ARTICLE: The Value of Living in Garwood

By Vincent Kearney, Karina Boto & Sean Keagan Foley |  Published in the Union County Hawk, October 11, 2023 

Running for town council is not just something you do at the last minute, especially fora town like Garwood, where every decision made and dollar expended has to stretch further than most neighboring towns. It requires a commitment not only to campaign door-to-door to get the pulse of what is important to the residents of our Borough, but also dedication to attending countless meetings, showing up to public events, and having lengthy conversations with town professionals and members of the public about the financial challenges and opportunities for Garwood.

The value of living in Garwood is one of its main draws, as we are fortunate to have incredible services provided at a lower cost than many nearby Union County towns. It is also clear that people want to move here as houses are quickly under contract within days of going on the market. Whether it is the appeal of revitalized Hartman Park, the more frequent train stops available at NJ Transit, walking access to our incredible businesses and restaurants, or the volunteering spirit of our residents, people clearly want to live and raise their families in Garwood!

That is why we vow to do everything possible to keep it affordable for our current residents, while also ensuring new people are still eager to join us. To allow this to happen, we pledge to advocate for more partnerships between public entities within our Borough or County that can truly create opportunities to maintain services while limiting the impact of inflation and healthcare costs.

For example, we will advocate for the Library to remain at the school as a partner in providing programming for both students of the school as well as adults. In addition we will always reassess Borough capital plans when economic times call for it. Building a pavilion at the Rec Complex or pursuing a new DPW building during a tough budget year isn’t a priority, and the right decision was made to discontinue large projects in 2023.

Capital plans need to be constantly evaluated every budget year, and we intend to use the feedback from our residents on the campaign trail to ensure that we represent what Garwood values most: an affordable town that they can take pride in.

Vincent Kearney, Karina Boto, Sean Keagan Foley
Candidates for Garwood Council