Three seek council seat in E. Hanover

For the three candidates vying for one council seat in East Hanover, sorting out the municipal budget and keeping a massive power line expansion project out of town are top priorities.

On Nov. 3, incumbent Councilwoman Carolyn Jandoli, a Democrat, will fight to keep her seat against Republican challenger Herman Marmon and independent candidate Carl Vidal.

Both Jandoli and Vidal said a major challenge East Hanover will face going forward is how to deal with plans by power company PSE&G to erect towering power lines through the center of East Hanover, as well as building a substation between two residential neighborhoods.

The plan is being considered by the state Board of Public Utilities.

"We need to look into alternate plans," Jandoli said, adding PSE&G should consider newer technologies that did not involve power lines.

Vidal praised the efforts of the sitting council in protesting the power lines.

"They're doing what they can, which I hope isn't fruitless," he said. "I will give them credit for fighting the good fight." He and Jandoli also said they would work to minimize expenses in the township. East Hanover officials opted to postpone a pension payment this year in order to balance the budget. However, that means a greater payment will be due next year.

"Our finances are in a mess," Vidal said. Besides the pending pension obligation, Vidal said, another concern is ballooning legal fees.

"What I would like to do is rein in some of those expenses," Vidal said. "Start with the lawyer." He also said the township should eliminate municipal positions through attrition.

Jandoli said she wanted to look further into shared services and work more closely with county and state officials to make sure East Hanover's interests were being considered.

Marmon said his greatest concern entering the next year would be increasing transparency and communication between the council and township.

"If I'm elected, I plan to publish a newsletter quarterly," Marmon said.

Vidal echoed some of Marmon's concerns with political discussion at township meetings.

"It's gotten totally out of control," Vidal said, citing the attempted recall of a mayor that "sunk to new lows in terms of histrionics."

"There's bad language and snotty putdowns" at meetings, Vidal said. "We need some adults in the room, and I would like to be an adult in that room."

Sarah Schillaci is a reporter for the New Jersey Local News Service. She may be reached at sschillaci@njlns.com or at 908-243-6234.