Reorganization Speeches

Ziad Shehady

Welcome and good evening!  On behalf of all of us on the Township Committee, I thank you for coming tonight for this historic reorganization meeting.

I would first like to thank the revered clergy, veterans, all volunteers and all municipal employees.

I would also like to thank Lieutenant Governor-Elect Kim Guadagno for her first of hopefully many visits to our town—rich in history as the site of the Revolutionary War's critical Battle of Springfield and home to many talented, hardworking New Jersey residents.  We are honored to have you here.

My sincere thanks to our Congressman Leonard Lance, Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Assemblyman and Republican Conference Leader Jon Bramnick and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz.

I want to thank my entire family for their never-ending support, understanding and patience.

Finally, I would like to thank my colleagues for entrusting me with this important position.  I look forward to working together to meet the challenges of 2010.

In recent years, the Mayor has only taken the oath of office at the start of the term as a member of the Township Committee.  I insisted on taking an additional oath, this year as Chairman, not because the position of Mayor carries any extra power but because of the increased responsibility and trust associated with the position and because you the residents deserve a commitment that we strive to give you the best.  The oath renews my promise to you that I will continue to perform the duties of Mayor to the best of my ability.

When I was elected two years ago, I did not imagine I would be in this seat.  I ran on a platform to put Springfield first, as did Jerry and Marc.  My prior service on the Committee can be characterized by the time and energy I have put into the job working to that end. Obviously, that is what taxpayers deserve and we will deliver.

As the Chairman, it is my job to ensure the Township Committee sets the standard moving forward for all employees and volunteers as a productive and responsible team.  I am calling on the residents to hold us accountable in the performance of our duties.  In turn, we will hold management and employees accountable for meeting performance standards in order to strive for a highly professional, business-like government. So that happens, there will be many changes in the coming months:

First, I am calling for a public 2010 Goal Setting Meeting on January 19 at 7 p.m.  Our meetings will be consolidated into two public sessions per month.  We will adopt by-laws and rules of conduct to guide our meetings.  Each Committeeperson will report bi-monthly on activities in their supervisory roles on sub-committees.  Department heads will be present at meetings to update the public.  Our Administrator will be tasked to develop a management plan and a long-term plan.  Evaluations, corrective action and management policies will be reviewed and revised.  We will adopt a purchasing policy manual to regulate spending and provide fiscally responsible oversight.  There are many more grants available that we will seek to increase revenue and offset the costs associated with development, green initiatives, and capital improvements.  Additionally, I will ask that our Auditors scrutinize our operations more closely.

Communication is essential to identifying our town's strengths and weaknesses and must be greatly improved.  Springfield will finally receive its own public access channel for broadcasting meetings and a bulletin board system.  Our website will be overhauled to provide e-government services and friendlier access.  I will continue to hold my regular open office hours to meet with residents, and my first as Mayor will be this Saturday, January 9 at 10 a.m.

I am proud to announce that Springfield will have a new Township Attorney who has the most municipal experience our town has ever seen and he will play an important role in this team as we work to improve our downtown.  I am coordinating meetings between Economic Development agencies and our local businesses for more development and growth.  This Saturday, January 9 at noon, I am leading this team on a door-to-door tour meeting with businesses to hear their needs and explain our goals for a better Springfield.  We will continue to monitor enforcement and ask our officials to focus on the downtown.  As other successful municipalities have done, we will pursue design standards and the implementation of Special Improvement Districts so that commercial property owners are required to make improvements. In order to cut spending and minimize bureaucracy, I am also proposing that this body consider combining the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment into one land-use board.

This year's round of appointments and hiring will be apolitical so that experience and qualifications ensure the letter of the law is followed and services are efficiently rendered.  Instead of the many layers of government that currently exist, the missions and activities of our boards and committees will be reviewed so that they can be consolidated.  Our Green Team is an example for effective volunteer-based work.  Our town is only as strong as the people working for it and public service is necessary for a robust and resilient community.  At our next meeting, I will suggest the creation of a Springfield Improvement Team that will cultivate volunteerism and work towards several, broad initiatives including beautification, historical and cultural affairs, veterans outreach, downtown improvement and parks cleanup, green efforts, healthy living, employee appreciation, public relations and social activities.

These are just a few examples of what residents can expect:  access to government, common-sense solutions, taxpayer advocacy, and a community partnership so that we can continue to grow and improve.

As anyone who serves on the Township Committee quickly learns, there are limitations and while the larger task at hand will not be completed by the end of my term, we will lay the foundation for a Springfield we can all be proud of.  Our agenda will be aggressive and comprehensive because this governing body will put Springfield first always so that Springfield is number one.

Best wishes to all of you and your families for a blessed, healthy, and happy 2010.  God bless Springfield and God bless America.

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Jerry Fernandez

Thank you to the clergy, veterans and elected officials, honored guest and fellow Springfield residents. Thank you to Lieutenant Governor-Elect Kim Guadagno for administering the oath of office.

To Congressman Leonard Lance, State Senator Tom Kean  Assembly people Nancy Munoz and John Bramnick . Mayor Shehady for your never ending push to win. Committeeman Krauss I could not ask for a better running mate.  Thank you to Committeeman Bart Frankel and to former committeewomen Beth Manes for their support 

I am honored to have been elected by the residents of Springfield to serve on the township committee.  I must thank my parents, family, friends and volunteers who worked countless hours on my campaign. My brother who took care of our business while I campaigned, and most importantly my lovely wife who stood by me as I ran twice , in my first campaign she was pregnant with our third child and in the second campaign often left  with all 3 children as I knocked on doors  Thank you Carmela for standing by me during that time. With out you I could not be here today.

Our country faces one of the worst recessions in our history; our state is nearly broke with an 8 billion dollar deficit.  Many of our neighbors our family and friends are without jobs. Springfield is not immune to these problems. I understand that the task in front of us is not an easy one. We need to do more then ever with less then ever.  We have tough decisions to make; we will bring business and jobs to a downtown that has been neglected.  We need to build our community and work together for a better Springfield. I ran with the idea of accessible, accountable and affordable government.

I will have office hours on Saturdays, We will be fiscally responsible, while providing the tools necessary for Springfield to grow. And I want to be held accountable, the bottom line is that the buck stops here and we have been elected to be responsible for what occurs in Springfield

Springfield's history is rich. To be part of it now as a committeeman is truly humbling. For those of you who did not know On June 23, 1780 1,500 Americans under General  Greene and Col. Dayton were attacked by 5,000 British and Hessian troops in Springfield. Fighting was fierce; at one time the British launched five attacks in the span of 40 minutes. The British and Hessian soldiers retreated burning down all but four buildings, including the 1st Presbyterian Church of Springfield.

If history has shown us anything, if we learned anything from the past, let it be that this country will be the first to lead the world out of this recession, that the residents of this state will say enough to careless spending and wasteful government and demand that our state leaders make this the best state in the Union. That the residents of Springfield like they have in the past will build a strong community that will prosper. A town that we will be proud to raise our families, A town that our Seniors can afford to call home.

President Ronald Regan once said : There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.

To the residents of Springfield I say: Any barriers that were built in the past will be torn down.

Springfield will progress and will prosper the residents have demanded it and we will deliver it

I look forward to the challenges.

God bless Springfield God bless America.

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Marc Krauss

LT Governor-Elect Guadagno, Congressman Lance, Senator Kean, Assemblymen Bramnick and Assemblywoman Munoz, Residents of Springfield,

Thank you for being here this evening.

It is an honor to be part of the first Township Committee to be sworn in the recently named Kenneth Faigenbaum Committee Chamber and Municipal Court. It was a privilege to have known Ken.

During the campaign this summer Jerry and I touched on a couple of themes, change and putting Springfield first.

The change occurred officially about 2 minutes ago with the swearing in of myself, Jerry Fernandez and Ziad Shehady, as the youngest mayor in NJ.

Putting Springfield First is and always will be our focus. The 2010 township committee isn't about our respective parties, it is about Springfield and residents of Springfield, first and always.

This year marks the 230th Anniversary of the Battle of Springfield. Our town is part of American history and we need to preserve our town by supporting the Sustainable NJ program and our own Green Team efforts.

We are going to bring Springfield into the 21st Century so we can service the residents of Springfield effectively and efficiently by improving how our township operates on a daily basis.

Making Springfield work requires everyone to get involved.

Volunteerism - there is a tremendous amount of talent out there, so I encourage everyone to get involved.

I would like to thank the men and women of the Springfield Police and Fire Departments and their respective auxiliary and volunteer components for their dedication to duty and making our town a safe and secure place to live.

And lastly, I want to thank my lovely wife, Julie, for support and permission to run for office.