Learn More About Dan's Vision for Warren

Responsible town planning means not only making sound decisions, but thoughtful advance planning with the goal of no increases to taxes.  To keep taxes as low as possible, it's essential to review our current township budget to find potentials areas to reduce spending.

Effective and responsible planning is imperative with a growing and evolving town.  In addition to reviewing the master plan to ensure it reflects Warren's future needs, emphasis must be placed on the needs of our volunteer services (fire and rescue).  It's also necessary to plan effectively so that that our infrastructure (roads, sewers etc.) receive the appropriate attention in a timely fashion without adding tax burden.  

Regarding affordable housing, our town has joined other municipalities in New Jersey in challenging the legality of the State’s Affordable Housing laws. In my opinion, this multi-municipality litigation is the most effective way to challenge the law. As history has shown time and again, one municipality “fighting” their obligation is unlikely to have the intended results. 

The multi-municipality approach is more cost effective and fiscally conservative, since it involves pooling collective resources to wage a unified challenge to the law. There is strength in numbers and in collaborating on ideas regarding litigation strategy. In the meantime, while I am pleased that the town has finally hired a planner, we must find ways to not burden certain areas of our town by committing to careful and thoughtful planning to determine the least intrusive, most viable locations for these obligations. The law is the law unless (or until) it changes in Trenton so we have to plan responsibly. 

I am committed to acting with integrity and treating residents with the courtesy and respect they deserve. Everyone in this town should feel safe and comfortable voicing their opinions in meetings.  

Public commentary should be welcomed and considered. The 3-minute public commentary clock at Township Meetings instituted by our Mayor, should be eliminated. Resident engagement should be encouraged, not hindered. Residents should not be made to feel like a nuisance by elected officials for actively participating in town government. I pledge to listen to opposing points of view and consider all opinions before making decisions.

Information should be readily avilable to increase transparancy and openness with governance.  Increased communication by the township with residents by adopting a newsletter that was suggested by Committeewoman Kian will assist in this goal.  This can also cut back on incurred fees by the township for OPRA requests from residents for things such as planning board meetings that should be made readily available.   

My goal is to ensure that vendor contracts are awarded based on competitive bidding. We need RFPs to be widely promoted so that we are soliciting many competitive bids.  Warren residents deserve a strong pool of bidders so that we can retain the best and the most qualified for positions.  

I am committed to enforcing merit-based appointments on subcommittees so they are filled with the best and brightest - people who have the skill, expertise, and time to serve.  Appointments should not just be awarded to campaign supporters or family of committee members, but awarded to people who have only Warren's best interest in mind and the time and passion to serve our community.  

I believe that Township meetings should be accessible to everyone. We all lead busy lives and it is not always convenient to physically attend meetings, but that should not preclude our civic engagement. Zoom (or a similar platform) should be available to residents to not only remotely observe meetings but to participate in making public comments.  If Covid taught us anything about accessibility, it is that virtual platforms like Zoom are an effective way to engage and communicate when you can’t physically be present. Zoom access for public meetings should be embraced for the potential increase in community engagement.

As an attorney, I hold myself to a high standard of integrity. No one is pulling the strings or exerting influence on my decisions. I am committed to making well informed, fiscally responsible decisions for the town.  My decisions will be guided solely by what is in the best interests of Warren. I only answer to you, my fellow residents. 

I often hear from fellow residents that certain neighborhoods feel that the town is neglecting their concerns or that certain neighborhoods are favored over others. Right or wrong, this is the perception and perception becomes reality. I would like to explore forming an advisory committee made up of residents from different sections of town which can provide a forum to discuss neighborhood-centric concerns, events, and ideas which the Township Committee can address and recognize. Everyone should have their voices heard and every neighborhood has different issues they are dealing with. This committee could serve as their forum to do so.