Case for Shortway, Pier and Benda team

What does the election of the Shortway, Pier and Benda team mean to Vernon residents? Through PAL, the high school and Mad Dawg Lacrosse, I have coached hundreds of Vernon’s children. You have experienced my no nonsense approach on and off the field and now it will be directed at our municipal government. The Shortway, Pier and Benda team will take a no nonsense approach to our community’s government. The attitude toward our community and development will change. Only the most competent people will be hired to service our community. It is about servicing the community and not promoting self interests. We are paying the price today because of a previous council’s decision to employ an incompetent and now convicted criminal as township manager. We will market our community by creating efficient government, highlighting the natural beauty of Vernon and most of all, the Vernon resident. It is all of us, who call Vernon home, what makes Vernon, Vernon. Yes, we have our differences as any family will, but we are a hard working and caring work force willing to do what it takes to support our community. The Shortway, Pier and Benda team will initiate a program that will successfully raise revenue for our emergency services. Similar programs exist in other communities and have generated thousands of dollars for their emergency services. Our volunteers deserve our attention and support. Our police department needs the finances and supervisory infrastructure to protect and serve us, and to decrease the exposure to vicarious liability due to a lack of supervision. The Shortway, Pier and Benda team are not against development unless it is carried on the back of the residential taxpayer. Business will not be conducted by a hand shake. Developers will be held accountable by contract and law. We will not tolerate failure to comply with contractual agreements or ordinances. “We will build it and they will come” attitude is over. Using residential taxpayer dollars to improve private commercial interests or purchasing inflated priced real estate is finished. We will not support our community taking responsibility and liability for Ms. Rinker’s or any other developers’ retention ponds/basins. We will not support purchasing wetlands from Ms. Rinker to increase Maple Grange Park at tens of thousands of dollars over the township appraisal. We will not gamble with your tax dollars to promote a waste water system and water for the town center. Developers can gamble with their own dollars, not ours. If the developers need water for a “suppression system” they can bring it in using their own dollars. Where easements are needed to benefit our residents we will exercise eminent domain. Long term PILOTS and abatements will not be awarded. We will explore generating revenue through recreation service fees. Employment, where the council has jurisdiction, will be aggressively scrutinized. Unethical practices and criminal action will be exposed and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We will implement an internal control process which creates checks and balances. The Shortway, Pier and Benda team needs your support. Join us to make our community a better place to live and raise our families. Harry J. Shortway Vernon