 |
Dear Neighbors: I am submitting to you, as a progress report, the summary of accomplishments in the first three years and three months of this administration. The activities are organized into nine (9) key areas for the Township of Edison: fiscal responsibility, public trust, planning reform, education, economic development, public safety, environmental protection, traffic improvement and safety and ONE EDISON.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
This administration has placed a new vigilance on fiscal discipline. This administration has downsized and reorganized our government to provide better quality services more efficiently. We recruited competent managers, accelerated attrition, renegotiated health benefits in the marketplace to get a more competitive price, negotiated nine (9 out of 11 total) labor contracts to secure longer term savings while improving performance, found creative new revenue sources and proposed restructuring our existing debt.
- Brought fiscal stability to Edison municipal finances after inheriting $10.1 million fiscal deficit at end of 2005
- Saved taxpayers more than $7.0 million a year in annual operating expenses - downsized Edison Township government by more than 80 full-time employees (more than 10%)
- Saved approx. $1.5 million over 3 years by lowering administrative costs and fees ($550,000), implemented retiree drug subsidy program ($425,000) and cost containment programs for health and prescription plans (approx. $500,000)
- Negotiated the first significant concession from a major union (Fire Union) to bring costs under control
- Increased Police productivity by $450,000 through shift changes
Saving $125,000 a year through upgraded telecommunications technology
- Completed comprehensive energy audit of all municipal facilities – saving more than $100,000 a year as a result of lighting upgrades
- As Chair of the statewide Mayors’ School Funding Committee (NJ League of Municipalities), Mayor Choi advocated to reshape the State’s school funding formula for middle income districts which yielded $3 million per year (and $10 million per year overall) increase in state aid for Edison Public Schools
- Advocated for Binding Interest Arbitration reform in Trenton which would protect taxpayers from runaway labor costs
- Committed to putting Edison Government back on the road to fiscal health with long-term budgeting and fiscal discipline - began long-term fiscal (five year) and capital budgeting and planning process
| Fiscal Year |
Tax Rate (Cents per $100 Assessed Value) |
% Increase Per Year |
| 1980* – 1989* |
10 to 12 |
2.0% Average Per Year |
| 1990* - 2006 |
30 to 84 |
12.1% Average Per Year |
| 2007 |
92 |
9.5% |
| 2008 |
101 |
9.8% |
| 2009 |
106 |
4.9% |
| 2010 |
109 |
2.8%** |
Notes: * Calendar Year converted to Fiscal Year in the 1990s
** Projected Tax Rate
Source: Edison Tax Assessor’s Office
- Acquired more than $23 million in direct grants / aid to make improvements to Township infrastructure, including:
- $11 million for Edison Train Station parking expansion (under construction)
- $5 million for new Edison Public Safety Center (complete)
- $2.2 million for infrastructure upgrades in Raritan Center – Edison’s largest industrial park – from the State
- $1.8 million for the Edison Memorial Tower project from the State
- $1.0 million for New Dover Road repaving (under construction)
- $525,000 for the Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) – Amboy Ave / Clara Barton
- $500,000 for Papianni Park upgrades from the County Open Space Fund
- $450,000 for Quiet Zone (under construction)
- $300,000 for Edison Smart Growth Planning Initiative
- $144,000 State rebate for hybrid vehicles
- Initiated and nearly completed $52 million expansion project for Route 1 and $30 million renovation project of the Metropark Train Station
- Invested in capital upgrades to reduce operational costs (8 sanitation/recycling trucks, 4 fire engines, 4 ambulances, etc.) and to modernize badly neglected equipment
- Adopted sewer utility budget that stabilizes cash flow and invests in badly needed infrastructure improvements
- Invested heavily in information technology so that services are provided more efficiently – www.EdisonNJ.org (Citizen Service Request) – including new financial and human resource management software, and a new computer network
PUBLIC TRUST
- We must restore the faith of our residents in our government. Edison government must be more open, transparent and responsive to the needs of our citizens.
- Pay-to-Play Reform – Implemented the most aggressive protection against the harmful cycle of money and political favoritism in Edison history (ended practice of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in political contributions from legal, engineering, insurance brokerage, etc. firms in return for government contracts)
- Redevelopers’ Pay-to-Play Reform – Implemented a strict ban of political contributions from large developers in areas in need of redevelopment
- End patronage politics by banning the practice of accepting political contributions from municipal employees
- Referendum on Eminent Domain – Initiated and won overwhelming public support to limit the ability of local government to take private land for private purposes
- Executive and Judicial Ethics Standard – Adopted many state standards for employee ethics to municipal government and limit multiple office holding for full-time employees
- Televising planning and zoning board meetings to make the land use approval process more open and transparent.
- Implemented “Chat with the Mayor” Program – Morning and evening office hours with the Mayor both at Town Hall and Community Forums
- Open Appointments – Adopted model Citizens’ Campaign ordinance on open and transparent appointment process
- Inside Edison Town Hall – Established new programming on Edison TV which gives residents an insiders’ perspective on municipal government including informative segments on how to access government services
- Established Township of Edison Values: Professionalism, Respect, Service and Work Ethic
PLANNING REFORM
- Edison’s future growth must be better planned and be more thoughtful. We need to stop overdevelopment in residential neighborhoods and move towards more neighborhood centers that enhance our quality of life. The centers would include new commercial and mixed-use development to stabilize the tax rate for our residents while respecting our residential neighborhoods. Key sections of our town must also be revitalized.
- Completed 18 month planning study (2007) – Edison Smart Growth Planning Initiative – to revitalize the Route and Route 27 corridors (implementing)
- Fmr Topps plaza will become 192,000 sq/ft retail and commercial center (under construction)
- Stopped major residential overdevelopment by rezoning significant properties – golf courses, mobile home parks and other parcels that could be redeveloped into high density residential housing
- Preserved 37 acres of open space
- Initiated Oak Tree Corridor Planning effort to develop 25 year concept plan for Oak Tree Rd near fmr Marshall’s Shopping Plaza and Metropark Train Station
- Adopted 3rd Round Affordable Housing Plan which minimizes new residential units
- Completed cleanup and acquisition of 6 acre CIC site (fmr Superfund site) after decades of controversy
- Adopted Floor Area Ratio (FAR) Ordinance – Create balance in residential developments (Limit McMansion-Size Homes)
- Adopted Growth Share Ordinance that develops specific Affordable Housing Plan in accordance with State/COAH mandates – balances the need for more affordable housing with good planning and economic development
- Organized multiple educational programs so residents learn more about Land Use policies, Smart Growth and Affordable Housing among other topics
- Implemented voluntarily notification of residents within 300 feet (50% greater than state requirement) of a proposed development
- Reformed planning and zoning application process – application, escrow fees, code enforcement and inspections
EDUCATION
- Established the Mayor’s Task Force on Education in Edison to develop comprehensive and long-term solution on school construction and renovation
- As Chair of the statewide Mayors’ School Funding Committee (NJ League of Municipalities), Mayor Choi advocated to reshape the State’s school funding formula for middle income districts which yielded $3 million per year (and $10 million per year overall) increase in state aid for Edison Public Schools
- In 2008, BusinessWeek magazine ranked Edison the "Best Place to Raise Children" in the State and CNN Money magazine ranked us as one of America's "Best Places to Live."
- Developing education center concept at Dismal Swamp Wetlands Preserve
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- Established the Edison Redevelopment Agency to streamline and professionalize major economic revitalization projects
- Established the Edison Economic Development Office and the Edison Project to pro-actively recruit new businesses
- Retain and attract the leading companies of the 21st Century
- Promote an open and positive business environment
- Create quality jobs for Edison residents
- Enhance the quality of life for Edison residents
- Completed negotiations of the Ford Redevelopment Project – nearly $500 million retail center / lifestyle center on Route 1 (under construction)
- Recruited major companies into Edison including one of the largest greeting card companies in America and alternative energy company
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
- Completed comprehensive energy audit of all municipal facilities – saving hundreds of thousands in energy costs per year with new technology
- Planning large solar farm near Raritan River Waterfront
- Implementing Raritan River Waterfront Restoration Project including walkway (Phase 1)
- Actively closing Edison Landfill after approx. 20 years of neglect
- Replaced inefficient gas-guzzling municipal vehicles with efficient hybrid vehicles (one of the largest fleets in the State for local gov’t)
- Implementing first environmentally sustainable animal shelter in the State (under construction)
- Re-established Edison Environmental Commission
- Implementing Bikepath from Edison Town Hall to Edison Train Station (Phase 1)
TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT AND SAFETY
- Established the Edison “Slow It Down in our Town” Program and the Quality of Life Improvement Initiative which led to more than 1,500 health and sign violations to beautify our community
- Implementing Quiet Zone effort on Inman Ave and Tingley Lane (under construction)
- Implemented the “Keep Kids Alive, Drive 25” program
- Increased capital spending in street paving and curb, gutter / sidewalk improvements
- Implementing pilot project to automate traffic enforcement
- Partnered with NJ DOT to kick-off $52 million expansion project of Route 1
- Partnered with NJ Transit to kick-off $30 million improvement to Metropark Train Station
PUBLIC SAFETY
- Reorganized Edison Police Dept (PD) for greater accountability and efficiency. Edison PD is now led by Police Director Brian Collier, a former 25-year federal agent.
- Nearly completed with State accreditation process – apply law enforcement best practices into Edison PD
- Implemented merit-based hiring process and evaluation system for police officers
- Installed cameras, mobile data terminals and GPS system in every patrol car
- Implementing COMPSTAT -- crime and performance tracking system to identify how best to deploy resources and address public safety issues
- Increased community policing programs throughout Edison
- Completed new Edison Public Safety Center in Raritan Center through donation of $5 million – first new facility since early 1970s
- Completed first independent and comprehensive review of the Edison PD
- Enforcing high standard of accountability and discipline with police officers
- The Edison area was recognized as the "Safest Place for Women" in the nation according to SELF magazine
ONE EDISON
- Re-established the 4th of July fireworks show (after 30 year absence) to build a stronger sense of community and patriotism
- Established the Human Relations Commission – Introduced and passed ordinance which updates the Edison Township Human Rights Commission to secure grants for Edison Township
- Edison Memorial Tower Project – As the primary symbol of Edison Township, set a new direction for the project, reconstituted the Board of Directors and recruited leading professionals to manage the project
- Edison: Make A Difference – Initiated campaign to promote public service and volunteer work to sustain a great community - http://www.edisonnj.org/makeadifference.asp
|
|
|
|
|
|
