Budget Concerns Top of Conley's Agenda

Robert Conley on Sunday will trade his Borough Council seat for the mayor’s gavel, a move he says typifies the decidedly non-linear nature of Madison elections.

“Madison has zig-zagged through elections and ballots,” said Conley, a Democrat. “We are obviously a GOP town but we don’t stay in one column.

“This was probably one of biggest zig-zaggings that ever happened.”

While Conley had to resign his position on Council to run against Republican incumbent Mayor Mary-Anna Holden, the Democrats will retain that seat thanks to Carmela Vitale’s return following the November elections. The GOP will hold a 5-1 advantage, however, as Republican Robert Landrigan is sworn in for his first term on the governing body.

Conley, who works as vice president of operations for the , learned how to get involved in politics at an early age as the middle of 11 children growing up on Prospect Street in Madison.

“Our house was a good place to learn how to get involved in politics,” he said. “It was also a place to learn to compromise, learn to listen.

“I was known as the quiet one in the family.”

Conley also learned about leadership from his mother, Pat, a field hockey player and coach who eventually served as athletic director at Summit’s Kent Place School in an era where few women could claim that traditionally male role. Today, a field at the school is named in her honor.

“She set the tone for all of us,” he recalled.

Conley sat down for a question and answer session with Patch.

Patch: What do you see as the hot-button topics as you prepare to take office?

Conley: The turf fields, the tenor of Borough Council meetings, and the are the hot topics. As far as the Madison Recreation Complex goes, at this point we have a tremendous complex up there. I and Mary-Anna Holden agreed on that, it was a needed project. The growth of girls’ sports and the advent of off-season sports means that you can’t rest the other borough fields. We can’t schedule all the teams that want to compete. In North Jersey real estate is at a premium so you can’t have endless grass fields, either. Turf is almost a requirement, it can run almost non-stop. I would have preferred the fundraising been done first, as we do with non-profits. We had a great plan to build a pool at the Y but when it came time to pay for it in 2008, because of the economy we did not get the donations we had counted on.

Patch: So, how is fundraising progressing?

Conley: I have met with Marty Horn [chairman of the Madison Athletic Foundation] about things that are in the pipeline, such as naming opportunities, the 50-50 raffle, things that will help offset the cost of these fields. And once the is sold, the will be a partner at some level, I believe, and they recognize that. We are almost at a fee-based fundraising approach. It will work. The way naming is designed, it will be five- to 10-year terms for naming the fields and snack bar, etc. Marty shared a few names in the hopper that we feel positive about. There should be a name on it at the opening. User fees will go towards paying interest only in this positive interest climate. We’ll be in good shape if we get sponsor names in place in the three years before we have to convert to long-term financing.

Patch: You mentioned the Board of Education. How would you describe your relationship with them?

Conley: I have a very positive relationship with the Board of Education. I came up with the idea for a shared services committee in my first term on Council, and a lot of positive things have come out of that committee. It should be a standing committee instead of the ad hoc committee it is now, so we can work on sharing services and equipment on a more formal basis. [BOE President] Lisa Ellis and I have worked together, our relationship should be as strong as it has been in past committee work. The schools are recognized as one of a host of things that makes Madison great, along with the downtown and the train. That’s why families are attracted to Madison. We have to continue to work together, controlling costs by doing more and more things together, and keeping the communications lines open.

Patch: The schools budget became a significant Council issue when it was initially defeated by voters in 2010.

Conley: As far as the schools budget…we [the Council] don’t view our role in the budget as a big hammer, but as a call from residents to take a closer look. The message from voters was not so much about the size of the budget but that they wanted to see concessions, such as from the teachers union on healthcare.

Patch: What about the municipal budget, and hard questions about revenue and spending?

Conley: The YMCA is in the people business, and it’s not much different from the Borough of Madison. It takes a lot of manpower to clear leaves and maintain parks. At the same time police, fire, and public works all come with a caveat from residents: we love them but can you find a way to do it more cheaply? We are not going to save a lot of money by buying fewer paper clips. But we will on healthcare concessions and help from the state with pension systems that make sense. Hopefully, the state has learned a lesson about underfunding pensions, or to change those obligations.

Patch: How, then, does the borough manage its personnel costs?

Conley: A lot of it is going to be working with neighboring towns to do more. Florham Park, the two Chathams and Madison are very similar in terms of the people we serve and who we are. It makes sense to not have services overlap but to share those services. It’s possible to do more together with police but in a way where people still know their local patrolman.

Patch: Speaking of the police, an arbitrator is expected to rule on the borough’s police contract in January. What are your expectations there?

Conley: As far as the police contract, everyone knows you have to make concessions. The current model is not working or will come at the expense of other things people hold near and dear to their hearts. The people who live and work here know the challenges and in the end will recognize that the world has changed. Yes, it’s a negotiation, but the PBA is getting pressure from the state not to do things at the local level that has ripple effects on other negotiations.

Patch: Could the arbitrator’s decision force the borough to eliminate jobs?

Conley: We have to control our personnel costs in every department. If a settlement is above and beyond what we can afford, it’s going to come in reduction of staff. The requirements the state puts on us for [police] coverage of construction sites, for example, have to be more realistic. If it’s a minor thing, there’s got to be a better way.

Patch: Is the borough police force at sufficient manpower levels?

Conley: I think the police department is at proper staffing levels as far as officers on the street. We have to look at whether we are adequate, see what happens in an emergency and we are short-handed. If we are adequately staffed and it is barely at this point, then we have to look at it.

Patch: What’s the state of business development in the borough? Some retailers are concerned about the lack of growth of foot traffic on Main Street.

Conley: Foot traffic is a challenge for Main Street USA right now. The shift to services instead of traditional retail changes the nature of downtown and reduces foot traffic. It’s not a complete negative but people are shopping differently than they did before. On the other hand we are well-known for great restaurants and, with the increase in boutique shops, with the right mix on Main Street we can have good foot traffic. As far as how to promote business, there are no easy answers. We have taken great steps. Jim Burnet grew up in a retailing family and knows the struggles of the loss of the hometown hardware store. But we have a fairly strong downtown thanks to Jim, the Downtown Development Corp. and the Chamber of Commerce. Potential retailers can see these support systems in comparison to other towns. There has been some controversy about the location of the Farmers Market. But, Madison is a little quiet in the summertime and it makes Waverly a busy place, where people can shop and perhaps stay around for a meal.

Patch: What about the Green Village Road School project?

Conley: GVRS is going to serve as a tremendous jumpstart for the borough. I graduated GVRS so it’s near and dear to my heart. Its just steps away from the train, downtown, culture, Main Street. We can have a vibrant residential mixed-use development that will feed cultural centers and schools. We already have a museum…this could lead to a different look on Kings Road in the coming years. Madison will continue to be a transport hub and a great hometown to live in, not the kind of creeping development without a vision or plan.

Patch: So, what is your immediate plan?

Conley: I get the title of mayor and am viewed as a leader, but it’s really a team effort that will continue to make Madison great. I get to follow someone who just loved the job, truly loved serving as mayor, and, in a way, that makes it difficult to replace her. My priority over the next year is to make sure every board, committee or partner has a long-range strategic plan, and one that is coordinated with the borough.

Patch: Such as the library.

Conley: The library we see today is not what we’ll see in 2020s, but it still must be vibrant and serving the needs of the community. How it can evolve is the question. Same with the Board of Health as it continues to serve Madison and neighboring communities. By having coordinated plans, we can set priorities and manage limited resources. We can’t do it all tomorrow, but can do it over the next five to 10 years.