Haledon Mayor Domenick Stampone Calls for Creation of a Shared Services Task Force

‘The time is now to reform how our local services are provided’

August 3, 2010

Haledon, NJ – On July 23rd, 2010 Haledon Mayor Domenick Stampone penned a letter to the Chairman of the Passaic County Improvement Authority, Dennis F. Marco, to request the creation of a task force to explore shared services agreements in Passaic County. Mayor Stampone is asking the local mayors of Prospect Park, North Haledon, Hawthorne, Paterson, Wayne, and Totowa to rise above partisan politics and begin working together in the best interests of our taxpayers and families.

“Sharing services between Passaic County communities is such an obvious solution to so many of our local budgetary issues we need to begin the dialogue before we are forced to make wholesale cuts to important municipal services,” stated Stampone. “I am willing to work with any one of the towns neighboring Haledon – regardless of political affiliation – as long as we are developing mutually beneficial plans for our families and taxpayers. Under the umbrella of the Passaic County Improvement Authority I am confident we can find lasting savings by ending duplicative services and working together – that is why I hope Chairman Marco will put this important issue on the agenda of the Passaic County Improvement Authority’s upcoming meeting.”

“With the passage of recent legislation capping tax increases at 2%, municipalities will either have to severely cut services – such as libraries, road improvements, and fire & police departments – or begin the process of sharing services to pool resources and maximize purchasing power,“ stated Stampone.

The July 23rd, 2010 letter from Mayor Stampone to Chairman Dennis F. Marco is below.

Dear Mr. Chairman,

In light of the recent cuts in municipal aid at the State level, shrinking property tax revenues, and a generally poor economic situation in New Jersey, the need for shared services among Passaic County communities is more profound than ever. In order to maintain the quality of service that residents of Haledon rely upon, cooperation between Haledon and its neighboring Passaic County communities is essential. By working together, sharing assets, and pooling the purchase of fuel, energy and other essential commodities, we can lower taxes for our residents and create a more efficient system for purchasing goods and products for our municipalities.

I am writing this letter to the Passaic County Improvement Authority (PCIA) to help Haledon and its neighboring communities – Paterson, Totowa, Wayne, North Haledon, Hawthorne, and Prospect Park – begin the process of laying the framework for lasting shared services agreements that can sustain the level of city services our residents have come to expect.

Governor Christie’s recent legislation capping property taxes at 2% will make the need for savings fundamental for our communities to stay within the law without major cuts in services. By banding together, we can increase purchasing power, expand the resources and man power of our local police forces, and most importantly lower taxes during these challenging economic times. Furthermore, by enacting these necessary reforms now, when the economy begins to rebound and property tax revenues grow to normal levels, we will be able to pass meaningful property tax relief onto our residents. This is not a partisan issue; it is a matter of doing what is right for our taxpayers and taking every step to lower their yearly tax bills.

The process of bringing together seven municipalities, seven Mayors, and a slew of local elected officials is a tall order to say the least. We need the guidance and mediation of the PCIA to set us on path of real progress toward making shared service agreements a reality. I propose a task force composed of elected officials, stakeholders, and community activists from every community, working under the umbrella of the PCIA, to begin exploring areas in which our municipalities can save tax dollars, reduce waste, and eliminate duplicative services for our residents.

I look forward to beginning the necessary work of enacting shared services agreements with the neighboring communities of Haledon.

Respectfully,

Haledon Mayor Domenick Stampone

Cc:
Wayne Alston, Vice Chairman
Abed Awad, Commissioner
Russell J. Bleeker, Commissioner
Paterson Mayor Jeffrey Jones
Totowa Mayor John Coiro
Wayne Mayor Christopher P. Vergano
North Haledon Mayor Randy George
Hawthorne Mayor Richard Goldberg
Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah