Proposal would give Earle housing to vets
Plan will be presented to public April 18
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — A proposal to designate 300 units at Naval Weapons Station Earle for use by senior and disabled veterans will be presented to the public on April 18.
The concept for the housing units slated to be privatized at the Naval base was well received by members of the Tinton Falls Borough Council and Mayor Peter Maclearie at the April 7 meeting.
Paul Caverly, with the Neptune Township Public Housing, James Manning, of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Carl Accettola, Colts Neck, gave a brief presentation outlining their ideas for the controversial plan to open the units located in Colts Neck to members of the public.
Under the proposal, the developers would be eligible for tax credits to prepare the housing for the veterans.
"These units, through New Jersey tax credits, can be reconfigured, rehabilitated at basically no cost to the developers and made into one-bedroom units which will comply with handicap accessibility requirements," Accettola said.
Accettola said that if the housing is designated for veterans it would not result in additional students for the Tinton Falls or the Colts Neck school systems, nor raise security concerns, which have been main points of controversy for the proposed privatization of housing units at Earle.
The discussion was met with praise from some members of the Borough Council.
"Sounds like a good plan," Councilman Andrew Mayer said. "I think it's great for the veterans."
"Real-time solution for real-time problems," Councilman Duane Morrill said. "I just think this is a great idea."
The U.S. Navy has plans to open 300 private military homes on Earle to the public in 2010. The residential units known as the Laurelwood housing are located within the borders of Colts Neck.
The plan has drawn opposition from a group calling itself Neighbors Opposed to Privatization at Earle (NOPE), which claims it would compromise national.
Privatization of the units has become an issue for Tinton Falls, which, for the past 20 years, has educated the children of Naval personnel stationed at Earle under an agreement with the Navy.
The Tinton Falls Board of Education filed a lawsuit last year that maintains that the district's agreement is to educate the children of Navy personnel, not civilian children living on the military base.
The group that presented their proposal for the veterans' housing admitted that Colts Neck did not necessarily support this proposal, which led to some concerns from the council.
"I'm concerned that Colts Neck is not buying into this," Councilman Paul Ford said. "They have the [most] to lose here. Those kids are going to go to Colts Neck [schools].
"That's my personal opinion — that if you take it to federal court, I guarantee those kids are going to Colts Neck," he added.
Manning said the plan is feasible.
"I believe Colts Neck wishes the Navy buys the 300 homes and rips them down," he said. "I mean in today's economy with what President Obama has stated in the last two weeks about housing veterans, I don't see the economy allowing 300 houses to be ripped down and destroyed."
A more in-depth discussion and presentation will be given at the Tinton Falls Municipal Building on Saturday April 18, at 9 a.m. That meeting will be open to the public.
"The proposal is fantastic. What a great thing. It's obvious it's a slam dunk, but I've seen slam dunks before," Ford added.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Rain doesn't deter runners for 12th Sgt. Pat King 5k
Rain doesn't deter runners for 12th Sgt. Pat King 5K
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
CHRIS KELLY staff Trent Karaman, Red Bank, runs on the Long Branch boardwalk during the annual Sgt. Pat's 5K Run/1-mile Fitness Walk on April 11.
LONG BRANCH — Heavy rains and brisk winds didn't stop some 400 hardy runners from turning out for the 12th annual Sgt. Pat's 5K Run and 2-Mile Fitness Walk on Saturday, April 11.
What spurred the runners to show despite inclement conditions was not just the course but the spirit of the run, which is dedicated to the late Long Branch Police Sgt. Patrick King, who was killed in the line of duty 12 years ago.
"This is a way to honor and remember Pat," said Maureen King, who is part of the committee that organizes the annual race in memory of her husband.
"It's a way to raise money in Pat's name as well," she added.
King believes that it is the character of the actual race that brings the participants out each year.
"The race has many attributes to its character," King said. "Our event has a familyfriendly atmosphere that includes a children's race, a family walk as well as a 5K run, with prizes provided by the generous merchants in the community."
The race committee includes King, Scott and Guy Beaver, Phil Hinck, Eddie Kirschenbaum and Pat Joyce.
The event raises funds for several charities, including the Pat King Scholarship Fund for Long Branch High School students, Holiday Express, Habcore, and Jim Dowd Shoots for the Stars.
The race, which raised $35,000 last year, had 700 registered participants as of April 10, but the weather held down that number as well as the several hundred other competitors who were expected to sign up the day of the race.
According to the Jersey Shore Running Club, the rain didn't prevent some great performances and times on the revised course along the Promenade and Long Branch boardwalk.
For the men, the winner was Ben Horel, of Belford, in a time of 17:42. The first-place runner for the women was Amber Hart, of Belmar, in a time of 20:03.
"Thanks to the generosity of our participants, sponsors and volunteers, the Sergeant Pat's 5K has seen tremendous growth over the past 11 years," King said. "We really try hard to put out a fun day. We try to make it better every year."
The event is attended by police officers from Long Branch as well as departments from across the county and state.
"We have police departments from Marlboro and Middletown showing up," King said last week. "We also have the sheriff's department and police departments from Denville and Jersey City coming. We give awards for the department that travels the furthest."
King views the race as a good experience for everyone in the community, which is why so many come out to participate.
"The race has become a bonding experience among the community, because the race always benefits a good cause and those involved are genuinely happy to participate," she said.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
CHRIS KELLY staff Trent Karaman, Red Bank, runs on the Long Branch boardwalk during the annual Sgt. Pat's 5K Run/1-mile Fitness Walk on April 11.
LONG BRANCH — Heavy rains and brisk winds didn't stop some 400 hardy runners from turning out for the 12th annual Sgt. Pat's 5K Run and 2-Mile Fitness Walk on Saturday, April 11.
What spurred the runners to show despite inclement conditions was not just the course but the spirit of the run, which is dedicated to the late Long Branch Police Sgt. Patrick King, who was killed in the line of duty 12 years ago.
"This is a way to honor and remember Pat," said Maureen King, who is part of the committee that organizes the annual race in memory of her husband.
"It's a way to raise money in Pat's name as well," she added.
King believes that it is the character of the actual race that brings the participants out each year.
"The race has many attributes to its character," King said. "Our event has a familyfriendly atmosphere that includes a children's race, a family walk as well as a 5K run, with prizes provided by the generous merchants in the community."
The race committee includes King, Scott and Guy Beaver, Phil Hinck, Eddie Kirschenbaum and Pat Joyce.
The event raises funds for several charities, including the Pat King Scholarship Fund for Long Branch High School students, Holiday Express, Habcore, and Jim Dowd Shoots for the Stars.
The race, which raised $35,000 last year, had 700 registered participants as of April 10, but the weather held down that number as well as the several hundred other competitors who were expected to sign up the day of the race.
According to the Jersey Shore Running Club, the rain didn't prevent some great performances and times on the revised course along the Promenade and Long Branch boardwalk.
For the men, the winner was Ben Horel, of Belford, in a time of 17:42. The first-place runner for the women was Amber Hart, of Belmar, in a time of 20:03.
"Thanks to the generosity of our participants, sponsors and volunteers, the Sergeant Pat's 5K has seen tremendous growth over the past 11 years," King said. "We really try hard to put out a fun day. We try to make it better every year."
The event is attended by police officers from Long Branch as well as departments from across the county and state.
"We have police departments from Marlboro and Middletown showing up," King said last week. "We also have the sheriff's department and police departments from Denville and Jersey City coming. We give awards for the department that travels the furthest."
King views the race as a good experience for everyone in the community, which is why so many come out to participate.
"The race has become a bonding experience among the community, because the race always benefits a good cause and those involved are genuinely happy to participate," she said.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
T.F. introduces revised land-use ordinance
T.F. introduces revised land-use ordinance
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — The Borough Council introduced what is hoped will be the final version of a land-use ordinance at the April 7 meeting.
The previous land-use ordinance was up for final consideration March 17, but after lengthy discussion it was rejected by the council in favor of drafting a new version.
Tinton Falls Borough Attorney James Berube Jr. said last week that changes made to the ordinance after it was first introduced made it difficult for the council to adopt the measure on March 17.
The changes, suggested by borough planner Paul Gleitz, of Heyer, Gruel & Associates, New Brunswick, were added to the revised ordinance, which implements land-use objectives outlined in the borough's master plan.
"We followed almost 20 pages of recommendations by Gleitz that went into making this new ordinance," Berube said.
Berube doesn't see this ordinance as much of a change from the previous version, but more of a clarified one.
"We made some small changes," he said. "The language is more of a clarification than change."
The ordinance establishes zones and permitted uses for each zone. Also included in the ordinance are a traffic impact statement and the procedure for site plan reviews.
"Small changes were made to recognize use relief and will bring the land-use ordinance up to date," Berube said.
"Additional changes were made to provide for affordable housing in Tinton Falls," he added.
The ordinance will have another public hearing on May 19.
If the ordinance is approved, it will become law in late June or early July, according to Berube.
"I feel very good that it will be passed," he said. "This final ordinance is the culmination of two and a half years of work, four public hearings with the Planning Board, and three public hearings with the council."
"I think it will be approved and be an effective plan," Berube said. "The chance it gets passed is very good."
Berube went on to add that Tinton Falls Mayor Peter Maclearie has made the ordinance a goal of his.
"The mayor has been dedicated to reorganizing the town's uses to make a lot of sense," Berube said. "It was something the mayor was committed to when he first ran for office. It was one of his objectives."
Berube also stated that the new ordinance meets the state's requirements for open space laws as well as affordable housing laws.
A copy of the revised land-use ordinance can be found on the Planning Board tab of the Tinton Falls website. A copy of the Tinton Falls Master Plan is also available on the Tinton Falls website.
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — The Borough Council introduced what is hoped will be the final version of a land-use ordinance at the April 7 meeting.
The previous land-use ordinance was up for final consideration March 17, but after lengthy discussion it was rejected by the council in favor of drafting a new version.
Tinton Falls Borough Attorney James Berube Jr. said last week that changes made to the ordinance after it was first introduced made it difficult for the council to adopt the measure on March 17.
The changes, suggested by borough planner Paul Gleitz, of Heyer, Gruel & Associates, New Brunswick, were added to the revised ordinance, which implements land-use objectives outlined in the borough's master plan.
"We followed almost 20 pages of recommendations by Gleitz that went into making this new ordinance," Berube said.
Berube doesn't see this ordinance as much of a change from the previous version, but more of a clarified one.
"We made some small changes," he said. "The language is more of a clarification than change."
The ordinance establishes zones and permitted uses for each zone. Also included in the ordinance are a traffic impact statement and the procedure for site plan reviews.
"Small changes were made to recognize use relief and will bring the land-use ordinance up to date," Berube said.
"Additional changes were made to provide for affordable housing in Tinton Falls," he added.
The ordinance will have another public hearing on May 19.
If the ordinance is approved, it will become law in late June or early July, according to Berube.
"I feel very good that it will be passed," he said. "This final ordinance is the culmination of two and a half years of work, four public hearings with the Planning Board, and three public hearings with the council."
"I think it will be approved and be an effective plan," Berube said. "The chance it gets passed is very good."
Berube went on to add that Tinton Falls Mayor Peter Maclearie has made the ordinance a goal of his.
"The mayor has been dedicated to reorganizing the town's uses to make a lot of sense," Berube said. "It was something the mayor was committed to when he first ran for office. It was one of his objectives."
Berube also stated that the new ordinance meets the state's requirements for open space laws as well as affordable housing laws.
A copy of the revised land-use ordinance can be found on the Planning Board tab of the Tinton Falls website. A copy of the Tinton Falls Master Plan is also available on the Tinton Falls website.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Proposals for pier design submitted
Proposals for pier design submitted
RFPs sought designer for pier and ferry terminal
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The city of Long Branch hopes to move forward in the coming weeks with redevelopment plans for the oceanfront pier and ferry terminal.
Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley Jr. said last week the city formally issued a request for proposals [RFP] on Feb. 27 and the deadline for responses was April 2.
The proposals are for a lead designer to provide oceanfront pier and ferry terminal design and program management services.
As listed by the RFP, the contract will be funded jointly by the federal government and the city.
On March 10 the Long Branch City Council voted to bond $950,000 to finance the design of the pier and ferry terminal.
"We have received several proposals from firms," Woolley said. "We advertised the RFP on our website and received 50 bid proposals.
We will review the proposals for about 10 days; then, hopefully, we can introduce the contract at the next council meeting [April 14]."
During the March 10 meeting, CouncilwomanMary Jane Celli said the city is more likely to receive stimulus money once the project is "shovel-ready."
"We are excited to be talking about these proposals," Woolley said. "We hope this moves us forward."
In 1987, a fire destroyed the Long Branch pier, and since that time the city has acquired redevelopment rights and is ready to rebuild the pier and other amenities, including retail, restaurants, an amphitheater and a children's play area along the oceanfront.
The pier project is divided into three components. The first is the Core Pier, which will be the main structure and will cost approximately $36.3 million. Plans call for the pier to extend 900 feet from the boardwalk into the Atlantic Ocean.
The second component is the highspeed ferry terminal and docking facility, slated to cost $20.2 million, which would provide a direct route from the Long Branch region to lower Manhattan at a travel time of 40 minutes. The pier will contain a docking system, as well as the ticketing and waiting areas required for the ferry operation.
The final component is the amenity uses at an estimated cost of $32.5 million, which include retail, restaurants, event space, a public winter garden, outdoor amphitheater, entertainment space, fishing area and a children's play area.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
RFPs sought designer for pier and ferry terminal
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The city of Long Branch hopes to move forward in the coming weeks with redevelopment plans for the oceanfront pier and ferry terminal.
Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley Jr. said last week the city formally issued a request for proposals [RFP] on Feb. 27 and the deadline for responses was April 2.
The proposals are for a lead designer to provide oceanfront pier and ferry terminal design and program management services.
As listed by the RFP, the contract will be funded jointly by the federal government and the city.
On March 10 the Long Branch City Council voted to bond $950,000 to finance the design of the pier and ferry terminal.
"We have received several proposals from firms," Woolley said. "We advertised the RFP on our website and received 50 bid proposals.
We will review the proposals for about 10 days; then, hopefully, we can introduce the contract at the next council meeting [April 14]."
During the March 10 meeting, CouncilwomanMary Jane Celli said the city is more likely to receive stimulus money once the project is "shovel-ready."
"We are excited to be talking about these proposals," Woolley said. "We hope this moves us forward."
In 1987, a fire destroyed the Long Branch pier, and since that time the city has acquired redevelopment rights and is ready to rebuild the pier and other amenities, including retail, restaurants, an amphitheater and a children's play area along the oceanfront.
The pier project is divided into three components. The first is the Core Pier, which will be the main structure and will cost approximately $36.3 million. Plans call for the pier to extend 900 feet from the boardwalk into the Atlantic Ocean.
The second component is the highspeed ferry terminal and docking facility, slated to cost $20.2 million, which would provide a direct route from the Long Branch region to lower Manhattan at a travel time of 40 minutes. The pier will contain a docking system, as well as the ticketing and waiting areas required for the ferry operation.
The final component is the amenity uses at an estimated cost of $32.5 million, which include retail, restaurants, event space, a public winter garden, outdoor amphitheater, entertainment space, fishing area and a children's play area.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
LBHA to build new community center
LBHA to build new community center
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
On April 1 the Long Branch City Council unanimously voted to lease the site of the Bucky James Community Center to the Long Branch Public Housing Authority.
The building, located at 231 Wilbur Ray Blvd. behind the Gregory Elementary School, is slated to be demolished and a new community center will be built on the site.
A special meeting was held at which the council approved the special ground lease for the land.
"The lease is something called a ground lease," Long Branch Public Housing Authority Executive Director Tyrone Garrett explained, "meaning that we don't pay the city for the land, but we have control of it in 25-year increments."
Council members Brian Unger (voting via cell phone), Michael DeStefano and Mary Jane Celli all approved the resolution. Garrett, Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider, Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley and City Attorney James Aaron also attended the meeting.
Council members Anthony Giordano and David Brown were absent from the meeting.
The special meeting was called because the city and the housing authority wanted to get the resolution passed in time to meet the state's tax credit deadline, which was this week.
"We are excited to get the tax credit for the Bucky James land," Garrett said Monday. "We have been funded three times in the last four years, so we look forward to this."
The state has previously awarded tax credits for Seaview Manor, Presidents Estate and Garfield Court One in Long Branch in the past four years.
While the tax credit for the land has yet to be approved by the state, the authority plans to move forward on the demolition of the vacant former community center in the next two months.
"We plan on starting the demolition of the building in 45 to 60 days." Garrett said.
According to Garrett, the new building, which will be roughly 12,000 square feet, will include many modern amenities.
"We want to put in an indoor basketball court, a gymnasium, a library, a room with computers," Garrett said. "The building will be about 75 percent recreational to meet the requirements of [the state] Green Acres [program].
"We also may have an infant care center in the future, but that's on the back burner for now," he added.
While Garrett said he is excited about the prospect of the new community center, he did not think the old building could be salvaged.
"Renovations of the building didn't make sense," Garrett said. "It would be too much to get the building modernized, and with the proper technology. It would require substantial renovations."
Another issue that the Housing Authority would be facing was how to handle the membership of the new community center. While Garrett admitted that a small membership fee might be required, he does not want this community center to come across as a moneymaking venture.
"We are talking to the Boys & Girls [Club of Monmouth County] about a possible grant program," Garrett said.
"The plan is to not charge a membership for our members living in public housing," Garrett said. "But realistically, we will never turn down a child."
While Garrett hopes the plans for the expansive new center progress in the coming months, he said he really just wants to help the area.
"We don't do this for the glitz and glamour of doing it," he said. "We just want to try to help revitalize the community.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
On April 1 the Long Branch City Council unanimously voted to lease the site of the Bucky James Community Center to the Long Branch Public Housing Authority.
The building, located at 231 Wilbur Ray Blvd. behind the Gregory Elementary School, is slated to be demolished and a new community center will be built on the site.
A special meeting was held at which the council approved the special ground lease for the land.
"The lease is something called a ground lease," Long Branch Public Housing Authority Executive Director Tyrone Garrett explained, "meaning that we don't pay the city for the land, but we have control of it in 25-year increments."
Council members Brian Unger (voting via cell phone), Michael DeStefano and Mary Jane Celli all approved the resolution. Garrett, Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider, Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley and City Attorney James Aaron also attended the meeting.
Council members Anthony Giordano and David Brown were absent from the meeting.
The special meeting was called because the city and the housing authority wanted to get the resolution passed in time to meet the state's tax credit deadline, which was this week.
"We are excited to get the tax credit for the Bucky James land," Garrett said Monday. "We have been funded three times in the last four years, so we look forward to this."
The state has previously awarded tax credits for Seaview Manor, Presidents Estate and Garfield Court One in Long Branch in the past four years.
While the tax credit for the land has yet to be approved by the state, the authority plans to move forward on the demolition of the vacant former community center in the next two months.
"We plan on starting the demolition of the building in 45 to 60 days." Garrett said.
According to Garrett, the new building, which will be roughly 12,000 square feet, will include many modern amenities.
"We want to put in an indoor basketball court, a gymnasium, a library, a room with computers," Garrett said. "The building will be about 75 percent recreational to meet the requirements of [the state] Green Acres [program].
"We also may have an infant care center in the future, but that's on the back burner for now," he added.
While Garrett said he is excited about the prospect of the new community center, he did not think the old building could be salvaged.
"Renovations of the building didn't make sense," Garrett said. "It would be too much to get the building modernized, and with the proper technology. It would require substantial renovations."
Another issue that the Housing Authority would be facing was how to handle the membership of the new community center. While Garrett admitted that a small membership fee might be required, he does not want this community center to come across as a moneymaking venture.
"We are talking to the Boys & Girls [Club of Monmouth County] about a possible grant program," Garrett said.
"The plan is to not charge a membership for our members living in public housing," Garrett said. "But realistically, we will never turn down a child."
While Garrett hopes the plans for the expansive new center progress in the coming months, he said he really just wants to help the area.
"We don't do this for the glitz and glamour of doing it," he said. "We just want to try to help revitalize the community.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Monmouth Regional BOE proposes leaner budget
Monmouth Regional BOE proposes leaner budget
Tax levy cut by $200K from previous year
BY KEN WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — The Monmouth Regional High School District Board of Education is proposing a $25,388,429 school budget for the 2009-10 school year.
The budget represents a $418,463 decrease from last year's budget of $25,806,892.
As proposed, the budget calls for a tax levy of $18,756,384, a decrease of $218,537 from last year.
"We reduced the tax levy and the overall budget without reducing the quality of service," Maria Anne Parry, Monmouth Regional High School business administrator, said last week.
"The budget has been approved by Monmouth County Superintendent Carole Knopp Morris," Parry said during the March 31 public hearing on the budget.
The school budget last year failed to gain the approval of all of the Monmouth Regional sending districts.
Despite being passed by voters in both Tinton Falls and Shrewsbury Township, the budget did not gain the approval of Eatontown voters last year, failing by 42 votes of the roughly 9 percent of Eatontown registered voters who cast ballots.
"We hope the budget passes by our constituents' vote," Monmouth Regional Superintendent James Cleary said. "It is a very conservative budget."
Eatontown residents would see an increase of 2.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation in the tax rate, to 35.98 cents per $100, if the budget is approved. Taxes would increase by $89.56 a year to an average of $1,436.68.
Shrewsbury residents would see a tax rate increase of 0.16 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, to 31.41 cents per $100, and would pay an average of $642.71 per year.
Tinton Falls residents would see their taxes go down $108.90 a year, or 3.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Borough taxpayers would pay $32.61 per $100 of assessed valuation, or an average of $1,120.90 a year.
"The differences in Tinton Falls and Eatontown have to do with the percentage share of the towns and the average assessed home value," Parry said.
Eatontown's percentage share is up almost 3 percent from last year, to 46.5 percent. The borough's average home is assessed at $399,202.
Tinton Falls' percentage share is down by almost 3 percent, to 52.27 percent, and the average home is assessed at $343,683.
The district also received the same amount of state aid — $4,557,437 — as last year.
The district cut funding in some areas, including $198,191 in programs, $136,588 in special-education costs, and undistributed expenditures by $4,731.
"We are very sensitive to the economy," Cleary said. "That is why we tried to make the most fiscally prudent budget we could make."
"We are proud of our students and proud of our 200-plus staff," Cleary said.
Taxpayers will vote on the budget on April 21.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Tax levy cut by $200K from previous year
BY KEN WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — The Monmouth Regional High School District Board of Education is proposing a $25,388,429 school budget for the 2009-10 school year.
The budget represents a $418,463 decrease from last year's budget of $25,806,892.
As proposed, the budget calls for a tax levy of $18,756,384, a decrease of $218,537 from last year.
"We reduced the tax levy and the overall budget without reducing the quality of service," Maria Anne Parry, Monmouth Regional High School business administrator, said last week.
"The budget has been approved by Monmouth County Superintendent Carole Knopp Morris," Parry said during the March 31 public hearing on the budget.
The school budget last year failed to gain the approval of all of the Monmouth Regional sending districts.
Despite being passed by voters in both Tinton Falls and Shrewsbury Township, the budget did not gain the approval of Eatontown voters last year, failing by 42 votes of the roughly 9 percent of Eatontown registered voters who cast ballots.
"We hope the budget passes by our constituents' vote," Monmouth Regional Superintendent James Cleary said. "It is a very conservative budget."
Eatontown residents would see an increase of 2.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation in the tax rate, to 35.98 cents per $100, if the budget is approved. Taxes would increase by $89.56 a year to an average of $1,436.68.
Shrewsbury residents would see a tax rate increase of 0.16 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, to 31.41 cents per $100, and would pay an average of $642.71 per year.
Tinton Falls residents would see their taxes go down $108.90 a year, or 3.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Borough taxpayers would pay $32.61 per $100 of assessed valuation, or an average of $1,120.90 a year.
"The differences in Tinton Falls and Eatontown have to do with the percentage share of the towns and the average assessed home value," Parry said.
Eatontown's percentage share is up almost 3 percent from last year, to 46.5 percent. The borough's average home is assessed at $399,202.
Tinton Falls' percentage share is down by almost 3 percent, to 52.27 percent, and the average home is assessed at $343,683.
The district also received the same amount of state aid — $4,557,437 — as last year.
The district cut funding in some areas, including $198,191 in programs, $136,588 in special-education costs, and undistributed expenditures by $4,731.
"We are very sensitive to the economy," Cleary said. "That is why we tried to make the most fiscally prudent budget we could make."
"We are proud of our students and proud of our 200-plus staff," Cleary said.
Taxpayers will vote on the budget on April 21.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
MRHS asbestos removal to begin in summer
MRHS asbestos removal to begin in summer
Officials say asbestos presents no danger
BY KEN WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — Monmouth Regional High School will begin the process of removing asbestos from a portion of the building this summer.
According to Monmouth Regional Business Administrator Maria Anne Parry and Superintendent James Cleary, the asbestos is harmless and does not necessarily need to be removed.
"It is wrapped around piping and is not a threat to anyone," Parry said last week. "It is completely contained," she added. "No one has gotten sick from it."
The asbestos removal project was introduced during the public hearing on the Monmouth Regional School District on March 31 at which Parry presented a slide show on the project.
Also shown was a projected plan to gut the north and south locker rooms and redesign the two rooms.
According to Parry, it is not unusual for a building that opened in 1961 to have been built with asbestos, she said in an interview.
"Most buildings built during this time period were built with asbestos," Parry said. "It is normal for a building built in the '60s to have asbestos in it."
According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry website, asbestos fibers are only dangerous if they are disturbed, causing fibers to float in the air and allowing them to be inhaled.
Asbestos has long been recognized as a health threat to humans, because the fibers can be inhaled and are difficult to remove from the lungs, the website states.
According to Parry, the asbestos removal has not been mandated but is being remediated because work is being done to some ceilings in the building.
"We looked up at the ceiling and decided it needed to be replaced," Parry said. "With replacing the ceiling, it is better to remove the asbestos now."
The asbestos being removed is in the 300 wing of the building, which includes administrative offices and classrooms, Parry explained.
Asbestos in the technology room will also be removed this summer.
The project will cost the school $94,500 for the 300 wing and $25,000 for technology wing. That will include contractors' fees, which, according to Cleary and Parry, account for roughly 20 percent of the total cost.
The project will begin this summer once the school year ends, which Parry said is more cost-effective because the ventilation system could be used to completely rid the airborne asbestos particles.
"The asbestos will be contained completely," Parry said. "It is completely safe."
Parry also revealed that there is asbestos in other parts of the building, but it is contained and poses no danger, she said. There is a three- to five-year plan to completely rid the school of asbestos and replace the ceilings.
"There is asbestos in other parts of the building," Parry said. "It is contained and not a danger to anyone in the building."
Monmouth Regional currently educates 1,140 students in grades nine through 12 who reside in Tinton Falls, Eatontown and Shrewsbury Township.
Contact Ken Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com.
Officials say asbestos presents no danger
BY KEN WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — Monmouth Regional High School will begin the process of removing asbestos from a portion of the building this summer.
According to Monmouth Regional Business Administrator Maria Anne Parry and Superintendent James Cleary, the asbestos is harmless and does not necessarily need to be removed.
"It is wrapped around piping and is not a threat to anyone," Parry said last week. "It is completely contained," she added. "No one has gotten sick from it."
The asbestos removal project was introduced during the public hearing on the Monmouth Regional School District on March 31 at which Parry presented a slide show on the project.
Also shown was a projected plan to gut the north and south locker rooms and redesign the two rooms.
According to Parry, it is not unusual for a building that opened in 1961 to have been built with asbestos, she said in an interview.
"Most buildings built during this time period were built with asbestos," Parry said. "It is normal for a building built in the '60s to have asbestos in it."
According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry website, asbestos fibers are only dangerous if they are disturbed, causing fibers to float in the air and allowing them to be inhaled.
Asbestos has long been recognized as a health threat to humans, because the fibers can be inhaled and are difficult to remove from the lungs, the website states.
According to Parry, the asbestos removal has not been mandated but is being remediated because work is being done to some ceilings in the building.
"We looked up at the ceiling and decided it needed to be replaced," Parry said. "With replacing the ceiling, it is better to remove the asbestos now."
The asbestos being removed is in the 300 wing of the building, which includes administrative offices and classrooms, Parry explained.
Asbestos in the technology room will also be removed this summer.
The project will cost the school $94,500 for the 300 wing and $25,000 for technology wing. That will include contractors' fees, which, according to Cleary and Parry, account for roughly 20 percent of the total cost.
The project will begin this summer once the school year ends, which Parry said is more cost-effective because the ventilation system could be used to completely rid the airborne asbestos particles.
"The asbestos will be contained completely," Parry said. "It is completely safe."
Parry also revealed that there is asbestos in other parts of the building, but it is contained and poses no danger, she said. There is a three- to five-year plan to completely rid the school of asbestos and replace the ceilings.
"There is asbestos in other parts of the building," Parry said. "It is contained and not a danger to anyone in the building."
Monmouth Regional currently educates 1,140 students in grades nine through 12 who reside in Tinton Falls, Eatontown and Shrewsbury Township.
Contact Ken Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com.
Study to look at school consolidation
Study to look at school consolidation
Focus on merging districts, creating K-12 districts
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Local superintendents say they will await the results of a study that will look at whether consolidating some school districts would provide educational benefits for their districts.
The study is a proposal by Monmouth County Executive Superintendent of Schools Carole Knopp Morris, who is considering a school consolidation feasibility study that could result in the merger of several area school districts.
The study, which is expected to be conducted in the coming months, will focus on the possible merger of smaller school districts as well as elimination of non-K-12 and non-operating school districts.
The move toward K-12 districts would allow school districts to come into compliance with the state's current grade structure, which calls for districts to be configured from grades kindergarten through 12.
Local districts being considered include the Tinton Falls, Eatontown, Monmouth Regional and Shrewsbury Borough districts as well as the Ocean Township, Deal, Interlaken, Allenhurst and Asbury Park school districts.
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The study is also expected to investigate a possible merger among the Shore Regional High School sending districts of West Long Branch, Oceanport, Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach.
"What they are trying to do is create a K-12 program that includes all the children that reside in Eatontown, Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury and Fort Monmouth and Naval Weapons Station Earle," said Monmouth Regional High School Superintendent James Cleary.
Cleary said recently that he understands and supports the idea of merging smaller districts.
"Academically, it's the soundest way to approach education," he said, adding that such a move would allow for a unified curriculum for the transition from the elementary program through the high school program.
"One curriculum would enhance communication between all of the programs taking place [between the districts], right down to something as simple as a school calendar that all three towns would adhere to equally," Clearly said.
Tinton Falls is one of the districts being considered for a merger with the Eatontown, Shrewsbury Borough and Monmouth Regional school districts.
"The success of consolidation would certainly vary from district to district," Tinton Falls Superintendent John Russo said. "I won't be sure if it will help Tinton Falls until I see the results of the study. The study will look at the districts and recommend which ones would benefit from consolidation."
Knopp Morris will conduct the study and submit it to state Commissioner of Education.
According to Knopp Morris, the study will examine "every aspect of a school that can be looked at" in order to determine whether districts should merge.
"There are over 670 school entities in the state, and the decision of the Legislature was that that must represent duplication, and so it's also directed at that," she said in a recent interview.
In 2007 the state Legislature passed a law requiring counties across the state to investigate cost-saving measures by eliminating non-operating school districts and creating more K-12 school districts.
A non-operating school district is a district that does not have a school and instead sends its students to another district.
The law also created Morris' position as county executive superintendent.
The study is expected to take a look at district school budgets, tax levies, student population, the utilization of buildings, staffing, depth of programs, and similarities between districts.
The thought process for the consolidation study, according to Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School District Superintendent Peter Righi, is that it would benefit the districts in two ways.
"They are looking to consolidate for two reasons," Righi said. "They are looking at this to save money and also for educational purposes. Some of the smaller districts may not be able to afford to offer some services and programs that larger ones could offer."
"There is conflicting opinion on whether consolidation would be beneficial," Righi said. "I'm in favor of looking at the feasibility study and deciding what is best from there. I am interested in seeing what the results of the study are."
Rumson-Fair Haven would possibly consolidate with the school districts in Fair Haven and possibly Sea Bright, which currently sends students to Shore Regional High School.
Should a merger between one or more school districts appear to be beneficial, the issue would be brought before each district's voters in the form of a referendum, Morris explained.
In order for the referendum to pass, voters in each district being considered for consolidation would have to approve it.
In some instances, the feasibility study may call for the dissolution of smaller regional school districts in order to create larger regional districts,
Should such a case arise, voters would have to first approve a referendum dissolving the original regional district followed by a second referendum approving the consolidation into a larger district.
"Each municipality gets a vote on the consolidation," Righi said. "So if four towns are looked to consolidate and one of the municipalities votes it down, then the consolidation can't take place.
"The commissioner may then decide that they want the other three towns to consolidate," he added.
Red Bank Regional District Superintendent Edward Westervelt doesn't feel that the consolidation would make that much of a difference for his district.
"We work very closely with our three sending districts [Red Bank, Shrewsbury Borough and Little Silver]," Westervelt said. "I'm not sure if it would benefit our district from an educational standpoint, because we work so closely with the other districts. It may help from a fiscal standpoint.
"All of our districts seem to be on the same page," he added. "I don't see that consolidation would create any change."
The feasibility study is expected to begin in the spring. It should be completed a few months later and presented by 2010.
Staff Writer Daniel Howley contributed
to this story.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Focus on merging districts, creating K-12 districts
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Local superintendents say they will await the results of a study that will look at whether consolidating some school districts would provide educational benefits for their districts.
The study is a proposal by Monmouth County Executive Superintendent of Schools Carole Knopp Morris, who is considering a school consolidation feasibility study that could result in the merger of several area school districts.
The study, which is expected to be conducted in the coming months, will focus on the possible merger of smaller school districts as well as elimination of non-K-12 and non-operating school districts.
The move toward K-12 districts would allow school districts to come into compliance with the state's current grade structure, which calls for districts to be configured from grades kindergarten through 12.
Local districts being considered include the Tinton Falls, Eatontown, Monmouth Regional and Shrewsbury Borough districts as well as the Ocean Township, Deal, Interlaken, Allenhurst and Asbury Park school districts.
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The study is also expected to investigate a possible merger among the Shore Regional High School sending districts of West Long Branch, Oceanport, Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach.
"What they are trying to do is create a K-12 program that includes all the children that reside in Eatontown, Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury and Fort Monmouth and Naval Weapons Station Earle," said Monmouth Regional High School Superintendent James Cleary.
Cleary said recently that he understands and supports the idea of merging smaller districts.
"Academically, it's the soundest way to approach education," he said, adding that such a move would allow for a unified curriculum for the transition from the elementary program through the high school program.
"One curriculum would enhance communication between all of the programs taking place [between the districts], right down to something as simple as a school calendar that all three towns would adhere to equally," Clearly said.
Tinton Falls is one of the districts being considered for a merger with the Eatontown, Shrewsbury Borough and Monmouth Regional school districts.
"The success of consolidation would certainly vary from district to district," Tinton Falls Superintendent John Russo said. "I won't be sure if it will help Tinton Falls until I see the results of the study. The study will look at the districts and recommend which ones would benefit from consolidation."
Knopp Morris will conduct the study and submit it to state Commissioner of Education.
According to Knopp Morris, the study will examine "every aspect of a school that can be looked at" in order to determine whether districts should merge.
"There are over 670 school entities in the state, and the decision of the Legislature was that that must represent duplication, and so it's also directed at that," she said in a recent interview.
In 2007 the state Legislature passed a law requiring counties across the state to investigate cost-saving measures by eliminating non-operating school districts and creating more K-12 school districts.
A non-operating school district is a district that does not have a school and instead sends its students to another district.
The law also created Morris' position as county executive superintendent.
The study is expected to take a look at district school budgets, tax levies, student population, the utilization of buildings, staffing, depth of programs, and similarities between districts.
The thought process for the consolidation study, according to Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School District Superintendent Peter Righi, is that it would benefit the districts in two ways.
"They are looking to consolidate for two reasons," Righi said. "They are looking at this to save money and also for educational purposes. Some of the smaller districts may not be able to afford to offer some services and programs that larger ones could offer."
"There is conflicting opinion on whether consolidation would be beneficial," Righi said. "I'm in favor of looking at the feasibility study and deciding what is best from there. I am interested in seeing what the results of the study are."
Rumson-Fair Haven would possibly consolidate with the school districts in Fair Haven and possibly Sea Bright, which currently sends students to Shore Regional High School.
Should a merger between one or more school districts appear to be beneficial, the issue would be brought before each district's voters in the form of a referendum, Morris explained.
In order for the referendum to pass, voters in each district being considered for consolidation would have to approve it.
In some instances, the feasibility study may call for the dissolution of smaller regional school districts in order to create larger regional districts,
Should such a case arise, voters would have to first approve a referendum dissolving the original regional district followed by a second referendum approving the consolidation into a larger district.
"Each municipality gets a vote on the consolidation," Righi said. "So if four towns are looked to consolidate and one of the municipalities votes it down, then the consolidation can't take place.
"The commissioner may then decide that they want the other three towns to consolidate," he added.
Red Bank Regional District Superintendent Edward Westervelt doesn't feel that the consolidation would make that much of a difference for his district.
"We work very closely with our three sending districts [Red Bank, Shrewsbury Borough and Little Silver]," Westervelt said. "I'm not sure if it would benefit our district from an educational standpoint, because we work so closely with the other districts. It may help from a fiscal standpoint.
"All of our districts seem to be on the same page," he added. "I don't see that consolidation would create any change."
The feasibility study is expected to begin in the spring. It should be completed a few months later and presented by 2010.
Staff Writer Daniel Howley contributed
to this story.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Long Branch concordance to host annual mini-fair
Long Branch Concordance to host annual mini-fair
BY KEN WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The Long Branch Concordance with host its second annual mini-fair on April 4.
"School's Out for Summer, Now What?" will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the lobby of the Garfield Grant building at 279 Broadway, where the concordance office is located, at the corner of Broadway and Fifth Avenue.
The fair will be attended by local organizations, which will set up tables and hold registration for summer activities for local children and teens.
Representatives of different programs, camps, events and child-care resources will be present.
1-800-FLOWERS.COM
"We act as the middleman in all of this," Long Branch Concordance Outreach Director Emma Cabãn said. "Last year we had close to 200 kids come out, and we hope to have more this year."
Currently, organizations committed to appear at the fair include the YMCA, the Prevention First Coalition of Monmouth County and the Long Branch Public Library.
"We also will have balloons on the door so people know where it is," Cabãn said. "We will have snacks and kids' drinks, too. Also, there will be face painting and different arts and crafts projects. It won't just be signing up for summer activities."
While many of the organizations will target smaller children, there will be some choices for teenagers as well.
"The YMCA and Kingdom's Fighter Gear probably attract the teenagers," Cabãn said. "They have a lot of programs and services that would attract the teenagers."
The Long Branch Concordance is a nonprofit agency established in 2004. According to a press release, the concordance works to improve the lives of families in the surrounding area by finding resources for people in need, fostering individual and family development and creating partnerships for community well-being.
The concordance has advertised extensively for this event with the hope of increasing the turnout this year.
"We have let a lot of organizations know about the event," Cabãn said. "We have also put out fliers around town and let all of the families know about it."
Area students may also enter the poster contest during the fair.
The contest runs until Aug. 7 and the winning 12 posters will be made into the 2010 calendar.
"The winning 12 posters will go up on our website and will be on the calendar we give out to families," Cabãn said.
There is no registration needed for children to attend the event. For more information, visit the website at http://www.lbc4help.org/ or call 732-571- 1670.
Contact Ken Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com.
BY KEN WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The Long Branch Concordance with host its second annual mini-fair on April 4.
"School's Out for Summer, Now What?" will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the lobby of the Garfield Grant building at 279 Broadway, where the concordance office is located, at the corner of Broadway and Fifth Avenue.
The fair will be attended by local organizations, which will set up tables and hold registration for summer activities for local children and teens.
Representatives of different programs, camps, events and child-care resources will be present.
1-800-FLOWERS.COM
"We act as the middleman in all of this," Long Branch Concordance Outreach Director Emma Cabãn said. "Last year we had close to 200 kids come out, and we hope to have more this year."
Currently, organizations committed to appear at the fair include the YMCA, the Prevention First Coalition of Monmouth County and the Long Branch Public Library.
"We also will have balloons on the door so people know where it is," Cabãn said. "We will have snacks and kids' drinks, too. Also, there will be face painting and different arts and crafts projects. It won't just be signing up for summer activities."
While many of the organizations will target smaller children, there will be some choices for teenagers as well.
"The YMCA and Kingdom's Fighter Gear probably attract the teenagers," Cabãn said. "They have a lot of programs and services that would attract the teenagers."
The Long Branch Concordance is a nonprofit agency established in 2004. According to a press release, the concordance works to improve the lives of families in the surrounding area by finding resources for people in need, fostering individual and family development and creating partnerships for community well-being.
The concordance has advertised extensively for this event with the hope of increasing the turnout this year.
"We have let a lot of organizations know about the event," Cabãn said. "We have also put out fliers around town and let all of the families know about it."
Area students may also enter the poster contest during the fair.
The contest runs until Aug. 7 and the winning 12 posters will be made into the 2010 calendar.
"The winning 12 posters will go up on our website and will be on the calendar we give out to families," Cabãn said.
There is no registration needed for children to attend the event. For more information, visit the website at http://www.lbc4help.org/ or call 732-571- 1670.
Contact Ken Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com.
ESL classes at SRHS
ESL classes at SRHS
BY KEN WALTER Staff Writer
WEST LONG BRANCH — Shore Regional High School will hold an eight-week class for adults seeking to improve their ability to speak English.
The class is being taught by SRHS World Language teacher Alice Ennis Simonson and will serve people from the sending communities of Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright, and West Long Branch.
The eight-week class began on WednesdayApril 1 and continues every Wednesday evening from 7:30 pm-9 p.m. The class is free to all those who live in the listed communities and are 18 and older.
The mission of Simonson's class is to "provide instruction which offers non-native speakers an opportunity to acquire an increased communicative competence in conversational English necessary to meet professional, social and/or personal goals," according to a press release from the school.
"We believe it will help us to connect with the parents of some of our ELL [English Language Learners] students as well as others in the ELL population," Simonson said.
Simonson said that as of Monday there were only three people enrolled in the class, but she is hopeful enrollment will increase.
"I expect to have the parents and other adult family members of our current ELL students," she added.
Teaching adults may be different for Simonson, but it is something she has a history doing.
"Well, it is certainly different," she said. "I taught ESL [English as a Second Language] at Brookdale [Community College] where my students were adults of various ages."
And while there is not one set language that the students speak, Simonson welcomes people who are native speakers of all languages.
"As many as possible [languages]," Simonson said. "The more the merrier and the richer and the more diverse our class will be!"
Students should expect a hands-on approach to the class.
"I hope to make the class very practical and hands on ... with lots of real life scenarios to practice and from which to learn," Simonson said. "I will also have some assistance from a few international baccalaureate students who will volunteer their time to help."
Simonson expects the class to help people build proficiency in the English language.
"We plan to sculpt the class around the needs and desires of the students that enroll," Simonson. "Overall I would hope that everyone comes away with a greater confidence in communicating in English."
Contact Ken Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com
BY KEN WALTER Staff Writer
WEST LONG BRANCH — Shore Regional High School will hold an eight-week class for adults seeking to improve their ability to speak English.
The class is being taught by SRHS World Language teacher Alice Ennis Simonson and will serve people from the sending communities of Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright, and West Long Branch.
The eight-week class began on WednesdayApril 1 and continues every Wednesday evening from 7:30 pm-9 p.m. The class is free to all those who live in the listed communities and are 18 and older.
The mission of Simonson's class is to "provide instruction which offers non-native speakers an opportunity to acquire an increased communicative competence in conversational English necessary to meet professional, social and/or personal goals," according to a press release from the school.
"We believe it will help us to connect with the parents of some of our ELL [English Language Learners] students as well as others in the ELL population," Simonson said.
Simonson said that as of Monday there were only three people enrolled in the class, but she is hopeful enrollment will increase.
"I expect to have the parents and other adult family members of our current ELL students," she added.
Teaching adults may be different for Simonson, but it is something she has a history doing.
"Well, it is certainly different," she said. "I taught ESL [English as a Second Language] at Brookdale [Community College] where my students were adults of various ages."
And while there is not one set language that the students speak, Simonson welcomes people who are native speakers of all languages.
"As many as possible [languages]," Simonson said. "The more the merrier and the richer and the more diverse our class will be!"
Students should expect a hands-on approach to the class.
"I hope to make the class very practical and hands on ... with lots of real life scenarios to practice and from which to learn," Simonson said. "I will also have some assistance from a few international baccalaureate students who will volunteer their time to help."
Simonson expects the class to help people build proficiency in the English language.
"We plan to sculpt the class around the needs and desires of the students that enroll," Simonson. "Overall I would hope that everyone comes away with a greater confidence in communicating in English."
Contact Ken Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com
District looks for voter approval of budget
District looks for voter approval of budget
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The Long Branch Public School District is hoping voters approve a proposed $86,299,056 budget at the polls on April 21.
The budget for the 2009-10 school year calls for a $31,570,923 tax levy, a number the state will not allow Long Branch to go lower on, according to Long Branch School District BusinessAdministrator Peter Genovese III.
"We could have easily raised the budget another one or two million," Genovese said last week. "We could have raised the tax levy from last year up to four percent without even a waiver, but we decided that at this economic time it would be better to keep it as low as we could."
The 2008-09 budget came in at $83,619,191, meaning the proposed budget represents an increase of about 3.1 percent.
That budget was approved by voters at the polls last year by a margin of just six votes and marked the first time in five years that Long Branch voters supported the spending plan.
The proposed 2009-10 budget would amount to an increase for each taxpayer of 0.08 cents per $100 of assessed property valuation. Last year's tax rate was 60.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and this year's proposed rate is 61.7 cents per $100.
"For example, a house valued at $475,000 would pay an extra $38 per year," Genovese said.
The average Long Branch homeowner will pay about $2,900 in school taxes under the proposed budget.
State aid for 2009-10 for the district, which is an Abbott District, will remain the same as last year at around $40,700,000.
The budget reflects an increase in state aid for pre-K classes
"Last year we received roughly $7.7 million in aid for Pre-K," Genovese said. "With our enrollment this year we received $9.4 million in state aid for Pre-K services."
The $1.7 million increase in state aid for the preschool program accounts for all but $900,000 of the $2.6 million difference in the current and proposed budgets.
"The other $900,000 comes from normal increases in things like salaries and health benefits," Genovese said. "We tried hard to keep expenses down. We made some cuts in costs of transportation and building renovations."
Taxpayers had a chance to comment on the budget during the public hearing on April 1. After that, any necessary adjustments to the budget will be made and the vote is scheduled for April 21.
"The County Superintendent already approved the budget, so we got past that," Genovese said. "We would love the budget to pass. It would be a real vote of confidence for us."
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The Long Branch Public School District is hoping voters approve a proposed $86,299,056 budget at the polls on April 21.
The budget for the 2009-10 school year calls for a $31,570,923 tax levy, a number the state will not allow Long Branch to go lower on, according to Long Branch School District BusinessAdministrator Peter Genovese III.
"We could have easily raised the budget another one or two million," Genovese said last week. "We could have raised the tax levy from last year up to four percent without even a waiver, but we decided that at this economic time it would be better to keep it as low as we could."
The 2008-09 budget came in at $83,619,191, meaning the proposed budget represents an increase of about 3.1 percent.
That budget was approved by voters at the polls last year by a margin of just six votes and marked the first time in five years that Long Branch voters supported the spending plan.
The proposed 2009-10 budget would amount to an increase for each taxpayer of 0.08 cents per $100 of assessed property valuation. Last year's tax rate was 60.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation and this year's proposed rate is 61.7 cents per $100.
"For example, a house valued at $475,000 would pay an extra $38 per year," Genovese said.
The average Long Branch homeowner will pay about $2,900 in school taxes under the proposed budget.
State aid for 2009-10 for the district, which is an Abbott District, will remain the same as last year at around $40,700,000.
The budget reflects an increase in state aid for pre-K classes
"Last year we received roughly $7.7 million in aid for Pre-K," Genovese said. "With our enrollment this year we received $9.4 million in state aid for Pre-K services."
The $1.7 million increase in state aid for the preschool program accounts for all but $900,000 of the $2.6 million difference in the current and proposed budgets.
"The other $900,000 comes from normal increases in things like salaries and health benefits," Genovese said. "We tried hard to keep expenses down. We made some cuts in costs of transportation and building renovations."
Taxpayers had a chance to comment on the budget during the public hearing on April 1. After that, any necessary adjustments to the budget will be made and the vote is scheduled for April 21.
"The County Superintendent already approved the budget, so we got past that," Genovese said. "We would love the budget to pass. It would be a real vote of confidence for us."
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
T.F. school budget increase less than 1%
T.F. school budget increase less than 1%
BY KEN WALTER Correspondent
TINTON FALLS — The Tinton Falls School District has proposed a $28,496,069 budget for the 2009-10 school year, an increase of about $250,000 from last year.
The school budget as proposed represents an increase of about 0.88 percent from last year's budget of $28,243,300.
The spending plan, which taxpayers will vote on April 21, calls for a tax levy of $17,680,228, compared to last year's $17,580,444.
According to Tinton Falls School District Business Administrator Tamar Sydney- Gens, the tax levy includes another $1,527,327 in debt service already voted on and approved during previous referendums.
The tax rate per $100 of assessed valuation would go down for both Tinton Falls and Shrewsbury Township, which sends students to the district.
Tinton Falls residents would pay 62.28 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, which would be down 2.1 cents from last year. Shrewsbury Township residents would pay 67.04 cents, down 0.06 cents from last year.
The average Tinton Falls homeowner would pay $2,140 in school taxes, which would be a decrease of about $72 from last year. The average Shrewsbury Township homeowner would pay $1,005 in school taxes, down $1 from last year.
While some budget items, like salaries and benefits, will increase this year, the budget includes some cuts to keep the spending plan comparable to last year, according to Sydney-Gens.
"Most of the money in any school budget is in the areas of salaries, health benefits, utilities and transportation," she explained.
"We trimmed the budget in various places across the board," she said. "Transportation will be cut a little. Our special-education needs have changed in the last year, so we have reduced some money there."
The Tinton Falls budget is split between Tinton Falls, whose taxpayers pay approximately 97.5 percent of the tax levy, and Shrewsbury Township, where taxpayers pay a 2.5 percent share of the tax levy.
One way that the district fills the needs of its student body is by keeping class sizes as low as possible, especially for the younger grades, according to Sydney-Gens.
"Based on the needs of our students, we have the ability to move staff around to adapt to class sizes," she said. "This is especially important for the younger grades, where personal attention is more important."
Sydney-Gens also expects more activities to be restored to the Tinton Falls curriculum.
"We are looking to bring back certain programs into our co-curricular areas," Sydney Gens said. "Programs we are looking to bring back include the newspaper club, computer club, homework club and sportswriter club.
"We hope to provide additional technology in the classrooms," she added.
The K-8 school district includes three schools and expects to serve 1,638 students in the 2009-10 school year.
Contact Ken Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com
BY KEN WALTER Correspondent
TINTON FALLS — The Tinton Falls School District has proposed a $28,496,069 budget for the 2009-10 school year, an increase of about $250,000 from last year.
The school budget as proposed represents an increase of about 0.88 percent from last year's budget of $28,243,300.
The spending plan, which taxpayers will vote on April 21, calls for a tax levy of $17,680,228, compared to last year's $17,580,444.
According to Tinton Falls School District Business Administrator Tamar Sydney- Gens, the tax levy includes another $1,527,327 in debt service already voted on and approved during previous referendums.
The tax rate per $100 of assessed valuation would go down for both Tinton Falls and Shrewsbury Township, which sends students to the district.
Tinton Falls residents would pay 62.28 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, which would be down 2.1 cents from last year. Shrewsbury Township residents would pay 67.04 cents, down 0.06 cents from last year.
The average Tinton Falls homeowner would pay $2,140 in school taxes, which would be a decrease of about $72 from last year. The average Shrewsbury Township homeowner would pay $1,005 in school taxes, down $1 from last year.
While some budget items, like salaries and benefits, will increase this year, the budget includes some cuts to keep the spending plan comparable to last year, according to Sydney-Gens.
"Most of the money in any school budget is in the areas of salaries, health benefits, utilities and transportation," she explained.
"We trimmed the budget in various places across the board," she said. "Transportation will be cut a little. Our special-education needs have changed in the last year, so we have reduced some money there."
The Tinton Falls budget is split between Tinton Falls, whose taxpayers pay approximately 97.5 percent of the tax levy, and Shrewsbury Township, where taxpayers pay a 2.5 percent share of the tax levy.
One way that the district fills the needs of its student body is by keeping class sizes as low as possible, especially for the younger grades, according to Sydney-Gens.
"Based on the needs of our students, we have the ability to move staff around to adapt to class sizes," she said. "This is especially important for the younger grades, where personal attention is more important."
Sydney-Gens also expects more activities to be restored to the Tinton Falls curriculum.
"We are looking to bring back certain programs into our co-curricular areas," Sydney Gens said. "Programs we are looking to bring back include the newspaper club, computer club, homework club and sportswriter club.
"We hope to provide additional technology in the classrooms," she added.
The K-8 school district includes three schools and expects to serve 1,638 students in the 2009-10 school year.
Contact Ken Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Televised council meetings topic at cable meeting
Televised council meetings topic at cable meeting
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — Talks are underway about renewing the city's contract with cable provider Comcast New Jersey and televising City Council meetings has become part of the discussions.
On March 18 the Long Branch City Council held a special meeting to discuss the upcoming cable contract renewal. The meeting was open to the public and included a presentation from Comcast Area Director of Government & Community Affairs Rob Clifton.
Council members Brian Unger, David Brown, Dr. Mary Jane Celli and Council President Michael DeStefano were in attendance.
Long Branch has had a contract with Comcast for the past 15 years. The existing contract will be up on Sept. 19 and negotiations with the city are expected to start soon, according to a Comcast spokesman.
One of the issues raised at the meeting was the possibility of broadcasting council meetings on the local station or online. Several residents spoke in support of this idea, which has Unger's backing.
"Opening up council meetings on television would hopefully bring transparency in the government, which is sorely needed," said Denise Hoagland of Marine Terrace.
Unger suggested avenues to explore to have City Council meetings broadcast.
"I had a conversation with the superintendent of schools to see what he thought about broadcasting City Council meetings," Unger said. "He said he might be able to help with people working the cameras or lighting for extra credit."
He also said that Monmouth University could be helpful in broadcasting the meetings and he suggested that it might be cost effective for the city to hook up to the fiber link from the high school or middle school.
Unger suggested that if meetings are broadcast, it might be possible for people at home to email questions to the council and have them answered at the meetings.
Celli urged Comcast to consider offering a discount to seniors, but Clifton said Comcast cannot offer discounts based on age. However, residents who are on the PAAD program [Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged & Disabled] may receive a 10 percent discount on cable services, he said.
"We have a lot of seniors in this city," Celli said. "We all know what the economic times are. Not many of our seniors are on PAAD, that's why I'm a little concerned."
Mayor Adam Schneider and Councilman Anthony Giordano were not present at the meeting, which ended with no official vote being taken.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — Talks are underway about renewing the city's contract with cable provider Comcast New Jersey and televising City Council meetings has become part of the discussions.
On March 18 the Long Branch City Council held a special meeting to discuss the upcoming cable contract renewal. The meeting was open to the public and included a presentation from Comcast Area Director of Government & Community Affairs Rob Clifton.
Council members Brian Unger, David Brown, Dr. Mary Jane Celli and Council President Michael DeStefano were in attendance.
Long Branch has had a contract with Comcast for the past 15 years. The existing contract will be up on Sept. 19 and negotiations with the city are expected to start soon, according to a Comcast spokesman.
One of the issues raised at the meeting was the possibility of broadcasting council meetings on the local station or online. Several residents spoke in support of this idea, which has Unger's backing.
"Opening up council meetings on television would hopefully bring transparency in the government, which is sorely needed," said Denise Hoagland of Marine Terrace.
Unger suggested avenues to explore to have City Council meetings broadcast.
"I had a conversation with the superintendent of schools to see what he thought about broadcasting City Council meetings," Unger said. "He said he might be able to help with people working the cameras or lighting for extra credit."
He also said that Monmouth University could be helpful in broadcasting the meetings and he suggested that it might be cost effective for the city to hook up to the fiber link from the high school or middle school.
Unger suggested that if meetings are broadcast, it might be possible for people at home to email questions to the council and have them answered at the meetings.
Celli urged Comcast to consider offering a discount to seniors, but Clifton said Comcast cannot offer discounts based on age. However, residents who are on the PAAD program [Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged & Disabled] may receive a 10 percent discount on cable services, he said.
"We have a lot of seniors in this city," Celli said. "We all know what the economic times are. Not many of our seniors are on PAAD, that's why I'm a little concerned."
Mayor Adam Schneider and Councilman Anthony Giordano were not present at the meeting, which ended with no official vote being taken.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Assembly bill would slash funding to libraries
Assembly bill would slash funding to libraries
LONG BRANCH — The Long Branch Public Library is one of many municipal libraries statewide that may lose as much as half of their municipal funding if a proposed bill becomes law.
Assembly bill A-3753 was introduced on Feb. 9 by Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (D- 32nd District).
Long Branch Public Library Executive Director Ingrid Bruck sees this law as detrimental to the library.
"If this law ever passed it would be disastrous for libraries across the state," Bruck said. "People need us now more than ever. It would hit municipal libraries first, but county libraries would be affected as well."
The current state funding formula mandates that each town spend at least "onethird of a mill" on their municipal library. A mill is equal to one-thousandth of the town's total assessed property value. While towns are able to go over one-third of a mill to fund their libraries, one-third of a mill is the bare minimum.
The proposed bill would drop the minimum to one-sixth of a mill.
In addition to the main branch on Broadway, Long Branch Public Library has an Elberon Branch.
The library currently has a $1,602,958 budget, according to Ronald Mehlhorn Sr., Long Branch finance director.
"We offer a variety of quality-oflife services, such as tutoring services, English classes, and wireless Internet," Bruck said. "People come in to use the Internet because they can't afford to keep the Internet at their homes."
And as the economy has soured in recent months, the role of the library has increased within the community.
"We've seen a 20 percent increase in library traffic since the recession started," Bruck said.
The New Jersey Library Association argues that if the proposed bill were adopted into law, it "would lead to large-scale cutbacks in library services in … communities at a time when library usage is growing and
is needed more than ever," according to a press release from the Library Association.
The release states that libraries that do not suffer funding cuts may have to make up for services lost at other libraries due to funding cuts.
"Libraries funded above the minimum funding level would see their own services stretched as New Jersey residents seek out neighboring libraries to provide needed services, which their local libraries could no longer offer," the release states.
While the proposed bill would cut library funding in municipalities like Long Branch, NJLA executive director Pat Tumulty does not see it moving forward anytime soon.
"At this point, [Prieto] is talking to us and we don't perceive [the bill] going forward in the immediate future," Tumulty said.
State officials passed a law in 2007 that required municipalities to fund their libraries based on their municipal tax levy cap, Tumulty said.
"The cap law was passed in 2007 and that is why there has been so much confusion about this, because under previous cap laws, [libraries] were exempted, but under this law, [libraries] are added and that's what makes it very difficult," Tumulty said.
"Our feeling is [libraries] should be exempt from the levy or given their own tax," she added.
"This would really be a burden for municipal libraries," Bruck said. "We have three floors of services, and we can't possibly operate three floors if they pass this bill."
Long Branch Public Library and the Elberon branch are not part of the Monmouth County Library System.
LONG BRANCH — The Long Branch Public Library is one of many municipal libraries statewide that may lose as much as half of their municipal funding if a proposed bill becomes law.
Assembly bill A-3753 was introduced on Feb. 9 by Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (D- 32nd District).
Long Branch Public Library Executive Director Ingrid Bruck sees this law as detrimental to the library.
"If this law ever passed it would be disastrous for libraries across the state," Bruck said. "People need us now more than ever. It would hit municipal libraries first, but county libraries would be affected as well."
The current state funding formula mandates that each town spend at least "onethird of a mill" on their municipal library. A mill is equal to one-thousandth of the town's total assessed property value. While towns are able to go over one-third of a mill to fund their libraries, one-third of a mill is the bare minimum.
The proposed bill would drop the minimum to one-sixth of a mill.
In addition to the main branch on Broadway, Long Branch Public Library has an Elberon Branch.
The library currently has a $1,602,958 budget, according to Ronald Mehlhorn Sr., Long Branch finance director.
"We offer a variety of quality-oflife services, such as tutoring services, English classes, and wireless Internet," Bruck said. "People come in to use the Internet because they can't afford to keep the Internet at their homes."
And as the economy has soured in recent months, the role of the library has increased within the community.
"We've seen a 20 percent increase in library traffic since the recession started," Bruck said.
The New Jersey Library Association argues that if the proposed bill were adopted into law, it "would lead to large-scale cutbacks in library services in … communities at a time when library usage is growing and
is needed more than ever," according to a press release from the Library Association.
The release states that libraries that do not suffer funding cuts may have to make up for services lost at other libraries due to funding cuts.
"Libraries funded above the minimum funding level would see their own services stretched as New Jersey residents seek out neighboring libraries to provide needed services, which their local libraries could no longer offer," the release states.
While the proposed bill would cut library funding in municipalities like Long Branch, NJLA executive director Pat Tumulty does not see it moving forward anytime soon.
"At this point, [Prieto] is talking to us and we don't perceive [the bill] going forward in the immediate future," Tumulty said.
State officials passed a law in 2007 that required municipalities to fund their libraries based on their municipal tax levy cap, Tumulty said.
"The cap law was passed in 2007 and that is why there has been so much confusion about this, because under previous cap laws, [libraries] were exempted, but under this law, [libraries] are added and that's what makes it very difficult," Tumulty said.
"Our feeling is [libraries] should be exempt from the levy or given their own tax," she added.
"This would really be a burden for municipal libraries," Bruck said. "We have three floors of services, and we can't possibly operate three floors if they pass this bill."
Long Branch Public Library and the Elberon branch are not part of the Monmouth County Library System.
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