Deputy Mayor's Message
Organization Day Commments - January 1, 2012
I want to begin by saying thank you to the Township Committee and the people of Middletown and all of you here today for giving me the opportunity to serve as the Deputy Mayor for 2012. I am both honored and humbled to have the chance to serve the greatest township in New Jersey one in which I grew up in and now raise my 4 children.
I would especially like to thank outgoing Deputy Mayor Brightbill. Her passion and love for Middletown is infectious and has been a great source of inspiration for me personally. From her work at the Cultural Arts center and Poricy Park to the Buy Middletown campaign to ideas like the Strategic Planning Committee, in addition to rarely ever missing an event or ribbon cutting - these only scrape the surface of what she has accomplished with such determination and grace in her years of service on the committee. You will be sorely missed- Thank you again Pam.
I also want to thank Mayor Fiore. His leadership this past year has been an amazing thing to witness. Right out of the gate (actually before it even opened) he was on the job with the blizzard of 2010 just days before his swearing in. From the time he formed a Command Center that worked around the clock for three days to make a horrible situation a tolerable one to keeping our budget within the 2% cap through hard contract negotiations, cuts to nonessential services, and innovative changes to benefit programs. And then there were the months of tireless preparation for a very difficult day in September – for Middletown and America. He made sure every last detail was met to honor the victims and their families for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Not to mention answering hundreds possibly thousands of emails, phone calls as well as holding traveling office hours to meet the needs of our residents. He has worked vigorously for the citizens of Middletown and I am proud to call him my Mayor and a friend.
It has been three years since the financial collapse of 2008 and Middletown along with the entire state of New Jersey continue to feel the effects. Two years ago voters in the state of NJ came to a fork in the road. To continue going down the path of reckless spending and higher taxes of the previous administration in Trenton or to follow the path of a leader who promised fiscal discipline and restraint in order to fix the rapidly declining financial health of our state. In just over two years we have seen how Governor Christie along with strong leaders like Senator Joe Kyrillos has begun to turn our state around. Never in my lifetime have I seen such pride and hope for our great state and for our great municipality. It wasn't too long ago that New Jersey was mocked and the butt of jokes from late night talk show hosts. But, in two short years, we have been catapulted into the national spot light and viewed as a model for leadership across the nation.
As Tip O'Neil once said "All Politics is Local". In Middletown, the Township Committee has continued its tradition of fiscal responsibility. We have shown the same fiscal restraint in cutting spending and delivering a budget that fully conforms to the Governor's property tax relief agenda. In 2012 I pledge my support to continue to look for new ways to improve the quality of life in Middletown through sound fiscal responsibility, expand our shared serves with local municipalities and provide property tax relief to our taxpayers.
I would also like to welcome our newest member Stephanie Murray to the Township Committee. I have known Stephanie for several years. She has voraciousness for public service having sat on the Housing Authority, Zoning Board, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and Open Space Committee. I believe her passion, experience and "can do attitude" is the perfect addition to the Township Committee and I am thrilled to have you on our team.
The great Vince Lombardi once said: "individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, and a civilization work." I am proud to be part of this governing body and I believe you are looking at one of the best teams Middletown has ever had. Finally I would like to thank my beautiful wife Emily, my sons, Edward and Nathaniel, and my daughters, Delia and Virginia, for their love and support as well as their patience to allow me to serve on the governing body. Having had a challenging year in 2011 with the loss of both our Mothers, I realize the sacrifices she and my children make to allow me to be a public servant and am truly grateful. I would like to end by saying that I pledge to the people of Middletown - from Lincroft to Leonardo and Oak Hill to Chapel Hill – that you will get nothing less the a 100% from me as your Deputy Mayor.
Thank you all and may God Bless Middletown and God Bless America!
Deputy Mayor Steve Massell
