Resident thanks administration for stance on open space

I have never had the honor to meet Brick Mayor Joseph Scarpelli, but, if I ever do, I’d like to shake his hand and say "thank you."

My wife, Carol, and I are raising two young children in the Brick home she grew up in. Over the years, we have watched her hometown change from a quiet countrified community to a bustling suburbia.

Neither my wife nor I have ever been involved politically, but we keep on top of what’s happening by reading the local papers. We’ve seen a real change for the better since the mayor took office.

His campaign to have the township buy up undeveloped tracts and preserve them for open space is visionary and the work of a man dedicated to a good quality of life in town.

The recent decision to purchase 11 more properties for open space will benefit the town enormously, as will the plan to put the brakes on Home Depot putting up a big box store at the old Foodtown site on Route 70.

Open space acquisitions help to keep our taxes stable by keeping our school enrollment and school tax bill from increasing. And the conversion of the Foodtown site to a park/community center will be an awesome addition for the town.

As a real estate appraiser, I have seen the increasing values and overall appeal of Brick Township change within the past 5-7 years. The appeal of Brick Township and all it has to offer is desirable and sought after. The open space acquisitions will increase the value of any resales within Brick Township. This kind of planning will benefit all residents and give the people a high quality of life in Brick Township.

I also understand from the local papers that the Brick Business Administrator Scott MacFadden was very instrumental in drafting language for a property tax reform bill that Scarpelli and other mayors are lobbying Trenton to take action on. This is the kind of good government that must make other towns envious.

I am proud to live in Brick. My hat goes off to you, sir.

Anthony Berti

Brick