Township Committee Members Background

[Guest]

Since there will be an election coming up for 1 seat on our Cranbury TC; I'd like information on the committee members ALREADY serving. I mean, what is their day job (besides the TC). Are they lawyers, financial advisors, in the health care industry, plumbers, carpenters, business owners.

I think this would help me decide at voting time what type of person with the needed experience and background would benefit our town and add to our diverse mix of the TC.

[Guest]

The following info is from the Cranbury Press when the two TC members were up for election:

"Richard Stannard

Democrat

Richard Stannard, 56, has lived in Cranbury for 10 years and lives on South Main Street.

He works as a lawyer for Munich Reinsurance America in Plainsboro.

A graduate of Southern Connecticut State University, Mr. Stannard earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1973. He also holds a law degree from Fordham University in New York, where he graduated in 1990.

Mr. Stannard is finishing his second term on the Township Committee, and served as mayor in 2004. He also has been a member of the Planning Board for the past four years.

He and his wife, Kathleen, have two adult sons, as well as a daughter attending Catholic University of America.

”We have a great deal of ongoing work to be done on the committee and on the Planning Board,” Mr. Stannard said. “I want to continue to be a part of that.”

The committeeman says that affordable housing issues would be a focus of his should he be re-elected. The township is planning to build 20 to 40 units on a parcel of land it acquired along Route 130 south near Half Acre Road, in order to comply with state law.

Meeting its affordable housing obligations became increasingly complicated when an appellate court in January set aside some of the conditions established by the state Council on Affordable Housing. COAH has until the end of the year to announce the new guidelines, and Mr. Stannard says he wants to make sure that the township is ready to adjust to whatever changes are made.

Mr. Stannard says that safety also is an important issue for him, as it relates to both crime and traffic in the township. He points to the hiring of two new police officers as progress in this effort. He says that he will continue to look for ways to make Cranbury’s roads safe, and decrease accidents, especially involving pedestrians.

Mr. Stannard said he also is concerned about development in the township on the east side of Route 130. He reluctantly favors the continued development of warehouses in the area, he said.

Though he says warehouses will not be visually attractive, he believes this type of development is the best idea for that area in Cranbury. Mr. Stannard says that it would not add more students to the school system like a residential neighborhood would, or additional traffic as an office complex would.

Mr. Stannard says that he feels it is important that the township continue to monitor the area closely though to make sure the development does not get out of hand.

David Stout

Democrat

David Stout, 45, has been a Cranbury resident for 12 years and lives on South Main Street.

Mr. Stout works as the vice president and principle scientist for Arcadis, an environmental engineering firm located in town.

A graduate of the Hun School in Princeton, Mr. Stout earned a bachelor’s degree from Albright College in 1984 before getting a master’s in environmental engineering from Duke University in 1986.

Elected to the Township Committee in 2004, Mr. Stout was named mayor in 2007. He also has served on the Planning Board as well as the Environmental Commission.

He and his wife, Rebecca, have three daughters, ages 13, 11 and 10, all attending the Cranbury School.

”To put it in two words, I care,” Mr. Stout said. “I think we live in a great place, a very special place. I want to do my part to maintain and protect that.”

The mayor says that open space and farmland preservation, as well as historic preservation, are important issues for him. He says that Cranbury has been very successful at preserving open space, and hopes to continue to preserve these areas.

Mr. Stout also lists traffic safety as a focus for him in the township, and says that it is important for the town to maintain diligence to keep its residents safe.

In addition, Mr. Stout says that fiscal responsibility will be one of his main issues.

”We need to continue to do things smart and for less, with transparency, safety, as well as good customer service,” he said.

Mr. Stout said he will continue to look for alternate ways to secure money through grants and other aid to offset the property tax burden on residents. He said he will work to separate the town’s needs from wants, to keep taxes as low as possible."

http://www.packetonline.com/articles/2007/10/19/cranbury_press/news/doc4718cd65519f4840952113.prt

[Cranbury Conservative]

Maybe Mr Stout can remember his own words....

"In addition, Mr. Stout says that fiscal responsibility will be one of his main issues. "

Purchasing the PNC bank property would not be an example of fiscal responsibility Mr Stout!

[Guest]

I voted for Mr. Stout mainly because of the following words:

"Mr. Stout said he will continue to look for alternate ways to secure money through grants and other aid to offset the property tax burden on residents. He said he will work to separate the town’s needs from wants, to keep taxes as low as possible."

[Cranbury Conservative]

So taxes have gone up and are going up again and we want to purchase the PNC property. I believe the PNC property is a want and not a need.

[Guest]

So, does anyone know more information about Pari Stave or Thomas Panconi? Is Pari and artist? And what industry is Thomas in? Anyone with financial background or is a business owner?

Richard Stannard -
attorney in the insurance industry with a political science background

David Stout -
Environmental Engineer

Pari Stave -
Director of AXA Gallery (not sure if this is correct)

Thomas F. Panconi Jr. -
Don't know

Wayne K. Wittman -
Technology Development , Transfer Consultant PSEG (not sure if this is correct or what he does)

[Guest]

In terms of Mr. Stannard and Stout's comments. They were simply PR. They had a TC history that went against their comments before, during and after the election. I am sure Ms. Stave and Mr. Panconi will say the same things when they run. The key is to look at the bigger picture and realize they say what people want to hear so they can achieve their goal and stay in office. It's not that these individuals are bad people as I am sure they are doing what they feel is best. It's just what they feel is not what is in the town's best long term interest.

We do need people who are business oriented and can say no to non-esstentials.

[Guest]

I know our Township committee members work hard to try to improve our cute historical Cranbury. Afterall, they are our neighbors first and politicians second.

Even though they are well educated and each member brings their own individual talents to the TC - what is lacking is someone with a financial background. This statement is proven by the lack of understanding that the TC has about the future of this town. The well is not that deep - and we have a 23 mil deficit. Do they have a plan to pay this off - 5 years, 10 year, if not - WHEN? Where is the planning?

By purchasing PNC bank and making it a public domain - Cranbarians will be spending millions for this redundant facility - not only in the purchase of the land - but for the restoration, reconfiguration, and the never ending operating expenses of TWO libraries.

Are we so quick to forget:
1 - It cost us 1 million to restore and fix the Cranbury Clock.
2 - We gave the school 1 million extra for EACH of the last 2 years (2 million increase over 2 years)
2- The costs of the new baseball field.
3 - COAH issues still outstanding.
4 - Our recent property tax assessment in which concerns were raised that if we are not careful - the property tax will shift leaving the RESIDENTIAL property owner paying a larger percentage of our
towns overall budget. This is due to residential property values rising faster and industrial buildings decreasing in value overtime.

These are possible problems that Cranbury is facing. And YES - they are fixable with a little more financial vision, creativity and planning.

Cranbury - I'm passionate about keeping our wonderful quality of life - the best education, the free flowing creativity, the everyday history surrounding us, and the warm wonderful friendly people - both oldtimers and newbies. Isn't pleasant to walk down to get ice cream or to Teddy's and be greeted by a smiling "Hello" from a passerby. Even the kid's are amazing with an "Excuse Me" as they try to get by with their bike on the sidewalk. The icing on the Cake - lower property tax.

I don't mind having Cranbury as the "Best kept secret" in NJ. It's worth the fight to keep it this way.

[Guest]

[Guest]

I agree. All we need to do is look at track records and ignore press comments. When we see new candidates we have to take the press comments at face value. However, that does not mean we should not look at their interests in running. Are they doing so for personal gain or because they want to take the TC in a different direction?

Personally, I am not voting for anyone who has not been in town for at least 10 years and/ or is known to residents. I don't want someone who is new, assumes everyone is wealthy so doesn't mind spending money, and will not be here when the kids are gone or they retire. Nor do I want someone who comes in with the idea of making the town something it is not. I want someone who is committed to the seniors and the starter families who are committed to the town.