Mayor Romanik on Millville’s Government Structure, Development, and Safety during Campaign Season

Описание: A structured recap of Steven Solof’s interview with Mayor Ben Romanik (up for re-election). The conversation centers on the Walsh Act form of government and communication breakdowns at City Hall, then shifts to economic development (Levoni/CRP, PILOTs), Main Street design changes (“bump-outs”), code enforcement, and staffing/retention in public safety.

0:00–7:09 Introductory report (host) - Sets “neutral press vs. origin story” context; explains questionnaire/interview offers and uneven candidate participation across the field of 19.

7:10–8:24 Busy season; Planning Board; Walmart lot - Romanik frames the week: eight-item Planning Board agenda including Walmart parking lot; acknowledges it’s hard to track 19 candidates and every board detail.

8:25–12:19 Walsh Act explained; communication gaps - Under Walsh Act each commissioner runs a department; decisions can hide in budget line-items; relationships/communication are critical, and he says current commissioners are “not communicating.”

12:20–15:29 Reliance on staff; South Jersey overlooked - Part-time officials need staff to surface issues; statewide mayor events rarely in South Jersey, creating access/travel barriers.

15:30–16:44 Networking & EV chargers - “Marketing the city” via regional networking; EV charging conversation is early—few EVs locally, unclear demand; any rollout likely municipal–partner driven, not by Wawa.

16:45–19:14 Expectation vs. reality in government - Requests like “I need a property” require research; government isn’t a light switch.

19:15–21:29 Change the Walsh Act? - Romanik now favors change but notes failed referendums (0–2 this term) and suggests a formal study to recommend a better model (e.g., Faulkner Act variants).

21:30–30:29 Background & experience - Millville-raised; military college/Army experience; stresses people skills and learning realities after taking office; small facility upgrades (chambers paint/lighting) as examples of practical wins.

30:30–34:44 Role & community engagement - Mayor as PR face; attendance at events; community resiliency known; strong emphasis on being outgoing and approachable.

34:45–38:59 Agenda: Levoni & CRP - Wants to “see it through”; describes selling public property for Levoni (his signature), CRP’s multi-phase build-out next door; stresses finishing the “ship,” not just announcing deals.

40:05–44:25 PILOTs, ratables, general fund uses CRP tied to a 30-year PILOT; revenue (along with cannabis receipts) feeds the general fund—examples include gear for outdoor staff and police fleet lifecycle practices.

45:00–48:21 High Street “bump-outs” & parking - DOT-driven design will shorten crossing distances for pedestrians but reduce some curbside stops and parking; expects minimal net loss of spaces yet acknowledges parking is a hot-button issue.

49:00–50:39 Code enforcement philosophy - “Green books” contain many outdated rules; practical, consistent enforcement requires internal alignment on what’s reasonable to enforce today.

50:40–53:20 Public safety staffing & morale - Contract settlements completed; focus on retention and workplace culture (small morale gestures mentioned); floats interest in a fire substation amid volunteer declines.

53:20–56:10 Infrastructure & readiness for growth - Prioritize worst roads, upgrade pump stations, avoid development delays due to utilities; A.C. Electric capacity is a recurring bottleneck; goal is to be “business-ready.”

56:10–end Close & next-guest promo - Host recaps election timing and upcoming interviews.