We are committed to creating a local government that keeps its residents informed and involved; and listens, adapts, and delivers results that reflect our community’s values and contributions.
Paid for by Elect Hammond, Roos and Schenck
Your Town
Your Voice
Fix the Municipal Decision-Making Process
Our Priorities
- A stronger downtown (filled storefronts, thriving local businesses, places to gather, and a downtown people actually use instead of drive through).
- Responsible development and affordable housing planning (growth that fits Bernardsville, with attention to traffic, parking, schools, infrastructure, and neighborhood character before decisions are made).
- Better parks, recreation, and opportunities for young people (improved facilities, connected trails, preserved open space, stronger programming, and more reasons for families to stay engaged locally).
- Infrastructure and long-term planning (addressing roads, utilities, drainage, and public assets before they become costly problems, while incorporating community and business needs into future planning).
- Responsible spending and taxpayer stewardship (making sure every dollar works harder through thoughtful budgeting, grants, PILOT evaluation, and strategic investment of public funds).
- A more responsive and accessible Borough government (open forums, office hours, active committees, clear communication, and meaningful opportunities for residents to influence decisions before they are finalized).
- Preserving Bernardsville’s character while planning for its future (protecting historic assets, respecting neighborhood scale and design, and guiding growth in a way that reflects the community’s long-term vision).
What We’d Do & Why
Residents shouldn’t discover major projects only after signs go up, rumors start, or Facebook fills in the gaps.
Residents should hear about important issues while meaningful choices still exist.
We will:
- Have frequent, scheduled accessible town halls and listening sessions.
- Create a public project pipeline showing what’s being discussed before formal decisions occur.
- Publish plain-language summaries of major projects and initiatives.
- Clearly communicate whether a project is exploratory, under review, or largely constrained by existing approvals.
- Establish a single location where residents can follow major projects from start to finish.
What We’d Do & Why
Most people can accept a decision. What frustrates them is not understanding how we got there.
Residents should see in real time why and how decisions are made.
We will:
- Show decision timelines for major projects and initiatives.
- Explain what alternatives were considered.
- Clearly communicate legal, financial, and regulatory constraints.
- Summarize how a proposal evolved from initial discussion to final decision.
What We’d Do & Why
Residents shouldn’t need a flowchart to figure out who is responsible for fixing a problem.
Residents should know who is responsible for a project and which projects are moving forward and which are not.
We will:
- Clearly identify ownership of major initiatives.
- Distinguish Borough responsibilities from County, State, utility, and private responsibilities.
- Publicly track major initiatives and commitments.
- Report progress at regular intervals.
- Prioritize building and zoning code enforcement.
- Identify projects that are delayed, stalled, or completed.
Our Town
Our Future
Plan for the Next Twenty Years
What We’d Do & Why
Communities get stuck when they wait until choices become deadlines.
Residents should understand where the town is heading while options are available and before deadlines arrive.
We will:
- Establish long-term community priorities.
- Publish upcoming planning challenges and opportunities.
- Evaluate major impacts before projects gain momentum.
- Regularly identify emerging opportunities and risks.
- Improve public understanding of future challenges.
What We’d Do & Why
Residents don’t experience projects one at a time. They experience all of them at once.
Traffic flow should be evaluated the way residents actually experience it, and recreation and environmental goals should work together.
We will:
- Review traffic impacts cumulatively across multiple developments.
- Focus on recurring congestion points, school traffic, and safety concerns.
- Coordinate with Somerset County and NJDOT on shared transportation challenges.
- Reimagine parks, programs, and facilities to better serve today’s community and future generations.
- Expand accessibility and opportunities for community connection.
- Strengthen trail and recreation connections.
- Aggressively pursue grants and outside funding.
Our Town
Our Legacy
Protect what makes Bernardsville worth passing on
What We’d Do & Why
By the time a building is threatened, many of the best options are already gone.
Historic resources should be considered earlier, and preservation should be proactive rather than reactive.
We will:
- Identify significant historic assets earlier.
- Explore adaptive reuse opportunities before demolition becomes the primary discussion.
- Integrate preservation into planning discussions from the beginning.
- Pursue grants and incentives proactively.
What We’d Do & Why
Ask ten residents what makes Bernardsville special and you’ll get ten different answers. Ask what no longer feels like Bernardsville, and you’ll hear a lot more agreement.
Growth should feel intentional rather than random and residents should see continuity alongside change.
We will:
- Work to ensure that new development fits its surroundings.
- Consider community character alongside technical compliance.
- Preserve walkability and the qualities residents consistently value.
- Encourage thoughtful design and placemaking.
What We’d Do & Why
Too often, residents are asked for input after ideas become plans instead of while ideas are still taking shape.
More residents should participate earlier in municipal decision making, and local expertise should be better utilized.
We will:
- Expand opportunities for early involvement.
- Improve awareness of boards, committees, and volunteer opportunities.
- Draw on resident expertise before controversies emerge.
- Create more flexible ways to contribute.
