Mayor's Address to the Springfield Patriot Chamber of Commerce

Thank you, Pat, thank you, Scott, and many thanks to the Chamber Board for your leadership. It is always a pleasure to be with the Chamber. I’m especially happy to be here for the Annual Leadership Dinner. I would like to recognize Deputy Mayor Jerry Fernandez and Committeeman Marc Krauss – thank you for attending.

It’s exciting to see how far our Chamber of Commerce has come. What once was an organization under a much larger umbrella has grown into a self-sufficient, stronger, more influential and highly respected alliance of Springfield stakeholders. This room is filled because of the confidence we have in our Chamber of Commerce and the leaders at the helm of the progress in Springfield – both the board members and the leaders that we are here tonight to recognize. This Chamber serves as a forum for civic-minded business to network, prosper, and liaise with the citizens and government of Springfield.

The success of a municipality greatly relies upon the quality of the relationship between residents, businesses, property owners and government.

We are proud to have a Chamber that also serves as a model for nearby municipalities who struggle to find a similar relationship. Just two weeks ago, I was gloating to North Plainfield Councilwoman Keiona Miller about the Springfield Patriot Chamber and how instrumental it is in helping us communicate with residents through the Patriot newsletter. Quality of life in Springfield is on the rise and thanks to a robust partnership between the Township and the Chamber, residents and visitors can point to visible progress - something as symbolic as Patriot Park and the iconic clock or as vibrant as the upcoming Fall Festival and Car Show. This very partnership serves as the foundation for a much brighter Springfield. Many members of the Chamber are active in our Business Improvement District, the Springfield Community Partnership, which is responsible for what will eventually be a flourishing downtown we can all be proud of. This is unprecedented action in town. Instead of countless unusable studies that have collected dust on a shelf, the Springfield business community has budgeted nearly $400,000 to take Springfield to the next level. I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, that this commitment is not in vain. I am humbled to be invited to speak this evening because I recognize the potential importance of my involvement in this ever-evolving association. The Township Committee also understands your hard work and appreciates the significance of our role in facilitating the change we all want. Just this week, we adopted Ordinance 2012-13 in order to streamline government, reduce the red-tape and bureaucracy that stands in the way of development, and calls for the inclusion of a representative from the business community in the decision-making process by municipal officials. By all accounts, big things are happening in Springfield and people are noticing! Multinational manufacturing company, Ring Container Technologies, is leaving Hillside to come to Springfield because this is the place to do business!

I am optimistic about the future of Springfield because of organizations like the Chamber of Commerce. And I don’t see an end in sight for the Chamber, thanks to outstanding community leaders like Dr. Gary Hecht and Investors Bank. Whether it is the 4th of July celebration, the annual Summer Concert, or the Fall Festival, you are sure to see Dr. Hecht and Investors unwavering in their support.

I want to thank all of the sponsors and recognize the municipal staff here, our Administrator Anthony Cancro and our outstanding Township Clerk Linda Donnelly. I wish all of you and your families a happy and healthy upcoming summer season.

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