Letters
Facts show Makransky has held taxes down, served conscientiously

As a diehard independent who refuses to register with any political party, I make it a point to read up on all sides before I vote. After getting and reading the Dennis Grobelny and Rory Zach ads criticizing Frank Makransky on taxes, one needs to get the tax information contained in Sayreville Borough Hall records to “do the math.”

My grandmother shared a lot of old sayings with us. A saying that keeps coming to mind now is, “Figures don’t lie, but liars figure.” It turns out that in the 12 years Makransky has been on the Borough Council, he has held down annual increases to less than 4 percent a year, about the rate of inflation.

The fact is, the only really big tax increase that occurred while Makransky was on the council was in 1995 when Democratic Mayor James Zagata raised taxes by 77 percent in just one year. Frank Makransky, the lone Republican on the council at that time, voted against this increase. Ironically, both Grobelny and Zach were appointed to positions in the Zagata administration and remained Zagata supporters while he was raising taxes to record levels. For them to criticize Makransky on taxes is dishonest and hypocritical.

In a letter printed in this newspaper (“Makransky Helped Cut Borough Services, Increase Taxes,” Suburban, Oct. 20), Janet Misiur writes that Sayreville needs leaders who understand our need for real tax relief. I cannot fathom the source of her information, since at the time she claims Makransky was raising our taxes, all the local newspapers covered the story about that tax vote. Checking back, she can read facts, such as this in one newspaper — “In the end, Republican Frank Makransky’s plan for a zero tax increase won out.”

The choice is clear. We have had in Frank Makransky a true gentleman, a good and honest councilman, conscientious in his duties and especially dedicated to the needs of our senior citizens.

If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.

Janice O’Brien

Parlin section of Sayreville

No need to fix what isn’t broken

For six years, Ward 5 has been represented on the Township Council by Richard Greene. He has proved himself to be an able and effective member of the governing body, taking his duties as a councilman very seriously. He has committed himself full time to this part-time position. I truly believe that his every action taken as a member of the Township Council has been with the best interests of the township residents in mind.

He has worked diligently to improve the appearance of our neighborhood by recognizing the need to enhance our quality of life, and his experience in municipal budget and finance has been a tremendous asset to the township. Most importantly, he answers to no party “bosses.” His actions are based solely on what is beneficial to the township of Old Bridge. He is his own independent person whose allegiance is only to his own sense of morals.

That is what is right with the leadership in Ward 5. Nothing is broken — no need to fix it. I support Richard Greene in his re-election campaign for councilman in Ward 5. Join me and vote Republican on Nov. 8, so that Richard Greene has the necessary support on the Township Council to institute the changes that the township of Old Bridge truly needs and deserves.

Amelia Wisniewski

Old Bridge

Cahill will be advocate for open, fair government in O.B.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, voters will have a choice in Old Bridge for Ward 2 Township Council representative. You can vote for Brian Cahill, who will represent you, or for the incumbent, Bill Baker, who does what the party bosses tell him to.

Mr. Baker pushed through a plan to sell township land to private developers to construct homes, in a project called Crossroads. He voted for it, despite overwhelming public opposition to the plan. He is telling us that we don’t have to worry about this massive housing development (850-plus homes) because it isn’t in Ward 2. Who is he kidding? All of us will pay taxes to support services for those residences, and we will have to deal with about 2,000 more cars on Route 18, Route 9 and Route 516 in Ward 2.

Baker’s support of Crossroads makes his re-election claims seem like a bunch of lies. He is being hypocritical when he claims to care about traffic — and again, when he claims to oppose overdevelopment and says he supports lower taxes and open space, while swapping township land for residential development. He used the same claims four years ago. He is doing it again.

The Democratic Party, which has had absolute majority control of the Township Council for the past eight years, needs to learn about democracy. We do not have a working council. Most of the members are self-serving rubber stamps. There is no discussion of issues. Votes are decided before the meeting, and public workshops are almost nonexistent. Baker has cut the number of public meetings in half and allowed little opportunity for meaningful public input.

There is need for a positive change. Brian Cahill, a concerned resident, came forward to run for office because he cares about Old Bridge and he doesn’t like what is happening in our town government. He will address all the concerns of all the residents and will be a strong advocate for open and fair government. He supports strong pay-to-play legislation. He believes municipal spending can be reduced and supports an active open-space program. He will push for land-planning that will reduce the amount of new residential housing.

I am asking you to join me in supporting Brian Cahill on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Barbara Cannon

former mayor and Ward 2

councilwoman

Old Bridge

Calogera stands against overdevelopment, for fiscal responsibility

Old Bridge Councilman G. Kevin Calogera is a man of exceptional integrity and dedication. He voted against the Crossroads redevelopment plan, which would sell off 500 undeveloped acres at the intersection of routes 9 and 18 (purchased for the express purpose of attracting commercial ratables) to construct 850 homes.

In 2003, Calogera cast the lone dissenting vote against a general development plan that would replace the historic Cottrell farm with townhouses, 131 apartments and more than 100,000 square feet of retail space.

As a retired police officer, for Calogera, public safety and welfare come first. He cosponsored legislation to install a township reverse 911 emergency notification system. He voted to increase the police force and introduced an ordinance to prohibit sex offenders from residing within 1,000 feet of designated areas.

Calogera has been an inexhaustible advocate for quality-of-life improvements, enhancing recreational facilities and preserving open space, farm land, wetlands and trees.

He’s fiscally responsible, scrutinizing bill lists and no-bid contacts. He cosponsored a strong anti-pay-to-play ordinance and opposed the purchase of gas-guzzling vehicles. He supported short-term leasing of the township-owned farms, conserving the soil, while generating revenue for the town.

Fellow residents, please support Democrat Kevin Calogera for Township Council.

Linda Seiler

Old Bridge

GOP candidates were for even higher taxes in Sayreville

The nasty letter to the editor from William LaMonica (“Makransky’s Votes Meant Higher Taxes,” Suburban, Oct. 13) is filled with false charges against Councilman Frank Makransky. It also fails to identify Mr. LaMonica as a local Democratic committeeman.

The real truth is that the candidates Mr. LaMonica supports, Dennis Grobelny and Rory Zach, were in favor of a budget that would have raised taxes even higher than they are now. In fact Councilman Grobelny and the other Democrats actually attacked Makransky’s plan to freeze municipal taxes, I guess because they want taxes to be higher.

If you go back a few years, both Grobelny and Zach were members of a Democratic administration that raised taxes 77 percent in one year. As the lone Republican on the council at the time, Frank Makransky was the only one to vote no on this huge increase.

It’s clear that Grobelny and Zach are the pro-tax candidates.

John Dorobis

Parlin section of Sayreville

York ‘will go to great lengths to resolve issues’

With Election Day drawing near, I want to publicly voice my support for Barbara York to become the next councilwoman from Ward 6 in Old Bridge. Barbara is a tireless worker who will go to great lengths to resolve any issues people may have. Although she does not hold an elected position currently, she has aided numerous residents of Ward 6 just because she could help.

Barbara York will work together with her fellow council to get so much more accomplished in Old Bridge. She will fight against overdevelopment and for property tax relief. She will make sure the township continues to add to its open space inventory and she will make sure our police department continues to be one of the best in New Jersey.

Barbara York deserves to be the next council representative from Ward 6. Give her a chance on Election Day by voting her into office Nov. 8.

Noel Rome

Old Bridge