Brennan and Skibitsky Spar in Mayoral Debate

Democratic mayoral nominee Bill Brennan got his wish Monday night when he met Republican Mayor Andy Skibitsky in the only mayoral debate of the 2009 election.

For an hour, the candidates traded barbs on a variety of issues from the environment to finance to parking to crime. The debate was sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Westfield Leader. Questions were submitted by the local Democratic and Republican parties, by We Care, and generated by the moderator.

Neither candidate strayed far from their platforms and previous statements on a variety of policy issues. Brennan hammered at what he thought were the incumbent's weaknesses in office, while Skibitsky stuck to a mostly positive message of promoting his record.

Downtown Parking

Parking issues remained at the forefront of the debate, with both candidates returning to the topic during a variety of questions on other subject areas. Skibitsky largely touted his accomplishments, while Brennan attacked Skibitsky's claim on the number of tickets written hourly and the level of enforcement.

Brennan called for the police department's parking unit to be reduced in staffing, saying the jobs could be used for police officers to fight crime. In addition he termed the current enforcement in the downtown as being too aggressive downtown.

Skibitsky said the enforcement is not as high as been suggested, saying that one and a half tickets are written per hour, on average, by each parking enforcement officer. He said the enforcement is needed in order to allow for spots to turnover in the downtown for more shoppers. He said his administration has helped move employee cars to the edges of the downtown to allow for more shopper spaces. He also noted that he has created 120 additional shopper parking spaces and a ten minute grace period on parking machines.

Brennan disagreed with Skibitsky saying enforcement levels are too high, which has driven shoppers away from the downtown.

"The emphasis in this town is enforcing parking tickets," Brennan said. "We have eight fulltime employees to drive shoppers out of downtown."

Burglaries

Brennan tied the issue of burglaries and parking together, by calling for the police department to reduce the amount of parking enforcement officers and transfer the positions to beat cops. He said he thinks this will allow for the burglaries to be reduced. Westfield has seen an increase in burglaries in the last year, particularly in the area near Route 22.

Skibitsky brought the national economic situation into play on the crime issues, noting that many towns along Route 22 have seen the same increase. He noted the police are working with other towns in Union and Somerset Counties on the issue and have been sharing intelligence. He also encouraged residents to remain in communication with each other and the police on potential burglary issues.

Brennan, as his become his custom on public safety issues. went back on his professional background for the crime issue.

"I will match my qualifications and experience with anyone," he said. "I prosecuted burglaries as a member of the Brooklyn district attorney's office for five years."

Budget and Finance

Skibitsky largely defended his stewardship of the town's finances while Brennan reiterated his position that budget writing meetings be open to the public and that Skibitsky has not attended a formal finance committee meeting, which Skibitsky denies. Brennan has called for opening up budget writing sessions to the budget and the entire Council.

Skibitsky mentioned he has worked to keep taxes down and has reduced the budget by cutting positions from the budget. He said he has brought in new grants and placed the blame with the state and the Raritan Valley Sewerage Authority for the decision to use the town's surplus to help fund this year's budget. He said the state imposed four percent tax hike cap and the new RVSA facility were the main culprets. He also said it would be tough to include the entire Council in the budget writing process citing an attempt to do so several years ago. He also defended his approach to budget writing.

"My wife's sitting here and you say I don't go to budget meetings and she is going to wonder where I've been," Skibitsky said, noting that he frequently meets with Council Finance Committee Chairman Sal Caruana and Town Administrator Jim Gildea on budget issues.

Brennan said that in addition to opening finance committee meetings, he would seek to cut from the town budget and would stop using surplus funds for the budget.

Environmental Protection

The candidates stuck to their different positions on the issue of creating an environmental commission with Skibitsky saying that he was concerned about the implications of the proposed commission and touted his work on the Sustainable Jersey program. The environmental commission has been pending before the Council's code review committee for several years. Sustainable Jersey is a voluntary program towns can enter to gain certification as a sustainable community and potential state grants. Westfield entered the program in June and the formation of the green team to govern the town's participation in the program has proved to be a political flashpoint this year.

Brennan touted an environmental program calling for a town energy audit, more bike paths and bike racks and the creation of an environmental commission. While praising Sustainable Jersey, Brennan criticized Skibitsky for what he characterized as being a follower in terms of environmental policy.

"He's really been absent over the last four years on having an enviormental program in town," Brennan said. "After raising it seven months ago, when I announced my candidacy, the mayor jumped on the bandwagon."

Lobbying for State and County Funds

Brennan said he would like the town government to form a better relationship with the county and state, a charge Skibitsky immediately denied, noting that he has a close working relationship with county officials. The mayor said he has brought county freeholders into Town Council meetings to discuss issues and was able to obtain county funds for traffic improvements to Central Avenue.

Brennan said he intends on designating a Council member to serve as the liaison with the county if elected and noted that he would like to see changes to the local government tax system to lower property taxes.

High School Parking

Both candidates agreed that parking near the high school was an issue, saying that something needs to be done to reduce the on-going situation in the area. Skibitsky cited his work in looking to allow students to park at the Armory, an idea endorsed by Brennan.

Brennan used the issue to bring up a key message point that town government does not act quickly enough on issues, while Skibitsky used the issue to say that Brennan wants to raise parking fees in town.

"This high school parking problem has gone on for years and years," Brennan said. "If we cannot solve the high school parking problem, how can we solve the problem like the $2.5 million that went down the train?" citing the decision to use surplus funds in the current town budget.

Pedestrian Safety

Skibitsky said he has made pedestrian safety a priority, noting the town's new thermoplastic sidewalks and working to improve eight intersections in town. He also cited a citizens' task force on pedestrian safety issues.

"You can't find another town in New Jersey that has done more," Skibitsky said of the town's record on the issue.

Brennan said that more needs to be done on the issues and proposed a program which would have plainclothes police officers attempting to cross the street and then radioing other officers to pull over any driver that does not yield. He questioned why thermoplastic were not installed before 2009.