next year’s budget, Colin examines the proposed expenses line by line looking for ways to keep costs low and community services first-rate. As the current crisis unfolded, he argued for additional budget reductions and the extension of taxpayer grace periods.

Beyond his Township Committee role, Colin also serves as a volunteer. For families impacted by the pandemic, he created the Bedminster Pop-up Food Pantry and devoted his mornings to food collection, sanitizing, sorting, and distribution every weekday for ten weeks. Many of you know Colin from his volunteer position at the Bedminster Farmers’ Market — directing traffic in and out of the busy parking lot.

Colin’s actions clearly speak for themselves. His advocacy for residents, fiscal stewardship, and volunteerism have all demonstrated that he is the right choice for Bedminster Township.

Whether by mail, lockbox, or provisional ballot on November 3rd, vote for Colin Hickey for Bedminster Township Committee.

Joe Metelski

Editor’s Note: Joe Metelski is a former Mayor of Bedminster Township.  This Letter to the Editor originally appeared in TAPinto Somerset Hills on August 29, 2020.

EDITOR: Certainly, we live in interesting times.

COVID-19 has upset many of the normal proceedings in our country, not the least of which is our process of electing our leadership at all levels of government.

I am not going to offer my opinion on the safety and accuracy of mail in ballots vs. the actual polls. However, I do feel that the worst thing any U.S. citizen can do is refrain from voting at all.

The second worst thing would be to blindly vote along party lines without considering the individual candidates running for office. Does that candidate have the integrity, experience and dedication to serve all constituents in the office that he/she was elected?

In Bedminster, the clear choice is Colin Hickey for Township Committee. Colin has served on the Bedminster Township Committee for over three years and has repeatedly gone above and beyond for all Bedminster residents.

Most recently, when many people were initially displaced from their jobs due to COVID and struggling to provide for their families, Colin initiated and manned the Bedminster pop-up food pantry, which provided food and other necessities for over 650 area families.

When Bedminster was experiencing frequent power outages over the past few years, Colin brought JCP&L representatives to the town to answer residents complaints and formed a working group with several of the homeowner associations in The Hills to develop system improvements and reduce the outages.

This year, Colin has been championing the fight against New Jersey American Water, which has filed to raise water rates. If left unchallenged, this would result in an almost $100 per year increase to the average user.

Colin is dedicated to this town and I invite all Bedminster residents to visit his website www.colinhickey.com, to learn more about him.

In closing, please carefully consider the candidates you are electing, especially at the local level. For a proven leader with integrity, please be sure to vote for Colin Hickey.

JAMES H. CHRISTIE
Bedminster Township

Note:  This Letter to the Editor originally appeared in The Bernardsville News on August 4, 2020.

BEDMINSTER TWP. – The Bedminster Republican Municipal Committee has endorsed incumbent Colin Hickey for Township Committee.

Hickey is running for his second, three-year term. He was first appointed to complete an unexpired term in 2017, and was then elected to a full term in November of that year.

A township resident for 28 years, first residing in Stone Run, he now lives in the Clucas Brook neighborhood with his wife, Wendy, and daughter, Taylor.

A businessman who specializes in start-ups and the tech sector, Hickey first served on the Environmental Commission, where he later became chairman. In 2017, he was named to an advisory panel convened to assist the Land Use Board with its master plan re-examination.

In a press release, the Republican Municipal Committee said Hickey “has been the voice for smart growth, advocating for initiatives that temper size and scale while improving ratables to keep property taxes low.

“He has teamed with Mayor Larry Jacobs to encourage AT&T’s long-term viability in Bedminster, while exploring potential alternatives to ensure the campus remains a vital technology hub,’’ it said. “He has worked tirelessly to make JCP&L more responsive to power outages in The Hills, and is now championing the recently formed Public Utilities Committee to improve service reliability and combat rate increases.’’

Hickey is the committee’s primary liaison to the township Board of Health, Board of Education and Recreation and Technology committees. He also serves on the Land Use Board.

“His constant attention to budget details underlies his ongoing efforts to make local government more efficient and responsive to the residents,’’ the press release said.

His campaign, it continues, “will focus on his passions – keeping Bedminster’s property taxes low, improving the community’s quality of life and making local government work for the taxpayers.’’

“Colin is uniquely qualified to lead Bedminster,’’ said RMC Chairman Steve Parker, a former township mayor. “His business acumen and dedication to the community will ensure that Bedminster continues to lead Somerset County in low taxes and a high quality of life.”

The five-member Township Committee is currently all Republican. The Democratic Party has yet to announce its candidate this year.

The primary election in New Jersey is on Tuesday, June 2.

This article originally appeared in the Bernardsville News on March 6, 2020.

The Bedminster Republican Municipal Committee will hold their primary candidate screening on February 26 at 6:30pm in the Clarence Dillon Public Library, Lamington Road and US Hwy 206. There is one seat on the Bedminster Township Committee for nomination for the 2020 general election. If interested in screening as a candidate or running for the 2020-2022 Republican Municipal Committee, contact Chairman Steve Parker at [email protected]

EDITOR: Good local government relies on great teamwork. In Bedminster, the proof of that is reflected in having the lowest tax rate in Somerset County, in the accolades that the town received from New Jersey Monthly and in the tremendous community pride that is shared by Bedminster residents.

The success that we experience is in large part due to the trust that the Township Committee members have in each other, even when we don’t always agree on specifics.

As a Committeeman, Doug Stevinson exhibits the same teamwork that he teaches as a youth basketball coach. Working with the other Township Committee members and staff, he has overseen the improvements to our parks and public facilities, restructured our employee personnel policies, assured that our contracts remain cost-effective and made certain that our at-risk seniors were being provided with safe living conditions.

Doug has been with me throughout this last year of police contract negotiations and his legal acumen was critical to Bedminster arriving at a fair disposition with our police. And, of course, budget season means all hands on deck, and that is when Doug is a fullthroated advocate for Bedminster taxpayers making sure our tax dollars are spent wisely.

Over the past several months, Gina Fernandez has attended Township Committee meetings taking notes and studying up on the issues, including the operation of the municipal budget.

Anyone familiar with Bedminster PTO’s Spring Fling can attest to her preparation, leadership and organizational skills. As a school teacher, she is certainly accustomed to preparing daily lesson plans and exhibiting subject matter expertise. I see that she is taking that same diligence as a candidate and I have no doubt she will do the same as a Bedminster Township Committeewoman. Fernandez has established her credentials as a strong team member and will be a terrific asset to the Township Committee.

In the coming years, the committee will again be faced with tough budget and contract negotiations. I hope that Bedminster voters will join me in voting Doug Stevinson and Gina Fernandez for the Township Committee team. They are both champions for our residents who will work tirelessly to keep Bedminster the envy of Somerset County – low taxes, great services and an exceptional quality of life.

LARRY JACOBS
Mayor
Bedminster Township

EDITOR: Don’t you want someone to really listen to you, have your best interests at heart and be fully vested in the community in which you live?

I do, and the more I learned about, and have gotten to know, Doug Stevinson and Gina Fernandez, they are just that and exactly the right people to lead our wonderful town of Bedminster.

Serving in his third year on the Township Committee, Doug has helped reduced spending and delivered a budget, which has kept Bedminster taxes among the lowest in Somerset County. Two years ago, the budget remained flat with a zero tax increase from 2017 to 2018. This year, the total appropriations for 2019 decreased from 2018.

He is the committee liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission, police, fire and department of public works – well respected and has established relationships to get things done. Active in our community, having served on the Land Use Board, Recreational Committee, Far Hills Little League and Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House, he brings insights to how the town operates and can negotiate and implement favorable policies for us.

Gina, bringing a fresh voice and a fresh perspective as an educator and public school volunteer, offers new and practical ideas from her proven leadership in fund-raising – raising over $100,000 for Bedminster School, teaching, community service and advocacy on behalf of parents.

She has done her homework on the budget and township regulations; she cares about the well-being of your children, serving parent teacher organizations and chair of Bernards High Project Graduation; and she brings passion to children’s causes. She founded an after school club, the Hispanic Heritage Club. Her energy is boundless and her commitment ongoing.

Together, Doug and Gina will adopt annual budgets below the rate of inflation, support commercial enterprises and equestrian activities to lessen residential tax burdens and negotiate new shared services arrangements to continue fiscal responsibility. They will put taxpayers first.

They will enhance our quality of life by expanding recreational facilities, preserving Bedminister’s rural heritage, and advocating for the revitalization of Pluckemin Park. They plan to strengthen youth activities, co-sponsor educational community programs with Bedminster School and Environmental Commission, and reform land use regulations to encourage homeowner reinvestment, growth and prosperity.

I’ve joined them on neighborhood walks, and the eagerness to hear residents’ needs, concerns and desires is sincere. While walking in District 8, which is affordable housing, Gina conversed in Spanish with residents to ensure she and Doug heard their opinions. They are inclusive, respect diversity and will represent everyone.

I trust Doug Stevinson and Gina Fernandez to understand my needs and put all of the people of Bedminster first. That’s why I’m voting for them; please do the same on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

ALICIA BERKOWITZ
The Hills
Bedminster Township

EDITOR: The overwhelming burden of taxes is the greatest challenge to living in New Jersey, and the reason most of us know somebody who has left, or is planning to move out of the state. Property taxes are most often cited as the tipping point.

In Bedminster, we are fortunate to have among the lowest property taxes in the state. This does not happen by accident – it takes responsible government at both the municipality and the county.

Doug Stevinson continues to lead the Township Committee by pursing shared services and efficiencies. Doug negotiated the most recent police contract that is both fair to the union and provides budget stability for the coming years. The police department constitutes the largest line item in Bedminster’s budget.

While fighting for the taxpayers, he still championed quality of life improvements for the community like the dog park on River Road.

Gina Fernandez will bring the innovation of a tireless community volunteer. She ran our local Girl Scout Troop, co-chaired the Bedminster PTO Spring Fling fund-raiser, and Bernards High School “Project Graduation.”

If you have children in Bedminster, you likely already have been touched by Gina’s caring leadership. She has a strong record of doing “more with less” and will bring those skills to the Township Committee.

Your property tax bill would be out of control without the Somerset County Freeholder Board keeping a lid on their budget. Pat Walsh has served as a freeholder for 12 years. In that time the county budget has remained stable; even cut taxes in recent years.

Somerset County continues to have a Triple A bond rating and quality services due to Pat Walsh’s leadership.

Bill Parenti, North Plainfield’s police chief, is running for Somerset County sheriff. He puts public safety as job one, but pledged to run a lean Sheriff’s Department that will work more closely with municipal police departments to save each township department costs.

Bill has programs to fight the opioid epidemic that have already been adopted by retiring Sheriff Frank Provenzano and praised by his opponent. Parenti is uniquely qualified to serve Somerset County well as our next sheriff.

I was heartened to read your recent article profiling the Township Committee candidates. In it they all agreed that the committee has done a good job managing the budget and they appreciate our lower taxes.

Budget responsibility is all too rare in government these days – look no further than Trenton and Washington – we need to keep Bedminster on the right track.

Please join me in voting for Doug Stevinson and Gina Fernandez for Bedminster Township Committee, along with Pat Walsh for Somerset County Freeholder and Bill Parenti for Sheriff on Nov. 5.

STEVEN PARKER
Airport Road
Bedminster Township
Editor’s note: The writer is a former Bedminster Township mayor.

EDITOR: Doug Stevinson and Gina Fernandez are the natural choices for Bedminster Township Committee. Conservative values and traditions of low taxes and less government have made Bedminster an idyllic and affordable refuge in an environment of high real estate taxes.

Doug has a long record of active service to the community in a wide range of involvements including serving on the Open Space Committee and the Land Use Board.

Additional volunteer roles reflect his passion for recreation – coach, past president of the local Little League, and a former Recreation board member.

As a member of the Township Committee, Doug advocates for the residents of Bedminster. He is helping those who live in Pluckemin Park prompt their landlord to make overdue improvements and helped Hills residents by adding crosswalks to improve safety.

Throughout the township, he supports increased investments by JCP&L in infrastructure upgrades to reduce power outages.

Doug’s commitments to lowering taxes, seeking support from the county and state, and exploring shared services opportunities are important to keeping Bedminster affordable. His consistent dedication continues to make Bedminster a great place to live and raise a family.

Gina also has a record of active involvement as a Girl Scout leader, Bedminster Parent and Teachers Organization board member, and Bernards High School Project Graduation steering committee member. In each of these community service roles, she raised huge sums to enhance the educational and extracurricular experience for students.

With experience as an educator, translator, community leader and parent, Gina is a strong advocate for families and our schools.

On Nov. 5, I encourage you to vote for Doug and Gina – the team committed to fiscal austerity and preserving our low tax rates – for Bedminster Township Committee.

RICHARD TRAVAGLINI
Bedminster

EDITOR: I have lived in Bedminster, specifically The Hills, for 17 years, and spent most of that as a board member for both my neighborhood and the master association here, and the last eight years volunteering on township boards.

In that time I have had a chance to see that not only is Bedminster a great place to live, but also is well run, and on a low tax budget. In addition, our local government has proven tirelessly and many times to be responsive to our community.

Over the last few years, the Hills master associations have invited Township Committee members to attend their meetings to answer questions and update residents on what’s happening in town. Current Committeeman and candidate Doug Stevinson has fulfilled this role many times.

He and other committee members have also been instrumental in helping The Hills neighborhoods and other parts of the township address frequent power failures in recent years. This has been achieved by working with the local power utility (JCPL) to repair aging equipment and streamline the outage alert notices. JCPL, township and community leaders meet periodically throughout the year to monitor progress and keep things moving.

Doug has also been a big part of helping parts of The Hills with crosswalk installations and street light repairs on township roads feeding The Hills.

Like Doug Stevinson, Gina Fernandez comes to the plate with a similar devotion and years of volunteering for our township. This devotion has proven to benefit Bedminster in every instance. I feel that Gina will be a great asset to the committee.

Both candidates are listening to the needs of The Hills, the largest part of Bedminster’s population.

Both candidates also bring a wealth of experience with our local school and will work hard with the board of education to provide our school students with the best education possible, and do so with our continued low property taxes.

That is why I am voting Stevinson and Fernandez for Bedminster Township Committee on Nov. 5, and encourage Bedminster residents to do likewise. All residents, please remember to vote!

JEFFREY S. LEONARD
Bedminster

EDITOR: The women and men on the Bedminster Township Committee are well-known for taking great care of our town – keeping our taxes low, increasing open space, advocating for all residents, and volunteering their personal time to support township activities.

With Committeewoman Staci Santucci deciding not to run this year, it’s great to know that another accomplished woman has stepped up to ably fill her shoes.

Gina Fernandez is an experienced community leader who has devoted countless hours to raising funds to support programs that benefit the student body at the Bedminster Elementary School and Bernards High School. The excellent organizational skills and strong work ethic that Gina already exhibits as a teacher, a mom, and a chronic volunteer are well-suited to the demanding role of Bedminster Township committee member.

As the mother of a student at the Bedminster School whose daughter was in Gina’s Girl Scout troop for many years, it has been my good fortune to be an eyewitness to Gina’s tireless dedication to every project she takes on.

Gina’s running mate, Doug Stevinson, is seeking re-election to a second term on the Township Committee.

Over the past three years, Doug has accomplished much for the residents of Bedminster: Extended the hike and bike path, created the dog park at River Road Park, and helped Hills residents gain crosswalks for safety and a commitment from JCP&L to repair infrastructure and reduce power outages.

During his second term, Doug plans to continue to expand our trail systems through open space initiatives, renovate parks throughout the township, and seek out shared service arrangements that benefit residents and make fiscal sense.

The team of Stevinson/Fernandez is the right choice for Bedminster. They will work on your behalf to continue the efforts of the Township Committee to improve the quality of life for all.

On Nov. 5, please cast your votes for Doug and Gina, champions for Bedminster.

LORI CROWELL
Bedminster