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Mayor Dave Fried
Jodi Stephens
Executive Administrative Assistant
E-Mail: mayor@robbinsville.net
Dave Fried was elected to his fourth term as mayor on November 7, 2017 after first being selected to fill an unexpired term in 2000 under the prior Township Committee form of government.
As a Committeeman, Mr. Fried supported the change to the nonpartisan, strong mayor form of government that voters approved overwhelmingly in 2004. He became the first Robbinsville mayor directly elected by the voters and was sworn in on July 1, 2005 by then-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie. Mayor Fried was re-elected in 2009 by a margin of nearly 2-to-1, then elected to his third term with a convincing victory in November of 2013.
In May of 2018, Township Council adopted the mayor's annual municipal budget, which included a third consecutive municipal tax cut. Once one of the most taxed towns in Mercer County, Robbinsville is now among the most stable. The reduction marked the fifth straight year of flat or reduced municipal taxes, which account for approximately 20 percent of a resident's overall tax bill. During his current term, property values have increased and the sale price of existing homes have risen more than 17 percent over a three-year span.
In his first term, Mayor Fried's commitment to good government included a revised ethics policy for elected officials and staff.
Mayor Fried has delivered a new focus on economic development, shared services, and streamlining government. In 2006 and 2007, he merged the independent Fire District and the Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) under the municipal government, saving more than $1 million in direct and indirect costs, while trimming payroll and improving customer service by allowing residents to pay bills and conduct business in a single office. His changes to the delivery of emergency services have continued to reverse the trends that were in place prior to 2006.
Mayor Fried took steps to reduce the costs that drive up property taxes by requiring employees to contribute to healthcare. He also eliminated lifetime benefits for new hires.
The takeover of the MUA was part of a broader strategy to encourage growth along key highway corridors. Following the successful update of the Master Plan in 2006-2007, Township Council approved a forward-thinking Highway Commercial ordinance and adopted sanitary sewer improvement plans that will promote growth where it makes sense. Prior governments stalled growth along Route 130, leading to an imbalance between residential and commercial ratables.
During his tenure, Fortune 500 companies McKesson Corporation, Amazon, Walgreens Pharmacy, Rite Aid and Starbucks began to operate in Robbinsville. The Amazon deal will generate over $22 million in revenue over 20 years and provides 1,500 jobs (more during the holiday season) at its fulfillment center located at 50 New Canton Way in the Matrix Business Park at 7A. McKesson, a leading healthcare services and information technology company also located in the Matrix Business Park, is expected to generate $6.5 million over a 10-year span.
Robbinsville remains a leader in the small business community thanks in part to a "Keep it Local" awareness program that not only encourages keeping revenue and jobs in town, but one that has donated over $10,000 to its network of charities since 2016. Business-friendly policies and procedures have allowed builders and tenants to streamline the process of getting projects approved and completed in an expedited manner. In 2009, Mayor Fried promoted changes to the Township's sign ordinance, a small business advertising partnership, and marketing support for grand openings in the Township. Changing the town's name from Washington Township to Robbinsville Township was approved by a 3-to-1 margin by voters in November, 2007.
Mayor Fried's commitment to economic growth is balanced by his attention to quality of life and recreation. He has preserved over 1,150 acres of open space since 2005 and continues to limit new residential housing in order to keep school enrollment, and municipal taxes, down. As a Township, Robbinsville has set aside over 1,550 acres of open space since 2000. Additionally, his administration has fostered an almost unprecedented climate of community service. Mayor Fried has used State of the Township events from 2015-2018 to raise nearly $250,000 for those in need and to encourage others to "Pay it Forward."
In October of 2017, Mayor Fried was named The Arc Mercer's Community Hero Award recipient for Robbinsville's continued embrace of individuals with special needs. Additionally, Mr. Fried has made barrier-free, inclusionary housing for individuals with special needs and/or disabilities a vital component of the Township's Affordable Housing Plan.
During his tenure, the Robbinsville C.A.R.E. Program was formed in conjunction with the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office and the Robbinsville Township Police Department to fight the opiod epidemic. The C.A.R.E. program is now a certified 501(c) 3 and has been adopted by every municipality in Mercer County.
Dave Fried also is a successful businessman and entrepreneur. As the CEO of Robbinsville-based TriCore Human Capital Management (HCM), Mr. Fried and his employees provide integrated payroll, benefits administration and human resources management services to employers. In 2012, TriCore became the second company Mr. Fried, a married father of two, has vaulted into the prestigious Inc. 5000 as one of the nation's fastest-growing Human Resources companies.