Officials debate merits of economic consultants

BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

HOWELL — Members of the Township Council have discussed the possibility of terminating the contracts of two economic development consulting firms that serve Howell.

At issue is whether the services of MGR Resources and MB Gluck Shaw — the two firms currently under contract with Howell to pursue commercial ratables — are worth the money they are being paid. Each firm is paid $4,000 per month.

MB Gluck Shaw was hired at the beginning of 2005.

MGR Resources Inc., and more directly, Barry Lefkowitz, has been under contract to Howell for seven years.

Councilman Juan Malave opened the debate when he called for eliminating Lefkowitz’s services at the May 17 council meeting.

That proposal was met with an instant response from Councilman Peter Tobasco who said he was “absolutely opposed” to terminating Lefkowitz’s services. Tobasco said he could see terminating MB Gluck Shaw which, he said, did not seem to share the council’s vision for the commercial development of the Route 33 corridor between the Freehold Township and Wall Township borders.

According to Tobasco, MB Gluck Shaw submitted a study recommendation to municipal officials in which the consulting firm informed the council that its vision for the commercial development of Route 33 was “impossible.”

Although Lefkowitz has been credited with bringing in a string of major commercial ratables that now line Howell’s Route 9 corridor, some members of the council questioned whether he has been given credit for development that he does not deserve.

Malave said he believes large corporations “seek towns like Howell” and therefore no one is needed to guide them here.

Mayor Joseph M. DiBella agreed with Malave, saying he believes Lefkowitz’s role had become “more of a shepherd than a hunter.” Also, said DiBella, referring to the proposed layoffs of 25 municipal employees due to budget concerns, “In light of the layoffs, this is an area [where] we should tighten our belts.”

Tobasco said he agreed with the reasoning that calls for belt-tightening, but he said Lefkowitz is bringing in commercial ratables that provide the revenue needed to offset residential tax increases.

“Why take away tax relief?” asked Tobasco, who noted that Home Depot and Wal-Mart had taken four years to open in Howell; both opening before Lefkowitz’s services had been contracted.

Tobasco said he was in favor of cutting “frivolous spending,” but said “money spent to increase revenue is money well spent. We shouldn’t do away with the task of marketing Howell.” Saying Lefkowitz was someone who “has his ear to the ground,” Tobasco asked the mayor and council members, “Are you here every day to market Howell full time?”

Speaking about Lefkowitz’s efforts and how they served the town, Tobasco, who spent several years on Howell’s volunteer Economic Development Committee, said, “I know where we were seven years ago and I look at Route 9 — it’s a beacon now.”

According to Tobasco, Hilton and Holiday Inn hotels are coming to Howell directly as a result of Lefkowitz’s efforts.

Tobasco said the $2 million in commercial tax revenue Route 9 now brings the township justified any money already paid to Lefkowitz.

Malave also questioned whether Howell was getting Lefkowitz’s best effort since he is also employed by Jackson to attract businesses to that neighboring municipality.

Tobasco said Howell could only benefit from Jackson’s continued development.

“A rising tide raises all boats. If Jackson does better, that helps Howell,” the councilman said.

The council is expected to hold a final public hearing on the municipal budget on June 14. A vote to adopt the $36.7 million spending plan is expected that evening.