Welcome Letter from Mayor Springer
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I am honored to have been selected by the members of Township Council to serve our community as Mayor for 2010. Public service is not always easy, especially in tough economic times like these. This year, a new Governor and Legislature will be sworn into office with a lot of work to do. Tough decisions will be made regarding government programs, funding for schools and municipal aid. Our state is buckling under the weight of massive debt and service on that debt that has been ignored by politicians in Trenton for too long. Chances are that significant cuts will be made in all of these areas. As a result, towns like Eastampton will again be asked to “Do more with less.”
However, our town is uniquely qualified to meet this challenge. Eastampton has one of the lowest per capita spending amounts of any municipality in New Jersey. Our town is blessed with some of the most scenic areas within Burlington County and our award winning open space and smart growth initiatives are envied statewide. We are great place to live and raise a family within a reasonable commute to Philadelphia, New York and all points in between. Unfortunately, our greatest assets also work against us. Eastampton has one of the lowest ratios of residential to commercial and industrial development in the state. Consequently, too much financial burden is put on the residential taxpayers of this township.
That is why this year I am announcing a new initiative that I call Eastampton 2020 – a year and a vision. Several very important decisions will need to be made over the next decade that will build upon a foundation that has already been laid. Plan the Land is an integral part of that foundation, but we need to do a whole lot more. The development and redevelopment of our Town Center, Rt. 206 corridor and the small portion of our town that fronts Rt. 38 is essential in the next decade.
Smart sustainable growth in Eastampton while creating a positive environment for business will be paramount. Facing these challenges will require thoughtful, intelligent and strong leadership. I look forward to working with town council and our professionals to achieve these goals in the coming year.
On behalf of Township Council, I encourage you to come out to our meetings. They take place the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at the Manor House, beginning at 7:30pm.
Sincerely,
Mayor Jay Springer