Well, It's me again!! Bob Diaz (http://bobdiaz.com/)

I've received a number of replies to my last email, several with questions.

The most common question was "...in this current political storm, who should I vote for?"

Well, I'm going to take the safe way out and assume they mean locally, not National or State level - so the answer is easy! Go with the experience, and the known performance, Vote for Me (Bob Diaz) and Rob Schenk - we are on the Committee now and know what has been done, what needs to be done and how to do it! The Committee is doing well, and making fantastic progress - "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

>>Start Political Talk (More Questions and information about the Township below!!)<<

Seriously - in ANY election there are some questions you need to ask of the Candidates.

• Why is the Candidate running - is there a real reason or is it just a whim
• How much experience has the Candidate had in your local government, or in your municipality?
• Does the Candidate know the current issues, what has come before the Committee, what we have discussed and need to address? Rob and I do, obviously, and so would those who attend our meetings. In the last several years, except for the occasional "Current Hot Topic" meetings, only the County Representative, Police Representative, and an occasional resident or two have attended - sometimes not even them. (That's how we know we are doing well!!)
• This is a "Farming" Community" how much do the Candidates know about Farmland Preservation, Right to Farm, and the interface between Farmland and residential developments?
• What do the candidates know about the JIF (our insurer), what it is, and its requirements for Safety, Wellness, Cyber Security, Personal Practices Liability ...
• What do the Candidates know of what the Committee can legally do, and not do? (HIPAA Privacy Rule, OPRA, Rice Notices, employee contacts,...)
• And the list goes on.

Both Rob and I have served on the Planning/Zoning Board as well as the Committee for many years - learning about the Township, its ordinances, Master Plan, Codes, budgets, residents and more - and contributing to them. We have led as well as participated in the Township initiatives, the Safety and Personnel Committees, and worked with residents on the "Hot topics". Our strengths and knowledge help make the Committee the success it is. See our Bio's here http://southharrison-gop.com/candidates.shtml

>>End Political Talk<<

There were other questions as well - About South Harrison. Here are the answers to the most common.

• How do I learn more about the Township and what is happening here?
• Visit our Website - "Announcements" are posted on the HOME page frequently
• Visit our Face Book Page for events, Announcements and more
• Come to our meetings - We would love the company. The Committee meets the Second Wednesday of the month, regular meeting starts at 7:30. (Check the website for changes - the November meeting will be a week early due to Veterans day)
• Specific Questions? Call the Clerk's office 856-769-3737- option 3
• Contact a Committee Member - Our email addresses are on the site.
• Our municipal Building is located at 664 Harrisonville Road, adjacent to the School. Our Municipal Clerk is Celeste Keen, and our Deputy Clerk is Sandi McCafferty - They can be reached at 856-469-3737
• The South Harrison website is http://southharrison-nj.org/index.shtml
• SHT was created from part of Harrison Township in 1883, and is currently just under 16 square miles in size, and has a little over 3000 residents.
• We are a "Township" form of government - the Five (5) Committee members are elected to (staggered) 3 year terms. At the annual re-organization meeting, typically within the first few days of the new year, one member of the five is "elected" by the others to serve as Mayor, and another as Deputy Mayor. The Mayor has the same authority as the other members, plus some granted by the State to all Mayors.
• The members of the Committee Chair or serve on "Sub Committees" - the Safety, Personnel, Streets and Roads, Finance to name a few. See R-20-008
• Some members represent the Township as "Officers" on various boards or fill other positions. See R-20-009
• No, We do not have legal access to COVID-19 Patient information, other than the current numbers. We do not know names, addresses or patient condition. (Currently: South Harrison Township Cases: 105. Deaths: 0 - See: https://covid-19-glouc-cty-nj.hub.arcgis.com/.
• Yes, we have JIF Approved Cyber Security programs in place - which reduces our co-pay if attacked and remediation is required. We have a Shared Services agreement with Kingsway regional to provide IT services.
• We have Ten (10) "employees" - that includes the five (5) committee members. Yes, we do get paid a yearly stipend (with employee withholding deducted) for serving and to cover our routine expenses - less than $3,000 a year, the Mayor a very small "bump" above that - WAY less than NJ's minimum hourly rate/hour. For myself, for example, - I do not get paid extra to build/maintain the website, serve as the JIF Fund Commissioner or on the JIF Executive Board, attend regular or special meetings, respond to residents, meet with employees, review documents, etc. Mayor Marino's activities make mine as Deputy Mayor pale by comparison.
• We have a mix of Local, County, and State Roads in the Township - Ownership determines who maintains them, and controls the intersections.
• Yes, the landfill is growing - new "cells" are added as needed - and the area is increasing - if you went to the Household Haz-Waste disposal day, you had a chance to see it first-hand.
• We have 24/7 Police coverage, with officers in our Township at all times. We entered into a Shared Services agreement with Woolwich last year that will be a financial benefit to us.

I may have to do another letter - WITHOUT the Politics. I haven't even touched on Taxes, Budgets, Mowing/Snow plowing/Salt,or trucks, or the park's tennis courts, Soccer and baseball fields...

Please - Re-Elect Robert (Bob) Diaz (ME!) to the Township Committee

(Top)