A. Master Plan: The Master Plan sets out the vision, goals, and objectives for our community and includes specific guidelines to be followed by our governing bodies in decisions concerning growth and development, affordable housing unit requirements (COAH), zoning code revisions, and environmental guidelines. The Master Plan is due to be revised this year and we strongly recommend having a community visioning process that encourages participation from all sectors of our Township in order to create a fair and representative Master Plan.
B. Fiscal Responsibility: To assure Township residents that their taxes are being spent wisely and that administrative practices are fiscally sound, tax increases and bonding should be reasonable and planned based on known and projected costs of both short term obligations and long term goals set out in the Master Plan.
C. Community Engagement, Transparency, and Accountability: Governance is best when it reflects the needs and desires of an informed community. To this end, tutorials should be readily available on line (or in person) to educate the community not only on the mechanics of their government and the roles and responsibilities of the players, but on key issues deserving their attention. Using today's technologies, residents should have easier access to documents, including site plans and agenda attachments, all of which should be clear and comprehensible. Increasing transparency in this manner will serve to encourage community involvement, including the utilization of expertise within the community, while also creating the oversight necessary to assure that the Township is following the Master Plan and the will of its residents.
D. Township Employment & Committees: Filling vacancies, especially for Director or Committee positions, should be a priority. Hiring criteria should be transparent and prioritize expertise and experience. To ease the resource burden, full time employment should be prioritized over outsourced personnel, and shared service agreements should be encouraged where possible. Employee salaries should be fair but commensurate with similar sized municipalities.
E. Smart Development and Quality of Life:
Future development must be consistent with the Master Plan and include input from the Edison community. To that end, it is advisable to avoid designations of areas "in need of redevelopment" or "in need of rehabilitation" until the Master Plan is updated. Smart development should promote quality of life and preserve the integrity of neighborhoods with designations for parks or usable open space and increased accessibility through sidewalks and bike lanes. Commercial areas should fit the characteristics of the surrounding neighborhood. Smaller neighborhood centers located throughout the Township with reduced space flexibility can be an option to the more expensive construction of a larger Community Center. With public input, the recreational use of the Raritan River Waterfront, including the Boat Basin and potential new open space designation of the Glendale property, can be advanced.
Overcrowding and Board of Education: New construction needs to be carefully balanced across multiple party desires for property within the Township as there is only limited land available for development. Consideration must be given to the impact of new development on school overcrowding and need for new school construction
“Downtown Area”: As the Township looks to develop a downtown area or other hubs, consideration should be given to revitalizing the Edison Transportation Plan in creating an e-mobility bus/shuttle system throughout the township. This will help with local commerce while considering traffic and congestion concerns as well as air quality. Local shuttles can be coordinated with County bus routes for maximum efficiency.
F. Environmental Sustainability: At a time when the effects of climate change are being felt throughout our communities adversely affecting our health and well-being and pocket book, the administration of Edison Township, as the fifth largest municipality in NJ, should be in the forefront of creating and advocating for sustainable policies and practices. Some specific tasks would include:
Fully implement the transition to renewable energy by the year 2030. Promote and educate the public about the Community Choice Aggregation program (CCA) previously approved in a referendum in preparation for the transition to renewable energy.
Update documents such as the Stormwater Management Plan and Environmental Resource Inventory. (Presuming no delays the ERI is set to be updated this year).
Modify construction code to require larger permeable surface areas and energy efficient building structure.
Develop an electric charging station grid as the electric transportation market increases. This will include retrofitting Township buildings.
Establish community gardens and composting sites throughout the Township.
Create rain gardens to help prevent runoff.
Create and enforce stricter laws against offenses such as littering and idling.
Establish and promote organic waste recycling and food waste reduction initiatives in partnership with the Board of Education, restaurants and supermarkets within the Township.
Support State initiatives that promote sustainable practices in situations where State leadership and auspices are required.
G. Internet / Phone / Cable: With items such as the Cablevision/Optimum contract expiring, thought must be given to a range of options that will reduce the cost burden on citizens while increasing access to the latest technologies.