Garwood Democrats have a pattern of distraction and deception. How can you believe anything they say especially right before an election?

Below are the sources for everything we discussed leading up to election day. Let's see the Garwood Democrats do the same with their claims.

On the heels of Fanwood finding themselves in a recycling mess, Garwood Democrats were forced to accept a new recycling bid from our old recycler for twice the price!  The result: our costs have more than doubled from less than $1300 to more than $2600 per pickup!

Source: Garwood Agreement for Waste Management 2014-2015 and New Agreement for 2016-2017 located on Garwood.org

Facts Garwood Democrats Bill Nierstedt and Carol Kearney want you to ignore:

ØBill Nierstedt in his own words “I’ve learned the only way to make Americans change their habits is hit them in their wallets.”

Source: http://www.nj.com/insidejersey/index.ssf/2009/11/in_transit_with_bill_nierstedt.html

ØGarwood Democrats tried to push through the shared service agreement without properly notifying the public. Then ignored over 100 people that filled borough hall by reading from prepared statements they intended to vote for the agreement all along.

Source: Council meeting June 23, 2015  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DigDqIZIs0Q

ØGarwood has to pay Fanwood $40,000 a year in taxpayer money, plus 2% annual increases for having our DPW report to Fanwood’s Superintendent.

Source: Agreement attached page 4:

Compensation.
(a) For the first year of this Agreement, Garwood shall pay to Fanwood the sum of Forty-Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00) for provision of the services set forth herein, which payment shall be made quarterly at the completion of each quarter and upon receipt of a voucher from Fanwood.

(b) For any subsequent year during which this Agreement shall be in effect, the annual fee shall be increased by the sum of: (i) two percent (2%); plus (ii) the cost of any additional services requested by Garwood that were not provided in the prior year. Payment shall be made in accordance with Section 3.

ØIf any Fanwood equipment is damaged, Garwood taxpayers pay to fix it and all local licenses, permits and inspections in Garwood need approval from Fanwood.

Source: Agreement attached page 3:

(f) Garwood shall continue to be responsible for its own insurance, repairs, maintenance, and replacement of any damaged or unusable apparatus, vehicle, machinery, or equipment utilized in connection with the public works services performed in Garwood, including those performed by the CPWM/CRP under this Agreement.

ØNierstedt and Kearney both voted to take away taxpayer property rights by supporting the abuse of Eminent Domain.

Source Council Meeting October 13, 2015  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z5WS9n0Bvo

ØThe plan they support for over development will add up to 300 apartments with a state mandate of up to 20% as low-income housing which will drive down home prices and further strain our resources.

Source: Transit Village criteria:  http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/community/village/criteria.shtm

“All new development within the transit village district shall adhere to the affordable housing requirements of the State of New Jersey that are in place at the time the development receives municipal site plan approvals.” 

ØThe athletic field cost taxpayers $33,000 this year in maintenance alone, when the Democrats promised it would only cost $2000.  Only $15,000 has been generated by the AFC to date and, by accepting state funds, money generated from the field will never go back to the taxpayers, leaving taxpayers with over $1.6M in debt to pay off over 15 years.

Source: 2015 Municipal Budget

ØThe Democrats brag that we received a grant to fix areas damaged by trees.  Did you know that the damage will cost taxpayers an additional $70,000 and Nierstedt/Kearney support planting more trees at the expense of taxpayers?

Source: Council meeting June 23, 2015  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DigDqIZIs0Q

ØCarol Kearney in a letter congratulated her son on his wedding, but would not say her family lives in Garwood instead saying they lives in “East Westfield”.

Source: Westfield Leader

Thursday, June 18, 2009

ØBill Nierstedt said during the debate that he does not enjoy going to Council meetings anymore. Let’s make sure he no longer has to bear this burden!

Source: Council Debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb4pfff36rg

Shared Service Agreement with Fanwood

Mayor and Council Refuse to Listen

This Video shows Councilman Mike Martin taking a nap during the most attended, arguably most important meeting of the year.
https://youtu.be/XyDgOLAnLL8


Over 100 hundred residents packed Borough Hall and over 300 signed a petition, only to have their overwhelming dissent overruled by a condescending Council that felt the need to impose their will.

In a blatant act of defiant arrogance, the Garwood council has chosen once again to ignore the voice of their constituents! With overwhelming opposition and a record turnout against the shared service agreement with Fanwood, the "powers that be" chose to ignore the taxpayers. One can only wonder what lies beneath the rush to railroad this through, nor why they bothered to allow the residents to speak all the while knowing they had no intention of listening. Their minds were made up long before this meeting, as evidenced by reading from prepared statements, and stale, disingenuous talking points. Complete Distain, and flippant remarks, flowed from their lips while the folks looked on in disbelief. I hope we did not disturb the council member who was recorded dozing on the dais. Shame on him for his lack of respect and concern for the taxpayer, when he could not stay awake long enough to even pretend he cared what they had to stay. This is just a continuance of the status quo here in town for quite a while but the residents of Garwood do not like being ignored, they will not tolerate such condescending attitudes from the officials they elected to serve the taxpayer. They have learned a hard lesson but will prevail, and show their displeasure with the only other means available when elected officials refuse to listen.

More than 350 people have signed the petition with another 100 or so saying they are afraid to sign do to political backlash or have been told not to sign. These residents do not care about political affiliation, they care about Garwood. The group that decided to shove this through against the will of the people has decided to make this a political issue. So be it. We will be happy to remind the residents what occurred last night.


In the voting booth, it all begins in November where we have the chance to replace 2 in the next election. Elect Ileen Cuccaro & Joe Sarno to Garwood Council.Transparency in Government should be mandatory. The time has long passed for the hierarchy to be held accountable for ignoring the will of the people.

Save our DPW

Here is the online version of the petition being handed out to save our DPW. The Council has dug us into a hole and now wants us to believe they are doing this to save money, the same night they talked about spending $100,000 to repair damages caused by trees Bill N had planted. Please sign here and tell them we will not have our DPW report to a borough two towns away that have private garbage and do not collect recycling. The Council attempted to ram this thru at the last meeting without informing the public. It's time we tell them our voices do matter and we will not allow them to take away a tremendous resource.
Click here to sign the petition online.

Or go to http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/keep-our-garwood-dpw-as-is.html

What you are not being told about the resolution to have the Garwood DPW report to Fanwood.

• The Garwood DPW contract ends this year leaving the future of the DPW unknown.
•  It would fire Garwood’s DPW Superintendent for the last ten years, Fred Corbitt, and replace him with 10 hours of part-time supervision by Fanwood’s Superintendent.
• Garwood’s DPW workers would then report to Fanwood’s Superintendent. Our men would have to get his approval on everything.
• Garwood will have to pay Fanwood $40,000 a year with a 2% increase every year for 10 hours of supervision and the privilege of sharing their DPW equipment.
• The equipment the Garwood DPW would “benefit” from is already available from the county.
• Currently, if Garwood were to damage any Fanwood equipment it is using, we would have to pay for it all.
• Licenses, permits, inspections, etc., are to be approved, or denied, by the Fanwood Superintendent.
• Fanwood decides who gets priority use over their equipment.
• NOT ONE municipality out of 565 in NJ has embraced sharing DPW Superintendent services because it does not work. Using the best DPW in the county as a lab rat is a risk we should not take.

Mayor and Council have a record of poor planning, tax & spending increases and a lack of transparency.

• Sara Todisco, Bill Nierstedt, and Ann Tarantino pushed to vote on the resolution 10 different times during the June 23, 2015 meeting without consulting the public and sneak this through before you had a say.
• They claim this proposal will save $70,000 a year in salary and benefits, yet a sitting Councilman collects benefits costing taxpayers close to $30,000 a year and he has not been asked to relinquish them.
• We were also told removing taxpayer funded Bulk pickup services would save $30,000 a year but our taxes have gone up every year, some years at a higher rate than Cranford and Westfield.
• They approved the 2015 Budget that included over $230,000 in excess spending; add to it the Board of Ed and County budgets and this amounts to over a 4% increase in our property taxes.
• We were told the Athletic Field Complex was under budget and would only cost $2,000 a year to maintain when it’s really costing us an extra $32,000 this year alone.

Our DPW and Fred Corbitt are collateral damage for the Mayor and Council’s out of control spending. This year’s Budget is loaded with irresponsible and reckless spending.

• $100,000 to fix damaged sidewalks caused by trees the borough planted. The response is to plant more trees.
• $32,000 for Athletic Field Complex (AFC) Maintenance and Fence.
• $33,000 in debt service payments due to the AFC and neglected infrastructure projects.
• $7,000 increase to the Rec Dept.
• $23,845 initial cost for computer software.
• $17,000 increase for the Planning Board.
• $30,000 for Councilman Petruzelli’s health & dental benefits.
• $11,100 increase for the Municipal Clerk.
• $18,800 increase in Legal Fees.
• $17,000 increase for pension line items.
• $37,000 in Municipal Roof repairs that should have been covered by funds in the “surplus”.
• $90,000 increase for the Rahway Valley Sewer Authority because of a failure by the Finance Committee to understand and prepare for fluctuations in RVSA fees.

Their tactics are getting old

More to follow in the next few weeks but I can tell you that the great people of Garwood are sick of their tactics especially when they follow The Rules for Radicals to a T.


Saul Alinsky was a Socialist that taught how to create a Social State. He wrote the Rules for Radicals that a handful of politicians are living by:
RULE 12: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions. (This is cruel, but very effective. Direct, personalized criticism and ridicule works.).


Are these the people you want making day to day decisions? The anger, the hate? Time to vote them out.

$3.2 million learning experience and manufactured outrage.

That about sums up the Council meeting. First, a special thank you to my friends at Unico and the IAOVC. They had a serious concern and accepted the apology of our councilman and we look forward to working with them in the near future. Those gentlemen along with Councilman Mathieu were some of very few grown ups in the room and as an Italian American with close roots to their organization I am grateful for everything they do. Our Borough is too inclusive to have even one person who is bitter, vindictive, divisive that will take anything and manufacture outrage for his or her political gain. We saw that on the evening of the Council meeting and I am truly sad for those people. Leave the PC activism to the Al Sharptons of the world. This is and was a non-issue and so are those that make believe they are offended. The typical politicians are trying to use it as a distraction from their failed policies, from the brutal tax increase, the extra $31,000 the Athletic Field is costing us this year when they promised it was no more than 2 or 3 thousand.


What I found offending was that on two separate occasions when issues about the Athletic Complex were brought up by residents in town, 2 councilman including Harry Reid Bill Neirstedt dismissed these concerns with "we are new to this" and "there is going to be a learning curve". $3 and a half million of our tax money and to these politicians it is just a learning curve? They are playing with our money with no plans whatsoever. Our taxes are skyrocketing and the people that built Garwood are being forced out and all they have to say for themselves is "it's a learning curve". When one resident asked why as a taxpayer in town, his kids are never allowed to play on the park, he was told, "we are learning as we go". When a resident asked why people were not allowed to use  the parking lot, he was told "it's a learning curve"




Lastly, the point was brought up that maybe the borough could have passed on a beer tent at a Little League event. Councilman Tarantino that is was a "Day for all of Garwood" for everyone to enjoy. The reality is that Garwood Day was designed around little league, stop playing politics and start listening. Per the last blog it was a wonderful day and that should not be lost around semantics. That statement by the way came just before the aforementioned gentleman said his kids were kicked off the field on "Garwood Day".

Beautiful day for Garwood by the people of Garwood

Garwood Day could not have gone any better. Wonderful job by the recreation department, the coaches, the parents and of course the players. Now just imagine if we had fiscally responsible people that could have properly budgeted out the field, we could have many more days like Saturday. The day was great because of all the people that made it, not a synthetic field. Poor planning has saddled us with an extra $31,000 this year and most likely tens of thousands more next year to make the baseball field compliant so our older kids can use it for home games against other towns.
Nonetheless, wonderful job by all those involved on Garwood Day.

Unhinged and it's only April

We are seeing our Democrat friends become unhinged crying foul at everything they see. Maybe its in an attempt to distract from the massive tax increase they are trying to impose or maybe its to distract from the fact that our $3.2 million tax payer funded Athletic Complex wasn't built to specs, now our Major League team cannot play home games against other towns. Yes you read that right, our baseball field is only compliant for up to 4th grade.


Anyway, they are trying desperately to say the GOP chairman's satirical op-ed was somehow an attack on Italians. Shhhh don't tell them, he is Italian, his wife is Italian, I, Sal Piarulli, am Italian, but more importantly, we are all Americans, Americans that love our Borough. We are Garwood, not those that are trying desperately to split the town, distract and distort the truth. Now let's all go raise some money with a big Bocce Tournament to pay for the extra $31,000 in costs to the Field when they swore it would only be 2 or 3 thousand. Just a little off.


I hope to see everyone at the Beer Tent, because you know a beer tent is appropriate for a children's event. That's sarcasm for my friends on the left.

Harry Reid DOES live in Garwood

The question from the previous post Does Harry Reid live in Garwood has been answered! He does and his name is Bill Nierstedt. For some reason the Councilman has chosen to attack the messenger instead of addressing the facts of unnecessary brutal tax increases that are driving out the very people that built our great Borough. I just wish Mr. Reid Nierstedt loved this place as much as those of us willing to stick our necks out and question why, if he did maybe he would answer instead of attempting to distort and distract, just like Harry Reid. It's comical that Mr. Reid Nierstedt says he is looking forward to running a campaign on the issues and then writes an editorial that takes personal attacks on a resident in Garwood who has serious concerns on the direction of the Borough. Good luck with that. Unfortunately for Garwood, under Mr. Reid Nierstedt there is no compromise, it's his way or he will tax you out of here.

Opening Day 2015

Garwood Baseball opening day


Let's leave the debate over the hefty price-tag, additional costs and complete miss-management for another day. This Saturday, April 11th come down and enjoy all the festivities as Garwood opens the home for our kids baseball teams. For the first time in 2 years the teams from our youngest through majors - 8th grade, will have a home field for other towns to come see and play.


Click here for additional details.

Does Harry Reid live in Garwood?

In a recent interview, Democrat minority leader Harry Reid admitted he lied about Mitt Romney’s record to help Barack Obama win the election. When one can no longer win on his or her record they distort, distract or outright lie to keep power. What is sad is that these tactics are also used at a local level. For the sake of our great borough and the wonderful people that live here, we can only hope the incumbents stick to the issues, their records and the facts without the political spin.

For instance last year we were told that the Athletic field would only cost $2 to $3000  but it is actually cost us $31,000 extra this year alone. White lies lead to big issues when it comes to our well being. Facts like, $33,000 in debt service payments due to the AFC and neglected infrastructure projects, $7,000 increase to the Recreation department, $17,000 for the Planning Board, $11,100 to the Municipal Clerk, $23,845 initial cost for computer software, $20,000 Taxes Raised, $18,800 in Legal Fees, $17,000 for pension line items, and $37,000 in Municipal Roof repairs that should be covered in the "surplus." In addition the failure of the Finance Committee to understand and prepare for fluctuations in RVSA fees will now cost us $86,000 even though the fees are flat over the past five years.

 

More facts they choose to ignore: The budget proposed by the Garwood Finance Committee is more per household than Westfield and Cranford combined. How can a borough of 4,200 people see such drastic increases year after year? It is because we have people in charge that have zero real world budget experience. They simply copy and paste from the previous year and add increases. They have no plan, no solution. They push through their pet projects without allowing the people to vote on them and now our small town with a big heart is starting to see the ramifications of their carelessness.

 

We look forward to a spirited debate, the facts and of course seeing Ileen and Joe elected to our next Council.

 

 

Letter to the Editor 04-01-2015

Letter: Garwood: Big Heart, Big Taxes


To the editor:
There they go again, justifying, spinning and actually bragging about increasing taxes. With 19 homes for sale, another 8 in pre-foreclosure, the Garwood Finance Committee just doesn't seem to get that we cannot afford their reckless spending and tax increases.


In a recent letter-to-the-editor they make a failed attempt at trying to explain away the increase by taking no accountability and ignoring the facts. Increases to the 2015 Budget include: an additional $31,000 for the Athletic Complex (last year they said it would be $2000), $33,000 in debt service payments due to the AFC and neglected infrastructure projects, $7,000 increase to the Recreation department, $17,000 for the Planning Board, $11,100 to the Municipal Clerk, $23,845 initial cost for computer software, $20,000 Taxes Raised, $18,800 in Legal Fees, $17,000 for pension line items, and $37,000 in Municipal Roof repairs that should be covered in the "surplus." In addition the failure of the Finance Committee to understand and prepare for fluctuations in RVSA fees will now cost us $86,000 even though the fees are flat over the past five years.


The budget proposed by the Garwood Finance Committee is more per household than Westfield and Cranford combined. How can a borough of 4,200 people see such drastic increases year after year? It is because we have people in charge that have zero real world budget experience. They simply copy and paste from the previous year and add increases. They have no plan, no solution. They push through their pet projects without allowing the people to vote on them and now our small town with a big heart is starting to see the ramifications of their carelessness.


By approving the $3.2 million AFC without putting it up for the people of Garwood to vote on, the council ignored capital expenditures the borough requires like Police Dispatch computer system, Police Dictaphone system, DPW equipment that is 30+ years-old, the 30+ year-old fire trucks and lack of a $1M ladder truck to fight fires at The Pointe, St. Anne's Senior housing (which, when opened, is going to create an even bigger drain on resources) and the fire on Second Avenue. There are streets in Garwood that have not been repaved in 40 years, sidewalks falling into disrepair, etc. Now we have to pay for all the items we already needed to borrow money for but hid from the public when the AFC was approved.


In addition, there is no synergy between the municipality and the Board of Education. We work in silos, which creates blown up budgets that hurt us, the taxpayers. The BOE has already said they are raising taxes an average of $217 per house which may have been avoided with smart collaboration. For years they have gotten away with irresponsible increases. The numbers don't lie and we love this town too much to allow it to continue in the direction it's headed.

Sal Piarulli
Garwood

Garwood GOP selects council candidates

Garwood GOP selects council candidates


The Garwood GOP has selected Ileen Bocchino Cuccaro and Joseph R. Sarno III as its 2015 nominees for Borough Council. Residing in Garwood for nearly 50 years, where she raised her son, Eric Meyer, Ileen is a well-known realtor for Coldwell Banker, having sold scores of homes in the community. As a businesswoman serving the Garwood community, she has a crucial insight into why people choose to sell their homes in Garwood and why new residents continue to come here. She attended Union County College where she studied urban studies and creative writing.


Joseph Sarno is a proud, lifelong New Jersey resident. He attended Albright College in Reading, Pa., and graduated Cum Laude with a degree in accounting and political science. In college, Sarno also starred as a cross-country and long-distance runner for the track and field team. He currently works at SS&C GlobeOP in Cranford as a senior accountant and has more than nine years of accounting and analytical experience in the Alternative Investment world. His clients have been some of the most reputable financial institutions in the country and his service has been integral in assuring that investors are protected from securities fraud, embezzlement, and other forms of theft.


Garwood GOP Chairman, Jim Mathieu is enthusiastic about Ileen and Joe running for Garwood Borough Council. "I first met each of them when I challenged the Republican Establishment in the 2013 Garwood Republican primary. Ileen and Joe are shining examples of the new type of candidates our party is selecting--people of character who will vote like Republicans. I expect each of them to bring fresh ideas and approaches to keeping Garwood affordable for current and future residents."


To volunteer, contribute or meet the candidates in person, contact Jim Mathieu at 917-626-0207 or email jimmathieu71@gmail.com.

Tax implications run deep for Families that built Garwood

Currently there are a record 19 homes for sale, plus another 8 in foreclosure or pre-foreclosure and another already in auction.

As our taxes continue to recklessly skyrocket we are seeing more and more families that built Garwood forced out simply because they can no longer afford to stay here. Long time residents are seeing their families have to move away as collateral damage to a Democrat run council that thinks is okay to carelessly go about business as usual with our money. As we lose those people that built our town, we will welcome in new families with open arms because along with the best neighbors you can ever hope, the lower property costs make it easier for younger couples to move to our great borough as opposed to the ones next door. This also brings in more children and as we have seen in the recent past, our administration has no capability of preparing for the future. Classrooms are already overcrowded, teachers are unhappy with their expired contracts and the Board of Ed is doubling down on their tax implications to the residents. The stark reality is that as the landscape is changes because of the bad decisions of the past decade, we need to adapt and be willing to elect officials that have experience in the marketplace. People who understand the numbers and know how to work a budget. Our residents can no longer afford the intentions of Council members that cannot see past their own political ideology. If we do not wake up soon, our taxes will be $20,000 per home, we are already close.

Garwood tax increase more than Cranford and Westfield COMBINED per household

The budget proposed by the Garwood Finance Committee is more per household than Westfield and Cranford combined. While Garwood will see an $85 per $100,000 assessed increase, Westfield is at $50 and Cranford at $33. How can a borough of 4200 people see such drastic increases year after year? It is because we have people in charge that have zero real world budget experience. They simply copy and paste from the previous year and add increases. They have no plan, no solution. They push through their pet projects without allowing the people to vote on them and now our small town with a big heart is starting to see the ramifications of their carelessness. The previous blog post shows the breakdown of all the drastic increases that are hitting us, the taxpayers. It’s easy for them to spend our money without consideration of how it impacts our lives. Because of their will for power, greed and stubbornness, we chose a vanity project on which to put the names of politicians that is going to be used by a very small percentage of the Borough’s resident over basic infrastructure like roads, sewers, police, DPW and fire gear are falling into disrepair. Now they expect us to bear the brunt of their ineptitude. We, the taxpayers of Garwood, need to stand up and tell them we have had enough of their reckless spending. Write the local papers, post your comments, and lastly try to attend the council meetings. The latter is the most difficult I know, a 2 ½ hour meeting on a Tuesday night which is painfully boring is not the best way to interact with the community but until things change at the top we have very little choice.


For years they have gotten away with irresponsible increases. The purpose of this blog is to keep people informed and let everyone know the facts without the political spin. The numbers don't lie and we love this town too much to allow it to continue in the direction it's headed.

Garwood NJ, Big heart, big taxes!

Garwood, your taxes are about to skyrocket!

Big heart, big taxes!

Increases to the 2015 Budget include:

• $20,000 for Athletic Field Complex (AFC) Maintenance
• $11,000 for a fence for the Athletic Field
• $33,000 in debt service payments due to the AFC and neglected infrastructure projects*
• $7,000 increase to the Recreation department**
• $17,000 for the Planning Board**
• $11,100 to the Municipal Clerk**
• $23,845 initial cost for computer software
• $20,000 Taxes Raised
• $18,800 in Legal Fees
• $17,000 for pension line items
• $37,000 in Municipal Roof repairs that should be covered in the “surplus”
• Failure of the Finance Committee to understand and prepare for fluctuations in RVSA fees. Even though the fees are flat over the past 5 years, because of this failure we have to pay $90,000

*Not subject to cap is Debt Service; The Finance Committee does NOTHING to control costs. They put out fires and react to situations; they do not plan, foresee, anticipate or control expenditures.

**Items that we spent less than budgeted for last year, yet increased the budget this year.

We are just now beginning to see the ramifications of the excess debt we have taken on for the AFC.

$11,000 for a fence and $33,000 debt increase due to the AFC and neglected infrastructure projects. We were told the cost to maintain the Athletic Complex would be “$2,000”. Actual cost in the 2015 Budget is a 10x increase at: $20,000.

By approving the $3.2 million AFC without putting it up for the people of Garwood to vote on, the council ignored capital expenditures the Borough requires like Police Dispatch computer system, Police Dictaphone system, DPW equipment that is 30+ years old, the 30+ year old fire trucks and lack of a $1M ladder truck to fight fires at The Pointe, St. Anne's Senior housing (which, when opened, is going to create an even bigger drain on resources) and the fire on Second Avenue. There are streets in Garwood that have not been repaved in 40 years, sidewalks falling into disrepair, etc. Now we have to pay for all the items we already needed to borrow money for but hid from the public when the AFC was approved.

In addition, there is no synergy between the municipality and the Board of Education. We work in silos, which creates blown up budgets that hurt us, the taxpayers.  The BOE has already said they are raising taxes an average of $217 per house which may have been avoided with smart collaboration.

Municipal plus Board of Ed and County amounts to over 4% increase in property taxes

The purpose of this blog is to inform the residents of what goes on behind the closed doors of municipal hall because we are too busy with our lives to dig and see why our taxes are going up.


If you have any questions please reach out to us at garwoodgop@gmail.com