In 2004, as mayor of Byram Township, I was well-informed and convinced that the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act would be beneficial to New Jersey, while not having a negative impact on property owners in the 88 municipalities in seven counties that were to comprise the Highlands protection area. For that reason, I stood behind the governor on the steps of the Statehouse and at Wanaque Dam in support of passage, then signing of the Act, as this appeared to be a change from the "land-grab Big Red Map."
