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Politics & Government

Redevelopment Will Help Stabilize Taxes, Democratic Council Candidate Says

Anthony R. Mazzella touts his experience as Planning Board chairman for past nine years

The state's eventual endorsement of Berkeley's Town Center and complex redevelopment plan will benefit residents in the future, said Anthony R. Mazzella, 61, a Democratic candidate for one of the three at-large seats on the Township Council.

“The issues always center around taxes,’’ said Mazzella, who has lived in Berkeley since 1999. “The redevelopment of the Beachwood Plaza will help bring in commercial rateables and not burden the township taxpayers with increased costs. A great deal has been done on this project and I think many residents don’t realize it or understand it.’’

Mazzella, Bayview Avenue, has served on the township Planning Board since 2001 and has been board chairman since 2002. He has been deeply involved in the Town Center project and the township's redevelopment plan

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Mazzella said the project is “a month or two’’ away from plan endorsement from the state.

“The endorsement from the state has been a couple of years in coming and it has delayed any activity on the site.’’ Mazzella said. “The environmental issues at the site have been accepted by the prospective developer. Once approved, the developer can proceed and commercial ratables can be added and offset any future property tax increases on the residents.’’

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Mazzella - who is an active member of the Berkeley Shores Homeowners Civic Association - has also been working on a plan to clean storm water runoff before it enters lagoons and makes its way to Barnegat Bay.

“There are several outfalls (pipes) that take storm water directly into the lagoons,’’ Mazzella said. “This water needs to go though a process or a mechanism before going into the bay. “Berkeley has the longest shoreline in Ocean County and to maintain the vitality of the township as a resort we should all make certain we don’t dirty the bay."

Mazzella and other Berkeley Shores residents have spoke to Ocean County and state Department of Environmental Protection officials about suggested solutions to the problem.

"The methods are cost-effective and we believe might qualify for grants that would pay for the necessary work to be done," he said.

In response to Republican claims that the municipal tax rate has climbed 146 percent during Mayor Jason J. Varano’s 10-year tenure, Mazzella said Berkeley’s tax rate was the lowest in Ocean County.

“If the tax rate is one penny and you increase it one penny, that’s 100 percent,’’ Mazzella said. “It was reported that Berkeley’s tax rate was the second lowest in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Manchester’s was lower, but if you add in the cost of private trash collection in Manchester, Berkeley’s tax rate is the lowest in the county."

Another objective is to keep taxes as low as possible by sharing services like snow removal, trash collection, inspections and additional services on the public works side with other municipalities that may not have the staffing to do it themselves, he said.

Mazzella said he thinks the township already provides maintenance for other townships at its public works garage.

Mazzella said the township should be held responsible for the property revaluation ordered by the Ocean County Board of Taxation, the first such revaluation in nearly 20 years.

“I received my personal assessment," he said. "I did my own analysis and using comparable properties reach the conclusion my value was acceptable. I wasn’t crazy about my taxes going up, but from a waterfront property perspective, I enjoyed a lower tax rate for an extended period of time."

When residents came to Town Hall complaining about their assessments, Mazzella said he gave them copies of comparable properties and urged them to file tax appeals.

"People need to understand that if you are sitting on a half million dollar property and you are being taxed at a rate of $250,000, you are being taxed for only half your property value. I know waterfront property owners got hit relatively hard but it is a function of the values established. It is just a snapshot in time.’’

With the township police department currently understaffed, Mazzella said he would rely on the expertise of the police chief when it came to hiring rookie officers, who need to attend the academy, or trained officers, who may have been laid off by other municipalities.

“I think we recently hired three new officers,’’ Mazzella said. “The budget has suggested adding another three or four. I would like to look at the costs of both before commenting. But I would rely on the expertise of the chief to make that decision.’’

Mazzella, who retired after a long career working as a director in the State Department of the Treasury, said the two parties need to work together after the election.

“I can work with anybody,’’ Mazzella said. “Right now the arguments and issues are about the season. But on Nov. 9 it should be about doing what is best for Berkeley Township no matter who wins the election.’’

Mazzella has been the Berkeley Township representative to the Pinelands Municipal Council and said he helped prevent development on a property tract adjacent to Holiday City.

Mazzella has been married for 41 years and has two grown children. He is member of the Toms River Yacht Club and is a former resident of Hamilton Township.

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