MANCHESTER – Four candidates are seeking three seats on the Township Council.
Voters will choose between three incumbents and an independent challenger for three, three-year terms. Incumbents James Vacacaro, Robert Hudak and Sam Fusaro are seeking new terms and Joseph Hankins is seeking to unseat one of them in his bid to serve on the governing body. Their comments are presented here in alphabetical order.
Fusaro has served the longest on council, for 25 years, from 1990 to 2006 and again from 2011 to the present. “I did not run for reelection in 2006 because my job at Fort Monmouth required my full attention at that time. When I retired in 2011 (then-Mayor Michael Fressola) asked me to consider returning to Council.”
“There is something special about helping your neighbors and seeing our town grow and thrive over the years. I am always available to our residents and have my home cell phone number on my town business cards,” he said.
“When I drive around town, I see many projects that I helped bring forward, like the Little League fields, football complex and improvements in Harry Wright Lake/Park. I believe there are still many tasks to accomplish. My longevity and work as a financial analyst and program manager for the US Army provides me the background needed to make a real difference in our community,” Fusaro said.
Fusaro explained that the council “is responsible for all policy development and approval to include land use as well as final spending approval for both budgets and bonds. Each council member also has additional assignments.”
“Currently, I am Council President responsible for developing the agenda for all council meetings, as well as a member of the open space committee that reviews and approves all properties purchased with open space funding. I will also be serving as chairperson of the Master (land use) Plan Committee which will start later this month. Our goal is to address land use issues as our township continues to grow,” he said.
Fusaro is retired. “My professional positions and duties included financial development and analysis, as well as a program management during my 35 years working for the U.S. Army, the last 4 years as a Contractor Consultant. My wife and I also owned and operated a nursery school (Kids Stop) for 15 years.”
When asked what they felt was the greatest challenge currently facing the Township and how this challenge should be addressed the incumbents responded with one answer.
Fusaro speaking for himself and his fellow incumbent teammates said “there is no one greatest challenge, every year there are a number of challenges constantly which require finding funds in the budget to complete necessary items like a new water tank, police cars, multiple large dump trucks with plows and spreaders, multiple drainage projects flooding residential properties, additional ambulances and normal salaries growth.”
He added, “the real challenge is balancing the needs of the township residents while maintaining our town as an affordable place to live. Manchester Township has one of the lowest average income in the state and we realize that many of our residents are living only on their Social Security and that many of our young families are also struggling especially with the number of businesses closing and reducing the employee numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Hankins said he was running because, “as a resident of the township for over 50 years I believe I have a lot of insight to the communities that make up the township. I want to be their voice when topics come up.”
He said, “I know there are many people that cannot make the meeting but still have strong opinions and great insight regarding situations the township faces. After my service as a police officer I know I have more to offer the township and I feel this is one of the best ways I can contribute to the communities.”
Hankins said if elected, “I would like to be involved in the Emergency Services, as well as future development. Volunteer recruitment is down. We need to be inventive and open to all possibilities when addressing both fire and emergency medical responses.”
“Any future residential development will increase call volume and response requirements. There are services the community needs and those business should be increased and encouraged,” Hankins added.
“Currently I am the vice president of the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association. This along with my 25 years as a Manchester Police Officer and over 40 years as a Volunteer Firefighter in Manchester Township,” Hankins said.
“I bring a strong understanding of the needs and wants the community has. I also understand the responsibility put on the emergency services and council to support these organizations and the people they serve,” Hankins added.
Hankins said he felt the greatest challenge for the township was “funding for the services everyone wants. It is nice to create or maintain a program, but every project has a cost, all the costs are directly placed on the shoulders of the taxpayer.”
“I believe I should always consider this when making decisions. The residents who are out of work due to the pandemic will need time to regroup and get back on their feet. Those who rely on social security and pension investments have not seen any increase and also need time to reorganize their assets,” Hankins said.
“Manchester has many people who are or have been hard working and deserve the best representation they can get. It is important to bring in some business retables that will use less services and help offset the taxes paid by residents,” he said.
Hudak was unanimously appointed by the Council to fulfill the unexpired term of Councilman Charles Frattini when he resigned in 2019. In November 2019, the voters elected him to serve out the remainder of Frattini’s term.
“I am seeking re-election this year to continue my quest to keep the municipal taxes stable and as low as possible without reduction of any services. I will also foster an increase in tax ratables by using smart growth development and attempt to encourage and attract new commercial ratables into Manchester Township at the same time preserve the semi-rural character of our Township.”
He added, “I would like to help achieve the development of Route 37 as a medical corridor which will provide our residents with needed medical services, create local jobs and provide an overall better quality of life for our residents.”
“In my short tenure on council, I am proud of our accomplishments. We have secured an energy aggregation contract that will save many residents money on their energy bills, established a Township Emergency Medical Service (ambulance service) that has seen a 97% increase in response times to resident’s calls with no balance billing,” Hudak said.
Hudak added, “we have approved multiple redevelopment plans that will bring additional commercial business to our community. In an effort to control growth, we purchased developable properties and preserved them from development including 25 acres along Route 571. We are closing the Manchester Landfill without cost to the taxpayers by partnering with a solar energy company to build a solar farm that will provide energy for Manchester residents while obtaining grant funding for paving streets such Ridgeway Road.”
“The township has built a cell tower in Whiting to improve Whiting coverage and are upgrading parks like Sixth Ave, Bowker Field, Summit Park and Pine Lake Park. In addition, we have developed an ongoing park maintenance program. I want to continue the progress we have made in making Manchester the great community it is,” Hudak said.
Hudak currently serves as the council representative on the Township’s Planning Board “bringing a Councilperson’s perspective on development in our town.
Hudak is a licensed land use planner and served in various municipalities throughout the state. “I also have a small business and represent various public and private clients before land use boards throughout the state.”
Vaccaro said he’s served on the council for eight years from 2013 to present. “Prior to being a councilman, I also served on the Manchester Township Planning Board for 15 years, six years as the chairperson of the Board.”
Vaccaro said he would also like to have Council continue to investigate the economic feasibility of different applications and the use of alternative energy resources. “I strongly believe in public service and giving back to our township and I know we can as an effective council team; working together we can achieve a better Manchester.”
Vaccaro said, “during the past years I have served as Council President and Council Vice-President, a member of the Finance Committee and the former Council’s representative to the Township Planning Board. Currently, I am the Council Vice-Present as well as being an alternate member of the Emergency Management Committee, Senior Advisory Board, Joint Mega Base Land Use Committee, alternate member to the Wildfire Safety Committee and a member of the Manchester Plan Endorsement Committee.
“I am the Township’s Alternate Designee to the Pinelands Municipal Council,” Vaccaro added.
Vaccaro is a retired manager at the U.S. Treasury Department – Internal Revenue Service with 36 years of service, an Enrolled Agent with the I.R.S. and currently a self-employed Forensic Tax Accountant. “I have been active in my community including being the President of the Renaissance Italian American Club, former Chairperson of the Renaissance Finance Committee, and former elected member of the Long Branch Board of Education for 11 years, 40 year member of the Long Branch Volunteer Fire Department – Exempt Fireman and former member of the Board of Governors at Jersey Shore Medical Center.”
