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Christine Tiritilli for Madison Council
Biographical Information
Name: Christine Tiritilli
Age: 37
Address: 157 Green Village Road
Phone: 973-966-5145
Party: Democrat
Madison Resident for nine (9) years.
Education:
Douglass College, Rutgers University, BA 1992 (Phi Beta Kappa)
Seton Hall Law School, JD 1996
Occupation:
Attorney, Bendit Weinstock, P.A., West Orange, New Jersey (1996 – Present)
Practice areas include commercial litigation, municipal law and land use issues.
Additional training or experience:
Madison Zoning Board of Adjustment, Alternate Member (2007-Present)
Associate Alumnae of Douglass College: Secretary, Board of Directors (2003 – Present)
Member, Board of Directors (2000 – 2003)
Alumnae Council Representative (2002 - Present)
Class of ‘92 President (1997-2002)
Class Secretary (1992-1997)
On the Issues
Primary Goal If Elected
Protecting the character of our neighborhoods and safeguarding Madison’s essential “small town” qualities is imperative.
Although opportunities exist for limited, appropriate, planned residential development, in order to maintain the small
town feel of Madison excessive residential development cannot occur within Madison. Preservation of Madison’s unique
charm can be achieved through appropriate zoning, including an updated Master Plan (last updated in 1994), and updated
zoning ordinances designed to achieve our zoning objectives. I have the background necessary to get that done.
Tiritilli Talks Parking
The "perception" of a parking problem was addressed by the “Madison Downtown Growth and Development Study” prepared by PPSA
in April 2007. Downtown business users don't know where to park and merchant and residential tenant parking uses desirable
downtown parking.
Madison must install signage directing consumers to free public downtown parking. The consumer utilization of the Kings Road
lots can be increased through better lighting, maps, signage, and streetscape improvements that eliminate the perceived barrier
of the train tracks and enhance pedestrian access to downtown destinations. PPSA's simple suggestions should be implemented as
soon as possible. The idea of creating an attractive pedestrian pathway from parking areas, such as Kings Road parking lots,
into Lincoln Place, Waverly and Main Street by using enhanced lighting patterns and signage also should be pursued. Bringing
art exhibits designed for pedestrian viewing and generating events designed to demonstrate that Madison is pedestrian friendly
will also assist in educating the public about the ease of navigating Madison on foot from available parking locations.
Alternative sites for merchant and tenant parking should be supplied, such as Central Avenue School property. A jitney service
for Madison resident transit-users could make spaces in the Kings Road lots available for other users. A lunch shuttle from
Giralda Farms could alleviate peak hour demand. The potential for additional jitney service should be explored. Arrangements
have been made for general public use of private downtown parking during hours when the businesses that own the spaces are not
utilizing those spaces.
A parking agency, as an autonomous bureaucracy with commissioners, employees and paid professionals, is simply not necessary in
Madison.
PPSA's simple suggestions should be implemented to alleviate Madison’s parking issues.
Tiritilli Asks: Why Not Wi-Fi in Madison?
Madison is a wonderful place to raise a family. It is a diverse community, concerned about the needs and well-being of our
youth and our older generation. We enjoy all of the benefits of convenient transit. We are fortunate to have a charming
downtown business district, and numerous buildings of historic significance, including the Hartley Dodge Memorial. With Drew
University, Fairleigh Dickinson University and the College of St. Elizabeth, Madison is also a college town. Let’s make it a
“hot spot,”
The availability of wireless internet access through the technology referred to as “Wi-Fi,” the more common moniker for
‘Wireless Fidelity,’ is a phenomenal opportunity that Madison should seize. Madison could look for a commercial vendor to
plan, install and operate the network, with Madison determining the extent of service available within the Borough. However,
this is a service with regional demand and possibilities exist to partner beyond Madison’s borders for community networks.
The entire Madison community would benefit from Wi-Fi, whether you are a direct user or not. Transit users waiting for the
train and students are the most obvious beneficiaries, but the implications for Madison are broader. Among Madison’s challenges
is the need to better integrate the college communities into Madison. With Wi-Fi, students, faculty and staff from the local
colleges would be able to come downtown with their laptops and use Madison’s businesses while “surfing the net.” The interests of
Madison’s downtown businesses are advanced, and the college population will feel more welcomed and ultimately become more
involved in the life of Madison.
Downtown storefront vacancies is one of my concerns. I would like to see thriving businesses where empty spaces now exist. Wi-Fi
would be a tremendous inducement to encourage a “mom and pop” type of bakery and coffee shop to locate in our downtown area.
Wi-Fi technology encourages a feeling that Madison is an outdoor community. Imagine park benches placed in front of Hartley Dodge
Memorial, once renovated, where laptop users can enjoy a lovely outdoor office. Wi-Fi technology creates a mobile community in
more ways than one. Consider the prospect that the option of logging-in outside generates a walk through the downtown area. That
walk may generate a downtown purchase or help familiarize someone with all that our downtown has to offer for the next visit.
Madison is not just a place where you drive, park and go directly to your destination and then go home. Wi-Fi can help change our
community’s attitude about parking, allowing users to realize that Madison’s excellent restaurants and businesses are just a short
walk away from ample parking and it is a lovely walk. Wi-Fi is something I would explore if elected to Council.
Tiritilli Is A Proponent of Master Plan for Recreational Fields
With 2,700 athletes in Madison’s recreational sports program, a figure which includes children who play multiple sports,
I can understand how parents want better, safer fields for their children to utilize, including artificial turf fields.
An insufficient number of fields, over-use of existing fields and ability to play on turf even after rain, are all valid
reasons for wanting turf. At the Council meeting of October 12, 2007, the Council unanimously voted to approve a motion to
include funding for artificial turf in the 2008 capital budget, which I wholly support. The Council appropriately stopped
short of agreeing to entirely fund all of the turf projects requested by the members of the public who were present at that
meeting and properly determined that it was premature to identify specific fields for turfing.
I listened carefully to the Council discussion at the October 12, 2007 meeting, as well as comments from the public on the
topic of turf fields. Key areas of concern expressed by Council members included unresolved issues relating to each of the
three fields discussed for potential turfing, specifically Memorial Park Field, “the Pit” and Dodge Field. Additionally, the
absence of a proposed usage schedule, reflecting which sports would be entitled to turf field use and when presented two issues.
First, there is a concern that the various sports who apparently have made an “agreement to agree” about field usage at a later
date might be unable to reach such a consensus later. Second, and more importantly, the proposed usage is relevant to the
overall configuration of the field, total area of turf installation, light placement if applicable, and line stripping needs.
The field configuration issues are pertinent to determining which field or fields, with turf, can produce optimal playing time
opportunities in a cost-efficient manner.
With the specter of wetlands issues affecting Memorial Park Field on Rosedale Avenue, which could take an additional year to
resolve, the Council was justified in declining to commit funds today to turf that field at an undesignated time in the future.
Such a commitment would have been nothing more than a phantom promise, with so many uncertainties surrounding the wetlands issues
at the field. Further, respect for the neighbors and the potential for increased traffic and noise with increased field usage
mandates involving the neighbors in decisions about the field and having all information necessary for meaningful input.
Neighborhood concerns about the absence of safe crosswalks from the Knollwood section of Madison across Rosedale Avenue cannot be
forgotten in the conversation.
The field known as “the Pit,” located behind the High School not too far from the tennis courts, is currently leased and is not
owned by either the Borough or the Board of Education. Although acquisition of the Pit is anticipated in connection with
Madison’s acquisition of the 53 acres of the former Exxon Site, no improvements should be made prior to the closing of the
purchase transaction. Additional complications exist because the field remains subject to Florham Park zoning and land use
regulations until the property is annexed to the Borough of Madison.
Dodge Field suffers from significant drainage issues as well as lighting which fails to conform to required standards and
“pollutes” the surrounding properties. More discussion is needed about Dodge Field as a potential site for a turf field. In
connection with upgrades to the field, drainage and lighting must also be addressed. Surrounded by residents who would be
greatly impacted by increased field usage, public input from those neighbors must be solicited. However, that discussion cannot
take place in a vacuum. The field usage schedule, along with proposed rules and regulations for field usage, light and sound
system usage, and permitted hours of usage should be prepared to help the neighbors understand what turf at that field means.
Further, not every parent wants their child to play on artificial turf due to safety concerns. I personally need a better
understanding of whether the general public becomes excluded from a turf field. With a location so central to the entire
community of Madison, Dodge Field is a community asset. I would not like to tell children and families that they can no longer
go there to fly a kite, spread out a blanket for sunning or enjoy a picnic. Only manufacturer’s specifications can truly answer
that question.
As we look toward the acquisition of 53 acres for recreational use and enjoyment, and the $13 million price tag for acquiring
that property, we need to be realistic about how much of these recreational amenities taxpayers’ money should be expected to fund.
We also need to be mindful that the acquisition will alleviate the shortage of playing fields, create playing opportunities that
do not impact neighborhoods, and that monies are needed to develop those 53 acres into playing fields and community recreational
spaces. We cannot look past the availability of grant monies and open space monies, which are already in play for the 53 acre
purchase, to also fund turfing of fields. We also cannot forget that Madison has a history of public-private funding and
volunteer support for such projects that fosters true community appreciation and pride in the realized vision. The Playground at
Dodge Field is a perfect example of a plan that was executed with volunteer involvement, public and private funding and produced
a cherished community asset. The athletic foundation that undertakes fundraising for turf fields must have a clearly articulated
mission statement, as well as defined responsibilities among the various sports engaged in fundraising and an understanding
concerning usage of the fields once built.
I am very excited about the “field of dreams,” those 53 acres, becoming a reality. I hope that a dog park is included at that site
as well as a concession stand so that a consortium of the sports teams can raise funds to support their programs.
Consider the possibility of outdoor theater. However, it is absolutely necessary that a Master Plan be developed which considers
all of our existing fields and open spaces, the 53 acres, adult and youth sports needs, community needs for passive recreation
and shared service and cost opportunities with neighboring communities. That Master Plan must be developed with input from all of
the stakeholders. The Recreation Advisory Committee is of course one important participant in the conversation, but the
volunteers who serve on the Open Space and Parks Committees must be included in the process to ensure that Madison’s needs as a
whole are being served. At the same time, the Council must attempt to address the immediate needs of children playing on
existing fields. That is a challenge I am willing to undertake if elected.
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