Community Corner

Bloomingdale Republicans Need to Work Across Aisle, Former Councilman Says

Bill Graf said members should have provided reasons for voting against AvalonBay PILOT program.

The following is a Letter to the Editor submitted by former Bloomingdale councilman Bill Graf. If you would like to submit a Letter to the Editor, send it to ariana.cohn-sheehan@patch.com

Dear Editor:

As a former councilman, planning board member and a Republican, I am disappointed with the unproductive actions of the Republican members of Bloomingdale's borough council. From what I have observed, their priorities seem to center on party politics and misguided agendas rather than on what is best for Bloomingdale. 

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At the local level, where we are all neighbors, it should not be this challenging to work together.  There are good people with good ideas and good intentions of all political stripes.

The continual whining about the mayor and his approach is tiresome month after month, issue after issue. Right or wrong, different people have different styles. There is only one mayor at a time. The approach should have been to adapt, work for change by influencing through cooperation and get down to the business of governing.

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The business of governing is never served by not attending meetings because you don't want to be put in a decision making position or to prevent a decision from being made. Nor is it served by walking out of meetings because you disagree with the discussion. A mayor and council are elected to make decisions and conduct the town's business. There are times when that may get uncomfortable and contentious, but that is OK. Adapt and deal with it. 

The lack of reasonable rationale for defeating the Avalon Bay PILOT at the last hurdle defies logic. For this significant an issue, both "yes" and "no" votes should be accompanied by a credible statement of reason. 

Knowing that a PILOT program was the desired end result, Republicans (except one recusal) and Democrats unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance identifying the Avalon Bay site as a redevelopment area. In this case, there would be no other reason to do that except to pave the way for a PILOT program. There were no objections to any facet of the redevelopment plan or that a PILOT financial agreement was to be negotiated. This would have been the place to stop the process, not after a PILOT financial agreement was negotiated in good faith with the developer. If there was disagreement about aspects of the PILOT financials, then work with it internally as a governing body and make changes prior to the public hearings.

Of the Republicans eligible to vote on the PILOT, only one presented any rationale for their "no" vote. Those reasons could have been given up front before the process was even initiated. They were general in nature and not dependent on a specific financial agreement. The borough did not need to expend funds for a feasibility study and redevelopment plan if those were the reasons for a "no" vote. The other two Republican council members did not provide even the hint of a credible reason.

In my view, it is unfortunate for Bloomingdale that my fellow Republicans, having the majority, have not been able to find a way to work cohesively with the mayor and their Democrat counterparts.

Bill Graf
Bloomingdale     


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