Candidates Discuss 'Marketplace,' Sewer Rates

The for a single seat in the June 5 primary debated at the Thursday night, but on most topics, incumbent Republican Don Kostka and Democrat Mike O'Brien seemed to agree.

The debate was hosted by the Montville Tea Party and featured discussion and debate between Kostka, O'Brien and the third committee candidate, Republican Annabel Pierce. Candidates were given the opportunity to provide opening and closing statements and answer questions from the public.

Many questions centered around financial issues: the township's debt and what candidates would do to keep costs low.

Kostka, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), spoke about the township's current debt payment schedules and continuing government efficiency in the township's highest-cost areas: salaries, health benefits and pensions.

O'Brien agreed that personnel is the most expensive portion of the township's budget and said the committee would have to make decisions that could affect personnel regardless of what political party they are with.

Pierce, however, had another idea to lower debt. She suggested using the nearly $4 million cash surplus money that over the past several years to help pay down the township's debt. Kostka acknowledged that ratepayers were overcharged and said that the township committee would be addressing the issue by July at the latest. At one point, Pierce blamed Kostka for being involved in the decisions that led to ratepayers being overcharged, but he said "the water and sewer rate structure went in place before I was elected."

Kostka said the township committee will be making adjustments, but first, it needs to be determined what the rates should be and what should be done with the surplus money.

One option that has been discussed, but not voted on, is giving ratepayers a "holiday" for one pay period. Kostka invited and encouraged attendees at Thursday's event to come to upcoming township committee meetings and have their voices be heard.

In speaking of cutting costs for the township, O'Brien said he would not eliminate services.

"I don't know of a service in Montville that should be cut," he said.

Pierce said simply she would work to ensure the township did not spend money on things that it could not afford.

"It's not drinking champagne on a diet Coke budget," she said.

Kostka spoke about savings he believes could be created in the way police officers are hired. Currently, the township pays for officers to go through the academy and pays them while they are there as well. Kostka said there are alternative options where the candidate pays their own way through the educational process.

When the issue of known as "Marketplace," came up, Pierce said she did not have enough knowledge on the subject and deferred questions to Kostka. Kostka spoke about his decision to vote against the acquisition, in which the township voted to acquire the land, priced at $1.8 million, through county funding.

Some members of the township committee have argued that by acquiring the property, the township can prevent a developer from building on the land and possibly creating greater flooding potential in an already flood-prone area. But Kostka said the land had been dormant for so long, he did not see why the township would want to acquire it.

"I looked at it and said, 'Nobody in their right mind wanted it. Why would we?'" he said.

Kostka said he could not comment specifically on a question of whether if he was aware of a conflict of interest regarding the property, he would bring the conflict before the entire committee, as he said legal matters may be ensuing. But he said that in general, if he was aware of a conflict regarding any issue that comes before the township committee, he would raise the issue to the entire committee under the advice of the borough attorney.

O'Brien praised Kostka for voting against the "Marketplace" acquisition and said "I think the whole thing stinks."

"This is a scam. We are getting scammed," O'Brien, who has been vocal at township committee meetings about how he feels the land is overpriced, said.

The candidates were able to share their beliefs and concerns about township issues with a fairly crowded room at the senior house. O'Brien, a former history teacher for more than 40 years, said he has run for election before and lost. He said he mostly decided to run this year to give voters options.

O'Brien, who has been a Democrat for most of his adult life, said his campaign is not based on connections to business leaders and that he does not plan to spend a lot of money on his campaign, nor will he ask for donations. But what he said he could promise voters is that, if elected, he would remain an independent-thinker.

"I would go in there and I would be an honest, uncontrolled person. Period," he said.

Kostka, a Republican for the last 30 years, said he felt he deserved the votes based on his experience and his commitment to ending wasteful spending.

"I am the guardian of your wallet," he said.

Kostka said that during his term on the township committee, he has sometimes had to "vote no to the nice-to-haves" so that everyone could have the "need-to-haves."

Pierce, who said she has been a Republican for "as long as I can remember," acknowledged that she does not fully know all of the issues that have come before the township committee "in and out," but promised to work hard to be conservative with taxpayers' money while also maintaining the current quality of life standard in Montville.

"There needs to be a balance between the property taxes collected and keeping the charms of our town in tact," she said.