Leadership - Thomas FROMM for Mayor

Thomas Fromm

Age:   56

Profession:  Environmental Scientist/Regulatory Specialist

Education:  BS- Environmental Science, Stockton State

Family:  Married 29 years to Helen.  Three children; Erik, Theresa and Jessica

Volunteer Background:  Boy Scout Leader, Head Coach for kid’s Baseball, Soccer, Softball teams, Volunteer for Swedesboro/Woolwich Day and Jazz Fest

Previous elected positions:  Mayor of Swedesboro since 2003, Kingsway Regional School Board Member

Three Issues and my plan to address them:

1)      Maintaining Our Stable Tax Rate.

We lowered Borough Taxes three of the last four years and stabilized our tax and water/sewer rates.  The challenge now is to sustain this positive momentum.  We are working with a marketing expert on a Business Recruitment and Retention Plan that will be integrated into a new Borough Website in early 2012.  We will aggressively pursue every opportunity to bring more commercial ratables into town so we can decrease the tax burden on our residents.

I continue to explore shared services that save tax dollars and increase the quality of services provided.  We have already done this with Police, Trash and Recycling, the Construction Official and the Municipal Court and our residents have benefited through better service and reduced taxes.  I will find innovative opportunities for additional shared services if re-elected. 

2)      Increasing Recreational Opportunities:

Recreational opportunities in town need to be expanded significantly and this is a high priority of mine.  We negotiated excellent recreational fees for the projects on the south end of town and this money will be used exclusively for new recreational facilities.  Ideas being considered are pocket parks in our neighborhoods and a renewed attempt to purchase the Swedesboro Auction property.  The auction property could be used for things like a Community Garden and a Temporary Ice Skating Pond.  I am working with the County Land Preservation Department to re-open the grant application I previously prepared for the purchase of this property.  I will also work with the Akeem Cody Foundation to explore the possibility of building a Community Swimming Pool in Swedesboro, and recently met with our risk manager to discuss increased recreational activities at Lake Narraticon such as floating docks and a swimming area.  We will increase our recreational activities; our young people deserve a safe, modern place to play.

3)      Speeding and Truck Traffic:

We have increased traffic violations by over 400%, increased signage to protect pedestrians and added sidewalks in key areas, but excessive speeding and truck traffic are still a problem that we need to address.  We’ll add additional four way stop signs and install speed bumps in areas where other efforts prove unsuccessful.  Speeding throughout our neighborhoods will not be tolerated.  We are working with the police and county to address large tractor trailer traffic on streets not designed to handle such large vehicles.  There are more sensible and safe truck routes than what exists now and I am committed to finding a solution that protects our quality of life in Swedesboro.                                                         

~ Re-Elect Thomas FROMM for Mayor ~

~~ Elect Marco LENTINI and Dave FLAHERTY for Council ~~