Experience Only Matters If You Are Listening

Phil will work to:

• Review traffic and pedestrian safety in high-concern areas, particularly around schools, parks, the Community Center and downtown.
• Improve coordination before projects begin by bringing together police, schools, engineers, County officials and other agencies when roadwork or traffic changes could affect residents.
• Create a long-term public-safety capital plan for police, fire and emergency-service equipment so major needs are anticipated and responsibly budgeted. This is particularly relevant given the significant police and fire equipment expenditures already identified in Allendale's capital plan.

Phil will work to:

• Ask residents what they want through regular surveys and community feedback about programs, activities and events.
• Expand programming for all ages, including families, teens, adults and seniors, while building upon the activities already offered at the Community Center.
• Partner with local organizations, businesses and volunteers to bring more programming to the Community Center without unnecessarily increasing costs to taxpayers.

Phil will work to:

• Develop a clear, long-term infrastructure plan identifying priority water and sewer projects, anticipated costs and timelines.
• Coordinate water, sewer, drainage and road projects whenever possible to avoid repeatedly disrupting the same streets.
• Keep residents informed before major infrastructure decisions, with clear explanations of the problem, proposed solution, cost and expected impact.

Phil will work to:

• Create a publicly accessible multi-year road and sidewalk improvement plan so residents can see what is being prioritized and why.
• Use objective conditions to prioritize improvements, including pavement condition, drainage, pedestrian safety and traffic patterns.
• Push for coordinated solutions to recurring flooding and underpass problems, bringing together Borough engineers and the appropriate County, state and other agencies rather than allowing jurisdictional boundaries to become a dead end.

Phil will work to:

• Establish a multi-year capital plan that clearly identifies upcoming major expenses and how the Borough expects to pay for them.
• Plan major expenses years in advance through a clear multi-year capital plan that shows residents what's coming and how the Borough expects to pay for it.
• Pursue state, County and federal grants before placing the full cost of eligible projects on local taxpayers.
• Give residents an easy-to-understand “Where Your Tax Dollars Go” annual financial summary showing major expenditures, grants received, debt and upcoming capital needs.

Phil will work to:

• Protect Allendale's existing character while meeting state requirements, carefully evaluating future housing proposals for their potential impact on density, traffic, schools, infrastructure and municipal services.
• Give residents a meaningful voice before major housing and land-use decisions are made, with clear, plain-language information about proposed changes and opportunities for public input.
• Plan for the full impact of future development, coordinating housing decisions with long-term plans for roads, water, sewer, drainage, public safety and other Borough services.