Our Platform
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Howell NJ First are homeowners and property taxpayers just like you. The majority of our taxes fund public education. Our municipal taxes largely fund public safety, debt service and administration. Since 2017, the total amount of taxable property in Howell has increased nearly $1 billion. Howell NJ First supports elected officials who will pass balanced budgets, pay down existing debt and fund needed capital improvements.
AMEND ZONING AND CONTROL DEVELOPMENT
For nearly 20 years, our elected officials have failed to enact stricter zoning regulations. State land use laws give broad authority to towns to adopt local ordinances that permit development. Every town is different. Howell is not like Brielle, and Newark is not like Howell. Therefore, each towns zoning laws are different.
Howell NJ First recognizes affordable housing is a state mandate, however our elected officials have a role in deciding where these housing developments are built. To that end, our elected officials can and should be held accountable.
Howell NJ First recognizes the surge in online shopping has created a need for warehousing and distribution facilities. However, our zoning regulations must limit the intensity of these structures based on location, access to major highways, and overall impacts on our residential communities.
CHARTER COMMISSION STUDY
Towns should always strive to improve how they function. Howell has had the same form of government since 1993. There are ways to improve it and it is time to create a charter commission study to examine ways it can be improved. Some possible changes include: expanding Council to 7 members due to our growing population; changing to a ward system so different areas of town are represented on Council; changing to a strong mayor system in which the mayor would act as the township manager and be directly accountable to the voters; and changing to nonpartisan elections.
LOCAL ETHICS BOARD
Howell previously had a local ethics board that was disbanded in approximately 2005. Currently, ethics complaints are handled by our township attorney. However, there is no clear due process or outcome of complaints. Our township attorney has advised residents on numerous occasions to file complaints with authorities in Trenton. State law allows for towns to create their own local ethics board. Such boards are comprised of bipartisan municipal appointments that conduct hearings on complaints and afford all parties involved a fair process to have their complaints addressed and resolved. Creating a local ethics board is long overdue.
MUNICIPAL OPEN SPACE TAX
Any discussion on slowing overdevelopment must include discussing the preservation of open space. The more open space that is purchased by the township, the less property there is to develop. Property taxes include a municipal open space tax that is roughly 2 cents on every $100 of the property value. The township needs additional revenue to purchase more open space. Howell NJ First advocated for submitting a question to the voters to increase the open space tax to 3 cents. We applaud Council for putting this question on the ballot in November 2023. Voters passed the question and now our township has additional resources to preserve open space and improve our recreational facilities.
ARBORETUM AND HISTORIC TOWN CENTER
Howell NJ First supports our Shade Tree Commission in partnering with the Monmouth County Park System and Rutgers University to fund and build an arboretum near the Manasquan Reservoir. Also, Howell is rich in history and lacks a town center. We support developing a long range plan to build a Smithville Village-like cultural center that has historical buildings, shopping and entertainment.
CANNABIS BUSINESSES
There are many options available for different types of cannabis business in Howell. We believe that the residents should be involved in deciding what types of businesses should be permitted. We believe this matter should be decided by the voters.