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About Betsy Koch

What qualifies me for this position, both personally and professionally?

  

Personally: I have lived in Fair Haven for 49 years. My husband and I raised 4 children who all attended local public schools.


Professionally: I taught math and science at Knollwood School for 23 years. That experience gave me a unique opportunity to meet with residents and discuss the many issues which affect their quality of life in FH.

What factors are critical to the quality of life in our community and what would I do to improve or preserve them?

  

Take care of what we have. As previously stated, we need a maintenance plan to protect our open space so that future generations will enjoy our recreational facilities.


Our Master Plan is due for re-examination in 2026. This Plan is a blueprint for all future development in a community. It is a lengthy process which seeks to align business, commercial and municipal interests with the values of a community. The FH Planning Board has begun this process.


We are currently in the process of rebuilding our Police Department and Community Center and rehabilitating the DPW and Bicentennial Hall. We need to develop a plan for Phase 2 of the Community Center and provide plans for a new recreational area at the Community Center field.

What are the major challenges facing our community and how would I propose to address them if re-elected?

We have several challenges facing our community but unfortunately the constraints placed on our operating budget by the state limit our response. Our waste management contract expired in June 2024. When the new contract went out to bid there was one response for the same services at a 97% increase. As a result, we had to make the difficult decision to reduce recycling pickup to every other week but maintain weekly trash pickup (and May to September twice a week pickup). 


McCarter Pond is in desperate need of rehabilitation. We have created an interlocal partnership with the county to remediate the pond. There has also been a community group, “Friends of McCarter Pond” established to raise funds to help with the costs associated with this project.


We need to establish a vision plan for our Business District. We also need to make the application process for new business owners more manageable. I am working with Councilman LaBarbera to digitize the application process (SDL) as first of several steps to examine and amend our business/commercial ordinances.


It is no secret that there has been a dramatic rise in the usage of e-bikes and e-scooters especially by our younger residents. We are currently in the process of drafting and introducing an ordinance to regulate e-bike/e-scooter usage as well as educating riders on proper traffic safety awareness.


As a community we have an incredible amount of open space. If elected, I would like to see our council develop and propose a maintenance strategy to ensure our parks, fields and recreational facilities are available for future generations of residents.


Like McCarter Pond, the Harding Bird Sanctuary is in desperate need of rehabilitation. I have just proposed a committee comprised of representatives from the FH Garden Club, Parks and Recreation, The Environmental Commission and the Natural Area Committee to begin the process of assessing the condition of the Sanctuary with the goal of providing guidance for the rehabilitation and maintenance of HBS.

What accomplishments over the past 3 years am I most proud of?

  

  • In 2019 I was a member of the committee which developed and distributed an on-line survey to our residents soliciting their views on various issues affecting their quality of life in Fair Haven, including restaurant usage/definitions and land-use issues. We used that information to propose 2 specific amendments to existing ordinances. Ordinance No. 2022-15 which amended the definitions and provisions associated with restaurant uses, to clearly prohibit certain types of restaurants and warehouses. Ordinance No. 2023-02 which revised certain zoning regulations to preserve and protect the existing character of the Borough’s established neighborhoods.


  • Established a new committee to assess the existing conditions at the Harding Bird Sanctuary and implement practices to rehabilitate the space.


  • Established the Beautification Committee this year to identify and rehabilitate areas in need “of beautification” in our community. One of our first projects was to upgrade our holiday decorations along River Road for the 2024 season!


  • Sponsored the sidewalk from Oaklawn Rd to Harrison Avenue to provide a safe pathway for students to ride/walk to Knollwood and Sickles schools.


  • Worked with Councilwoman Hoey and the Guidance Department (Knollwood School) to encourage students who are a member of the Junior Honor Society to partner senior citizens with students to help with outdoor chores: snow shoveling, brush cleanup, simple yard work. 


  • As co-liason to Parks and Rec we have renovated and repaired FH Field #4 as well as repaired the playing surface of the tennis courts in FH fields. In McCarter Park we are renovating and repairing the existing basketball court. 

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Betsy Koch

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