O’Brien: We will weather these difficult times

Kennedy O’Brien Sayreville Mayor Kennedy O’Brien laid out his vision for a year of frugal spending and a reliance on local volunteerism during his State of the Borough address Jan. 27.

O’Brien took stock of the town’s progress in front of a small audience at Borough Hall at 2 p.m. He first detailed the many challenges facing young residents, whom he referred to as the Debt Generation.

“This may be the first generation to never live the American dream,” he said. “Our goal should be not to take any more from the Greatest Generation, nor add to the burden of those of the Debt Generation.”

O’Brien said the way to do that was to live within the borough’s means, balancing needs with the residents’ ability to pay. Twenty percent of residents are retired and living on fixed income, which does not rise with inflation, and, he said, those people do not want to move away.

“We are a community of middle class people who work hard, pay our bills and play by the rules,” he said. “Our goal is to hold on to what we have built and to make do with what we have. Your local government must recognize this and act accordingly in the use of the money you pay in taxes.” O’Brien suggested an expansion of shared services, maintenance of old grants and the seeking of new funding opportunities. He specifically singled out the need to obtain funding for flood protection for residents of Weber Avenue and William Street.

The mayor referred to The Point, the redevelopment project at the former National Lead site, as a “tree that will bear much fruit” for the borough, in terms of both jobs and taxes. However, he said the payoff will take time and happen gradually.

As an example of present successes, O’Brien announced the borough is revitalizing two playgrounds — one by Truman School and another near Haven Terrace — this spring, as a result of purchase initiatives that saved taxpayers 40 percent of the cost.

He went on to acknowledge the increased efforts toward transparency of the governing body, which he said he has made throughout his tenure in office. He plans to push this further by eliminating the requirement of filing an Open Public RecordsAct form for any itemregarding borough financial, budgetary and management information, salaries and numbers of full-time and part-time employees now and in the last five years.

The borough currently operates with approximately 237 full-time employees, according to O’Brien. During the summer months, instead of hiring part-time help in various departments, officials hire from the Civilian Conservation Corps, composed of high school and college students.

O’Brien took time to commend certain departments and individuals for their dedication to the town’s prosperity. He thanked all Hurricane Irene responders and firefighters for their efforts both during and after the storm, and Columbia Bank for assisting six families in obtaining new appliances after the devastation.

Stella Misiewicz, who began her 35th year as a Recreation Advisory Committee member in January, and Dr. Ben Alcasid, a borough physician who recently retired, were also honored along with Police Detective Rob Bruce, who took it upon himself to help a police widow following the hurricane. Bruce gathered fellow officers and cleaned the woman’s ruined carpet, furniture, wallboard and appliances. These volunteers and employees are representative of hardworking, determined Sayreville residents, O’Brien said. Ending with a message of optimism, he said these residents will make it through the current tough times just as they have in the past.

“We have continued to make Sayreville this wonderful community in which to live, raise our families, help our neighbors and growold together,” he said. “And so the cycle of life continues, and we will weather these difficult times as always and come out better on the other side.”

Contact Deanna McLafferty at DMcLafferty@gmnews.com.