7/28/2019 Commission Opposes Study to Change Cranford, Cranford Patch, 7-18-13

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Commission Opposes Study to Change Cranfords GovernmentThe committee voted 3-2 on Tuesday to rescind the ordinance from December.

Posted by Nicole Bitette (Editor), July 18, 2013

Cranford will not be studying whether or not they should change their form of

government, at least not this year, after the committee voted 3-2 to rescind theordinance to create a commission study to look into the possibility.

It was a hot topic at Tuesdays meeting, several former elected officials of Cranford

spoke on how the study was not necessary and time and energy should be focusedon other issues in Cranford. However, those opposed felt it was up to the people tomake the decision and put it to a vote.

Resident John Hrebin said he just did not feel this was a worthwhile endeavor forCranford.

Paul Lacorte, Cranford mayor in 1987, said he feels the town works and he does notwant to see a change. While, Mary OConnor expressed that she is happy withCranfords form of government currently, but that it should be put on the ballot for

the people.

Ed Force, a Cranford mayor from 1989 to 1991, expressed his many concerns withchanging Cranfords form of government, including the costs of both the study and

hiring a mayor. He added that a similar study was conducted in 2008 and none of

the recommendations were even put in place.

Cranford is doing well, he said. Yeah, we have problems, but changing the formof government is not the answer, he stated. Lets work for the people, thats whatwere here for.

Force and other former elected officials pointed out that if Cranford were to changegovernment and go into a ward system, it would become very political and sort ofchange the township all together.

This is one of the reasons commissioner Kevin Campbell voted no, he said. Campbellsaid Cranford is well known for being a tight-knit community and the current form ofgovernment allows that to be possible.

Campbell added that of all the people speaking out on the issue, its about 50 to 60

at most. He stated that this is not enough of the population to be interested in theissue and therefore they should not move forward.

Commissioner Lisa Adubato clarified that this is not a vote to change the form of

government, but a vote to have a study conducted on the townships options.

However, Adubato agreed that a huge part of doing this would be helping residentsunderstand it, which she added is what the committee to study would do.

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7/28/2019 Commission Opposes Study to Change Cranford, Cranford Patch, 7-18-13

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Adubato and Commissioner Andis Kalnins voted not to rescind the ordinance and

move forward with it.

Kalnins believes with the current form of government many projects are put off and

not completed as timely due to the constant learning curve from new memberscoming into Cranfords government.

Dr. Frank Krause said he was speaking on behalf o the typical resident, not a former

mayor or elected official. He stated that residents see the township is doing well withthe current form of government, so why change it?

Should Cranford be reexamining this issue now? Deputy Mayor Ed OMalley asked.He stated that the current form of government is working, so now is not the time to

be spending on this issue.

Both Kalnins and Adubato agreed that the township is doing well, but maybe there isopportunity to do better.

Mayor Thomas Hannen was the deciding vote to rescind the ordinance, OMalley and

Campbell also voted to rescind and residents cheered at the decision. However,Hannen stated if this township committee does not do this, the next one might, but

they are not going to move forward with it.