My Platform: Municipal Building
June 5, 2020
Municipal
Building - I have spoken against its cost from the beginning, I
repeatedly warned and agreed with many others that the project
would end up behind schedule and over budget. This is the
biggest issue in town and all of our Township Government has failed
us in committing to a reasonable contract, project management
and communication.
As much of the money has already been paid out to the developer, I
think we are past the point of turning back. While I wish...
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My Platform: Overdevelopment
June 5, 2020
Overdevelopment
- I have spoken out for the past couple of years against the
overdevelopment that is currently planned for Berkeley Heights.
I do not feel that Berkeley Heights did not get a reasonable
affordable housing settlement. Yes we settled but at a very
significant cost to the current homeowners and businesses in
Berkeley Heights.
I have spoken out against PILOTs but keep seeing them thrown around
by the town. I am not sure if the people voting for
“redevelopment”...
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My Platform: Spending Less
June 5, 2020
Spending
- Berkeley Heights has been spending too much. We have
tripled our township debt over the past 4 years and municipal taxes
are up significantly over the past 10 reaching an unsustainable
level. This year I pushed for a municipal tax cut, after a
few iterations and counter offers, the township CFO was able to cut
off enough fluff from the budget to remove the proposed 3.1% tax
increase down to a 0% tax increase.
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My Platform: Transparency and Honesty
June 5, 2020
Transparency
and Honesty - The main items I am running on are transparency and
honesty. I believe that communication means to keep the
residents as informed as they want to be about the good, the bad
and the ugly. Too much is hidden from the business and
residents and much of what is done is not communicated swiftly
enough for the residents to have time to gather the facts and to
form opinions on it.
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Berkeley Heights Votes Yes on Cap Bank
June 1, 2020
Just as if a person walked into a buffet and loosened their belt
…
I am disappointed to report that the Berkeley Heights Township
Council voted 6-0, with all 3 Republicans and all 3 of the
Democrats voting YES on the Cap Bank Vote. This vote “loosens
the belt” of restrictions to the Council allowing them to
budget more than the Cap normally allows. One would expect this
from a free spending Liberal Agenda, but part of being
Republican is fiscal conservatism.
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Manuel Couto Voted Yes for 1400+ New Apartments and Condos in Berkeley Heights
October 22, 2019
Manuel Couto voted yes for over 1400 new apartments and
condos in Berkeley Heights. He also voted to give the developers of
these apartments the maximum tax abatement alllowable by NJ law,
all at the Berkeley Heights Taxpayers expense.
These new dwellings will destroy the towns small town feel and
will increase the traffic in town as well.
The developers will only pay roughly 20¢ on the dollar
compared to what they should pay in taxes with NOTHING going to the
Berkeley Heights...
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What works in Newark doesn’t mean it is going to work in Berkeley Heights.
September 30, 2019
Manuel Couto’s plan to “Revitalize Downtown”
includes:
“Work with building owners and nearby colleges and
universities to rent/lease open retail space to create downtown
satellite campus.”
Is this really what Berkeley Heights wants?
This may be great for Mannuel’s Newark. But in
Berkeley Heights?
Manuel has voted for 1408 new apartments in town, voted to
move the library to the downtown area, proposed to change the speed
limit to 25...
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Manuel Couto Lies About Road Repair
September 28, 2019
Manuel Couto has lied to the Berkeley Heights Residents once
again. This time about Berkeley Heights Road
Repair.
In a recent letter sent out from the Manuel Couto and Gentiana
Brahimaj campaign a claim was made that "the new
administration ... has ended the six year capital road
plan".
This is a blatant lie. Firstly the six year plan is a
mandate from the state, all towns and councils must plan for
capital spending. ...
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#AnyoneButCouto
September 26, 2019
It hasn’t taken Manuel Couto and Gentiana Brahimaj long to
descend into lying to the Berkeley Heights residents to try to get
themselves elected. Couto is someone that is clearly running from
his record by lying and deflecting blame to avoid responsibility
for his actions.
This letter, attached ( in the comments ), was sent out to
Berkeley Heights residents by the Couto and Gentiana Brahimaj
campaign seemingly to blame the “current
administration” for all that Couto has taken part in.
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The Court Finds Member of the Berkeley Heights Town Council had a Conflict of Interest
September 12, 2018
The court finds that a member of the Berkeley Heights Town
Council had a clear conflict of interest regarding the Berkeley
Heights Land Swap.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AjOip-Wdrwo
https://www.njcourts.gov/attorneys/assets/opinions/appellate/unpublished/a4470-15.pdf?cacheID=MtDpmTN
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