My wife Ann and I came to Mendham over 26 years ago with out realizing how much this town would grow on us and that Mendham would truly become home. We have raised two children here and plan to remain here for the foreseeable future. (at least for four more years) Mendham enjoys a sense of community that many other towns envy. People know each other and participate in many aspects of community life. Mendham is a safe community with a fine police force that realizes that small towns like Mendham needs police officers that are sensitive to the needs of a small community and therefore spend much of their time interacting with citizens not just fighting crime. Mendham’s schools continue to be in the tops rankings each year. A large percentage of our children continue their education beyond high school and go on to good jobs and careers as result of an education that received a firm foundation here.

One evening last summer we met several friends at the ice cream store and got into a discussion of retirement (we not that old are we?) and of friends that are moving to other regions. Everyone felt that Mendham has been a special place to us during our active business years and with so many friends and acquaintances in Mendham why would we want to move some where else when we retire. Why would we want to start over in a new place when Mendham has become home and continues to offer so much, but many residents have also spoken to me recently and the over riding concern is keeping Mendham Mendham. Residents are concerned that the town character is being threatened. Keeping Mendham attractive and a place we want to continue living in is one of my goals. A few weeks ago Mayor Ackerman received a letter from a residnet of Mendham now attending college out of state. Some of you may know her, Erin Dangler. I would like to read a portion of her letter to you......

Mike Ackerman often called Mendham “Camelot”, but I like to think of Mendham as the best of small town America. Mendham enjoys close proximity with a major city, we have nearby access to shopping and business yet Mendham Borough itself has a village like atmosphere that attracted many of us here. Mendham was the first town in NJ to be designated a Village Center under the NJ State Mater Plan. This special designation was developed through hard work by our Council and Planning Board members to prevent Mendham being designated a growth area in that State Mater Plan that would have invited ever increasing building density in the Village Center.

Mendham is primarily a residential community with homes that are attractive, well spaced, and well maintained. Yet we have the necessary services that allow residents to shop nearby for everything from food to lumber. Property values continue to climb due to the attractive nature of Mendham and the continuing efforts of our planning board and board of adjustment to keep Mendham Mendham. Mendham does offer a convenient business district and the business community continues to work toward improving the business atmosphere without turning Mendham into a crowded New Hope type of town. The Holly Trail event of a few weeks ago (the first one that was not rained out) is just one of many things our business association has brought to us recently. Residents should support local businesses and the council and boards must continue to work with business owners to keep the town center viable and conducive to business.

There is continuing pressure to allow greater sub-division of in town properties, or as it is often called “In Fill”. In Fill is a practice that has a number of effects. Initially property owners enjoy immediate return on investment when they subdivide and sell a lot. As I said earlier Mendham has attracted many of us because of the picturesque nature of the village community. This village atmosphere has helped to maintain and even increase property values. In Fill threatens that atmosphere and will make many residents question their reasons for living in Mendham and reduce Mendham’s attractiveness to newcomers and even negatively affecting property values in the long run.

The requests for lot sub-division continue to come in and up to now many have been granted, but recent analysis of our sewer plant indicate that we have reached, or perhaps even exceeded allowed out flow capacity. The plant functions very well and does not pollute, but it is unlikely that our plant can ever be expanded due to a small stream that is already accepting maximum flow from the plant. With this development Mendham must review our policy of adding any additional connections to our plant. This action must be taken soon.

In November voters overwhelmingly approved an Open Space Tax at both the local, county and state level. The proceeds of the local tax will be used to obtain additional funding from county and state governments that will allow Mendham to acquire undeveloped properties that will enhance the quality of life in Mendham and again help to keep Mendham Mendham. Today we have appointed members of a new committee, The Open Space Advisory Committee, that will work to develop a plan of action to increase the available open space in Mendham. The function of the Open Space Advisory Committee is to review what properties are available for purchase or purchase of development rights and recommend to the mayor and council which ones should be targeted for acquisition. The committee will then work with the mayor and council to identify and obtain funding from the state Open Space program and Green Acres program that are available as a result of the new open space taxes approved at the state level by the voters in November. The Open Space program is another effort to maintain the attractiveness of Mendham and help to maintain or increase property values.

We are gathered today in the Mendham Fire Department facilities. Two weeks ago a new pumper was delivered and this addition to the town protects our property values and helps to keep fire insurance rates as low as possible. The department is continuously training members and stays at the ready to respond day or night to a call. Mendham Fire Department volunteers are a valuable asset of Mendham and many residents do not realize the time and effort put forth by them on behalf of the community, with no pay or compensation. In fact many residents do not even realize that they are volunteers. As many of you have read our all volunteer fire department and first aid squad has been faced with declining membership that threatens their effectiveness. To date the problem has not become acute, but without an upward change in membership Mendham’s taxes could be seriously impacted by the need to hire full time firemen. This is not a prospect any of us want to face. Recent efforts by the volunteers, community members and local businesses has resulted in a small, but significant turn around in the number of new applications for membership. Throughout 1999 the programs to introduce residents to the volunteer fire department and first aid squad and to encourage new members to join will continue.

Mendham Borough and Mendham Township are two communities with many similarities. Over the past 20 years there have been many discussion as to why they exist as separate communities. I initiated some of this discussion when I was a Borough Councilman almost a decade ago. Today I still believe that in the long haul the two communities would be better off as one, but also am rational enough to realize that practically speaking the Mendhams are not gong to merge It is incumbent on both municipal governments to seek out ways to co-operate and to save expenses and ultimately keep taxes from increasing taxes. Today our court system is one with a common judge, clerk and prosecutor. Our road departments often share equipment informally. Our recreation departments share facilities and in 1999 there may be further opportunities to work together in this area. With a smaller growth rate sharing of engineering and building inspection services is another area of opportunity. We are looking into other areas of government that may be available to work together more closely and save money for both towns.

This year I would like the council to begin investigating and planning for a Mendham WWW site. In the year 2000 Mendham should join the 21st century with the a www site that will give our residents, many of whom are already online, the opportunity to obtain information about town events, meetings, pending ordinnaces, schdules for recycling and recreation, as well as an opportunity to communicate concerns, questions etc. to the elected town officials and various departments whose services they may need. If any residents have expertise in this field we welcome your input and perhaps even to have you volunteer to assist in the planning and development.

In closing I feel Mendham is still a great place to live and raise a family. I want to see Mendham remain attractive and to keep the village atmosphere that brought so many of us here. We need to effectively use our Open Space revenue to ensure that every inch of space does not get built on. I want the council and boards to work hard to balance growth with respect for what makes Mendham Mendham and to maintain the quality of life that we all value so much.