2024 . 01 . 01 - Reorganization Meeting
Borough of Somerville, NJ
The following speech was transcribed, it is not the official speech text. For readability and organization, formatting, styling for emphasis, and section names have been added. This account is not associated with the local government of Somerville or any official Borough of Somerville channels. The views and information shared here are independent and do not represent the official stance of the Borough of Somerville.
Mayor Brian G. Gallagher's speech:
I'm back
so some are happy about that some maybe not so happy about that but know that I'm back because I love Somerville; and I commit to you today to work tirelessly to ensure that we maintain the quality of life that our residents deserve
what we've accomplished in my first 14 years as mayor has transformed Somerville into a destination to live work and visit
working across party lines we engineered a Renaissance of Somerville that will continue to benefit the residents of our community for decades to come
however the evolution of our borough is never done
the future requires the same Visionary efforts that we employed previously to ensure that the future is positive and that we are prepared to accommodate all that comes with it
I stood here exactly 20 years ago and laid out a bold vision for the future of Somerville
20 years later the results are seen borough-wide our community.
Our 2 and a half square miles of awesome is the envy of town statewide.
We achieved our success through careful planning, public visioning, a council determined to work together, a stick-to-it spirit, and a shared vision of what Somerville can and should be.
However the playbook created 20 years ago should not be the same playbook we use today.
It is again time for creating our next bold community-driven future for the next 20 years and beyond.
growth in all facets of our borough requires those same Visionary efforts to ensure that the future is positive and that we are prepared to embrace growth
Questions and Concerns
we have great concern for
safety,
traffic,
parking,
homelessness,
Public Works,
schools, and
all the other essential services that must be planned for in the coming years.
So this drives the question -- "What's next?"
What's next for our **2 and a half square miles of awesome**?
What's next for:
recreation,
our neighborhoods,
Redevelopment,
Main Street,
code office,
Public Works,
our relationship with Somerset County,
housing issues,
infrastructure planning, and
the list goes on.
Goals
To achieve continuing success we must be goals-driven.
I will task each council person to work with their respective departments and their liaison committees to develop 10-year plans for each of their areas of responsibility.
This will create realistic, identifiable targets that can be opportunity-driven rather than reactionary responsive.
It will allow the council to develop strategies to financially phase in, or phase-out, potential projects over a longer term.
It will provide longer-term funding direction for all of our departments and it will allow us to **establish priorities** of wants versus needs.
I will propose an infrastructure task force made up of Council members, County Officials, and stakeholder residents who have the necessary expertise to review and recommend to council long range plans, focusing on infrastructure.
This includes
roads,
recreation,
Public Works,
technology, and
other areas that the council sees fit.
This will enable development of 10-year infrastructure Improvement plans for every part of our borough.
Our planning board is one of the best in the state, but it's time to stop being bureaucratic.
Approval body and return to what they do best planning for the long-term future of our borough.
This will require new and Innovative approaches to Planning and Zoning.
I will task the Planning Board to immediately undertake reviews of
our master plan,
our Redevelopment plans,
the fair-share housing issues, and
our residential and Commercial zoning.
We need to enable residents to easily invest in their property without onerous regulations inordinate Plan reviews and costs that stop a homeowner's project
We also will enable our business district to better adapt to quickly changing Market demands.
Peters Brook
There also needs to be a zoning review of all property along the length of Peters Brook from end to end with short-range safety solutions to reduce the danger to residents and their emergency personnel.
Then, and only then, long range zoning Solutions can be implemented that solve the issues of residential and commercial properties in the flood areas.
These solutions must respect the rights of private property owners and have the long-term benefit of a safer community for our borough.
Customer Service
Our community development office is the first face of Somerville government for those who want to invest in their property, whether
the homeowner,
the entrepreneur,
the business owner,
the investor, or
the developer.
The process must be
made easier to navigate,
quickly adaptable to changing market and housing demands,
informative for those that are unfamiliar with the process, and
establish review-fees that do not deter property owners from investing in their own homes or businesses.
Nothing drives people away faster than bureaucratic costs or delays.
Customer service for the taxpayer in this Administration is Paramount.
Downtown Somerset County
We are the county seat of Somerset County, and we have borne that responsibility very well.
I will work with our County Commissioner Partners to address core issues centering on County investment in Somerville's:
historic,
Recreation,
infrastructure,
Marketing needs, and
grant funding.
We will open discussion on what the plans are for the jail property to ensure any future use is consistent with the needs of our Somerville.
As our Board of Health partner, we need to get the County Mental Health and Addiction Services to the people on the street who need this help the most.
Somerville is downtown Somerset County; and
our successful downtown needs
Cultural and Performing Arts Center and
theater;
and the county needs to have their name on it.
Adult Fun
When one thinks of Recreation services, they typically think of children.
While that is a core focus of Somerville's recreation programming and Facilities the larger aspect should be inclusive of everyone.
It's time to revisit the recreation master plan so we can evaluate our facilities, programming, and overall direction that will Center on budgeting for facilities, management, as well as obtaining potential grant funding.
And I will also establish a seniors and veterans committee out of the recreation department to focus specifically for the needs of these two groups.
Memorial Day Parade
We will return the Memorial Day Parade to the streets of Somerville showing true honor to all of those who have served served our country
Quality of Life Issues
Many of the quality of life issues that our residents are frustrated with center on aspects of safety:
pedestrian traffic,
speed,
increased homeless issues,
rise in graffiti,
condition of parks and trails, and
the list goes on.
These different issues require different solutions, but all relate to a safer and better community for all of Somerville.
Pedestrian Safety Committee
The Pedestrian Safety Committee was dissolved a few years ago;
I will reestablish a Public Safety Committee to take up specific issues that the borough.
Council refers to them for vetting and recommending potential solutions.
The single most important job of an elected official is the Safety and Security of our citizens.
There is no more important thing that we do up here.
Policing
We have a fantastic police force it's led by Chief Manning.
They are well-trained friendly Fair firm and consistent in all they do.
They are really good at what they do.
I jog all over this town, all hours of day, and night; and I see them everywhere, all the time; and I want to thank them.
There's a bunch of them in the back there [pointing].
Regardless of why our police officers have been without a contract for over a year, and that to me is unacceptable, this will be resolved with a mutual understanding and agreement.
We will craft a contract together that recognizes the challenges and increased responsibilities our officers face on a daily basis, always with the Somerville resident in mind.
NJ DOT & Pedestrian Safety
I will work with the New Jersey Department of Transportation to increase pedestrian safety for our children at the Crossing at Vanderveer school.
Route 28 is a state highway and Somerville is a ==walking District==.
Our children are within inches of vehicles as they try to cross the street every day.
It's time the state step up and put road and sidewalk improvements in to ensure their safety.
Cannabis Taxes
A retail cannabis store has already been approved for the corner of Gaston Avenue and Route 22.
As I see it, the impact of retail cannabis will potentially be seen most in our children and in our Emergency Services as a result.
I will ask the council to dedicate the significant tax revenue from this store specifically towards Recreation to give our kids safe and healthy options; and
also dedicating this funding to
police,
fire, and
rescue squad technology and
training.
so they can operate in a safer manner so they can all go home at the end of the day.
While brick and mortar… I'm almost done don't worry…
While brick and mortar are necessary for our Emergency Services, the daily support of the mayor and council is the most important.
This is what keeps our volunteers responding we are blessed to have the best in firefighters and rescue squad personnel.
I've worked with many chiefs in both areas over the years and can honestly say each one has taught me a little bit about this town and the volunteers that serve her.
Our volunteer emergency service personnel are some of the greatest assets we have as a borough.
They are our family friends and neighbors, and our job as elected officials is to understand their needs and to support them.
Over the years, Somerville has crafted an incredible wonderful story of how opportunity is created from the challenges we face.
How optimism and a sense of 'we can' is paramount.
The test of good government is not in how we react immediately to the challenges we face, but how we move forward from them long term.
Our charge, as leaders, is to preserve and protect the great spirit that we have in Somerville.
To nurture it for future generations, we must lead forward with that conviction of purpose.
The task ahead is bold.
I look forward to working with borough council members to meet this commitment.
We will meet it with energy creativity cooperation and dedication.
Our promise today is that our 2 and a half square miles of awesome has only just begun.
Thank you.
God bless our Somerville and God bless the greatest nation on Earth the United States of America.