Councilman troubled by report's disappearance Group commissioned study on revitalization of Matawan's downtown BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer "We're supposed to be on the same team and we're supposed to be working for Matawan." - Mary Aufseeser MATAWAN - Although completed back in February, a pricey study concerning ways to revitalize downtown Matawan was never delivered to the majority of the Borough Council. On Oct. 2, Councilman Paul Buccellato questioned why Borough Administrator Fred Carr never delivered the commissioned study to the council members, calling for an "outside source" to investigate the borough. He also plans to pen letters to the state attorney general and the Division of Local Government Services, part of the state's Department of Community Affairs. Only Councilman Joseph "Bud" Mullaney said he received the 50-page document. Council members Michael Cannon, Debra Buragina and Meghan Mullaney all indicated they had never seen the report. Councilman William Malley was absent. "I seem to remember putting a copy in everybody's box," Carr said, later apologizing that not everyone received a copy. The lengthy Beacon Planning & Consulting Services report, paid for with a portion of a $25,000 Smart Growth grant, is called the Main Street Revitalization Study. It contains information on how to strengthen the downtown as a retail shopping district, and offers suggestions of what types of businesses to attract, advice concerning loan programs, facade improvements, traffic calming and the installation of retail directories. Possible zoning amendments are also discussed along with advice regarding parking issues, event promotion and ideas on what to do with the former borough hall building. Other topics of interest include extending the downtown historic office district, establishing a mini arts center with various performances and events and many other subjects. According to Carr, Matawan commissioned Beacon Planning to complete the study sometime in 2004 or 2005, later changing the scope of the study in 2006. On a political note, when the study was originally commissioned, the council was under Republican control. The scope of the study was altered in 2006, after Democrats gained a majority. Councilman Mullaney accused Buccellato of pulling a political stunt, a nod to the mayoral race between the Republican Buccellato and Democrat incumbent Mayor Mary Aufseeser. Buccellato denied the allegation. "There's a thing called public trust and transparency," Buccellato said. So how did Buccellato learn about the missing report? "I remembered we commissioned this thing and it doesn't take this long, so I called up the planner and asked, did you ever do this thing?" he explained on Friday. Although the mayor remained silent on the issue during last week's meeting, she later spoke up. "I know I read the report," Aufseeser said on Monday. "You know, when you say something like that, it's a very serious allegation." She added, "I feel Fred Carr is a very honorable employee." When asked why the report was never mentioned in public, Aufseeser said the document was not worth discussing. "There was nothing in the report that could really help us with the continuation of this study and what we actually need for planning for the future of Main Street," Aufseeser said. "I don't think it went far enough. It had to do with parking. It didn't go far enough for what we actually need to bring Main Street back to life here." Aufseeser said that she felt "very badly" about not everyone getting a copy of the report and suggested that in the future a new system be implemented requiring a signature when council members pick up reports. "I have never concealed anything from any councilperson nor have I directed any employee to conceal any document from any councilperson," Aufseeser said. Aufseeser added that as public officials, Democrats and Republicans are supposed to work together. "We're supposed to be on the same team and we're supposed to be working for Matawan," she said. The election is not the only major happening in November. Also scheduled for next month is an appeal in the ongoing redevelopment litigation, according to Aufseeser. In the meantime, the mayor remains hopeful. "It looks like Main Street is beginning to redevelop itself," Aufseeser said.