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HAVE QUESTIONS?
E'MAIL ME. |
 My name is Walter Lata and I would like to be elected as
Mayor this November. First, let me tell you about myself. I was born in Dover
General Hospital in January 1957. I have lived in the Budd Lake section of the
township for 48 years. My family has been here since the early 1940’s when my
Grandparents moved here from Brooklyn, NY.
I am married with four children and two
grandchildren. My wife Lynda and I live in Budd Lake. My daughter
Jennifer and her two children live in Branchville. Heather attends
college in Massachusetts. Christopher attends college in western Pa, and
Rebecca the youngest is going to County College of Morris. My family is
very important to me, as I am sure yours is to you.
My extended family and I have been involved with our
community in many ways. My Grandfather was on the Board of Education, a member
of the special police, Postmaster of the Budd Lake Post Office, a member of the
Knights of Columbus, and one of the founders of the Mt. Olive Democratic
Committee. My Uncle was a special police officer. I am an exempt member of the
Budd Lake Fire Dept. as well as a former member of the Budd Lake First Aid
Squad. In addition, I started the North Jersey Search and Rescue Team after
being a member of East Penn Mountaineering Search and Rescue for several years.
I hold certifications in Search and Rescue, Rescue Diving,
Ice Diving and Rescue, Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Trench Rescue, and
River Rescue. I have taken classes in supervision, municipal budgeting and
municipal finance.
Some of my hobbies and
interests include hiking, fishing, hunting, wood working, repelling, rock
climbing, camping, maple sugaring, bobsledding, lumber jacking, and restoring
cars and trucks from the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s.
I stand for: Integrity, Honesty,
Communication, doing the best you can in any situation, doing things right the
first time, open space, nature, family, wildlife, peace, always being prepared
for the unexpected, helping neighbors and historical preservation. Educating,
bring people together.
My Committees:
- I am a Volunteer on the South Branch
Raritan River Water Shed to monitor the water for pollutants. (See
link for additional information.)
- I am on the Emergency Response Committee for Budd Lake.
- I am involved with the Regional Storm Water Plan.
Rutgers Certification.
Click here →
Lost In The Woods. Click here →
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My Goals:
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Safety
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Preservation
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Stabilize taxes
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Reduce bond funding
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Have an open door policy
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Do more for senior citizens
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Eliminating unnecessary spending
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Create a better relationship with
employees
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I will seek out more State and
Federal funding
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Attract new businesses to fill empty store
fronts
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Create a better working relationship with
residents
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Introduce additional activities at Turkey
Brook Park
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Make the Municipal Building a more
pleasureable place to visit
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Make the Municipal Building a more pleasureable place to work
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I will seek out and apply for as
many grants, regardless of how small
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I will do what I can to clean up
Budd Lake, because it is New Jersey's largest natural lake
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My Plan to Meet These Goals:
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I will put a freeze on all
spending. Items will need to be a necessity for the town to function or
they will not be purchased. The town will not purchase any town vehicles
or equipment with extras. Any vehicles that need to be replaced due to the
fact that they are unsafe to drive will be purchased with cost in mind. Along
with energy cost. I will end the use of town vehicles to get management
employees to and from work. In addition, there will be a better accountability
for fuel used for town vehicles.
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I will evaluate every dept to see where cost cuts can be
made. I will initiate a centralized location where office supplies & copiers
can be housed and copying & mailing services can take place. Requisition forms
will be instituted for getting office supplies and having copying jobs done.
Over-time will be trimmed. Some positions will be eliminated. Time clocks will
be put in place in ALL departments. Employees will treat any and all visitors
with respect, courtesy, do what they need to do to help them and return phone
calls in a timely manner.
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When the town contracts a contractor to do a major project
there will be a clause stating that for any “unforeseen” problems the additional
work orders will be capped.
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I will work with the Board of Education to cut costs.
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Landowners and Developers who wish to build in our town
will have to contribute to schooling additional children at all levels.
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Re-evaluate the cost of all permits issued by the town.
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There will be smart development.
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I will look into other means of energy for vehicles,
buildings and grounds.
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I will check out the type of
vehicles I would be looking at to replace current vehicles. The Smart Car
of America will start selling in the U.S.A. in 2008. This is a very
compact car and would be a very cost effective way to save on fuel costs.
(See link.)
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I will minimize the potential for lawsuits.
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Municipal Building: Fix landscaping going down the main
walkway to the front doors and side doors.
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Seniors: Start activities at Turkey Brook for seniors.
Any senior that has lived in the township for 50 plus years and reached the age
65 should and will receive some type of tax cut.
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Turkey Brook: Set aside an
area and make plots for seniors to come and plant flowers or vegetables.
For those of you who have never heard of this before, it is known as a
“Community Garden.” (See
link.)
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Set aside an area for seniors where they can sit, relax and
enjoy the sounds of nature, like running water and the fragrance of different
plants.
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Set up another area for maple sugaring.
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Make hiking trails that are educational. Start a lost in
the woods program for young children.
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Build a rock climbing wall,
create a rope course.
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We must put in place a plan
to filter storm water before it discharges into the lake, and put in place a
better basin and detention base program so they do the job that they are
intended to do. (See
NJDEP Water Monitoring)
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Reduce bond funding so we
can save for tomorrow.
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My process will begin with
each and every department. Every department will have to justify their requests
for purchases. Capital items requested will also have to be justified with a
full ROI (Return on Investment) to include, but not be limited to, anticipated
cost, carrying cost moving forward, time/manpower savings, and a multi-year
utilization plan. When all these requirements are met, documented, and it is
proved that there is just cause to make the purchase, only then, if necessary,
we will go out for the bonds. This will be the process, regardless of whether
or not it is one project or one piece of equipment.
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For Residents:
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Create a better place to hold marriage ceremonies.
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Office hours will be 24/7 and I will be just a phone call
away.
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I will spend more time in the municipal building then past
Mayors.
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I will have an open door policy where both residents and
employees can come in and talk to me about whatever is on their mind.
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For Employees:
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Regain their trust.
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Commend anyone or any dept in person for jobs well done.
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Create a much safer work environment and educate employees
on safe and correct ways to do their jobs and operate heavy equipment.
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Although there are ideas that I have that cost money, I
will work hard to find volunteers to do the work and donations to cover
materials. Again, Ideas; if they can not be done they will not be done.
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It is time for preservation. The town spends more money
then they take in. We need to stop the spending unless it is absolutely
necessary. The big things we have to do to accomplish my goals are
Freeze spending, have Employees contributing to health
benefits and control Salaries and Wages. If we don’t do these things and
we stay on this course we are in for some major financial problems. No one
likes to tighten the reins but it is of the utmost importance that we do.
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Think back to when the last
Independent ran for Mayor. He won and stabilized our taxes. We had
better services. He ran and won a second term. Vote Independent. Vote
Performance not Party. I would only have to answer to you the residents not to
a Party.
The affiliation of
Republican, Democrat or Independent does not make a good Mayor. It is the
person and his view of issues. Vote Productivity, not Party.
We have to take care of what
we already have today, before we can move on to tomorrow. We can not let
things get out of hand so they become very costly. Like the old Municipal
Building that was let go until it had to be torn down. If the money had
been spent for maintenance and repairs as they became necessary, the building
would never have become too costly to repair. Maintain or repair today, so
we don't have expensive repairs or replacements tomorrow.
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To Top
Committee To Elect
Walter Lata For Mayor 2007.
Page Revised:
Tuesday December 04, 2007
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