Tom Maciejewski

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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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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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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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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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 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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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 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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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 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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