Freehold Borough Resident Questions: PART 1

During my campaigning for the upcoming Freehold Borough Democratic Primary Election, I’ve received many questions about my views on a number of topics. I was hoping to have the chance – via a Democratic Primary debate – to fully explain my thoughts, but my opponents are unwilling to participate in a Democratic candidate primary debate. That said, I’ve decided to take this opportunity to provide a few answers.

QUESTION #1: What is your plan for economic development downtown? Do you see a need for zoning changes?

MY POSITION: I think the framework as laid out in the Freehold Center Core Redevelopment Plan is fundamentally sound and chock full of good and progressive ideas, however I believe our town leaders need to do a better job of adhering to the plan. I also think our town’s code enforcement department has to work seamlessly with the Freehold Borough Historical Committee in consistently enforce codes already on the books among all Downtown Freehold properties to foster a more inviting consumer environment.

(NOTE: Some have argued that more aggressive code enforcement might deter downtown business investment in Freehold Borough, but I whole-heartedly reject this premise. The fact of the matter is that Freehold is going to attract the types of businesses that want to engage with the types of consumers our downtown area attracts. If the town allows a lowering of it’s standards simply to draw businesses for the “convenience” factor, businesses moving to the Borough will have little incentive to financially invest in the maintenance of their properties and our downtown will continue towards a Keansburg-like destination as opposed to plotting a Red Bank trajectory.)

QUESTION #2: Our sidewalks are in shambles. What is your plan for fixing them so that I can push a stroller and my kid can ride his bike without major hindrance?

MY POSITION: This is one of those issues that really shouldn’t be a problem – but it is. As someone who has walked every single street in Freehold Borough, I have seen firsthand how neglected some of these vital conduits have become.

On paper, sidewalk maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner. On top of that the Borough does offer financial assistance to help offset any maintenance expenditures. However in reality we all know that few property owners actively maintain these pathways and the town’s code enforcement department spends little time focusing on this “quality of life” issue.

That said, I would push the code enforcement department to identify a 4-week period when agents would literally have to “walk” the entire town and identify all sidewalk violations. Typically once property owners are made aware of a violation and informed of the Borough’s financial assistance plan, they tend to make the appropriate repairs. However if these repairs are not made, appropriate fines should be leveled and the property owner’s insurance company will be notified until the violations are brought into compliance.

I believe these 4-week inspection periods should occur every 5 years.

QUESTION #3: Traffic is a major problem downtown at certain times and there are a lot of neighborhoods that are used as cut throughs. What congestion/speed amelioration measures do you support?

MY POSITION: Residing on a major cut through between West Main & South St. and having young children, I appreciate just how big of a problem speeding down these streets can be.

Ideally we would have one of Freehold’s Finest positioned on every corner ensuring speed limits are obeyed, but this idea is impractical from a financial as well as staffing perspective. However I am pleased the Borough Council has adopted a recommendation from our business community with the hiring of Police Specials (like many shore towns do) empowered to enforce quality of life, parking, and minor traffic issues in the downtown area. Aside from becoming additional revenue generators for the town and providing a more visible downtown security presence, these Police Specials will also “free up” the Borough’s full fledged officers – allowing them increased time to focus on more traditional policing needs such as major traffic enforcement and citizen safety in other parts of town.

Aside from growing a police presence, I also think adding speed cameras to lamp poles on known cut through streets & crosswalks would help address speeding violations as well as citizen safety issues. These cameras would not only bring in additional town revenue via traffic fines, but would quickly prove their value from a pedestrian safety standpoint as well.

QUESTION #4: How do you plan on working with the BOE to improve the schools? Do you support Beta Charter?

MY POSITION: I think it’s crucial Council members take an active role in supporting our public school district. Being an individual who spent my entire academic career in public schools (elementary, high school, college) and speaking as a parent whose children will soon be enrolled in the Freehold Borough School District, I believe the Borough Council liaison to the public school district should be required to attend at least one Board of Education meeting per month in order to familiarize themselves with the challenges facing our district.

Regarding the proposed Beta Charter, I can only say this: I am willing to listen to any initiative – be it consolidation with the Freehold Township School District or potentially opening up a charter school – if it can realistically address our district’s 3 biggest challenges (a lack of space, a lack of state aid, and an exhausted tax base) while not causing a negative impact on our public district.

 **THE OPINION ABOVE IS MY PERSONAL OPINION ONLY AND DOES NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THAT OF ANYONE ELSE ON THE FREEHOLD BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION.**

Have a question? Send it to dfxavier30@gmail.com and I will try to include it in the next Freehold Patch blog posting!