January 7, 2003

KENNEDY SWORN IN FOR FOURTH TERM; COUNCIL REORGANIZES

RAHWAY, NJ – Mayor James Kennedy and his City Council running mates of James Jones, Sal Mione and Nancy Saliga were sworn in to their fourth terms tonight during the Council’s annual reorganization meeting at City Hall.

Mione was elected Council President by his Council Colleagues, replacing outgoing President Jerry Scaturo, who was elected Vice President.

In his annual State of the City address, Kennedy said that Rahway is on the forefront of the state’s “smart growth” movement, which seeks to combat sprawl, traffic woes, high property taxes and environmental degradation.

“Here in Rahway, smart growth means concentrating new developments around our $16 million train station” he said.  “Smart growth means transforming old tax-exempt surface parking lots and developing market-rate housing, cultural activities and businesses. They will produce tax revenue, bring new residents into our community and reestablish our downtown as a place with a high quality of life for residents and visitors.”

Kennedy specifically named the new River Place development now under construction on the corner of Lewis and Dock Streets downtown.  This 136-unit market rate apartment complex is designed to draw young professionals to the city who use the train to commute to work.  He also mentioned that he expects construction to begin on the new, 300-car parking deck at the corner of Main and Lewis Streets this summer and be completed in mid-2004.

High on the Mayor’s priorities was finishing construction of the new library behind City Hall.  Thanks to grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the NJ State Library and the US Economic Development Agency, the cost of the library construction is not being borne by Rahway’s property taxpayers and will actually generate tax revenues after the building’s top two floors are sold to the private sector.  The library will open this summer.

“Rahway will soon have the only library in the state that will produce needed ratables for our property taxpayers,” he said.  “This was a cutting-edge concept that was carried out in a fiscally conservative and sound manner and will give our children the best library in New Jersey.”

Kennedy noted that the City has received numerous awards from public and private organizations in 2002 and will receive more in 2003 as the city’s smart growth efforts are recognized across the state.  The most notable honor has been the naming of Rahway by the New Jersey DOT as one of seven “Transit Villages” in the state last spring.

“Being named a transit village in 2002 now means that we are planning our future growth around mass transit and not around auto-dependent suburbs,” he said.   “Rahway is now at the ‘top of the list’ when competing with other municipalities for state development and transportation funds.  And I’m pleased to announce that this spring, Rahway will be named ‘Smart Growth Community of the Year’ by New Jersey Future, the state's largest smart-growth advocacy group that is fighting suburban sprawl and for livable communities.

Finally, the Mayor called for increased fiscal restraint to keep property taxes stable in Rahway.

“By making spending cuts and realizing new revenues during the mid-90s, we have been able to keep Rahway’s municipal tax increases stable – an average of 2.4 percent, less than the inflation rate.” he said.  Last February the Star-Ledger cited Rahway as having one of the most stable tax rates in Union County, with total property taxes rising by less than half of the state average over the last ten years.

Kennedy said that the city will be examining all sources of revenue and may adjust some fees that have not changed in decades.  The city will also take a hard look at its health insurance costs – which rose by $1 million last year and are projected to increase by a similar margin this year – to keep them in check while maintaining its contractual agreements with municipal employees.  The Mayor added that the city does not plan to eliminate its myriad of services like the new tennis courts, recreation programs and free bulky waste and recycling pickup that homeowners in other municipalities pay hundreds of dollars annually for.

“In speaking with many residents, citizens do not want to sacrifice public safety or public works improvements to our sidewalks, parks and trees,” he said.  “These investments are too important to our safety and our quality of life.”

The Mayor closed out his speech with a call for renewed citizen involvement towards making Rahway a better place to live, shop and work.

“Contribute something positive to your community,” he said.  “Join our combined efforts as we work to redefine Rahway as a true ‘livable community.’”

Click here to read Mayor Kennedy's 2003 State of the City Address