Candidates | Emma Celauro For Holmdel

Kristin Celauro: Preserving Holmdel’s History and Open Space

You would think Township Committee candidates Gary Vanderham and TJ Mann (appointed members of the Township Committee and Planning Board, respectively) would know better, but once again, they prove they do not.

Holmdel’s deep farmland history is one of the main reasons why this town is so serene and picturesque, which draws many families to move here.

Did you know that the original portion of the Hop Brook Farm (aka Franco/Celauro Farms) dates back to 1664, when it was deeded from the Duke of York to Obadiah HOLMES — Abraham Lincoln’s sixth-generation grandfather? Many believe that this is the origin of the present name of Holmdel.

My family is proud to have protected and restored this land, the farmhouse, and its history, saving it from development and preserving open space.

Full Assessment Paid Every Year

The Hop Brook Farm is an active farm, and it consists of two parcels that cannot be separated – one is the farm, and the second is the lot with the house, for which a full tax assessment of approximately $25,000 a year is paid.

If TC and PB members knew what they were talking about, they would know that it is Holmdel Township’s OWN deed restrictions and NJ state law that dictate why these two properties are taxed this way.

So What DO they Stand For?

While they want you to believe they support open space, both Vanderham and Mann voted to approve the high-density Vonage development, which was also gifted a sweetheart PILOT tax break.

Now, they attack a historic and active farm that preserves open space in Holmdel. How will this work for the future of Holmdel?

Hop Brook Farm Creates Delicious Corn and Cleaner Drinking Water

If they actually care about preserving Holmdel, as they claim, they would know that Hop Brook Farm does more than create delicious corn while preserving open space.

The Swimming River Reservoir, the source of drinking water for Holmdel and most of Monmouth County, is suffering from drought conditions. The Hop Brook Farm is an essential part of the water recharge system that feeds the Reservoir, which helps protect the lifeblood of Holmdel residents.

I Will Continue to Stand Up for Holmdel!

My family and I spent years fighting to preserve Hop Brook Farm. We are proud of the history here, and we are even prouder to keep this space open to create cleaner drinking water and contribute to the bucolic nature of Holmdel.

We agree people should pay their fair share, and that’s why we follow the law and don’t seek to create new ordinances out of thin air to rezone in the name of high-density development and give tax breaks to developers, which leaves the rest of us to pick up the slack.

We cannot let mindless attacks for political reasons deter us.

Also see former Deputy Mayor Prakash Santhana’s article on how Vanderham and Mann’s reckless assertions attack farmers and promote developers.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/holmdel-hazlet/holmdel-crossroads-farm-families-or-developers

It’s time for a change. On June 2, vote for Ron Emma and Kristin Celauro for Township Committee.

Kristin Celauro

Township Committee Candidate

Meet the Candidates

Bio

Together with my husband Peter Franco and my family, I have lived in Holmdel for 15 years. We have three children: our son is a fourth-generation operating engineer, our older daughter is graduating from Holmdel High School and heading to college in the fall, and our youngest daughter attends Indian Hill School and she loves sports. I currently coach Holmdel Hornets 12U travel softball, and I’ve also coached HYAA softball and basketball. In 2019, we bought a farm in Holmdel, deepening our commitment to this town, and bringing one of the oldest homes in Holmdel back to life.

Background and Experience

I am a Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer at a New York-based advisory firm that specializes in revitalizing companies through value creation, turnarounds, and restructuring.

I have more than 20 years of experience in business, and for much of my career, I led communications and public relations across high-profile situations with a focus on delivering the results and excellence expected by some of the world’s most successful business people.

I graduated from Smith College with a double major in English Language and Literature and Women’s Studies. I also played softball for Smith and worked at the Alumnae magazine as part of my work-study grant.

Reason for Running

Please see my letter (Home page) on why I am running.

My recent experience with our local governing body was eye-opening, and I knew I had to get involved. A simple letter in the mail started it all – it said that the town wanted to rezone the Vonage property for redevelopment. Two days later, we began to understand that the redevelopment would dump thousands of gallons of contaminated water, every day, into the Swimming River Reservoir, the source for Holmdel’s and much of Monmouth County’s drinking water, and we felt like we were in the fight of our lives. Together with other concerned residents, we started a grassroots campaign to raise awareness and do anything we could to stop the contamination.

For two years, the Township Committee did not require the developer to stop the deliberate contamination of our drinking water. Even worse, the TC gave the developer a tax break (known as a PILOT program) and, at the last minute, voted to spend millions of taxpayers’ dollars to build a new sewer line for the developer, who refused to update their own wastewater management plant.

I am running because it’s time for our local government to clearly and genuinely put Holmdel first. We need to usher in a new era of transparency and communication, guided by wise long-term planning and prudent financial decisions. I believe it is time for a change: we must elect people who will listen and respond to the concerns of the people!

Bio

I lived in Holmdel for almost 20 years. I am married and have a daughter who is a product of the Holmdel school system. I coached both HYAA softball and basketball when my daughter was younger and I am a big supporter of the HYAA.

Background and Experience

I am the Vice President of Sales and Business Development for a global supply chain company. We specialize in the movement of chemicals worldwide. I have been in the same industry for about 40 years, in both an operational and commercial role (mainly sales). Our office is in Bell Works, where we were one of the first tenants in the building.

I first became involved in town affairs when I learned of the Capelli soccer complex. My opposition to what I like to refer to as the Capelli caper was followed by my opposition to the turf fields and 80’ light tower proposal at Cross Farm Park.

I was extremely concerned about the closing of Fire Company #1 on Main Street back in 2014. My concern only grew more in the wake of the four major fires in town after the closing of Fire Co. #1. This is why I was one of the founding members of FAST, a Holmdel grassroots organization of like-minded citizens that pushed for fire safety in this town to become a greater priority. There are numerous video clips of me pressing the fire safety issue in Township Committee meetings. Public safety will continue to be a priority issue for me.

I have a BA from Montclair State University in Political Science and graduated in 1986.

Reason for Running

Please see my letter (Home page) on why I am running.

I am a newcomer to politics. I have no political agenda and am not interested in any political gamesmanship, nor do I have any aspirations of higher office. I want what’s best for Holmdel but think moving forward, we have a real opportunity to get back to basics and leave the political infighting behind us.

RON EMMA

Additional Background and Experience

KRISTIN CELAURO

Additional Background and Experience

For those of you who don’t know me, I have been a Holmdel resident for almost 20 years. I have been engaged in the community for years, whether it was as a HYAA coach, fighting against lighted turf fields at Cross Farm Park, or as a founding member of F.A.S.T., which was instrumental in securing our new centralized fire station as well as our first new fire truck in many years. More recently, I served as a member of the Holmdel Planning Board for the past 4 years.

I am excited to announce I am running for Holmdel Township Committee again. Why? The answer is simple. The handling of the Vonage project renewed my passion to serve our residents.

The Vonage project, approved with a last-minute sweetheart deal for the developer, would have had a serious environmental impact on our drinking water. Witnessing the Township Committee meetings and being involved in the application as a member of the Holmdel Planning Board, I am deeply concerned that the current Township Committee does not listen to the concerns of its constituents.

The current members hold a 4-1 majority voting block and it has become apparent to me that they do not feel they need to be accountable to residents. The Township Committee ignored concerns voiced by residents about the contamination of our drinking water for two years, gave the developer a tax break, and then, at the last minute, voted to spend millions of taxpayers' money to construct a force main sewer line for the developer.

This is far from the only issue facing our community.

Like many towns, our schools are facing a budget crisis due to rising health and transportation costs and reduced state funding. The Bell Works redevelopment has been successful for both the community and the Township’s financials due to the PILOT program, which the Township retains 95% with zero for the schools.

The Bell Works PILOT program has provided the Township Committee with significant windfall over the past several years and allowed it to spend the money as it sees fit. It has granted a similar PILOT program for the Vonage developer. It is time to examine this PILOT program together with the schools’ budget crisis.

I hope to engage with you further in the coming months and hopefully earn your trust.

Thank you,

Ron Emma

Candidate for Township Committee