Interview: Monroe Village Trustee Behringer Speaks On Flooding, Geese, and Managing the LLCs

With an upcoming election in the Village of Monroe, The Monroe Gazette spoke to the two Village Trustee candidates on the ballot. Up first: Trustee Behringer.

On Tuesday, March 19th, there will be an election in the Village of Monroe. Voting will be held at Village Hall from 9am to 9pm. Two Trustee seats and a Village Justice seat will be on the ballot.

For the Trustees, what’s on the line is another four year term. Both current Trustees John Karl and Debra Behringer are running unopposed.

The Photo-News does this thing where they let the candidates submit statements without asking any questions, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, I think anyone running for office should be asked some tough questions.

So! Below is my interview with Trustee Behringer.

And just a quick side note: If you’re reading this on the morning of March 5th, I try to write The Monroe Gazette articles a day in advance. This helps me work on other freelance writing assignments so I can help pay the bills.

But that also means I will have an update for you on what went down on the March 4th Monroe Town Board meeting tomorrow.

Let’s get to the interview …

The Monroe Gazette: The Village of Monroe does not currently have a list of all LLCs that own property within its borders. Do you support the creation of a registry of local LLCs? Will you support making that registry publicly accessible?

Debbie Behringer: The Village does have a listing of LLCs that is tied to the ownership of the property. I support the publication of LLCs and the entities or persons that have filed with the NYS Dept of State. If the LLC is a property owner the Village of Monroe has that information.

The Monroe Gazette: Will you push for tighter rental property ordinances? For example, would you support tripling fines levied against negligent rental property owners? 

Debbie Behringer: Rental properties are required to have a rental agreement. There is an annual permit fee and inspection. The renter has to provide the names of the occupants. There should be a fine against negligent owners. The safety of our village residents is of utmost importance. For the safety of our residents I would consider higher fines. The court issues the fines.

The Monroe Gazette: Village Residents are currently complaining about LLCs renting property in the village and not taking care of said property. Do you think this property neglect is a deliberate action by those property owners? 

If not, what do you think is causing this problem and how will you address it in your next term?

Debbie Behringer: I think property maintenance is so important in our village. That’s why we passed the Property Maintenance Law. Our Code Enforcement Officer issues property maintenance violations. It’s so important to make sure we properly dispose of garbage and recycling. I hope that residents will take pride in their homes and care for their homes. We want our village to remain beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. I believe property owners aren’t deliberately neglecting these properties. The continued commitment by our Village Board, Code Enforcement and Building Department will continue to educate owners and tenants about complying with laws. 

The Monroe Gazette: Do you support ending single family zoning to allow for environmentally friendly multifamily housing that's affordable and accessible to all residents?

Debbie Behringer: Many people love Monroe because of the single family homes. We just adopted The Comprehensive Plan which addresses all types of housing throughout the Village of Monroe. I stand behind that work. As a trustee I understand the needs of the village.

The Monroe Gazette: The New Jersey Animal Protection League recently appeared before the Village Board to present non-lethal geese mitigation methods at Crane Park. Do you support the use of these non-lethal methods? 

Debbie Behringer: I fully support the use of non-lethal methods to mitigate the geese. I would like to work with The NJ Animal Protection League. They offers some great solutions which include: 

-Habitat modification

-Banning public feeding of geese

-Mechanical scare devices, flags and noise.

-Flight turf.

-Comprehensive humane goose deterrent program, including ecological landscaping

The Monroe Gazette: Would you agree to not endorse or support any further lethal geese roundups like the Village conducted in June of 2023?

Debbie Behringer: I would like to work with the NJ Animal Protection League as they offer non-lethal methods to mitigate the geese.

The Monroe Gazette: Last Fall, the Village experienced historic flooding. Because of climate change, the flooding will likely become more common. What flood mitigation methods do you support, or plan to work on, in your coming term?

Debbie Behringer: The Village has secured grant money to dredge the ponds. The south pond is the first priority. The Village currently has the responsibility of creating and maintaining The Storm water Management plan which are required to be filed each year. The Village of Monroe DPW continually monitors, repairs and replaces catch basins and culvert pipes throughout the village and cleans our detention ponds annually. 

The Monroe Gazette: Do you support an emergency order to halt all planned and new construction on Lakes Road, the portion in the village, until the flooding issues can be mitigated?

Debbie Behringer: At this time, there are no approved projects that require any mitigation on the Village's Part. The Village is committed to do all its due diligence in creating storm water flow with its catch basins, clean culvert pipes and including dredging our Millponds. Dredging allows more retention of water. This continues to the Ramapo River headways which we are investigating opportunities to further clear the flow of water along the Ramapo River, within the Village’s bounds.

The Monroe Gazette: What is something you accomplished in your last term that you are most proud of?

Debbie Behringer: There are so many reasons to be proud of our work on the board. I am proud that we accomplished a new water transmission line. Updating our Comprehensive Plan was overdue and I am proud of all our hard work.

The Monroe Gazette: Is there anything I did not ask you here that you would like village residents to know about your plans for another term?

Debbie Behringer: I continue to be part of the board collectively to develop ways to support the discourse of the board on all matters related to all our residents quality of life, here in the Village of Monroe.I have truly enjoyed growing up in Monroe and raising my family here. In fact I live in the neighborhood where I grew up. I live in the house that was on my paper route. I am a hardworking mother of 4.