It has been an honor and a pleasure to be appointed by the council in April to fill the seat vacated by the Honorable Will Anklowitz. Now I am asking you to vote for me in November to remain in his seat for the remainder of his term.
For the last seven years, I have worked hard through various organizations to provide and improve the various activities and amenities that we all enjoy. I was involved with various parent groups when my daughter attended and graduated from High School South (Pirate Parents, African American Parent Support Group, Post Prom, Spring musical and District Strategic Planning).
I have also been involved with the Arts Council as a member and board member, a volunteer for Bikefest, member and advocate for the Bike/Pedestrian Alliance, and member of the GroWW team. My involvement has allowed me to serve our community and to learn about the issues important to all of us. It has been a rewarding experience.
In 2006 I was appointed to the planning board. I have served as the planning board liaison to the affordable housing committee and the Site Planning Review Board. I am also a member of the Planning Board’s sustainability subcommittee. On October 14 a sustainability element will be introduced for adoption for addition to the master plan.
With its passage, West Windsor will become one of the first townships to have a sustainability element in its master plan. This will provide the township with leverage to insure that future developers will provide for green initiatives in designing and building new properties in the township.
As a member of the planning board I have been able to be a vocal advocate for the inclusion of bike and pedestrian accessibility, saving open space and finding solutions and a balance between the residents and the applicant’s proposals. I have been an advocate for finding balance of the impact of an applicant’s project on the nearby residents.
Since I have been on council I have continued to work hard on behalf of the residents of West Windsor. During the 2009 budget, I urged the administration to seek a zero increase budget. Since I was appointed after the budget had been introduced, I raised several issues, which resulted in the council seeking to have a pre-budget meeting that was held in September. This meeting was a first. The goal was to provide the administration with our input as to ideas and ways to look at the budget with an eye to cost reductions.
I have stressed the importance of an energy audit to look at ways we could save on energy costs in both the short and long term. I have urged the administration to explore avenues to increase their policy of sharing services and bulk purchasing with other municipalities to save on costs. I have supported a review of the health care carrier’s coverage to municipal workers to determine if we can obtain better rates and save money.
I have urged the council to adopt task forces that will develop a vision and strategic planning to market the township to pursue and encourage new businesses that will be on the cutting edge of the 21st century as well as a green initiative plan that will form a partnership between the government and community advocates to develop a blueprint of developing and implementing a sustainable community. I introduced and the council passed a resolution that supports passage of the ballot question to fund the Open Space fund.
As your council member I am committed and have demonstrated my ability to work with other members in a respectful and civil manner. I believe that the council needs to be productive and forward thinking. We need to work together as a team to find solutions to the many issues that face our township: maintaining services at the lowest cost possible, improving our traffic circulation, improving bike and pedestrian accessibility, preserving open space, finding parking solutions at the train station, encouraging new businesses, supporting the arts, sports, our youth, seniors, and working to maintain and improve our quality life.
I am committed to continue my work for the West Windsor residents. The choice is clear. I need your help. Join me in working on building a better West Windsor. Check my website for details at www.DianeCiccone.com or follow me on twitter.
Diane Ciccone
1 Penn Lyle Road
