A Letter from Joe DiBella to the people of Howell

January 2009

To My Fellow Residents:

I’d like to take this opportunity to formally say “thank you” to the people of Howell for the awesome privilege of having served as both Councilman and then Mayor of Howell Township. As I look back over the past 6 years I am reminded of the many things that together as a community we achieved. I can say without hesitation that I enjoyed every moment of my time serving Howell, even when dealing with the most complex and at times controversial issues. I viewed my time in office as a job assignment to complete an agenda I had promised to achieve. Along the way I did everything within my power to deliver on the many things that were important to the community.

Together as a community we were able to achieve many wonderful things for Howell
Township. We preserved hundreds of acres of farm land and in doing so protected more
land than had ever been preserved previously in the township’s history. Together we also preserved many large tracts of open space for passive and recreational use, including securing the land and infrastructure for the new soccer and softball complex that will serve thousand of children for generations to come. We made repairing and paving our roads a major priority and along the way fixed roads all over the community. We passed a new master plan that materially reduced the number of homes that can be built, passed sweeping changes to prohibit the clear cutting of trees and implemented tough ethics and campaign reforms that stand to this day.

Long before the current economic downturn hit, we implemented tough measures to reign
in spending and reduce the size of government. And together we created a truly
transparent government by launching the township’s cable access channel, televising
council meetings and by launching a self-service web site for all residents. We achieved these and other milestones by working together and by refusing to succumb to the special interests that often polarize the process.

Along the way I was often the target of personal and political attacks aimed at trying to slow our progress or maintain the status quo. That unfortunately comes with the territory. While it was not always easy, I am proud that we stood up to these attacks and in the end we always did what was right, even if it were not always politically popular.

There are hundreds of people I can thank for their support and encouragement over the
past 6 years and to all of them I am grateful. Most of all, I’d like to thank my wife Lisa, my son Nicholas and my daughter Dana for their endless love and support throughout this time. They sacrificed much to afford me the time to serve the community and for that I am grateful. I’d also like to thank the many volunteers that work day and night to serve and protect our community on boards and commissions. I’d especially like to thank our firefighters, EMS organizations and police officers for their continued heroic and self-less acts.

I’d also like to thank the other elected officials I had the privilege to serve with over these past 6 years, including former Mayor Konopka, former Council members Malave, Tobasco, Lucey, Schomaker and current council members Dalton, Howell, Clark and Mayor Walsh. Being the Mayor of Howell Township has been an exceptional experience and one I shall forever be proud of. I love Howell Township and I loved being your Mayor.

I also wish to extend my heartfelt best wishes to the Council and our new Mayor Robert F. Walsh. Mayor Walsh is a compassionate, caring individual with the highest integrity and I know he shall serve Howell Township well in his new role.

In closing, I want to encourage residents to get involved with Howell Township. There is no higher calling than serving one’s community and no greater gift than being involved in Howell. If I can ever be of assistance to you or our community, please feel free to email me at MayorJoeD@yahoo.com.

Respectfully,

Joseph M. DiBella
Former Mayor, Howell Township NJ