Byram candidates answer public questions at forum

Byram — A face-off between three incumbents and three challengers for the non-partisan township council race illustrated there are few differing views, but some differences in approach. Candidates met on a stormy Tuesday night, May 1, in the Byram Lakes School cafeteria. Questions from the audience were written down in advance and offered by a representative of the state League of Women Voters. Incumbents Earl Riley, Donna Griff and Lou Esposito are facing challenges from Scott Olson, Daniel Rafferty and Brian Thompson. In an area where criticism of the Highlands Act is standard, none of the six actively opposes the state law. Esposito said: “No one is saying it’s not a good idea. I’m disappointed with the regulation. They have to be fixed or the act will disappear in the court system. Rafferty said: “We need protection of our water; we don’t need sprawl, but in practice we are not getting anything in return.” Griff said: “The idea came a little late, development came that shouldn’t have. Anything we do in the Highlands to improve water quality and protect plant life and animals is important. The way we develop today will impact the future, but we need to be compensated for the land.” Olson said: “I am a fervent supporter of the Act. We need to do all we can to protect water. There are valid concerns abut land values, but these can be answered. Transfer of development rights is one way.” Riley said: “I was a major proponent of the Act, but what we ended up with is not what we signed up for. I don’t support it in its current form.” Thompson said: “There is a need for that type of legislation, but I am concerned about compensation for the landowners. They bought properties as investments and now those properties have little or no value.” The proposed town center was also the subject of questions, specifically why the section along Route 206 near Lackawanna Drive was selected. Thompson said: “The location is in a reasonable place, but the question is do we really need it? The township council has been in legal battles with the owners. The owners wanted to sell; the township tried to muscle the property away from them.” Riley said: “It is the most desirable property in the township. The landowner tried to develop but the contracts have fallen through. The township will now work with the landowner. It is the most commercially developable parcel in the township. The township will not spend any money, the landowner and developer will.” Olson said: “It is the most costly parcel in town because it is walkable, handy for shopping. The value of the property was created by the desire for growth. The township also increased the value of other properties by keeping them out of development.” Griff said: “It is central. It is along the sewer line. In order to have a commercial center, you have to have sewers. It’s flat and the best property. It was being looked at for a Big Box store and that is not what we wanted.” Rafferty said: “It is the best tract, but when will it happen? I don’t see it happening soon and over 10 years, the township will pay $700,000 for the sewer allocation. We could do a lot with that much money over 10 years.” Esposito said: “The infrastructure makes it the most logical place. Most of the money spent on the town center concept came from engineering and planning grants. What the township gave was the time of its volunteers. If we didn’t spend the money for the sewer line we wouldn’t have a town center. That money will come back to the township.” A contentious negotiation with the police department and the fact that the department of public works and the clerical employees are working without a contract inspired another question. Riley said: “Each bargaining unit should bargain in its own best interest. In a council-manager form of government, the manager functions as the CEO, bargaining is his job.” Thompson said: “We need to make sure everything is fair for everyone. The council is responsible for making sure it is fair.” Griff said: “Council brings its concerns to the manager and the manager also watches other municipalities to see what they are doing.” Olson said: “The manager is to be held responsible. We have good people in this town, we need to keep them going. It is tough to give them good rates and ranges because it is not a large town.” Esposito said: “Council can tell the manager what we think is fair. Council has always had a good working relationship with the manager and employees.” Rafferty said: “Union contracts are the toughest to negotiate. Council needs to let the manager know he needs to be respectful.” In a state where “home rule” is something of a mantra, the candidates were asked about their views on regional planning. Rafferty said: “I’m all for regional planning; we need to speak to the freeholders and other municipalities about important issues. We practice shared services and municipal aid, but no town wants to give up home rule.” Griff said: “I’m not a big believer in home rule. The time has come to share services and share ideas. Every project impacts the surrounding communities. Andover’s proposed Beazer homes development will impact traffic here.” Thompson said: “We have some input into planning even though we are in the Highlands. We can fight the state, but the best thing we can do is work with them.” Riley said: “Shared services is part of regional planning, but we go further. Our environmental commission meets with Hopatcong and has hosted regional commission meetings. We need to talk to Andover and Green about planning and all environmental issues.” Olson said: “I am a founder of the North Byram Concerned Citizens and, along with the environmental commission, have held a tri-county forum for Morris, Sussex and Warren. We collaborate on trails and greenways and have talked with people in five counties and three states.” Esposito said: “Byram fought a proposed development in Hopatcong and is supporting Andover Borough Council in the Beazer Homes plan. Traffic and overcrowding impact us all.” Bios: Thompson is a self-employed contractor. He is a member of the fire department and its treasurer. The married father of five, he was born and raised in Byram. Rafferty was born in New York City but has lived in Byram for 36 years. He holds a bachelor’s in management from Lebanon Valley College and a master’s degree in education from Seton Hall University and is currently the stay-at-home father of Daniel, 10, Kristen, 8, and Kelly, 6. Olson is a founder of the North Byram Concerned Citizens and active in environmental and anti-sprawl causes. He lives in the Lake Mohawk section of the township and owns a design firm. Esposito has been on the council since 2000 and is owner of Jostens/Esposito Associates. He and his wife, Kathy have four children, Nick, 9, Ruby, 7, Cosmo, 5 and Mac, 4. Griff has been on the council since 1999. She is a manager for IBM. She and her husband, Stan, have two children, Megan, 15, and Jonathan, 12. Riley has been on the council since 2002. He is a manager for Hewlett-Packard and retired from Compaq Computer Corp. in 2002. He and his wife, Rosemarie, have two grown children. Byram residents listen attentively at the candidates forum in a packed Byram Lakes School cafeteria.