Transit village status on table for R.B.

Atransit village designation by the state could boost Red Bank's downtown area and create new retail opportunities during a fiscally challenging period, Mayor Pasquale Menna said last week.

"In difficult financial circumstances and a market that is completely dead in its tracks in so many different ways, the borough has the obligation to look at any and all revenue [options] to get our infrastructures up and give a boost, not only to our businesses but also a residential boost," Menna said in an interview last week.

He said nothing has been decided, but the concept is something the borough would consider.

"A transit village concept, to some degree, is something we should not necessarily embrace wholeheartedly, but [we should look at] options available."

The idea of Red Bank receiving transit village designation from the state has been a topic of discussion for years and reemerged at the borough's reorganization meeting Jan. 1.

According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) Web site, the transit village initiative helps to redevelop and revitalize communities around transit facilities to make them an appealing choice for people to live, work and play, thereby reducing reliance on the automobile.

Menna said the borough is not committed to the transit village idea but will investigate whether or not funding is available.

He said a transit village could boost the borough's downtown area and create new retail opportunities.

He said the borough would need to meet with the DOT before any decisions are made.

Councilman Michael DuPont has been a proponent of the transit village concept as part of green initiatives he supports.

DuPont, who chairs the finance committee, said it is his understanding that the borough can receive funding from the state if Red Bank is designated a transit village. He said the designation does not necessarily mean growth or additional development.

"I think Red Bank has naturally become a transit village, but we don't have the designation. Therefore, we may be entitled to funding that's available," he said in an interview last week.

He said the borough would discuss the pros and cons of receiving that designation. He said a transit village lessens congestion on roadways and increases the use of public transportation.

"It [encourages] people to live close to the train stations and promotes public transportation, and with Red Bank having a great train station as well as public transportation, you're promoting people to use that public transportation in lieu of cars and other forms of transportation," he said.

Also at the reorganization meeting, newly elected Democrats Edward Zipprich and Juanita Lewis were sworn in to their council seats before a packed council chamber

Zipprich and Lewis replace Republicans Mary-Grace Cangemi and James Giannell.

Giannell was finishing out Councilman John Curley's term after he announced his resignation in July, and Cangemi ran unsuccessfully to keep her seat.

The Borough Council is now entirely made up of Democrats and is led by Menna, who is also a Democrat.

In an interview last week, Zipprich said he was appointed to chair the code enforcement committee and he will be the liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission and the shade tree committee.

Zipprich was a member of the Historic Preservation Commission before being elected to council.

He said he will sit with Lewis on the finance committee along with DuPont, and they will also sit on the education and technology committee along with Councilwoman Kathy Horgan.

Zipprich said that in the upcoming weeks, he plans to acquaint himself with the borough's employees. He said he has already met with the borough administrator and received an overview of code enforcement.

"I plan on getting my feet wet and getting to know the staff in Borough Hall … I met a good portion of the staff, and I promised them I would be in regularly to be in touch and get a better understanding of what's going on," he said.

The next Borough Council meeting is scheduled for Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m.