Good afternoon everyone.

Two years ago you voted me in office, and today I gratefully accept the position of Counsel President. What makes this a special moment for me is the fact that it comes from my peers: A talented group of individuals who volunteer their time for the good of our town.

I’ve learned a lot in the last 2 years. In the beginning I barely knew where borough hall was. I remember my first speech was in front a group of seniors. I talked about the good old days. The days when Bound Brook was the jewel of Somerset County. I mentioned many of the old stores, the old people and the memories.

Oh those good old days!

And I really thought being a councilman would be easy. I remember learning the state of New Jersey would only let us raise taxes a maximum of 4% a year. That sounded good, especially when I knew we had one of the highest tax rates in the country. And then I learned that Bound Brook lived off state aid. “Free money,” I thought. Pretty cool stuff.

The first time I sat in at a finance meeting, Randy Bahr showed me a pile of bills. They were about a foot high. Then he showed a pile of revenues that was only about 8 inches high. The difference was 35%.

Then I had, what I thought was, a brilliant idea and I said, "Randy just get us some of that state aide. You know the free stuff. I want to bring back the good old days."

So we filled out that application, and then we waited, and we waited. We waited so long; the year was almost 3/4 over when we found out that we would get less aid than we asked for.

Then we had to do some things I am not so proud of:

We reduced our police force by not replacing 2 retirees.

We took 1/2 million dollars from the school budget.

We laid off 6, good, hard-working public works employees.

We sold borough equipment, including our street sweeper.

And even with all this we still had to raise municipal taxes by 1%.

But because of these cuts, the next year the difference between the 2 piles was a little closer. The difference was 28%. But this was just déjà vu. The state continued to cut our aid. We needed more cuts from a borough that was already cut to the bone and a 4% tax increase to balance our budget.

Now it’s 2010. We all know there’s a new administration in Trenton. We all know the state is broke. We all know this new administration wants to eliminate municipal aid. And the truth is, it’s money they don't have. So, here we are again, in Limbo. 

The truth is that Bound Brook is a community on state welfare, and as much as it helps us out; it holds us back. This may not be the best year to be council president after all. Those good old days seem like a long time ago.

Now you all know I am a Democrat. I have a fundamental belief that Government has the responsibility to help people and communities in need. BUT, I'm not talking about a hand out but rather a hand up. Government needs to help us when life puts us down: A hand up, not a hand out.

I would like to tell you a story, something I’ve never shared with anyone. Around 1960 my parents decided to build a house. Their first choice would have been to stay in Bound Brook but at the time property values here were so high we had to go to Bridgewater.

For $1,300.00 we bought 2 acres of land off a dirt road. Our relatives thought we were nuts. But in the years to follow other families joined us. Each year property values increased and those new families paid a lot more for their land. Many of these people were doctors and lawyers, different from our little blue collar family from the west end.

My father had built our home himself from the ground up, and he maintained everything. Unlike our neighbors, we never saw auto mechanics, carpenters, or lawn services. We did that ourselves.

My mother made many of the clothes we wore. Our neighbors had big expensive new cars. We had an old beat up Ford Falcon station wagon. Our neighbors grew flowers in their gardens. The only flower we grew was cauliflower. If you couldn't eat it, we didn't grow it.

As a teenager I was very aware of our differences in Bridgewater. But because of our family business we never lost our connection with Bound Brook.

As many of you may remember, in 1972 Bound Brook was hit by a flood. Our family business, our only source of income, was wiped out. My family needed a hand but there wasn’t much for the self employed. One thing government did provide for us were vouchers for free school lunches.

Now, as a misplaced west-end kid living in Bridgewater, this lunch ticket became a label. A bright red label.

I still remember trying to hide it from other kids as I went through the line in the high school cafeteria. In Bridgewater, at least in my mind, you did not get invited to the best parties if you had to use a red ticket. The girls did not go for guys that carried red tickets.

I couldn’t wait until our business got back on its feet. So, I would work endless hours with my family just to get rid of that God awful red ticket. Looking back, I am thankful that I lived in a country that was there for us when our backs were against the wall. Looking back, I am thankful for my West End, Bound Brook, blue-collar roots.

And I look at those years with many fond memories.

Sure, we struggled, but that sense of working together with my family has built a connection that will endure forever. Family. Community. They are words with similar meanings. And the community of Bound Brook is one big family.

Devastated by floods in ‘72, ‘74 ‘95, ‘99, and 2007, we drew together like a family. And we certainly need that hand up.

With the help of Congressmen, Senators, Governors, and state representatives, the government gave us millions of dollars.

From early state aid to the last 10 million dollar check from President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, taxpayers from across this great country--many not knowing a thing about our little borough--have funded our recovery.

We are holding the red ticket. But now it’s time. . . It’s time to get rid of the bright red ticket. It’s time to take back our town. Because until we lose that ticket we will never gain back control of our community.

I’ve been going around town each year and talking to you and I hear your concerns:

You’re concerned about taxes.

You want your streets to be clean.

Public Safety is an issue and you’ve asked for more police on our streets.

Almost everyone wants a revitalized down town.

All of these are valid concerns. But I can tell you, that until we cut loose from the State’s red ticket these are only pipe dreams.

Nothing is free my friends. This recession has us all worried. Unemployment is high. Many of you here today are unemployed or uncertain about your jobs. Governing is balancing act: Raise taxes?..Cut services?..Losing that red ticket won’t be easy

I recently went to a public affairs breakfast that featured a hero of mine: Mayor Cory Booker from Newark. If you ever get an opportunity to hear him speak I guarantee you will not be disappointed. His problems in Newark are way beyond anything we have here in Bound Brook.

He inspired me with a story about a resident that took his government rebate check and bought a lawn mower. He took that lawn mower and went around town cutting grass on blighted properties. This man was doing his share to get his community off the red ticket.

It made me think of us. We have heroes too. I thought of Roseanne Short. This woman gets down on her hands and knees and pulls weeds on public streets and sidewalks. Our sidewalks… Our streets... Our weeds...

Roseanne, who worked hard her whole life, was around Bound Brook in those so called good old days. Because she also attends nearly every council meeting, she knows about the red ticket in Bound Brook. She knows how hard the Council has worked to hold this borough together. She understands the concept of community. Roseanne Short—just like the man from Newark—is willing to give back to her town.

My question to you is: What have you done for your town?

Are ready to give to back to your community, like Roseanne and the man from Newark? Like so many of our volunteers: Fire, Rescue, OEM and all the other boards and commissions appointed here today—Volunteers all.

Join us. Use your hands to help our short handed public works. Use your eyes to help our over worked police force. Use your voice at a council meeting to offer suggestions and point out problems. And use your energy and enthusiasm to make our town better. You will be surprised at what we can accomplish together.

If you have any doubts take a look around at this theater. Ravaged twice by floods and brought back again by Bob and Lynn Fazen and a small volunteer board without a penny drawn from our municipal budget. Just look at what small group with a mission can accomplish. And then just imagine what 10,000 of us can do.

Say good bye to the red ticket.

Just a few months ago Bound Brook had its annual Halloween parade. It was quite an event. The parade concluded in this theater with treats and prizes. Oh, the looks on those kids faces.

I remember a little girl—maybe 6 years old—dressed as a fairy princess. When she walked in the lobby and saw the long tables of cakes and cookies, her eyes could get no bigger. Maybe to some of us...These are the good old days. . .

And by the way, I’ll let you in on something; volunteering, while a lot of work, is fun and rewarding. I know. Because since you have put me in office, these last two years I have worked harder than ever.

You gave me the opportunity to volunteer my time for the greater good of my community. You have given me some of the happiest years of my life.

We all have a common goal: To bring Bound Brook back to a new hay day.

Many would like to “fast forward” time to get to that goal. But it’s the journey that is the most rewarding, the most fun. Join us. I need you. We need you. We need each other.

These can be the good old days. The day when Bound Brook looses the red ticket. The day when after centuries of flooding, Bound Brook rises from the flood waters intact and prosperous. The day when every building downtown has a thriving shop owner. The day when a thousand people from all over the metropolitan area come to see a show at the Brook Theater, eat in our restaurants and shop in our stores. The day when the tax burden is off the backs of our home owners and we can restore our services back to the level we need and deserve. The day when our combined cultures embrace their diversities and work together. These things can be more than just dreams.

It's up to us.

Thank you and happy new year to you all.

January 1, 2010