Proven experience, Proven Leadership

When I opened my second Artful Deposit Gallery location in 1997 at 201 Farnsworth Avenue, I was welcomed with open arms by both the business community and the residents of Bordentown City.

The timing of my arrival in Bordentown City was auspicious, as a dynamic and forward thinking business community was already starting to coalesce. Quentin Hausser of App’s Hardware, Alene Bice, Jackie Reed, Tom Moyer and Pete Hobday of Shoppe 202, Eric Gibbons of the Firehouse Gallery and many others, all had a vision of a revitalized Farnsworth Avenue and a thriving Bordentown City in general. They took me under their wing and became mentors.

Fast forward 28 years and here I am. I am now one of the elders. As a long time resident, a veteran business person, an eager volunteer, and battle tested community leader, it’s time for me to put my uniquely Bordentown City centric experience to larger use as a City Commissioner.

But lest anyone think that as an “elder,” I’m accepting of the status quo or attached to a “that’s the way we do it in Bordentown,” think again. You protect and cherish what’s best and unique about our little “one square mile,” but there is always room for thoughtful improvement and change when needed. As commissioner I would a bring a dynamic, business oriented attitude to City Hall and would leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of governmental efficiency and value for your tax dollars.

Bordentown City is blessed to have a small army of committed and capable volunteers. In my 20 plus years as a volunteer in this town (in many different roles and capacities), I have worked intimately with every City department and most every volunteer committee and city group. I know the players, I have their numbers in my phone and I know how to work together to get things done.

The knowledge and experience that I gained during the COVID pandemic of 2020-2021 is something I recall with great pride in the way our community bonded together. The leadership/information chain that was formed and communicated on a daily basis from the Governor’s office, to then Mayor Lynch, to myself as DBA President and then relayed to our DBA secretary, and on to our membership, was learned swiftly and soon became a resource for both our small business members and residents to receive clear and accurate updates daily. And I’m proud to say that while on the local, front lines of a once in a hundred year global heath crisis we didn’t lose a single business directly due to the pandemic.

When allowed, we organized restaurant weekends with outside dining along Farnsworth Ave. Working closely with Mayor Lynch, the City crafted a grant program to throw a much needed lifeline to shuttered City businesses. We pulled together as a community and saw the crisis through. In a town that fostered a revolution, has seen world wars, recessions and depressions, it was arguably, as Churchill said “our finest hour.” And it is that tested, calm, steady leadership I would bring to the office.

As vice president of Bordentown Arts and as project manager of the Woodlin Lodge Mural, it was with great pride and pleasure that I oversaw the execution and completion of the mural. Working with the Lodge leadership, local volunteers, and the artists, we were able to turn my husband’s vision and two year long fundraising efforts into reality. And we brought the project to completion on time and under budget no less.

Unfortunately, our city often, seemingly, adopts a “Ready, Fire, Aim” approach to various projects and problems. There often doesn’t seem to be an overarching, achievable plan. No one plans to fail, but the failure to plan seems obvious. We’ve been talking about installing a new HVAC system in Old City Hall, so that it can be comfortably used during the summer months, for years. We’ve been talking about restoring the Gilder House for years. And the now defunct Clare Estate, the vacant Ocean Spray property, the management plan for the comprehensive use of Point Breeze? We’ve been talking about this for years! The City has wonderful assets that are not being fully realized and utilized. Rather then the apparent stasis we see coming from the current board of commissioners, as commissioner I would cultivate a culture of urgency in City Hall and and with my colleagues prioritize, strategize, plan, and execute!

If elected I would like to see a revitalization with current appointments to the Economic Development Advisory Committee, Historic Preservation Review Commission, and the Parks & Trails Committee. I would like to see these committees arrive at goals, craft plans, report to their intentions to the commissioners and then execute.

For example: Review the ordinance established in 2008 and make the appropriate appointments to the different seats required on the EDAC: A licensed realtor, a finance professional, a representative from the Downtown Bordentown Association, a representative from the City Planning Board, etc. As a for instance, one task of the committee could be to develop a more thorough and comprehensive “Parking & Shuttle Plan” for the Riverline and Carslake municipal lots to help alleviate parking pressure on Farnsworth Ave.

While serving on the Zoning/Planning board I was involved in crafting the city’s new master plan. The master plan eventually ratified contains many creative strategies and possibilities that have yet to be fully realized. At the same time our zoning ordinances and procedures need to be simplified, clarified and made more user friendly.

I’m not one to kick the can down the road. When I see a can, I pick it up and put it in the recycling. Though perhaps a lighthearted metaphor, if elected, I’ll put that same simple, solution oriented thinking to work for you.

Proven Experience, Proven Leadership. That’s what I’ll bring to the office of Bordentown City Commissioner.

Thanks for listening, and please consider casting your “write in” vote for me so I can get to work for you!