O’port wants final plans, costs for park building
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
OCEANPORT — The borough is moving ahead with plans to replace a building at Blackberry Bay Park and is reissuing a request for proposals (RFP) to put a price tag on the project.
The project is being spearheaded by Councilman Richard Gallo Jr., who spoke last week about the future of the park, which is located off Port-Au-Peck Avenue.
“We have soccer fields, baseball fields, tennis courts, a boat ramp and a swim club,” he said. “It [the RFP] would be to hire an engineering firm to give us the estimates to build a building.”
Gallo said the park formerly had a building but it was destroyed by a fire.
“There was a building that was burned down about two years ago,” he said. “We have everything in a storage trailer.”
Gallo gave an overview of plans for the building.
“What we want to do now is build a whole new little complex there with bathrooms and storage,” he said. “There is also a little space that they have a refrigerator and serve soda to the soccer teams.
“We have a snack bar, and we want to add in a little covered patio,” he added. “So the project is to redo this whole little building.”
Gallo explained that the design for the building is complete and the RFP is for pricing construction of the building.
“We have the conceptual drawings, and the RFP is for the engineers to come up with the price this is all going to cost, and final designs and all that,” he said. “We estimate it costing between $250,000 and $275,000.”
Gallo said the borough sent out an RFP last year for the same project, but the responses were difficult to compare.
“We sent one out last year, and it was between two engineering firms, and what happened was they weren’t apples for apples,” he said. “We want to make sure this time that they are the same.”
He said the RFP would be discussed further before the borough sends out the request.
“I’m going to meet with the council Committee on Recreation, and we are going to discuss what we are actually looking for,” he said, “correct it so we get the same RFP back.
“I’ll bring it back to council and we will send it out again,” he added. “I’d like to have it by the next council meeting [Feb. 4].”
There was some discussion at the Jan. 21 workshop meeting to expand on the plans to construct a larger building and possibly a community center and indoor basketball court, but Borough Engineer William White, of Maser Consulting, didn’t think that would be feasible.
“You don’t have the footprint for indoor basketball,” White said. “What’s good about the location is all the utilities are there now. It really would be the centerpiece of that park.”
According to Gallo, the borough is also looking for sources of funding for the building.
“We want to get this ready and in place to get a grant,” he said. “We are trying to get a CDBG [Community Development Block Grant] grant.”
He said the borough is also seeking sources of grants to rebuild the bulkhead and the boat ramp.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
City approves eminent domain ban in BFS
City approves eminent domain ban in BFS
Ordinance sets zoning for future development
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
The Long Branch City Council agreed not to use eminent domain in the Beachfront South (BFS) redevelopment zone Jan. 26, approving a resolution that bans condemnation of properties and adopting an ordinance setting zoning restrictions for future development in the zone.
In the wake of protracted legal battles over eminent domain and with redevelopment mired in the economic downturn, the city put aside its power to take private property through eminent domain, at least in the BFS zone.
“All property owners wish to be free to implement their respective plans without the threat of eminent domain,” the adopted resolution reads.
The council’s actions follow months of discussions with the 36 property owners in the oceanfront neighborhood, and were precipitated, in part, by the economic downturn, including a developer that opted out of the redevelopment and a decade-long conflict with property owners in the Beachfront North redevelopment zone,
The Beachfront South zone extends from Bath to Morris avenues, between Ocean Boulevard and Ocean Avenue and is one of the city’s six redevelopment zones. The eminent domain ban was recommended by the Long Branch Planning Board, which unanimously recommended that the council adopt the ordinance and clarify zoning regulations.
The zoning ordinance passed with a 3-1 vote and the resolution with a 4-0 vote. Councilman Brian Unger voted against the ordinance, and Councilman Anthony Giordano was absent for the vote.
Unger explained the reason for his vote supporting the resolution.
“I’m going to vote in favor because the resolution reads the elimination of eminent domain in Beachfront South,” he said. “I think this has been a sham. We are in an election year and there is election year conversion.”
At the close of the meeting, council PresidentMichael DeStefano alluded to Unger’s own political agenda.
“We are all reminded that the campaign season has begun,” he said.
The resolution, 10-10, stipulates that the city “is committed to coordinating public and private efforts to organize and build cohesive neighborhoods in the context of the revitalization of its historic public oceanfront.”
The zoning ordinance, 25-09, provides that existing structures that do not meet the requirements of the redevelopment plan or design guidelines “may remain in their current configuration as pre-existing, nonconforming structures.”
In addition, additions and alterations to pre-existing, nonconforming structures or new construction must meet the requirements of the city’s building code and provides for no variances. Also, the ordinance says no additional units can be constructed.
Despite the elimination of eminent domain and clarification of the zoning regulations, some Beachfront South residents said they remain concerned about the future of their neighborhood.
Some expressed concerns about the language of the ordinance addressing residential hotel accommodations, which City Attorney James Aaron tried to clarify. Under the ordinance, permitted uses include pre-existing single-family homes, residential hotel accommodations and, a new addition, bed-andbreakfast guesthouses.
BFS resident Diana Multare was concerned that the hotel accommodations were not addressed when the city and BFS residents met.
“I don’t recall any discussion at all of this residential hotel accommodations,” she said. “There is certainly no consensus as far as I know from that particular item.”
“Those are individual rooms that are available to the general public in a hotel,” Aaron said. “They are renting the rooms for a period of time. In theory, you can rent a hotel room for an extended period of time, but it is not to set up a boarding house or something of that nature.”
Mayor Adam Schneider explained hotel accommodations has been in the redevelopment plan for a long time and is not a new item.
“It’s been in there since the beginning of the design guidelines so it is not an addition,” he said. “If there were a strong consensus against it, then we’d have to look at it. We are not adding a new use to the zone.”
Another complaint was that there was no consensus reached between the city and the residents.
“I think it might behoove the City Council to review passing this ordinance without specific signatures to justify this notion of consensus,” Multare said. “We dialogued, but I think you have to rethink the process here.”
Schneider said that tabling the ordinance might have an adverse effect.
“The only thing I would suggest is that if we put it off, we won’t know where it will go,” he said. “If the people think it is a really horrible use, then we can change it after this. We can always come back and meet.”
Aaron said that while there was no written consensus, previous meetings have resulted in an unofficial consensus on what they would like to happen.
“The consensus was given voluntarily and orally at those meetings,” he said. “There is no signed document that says there is an agreement between the property owners and the city.”
BFS residents Michelle and Harold Bobrow welcomed the council actions, saying they are relieved that uncertainty over the future of their home is ended.
“I am very glad to see the resolution here eliminating the use of eminent domain in Beachfront South,” Harold Bobrow said. “It’s been a long time coming.
“There is a lot of sentiment and various emotions that are eight years old,” he said. “We are at the point where we are going to pass this.”
“It’s been a long time coming that you are rescinding the use of eminent domain in Beachfront South, which never should have been posed in the first place,” Michelle Bobrow said. “You’ve destroyed people’s lives, and thank you, for finally making it right.”
In September, after a protracted legal battle, the city reached an agreement with a group of property owners in the Beachfront North redevelopment zone.
All but six property owners in the MTOTSA Alliance (Marine Terrace and Ocean Terrace and Seaview Avenue) reached a settlement in their longstanding battle over the city’s condemnation of their homes to clear the way for redevelopment.
The settlement allowed property owners the right to develop their land and included an agreement that the city would not use eminent domain in that neighborhood. In return, the property owners forfeited their right to sue the city for compensatory damages.
Two members of MTOTSA spoke at the meeting.
“I want to congratulate the Beachfront South people,” Lori Ann Vendetti said. “You guys have fought for that, and I think you still have to watch the ordinance as well. I think it is time to do it in a citywide ordinance.”
Denise Hoagland, who was one of the six property owners who declined to sign the agreement with the city, spoke against the Beachfront South ordinance.
“I’m really unsure what the residents of Beachfront South want,” she said. “I’d be remiss to not mention that this ordinance is not an agreement. If both parties aren’t signing it, then it doesn’t make it a contractual agreement.”
Hoagland also said that very little has changed in her neighborhood since the September agreement with the city.
“Our lives have not changed all that much, and we are still subject to the redevelopment zone,” she said.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Ordinance sets zoning for future development
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
The Long Branch City Council agreed not to use eminent domain in the Beachfront South (BFS) redevelopment zone Jan. 26, approving a resolution that bans condemnation of properties and adopting an ordinance setting zoning restrictions for future development in the zone.
In the wake of protracted legal battles over eminent domain and with redevelopment mired in the economic downturn, the city put aside its power to take private property through eminent domain, at least in the BFS zone.
“All property owners wish to be free to implement their respective plans without the threat of eminent domain,” the adopted resolution reads.
The council’s actions follow months of discussions with the 36 property owners in the oceanfront neighborhood, and were precipitated, in part, by the economic downturn, including a developer that opted out of the redevelopment and a decade-long conflict with property owners in the Beachfront North redevelopment zone,
The Beachfront South zone extends from Bath to Morris avenues, between Ocean Boulevard and Ocean Avenue and is one of the city’s six redevelopment zones. The eminent domain ban was recommended by the Long Branch Planning Board, which unanimously recommended that the council adopt the ordinance and clarify zoning regulations.
The zoning ordinance passed with a 3-1 vote and the resolution with a 4-0 vote. Councilman Brian Unger voted against the ordinance, and Councilman Anthony Giordano was absent for the vote.
Unger explained the reason for his vote supporting the resolution.
“I’m going to vote in favor because the resolution reads the elimination of eminent domain in Beachfront South,” he said. “I think this has been a sham. We are in an election year and there is election year conversion.”
At the close of the meeting, council PresidentMichael DeStefano alluded to Unger’s own political agenda.
“We are all reminded that the campaign season has begun,” he said.
The resolution, 10-10, stipulates that the city “is committed to coordinating public and private efforts to organize and build cohesive neighborhoods in the context of the revitalization of its historic public oceanfront.”
The zoning ordinance, 25-09, provides that existing structures that do not meet the requirements of the redevelopment plan or design guidelines “may remain in their current configuration as pre-existing, nonconforming structures.”
In addition, additions and alterations to pre-existing, nonconforming structures or new construction must meet the requirements of the city’s building code and provides for no variances. Also, the ordinance says no additional units can be constructed.
Despite the elimination of eminent domain and clarification of the zoning regulations, some Beachfront South residents said they remain concerned about the future of their neighborhood.
Some expressed concerns about the language of the ordinance addressing residential hotel accommodations, which City Attorney James Aaron tried to clarify. Under the ordinance, permitted uses include pre-existing single-family homes, residential hotel accommodations and, a new addition, bed-andbreakfast guesthouses.
BFS resident Diana Multare was concerned that the hotel accommodations were not addressed when the city and BFS residents met.
“I don’t recall any discussion at all of this residential hotel accommodations,” she said. “There is certainly no consensus as far as I know from that particular item.”
“Those are individual rooms that are available to the general public in a hotel,” Aaron said. “They are renting the rooms for a period of time. In theory, you can rent a hotel room for an extended period of time, but it is not to set up a boarding house or something of that nature.”
Mayor Adam Schneider explained hotel accommodations has been in the redevelopment plan for a long time and is not a new item.
“It’s been in there since the beginning of the design guidelines so it is not an addition,” he said. “If there were a strong consensus against it, then we’d have to look at it. We are not adding a new use to the zone.”
Another complaint was that there was no consensus reached between the city and the residents.
“I think it might behoove the City Council to review passing this ordinance without specific signatures to justify this notion of consensus,” Multare said. “We dialogued, but I think you have to rethink the process here.”
Schneider said that tabling the ordinance might have an adverse effect.
“The only thing I would suggest is that if we put it off, we won’t know where it will go,” he said. “If the people think it is a really horrible use, then we can change it after this. We can always come back and meet.”
Aaron said that while there was no written consensus, previous meetings have resulted in an unofficial consensus on what they would like to happen.
“The consensus was given voluntarily and orally at those meetings,” he said. “There is no signed document that says there is an agreement between the property owners and the city.”
BFS residents Michelle and Harold Bobrow welcomed the council actions, saying they are relieved that uncertainty over the future of their home is ended.
“I am very glad to see the resolution here eliminating the use of eminent domain in Beachfront South,” Harold Bobrow said. “It’s been a long time coming.
“There is a lot of sentiment and various emotions that are eight years old,” he said. “We are at the point where we are going to pass this.”
“It’s been a long time coming that you are rescinding the use of eminent domain in Beachfront South, which never should have been posed in the first place,” Michelle Bobrow said. “You’ve destroyed people’s lives, and thank you, for finally making it right.”
In September, after a protracted legal battle, the city reached an agreement with a group of property owners in the Beachfront North redevelopment zone.
All but six property owners in the MTOTSA Alliance (Marine Terrace and Ocean Terrace and Seaview Avenue) reached a settlement in their longstanding battle over the city’s condemnation of their homes to clear the way for redevelopment.
The settlement allowed property owners the right to develop their land and included an agreement that the city would not use eminent domain in that neighborhood. In return, the property owners forfeited their right to sue the city for compensatory damages.
Two members of MTOTSA spoke at the meeting.
“I want to congratulate the Beachfront South people,” Lori Ann Vendetti said. “You guys have fought for that, and I think you still have to watch the ordinance as well. I think it is time to do it in a citywide ordinance.”
Denise Hoagland, who was one of the six property owners who declined to sign the agreement with the city, spoke against the Beachfront South ordinance.
“I’m really unsure what the residents of Beachfront South want,” she said. “I’d be remiss to not mention that this ordinance is not an agreement. If both parties aren’t signing it, then it doesn’t make it a contractual agreement.”
Hoagland also said that very little has changed in her neighborhood since the September agreement with the city.
“Our lives have not changed all that much, and we are still subject to the redevelopment zone,” she said.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Saturday, March 27, 2010
T.F. votes to cut open space tax rate
T.F. votes to cut open space tax rate
Controversial measure will save residents $25 per yr.
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — After months of debate and different procedural maneuvers, Tinton Falls residents will finally get their open space tax rate cut.
The Borough Council adopted an ordinance cutting the rate at its Jan. 19 meeting with a 3-2 vote. The vote was in accordance with the Nov. 3 referendum in which nearly 60 percent of voters favored a reduction in the open space tax rate from 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to 2.25 cents.
Council President Duane Morrill and Councilman Andrew Mayer voted against the ordinance.
Morrill has opposed cutting the tax since August and in an interview last week said he never considered voting to cut the tax.
“I was against it from the beginning,” he said. “Just because I’m going to lose the battle doesn’t mean I’m going to change my vote.
“I just voted my conscience,” he added. “There was never a thought in my mind to switch the other way.”
Morrill acknowledged that the council’s vote reflects the results of the referendum.
“The town voted 60-40, and that’s the way the council voted as well,” he said. “There are two of us against lowering it and three of us that are for it.”
Morrill also explained that he felt in the long run this would end up hurting residents of Tinton Falls.
“Our financial guy [Director of Finance Stephen Pfeffer] has stated time and time again that the purchase of open space is going to save the town money in the long run because the cost of services are so much more that we have to provide from each house that comes into town,” he said. “In my mind it just makes good common sense to keep the open space and save the taxpayers the money in the long run.”
At least one resident took offense to Morrill’s voting against the tax cut.
“I found it upsetting and appalling because even though the voters voted for it, they still voted against it,” resident Denise Catalano said. “Duane’s reply was, ‘Well, so you see the voters voted 60-40 and so did the council.’
“It sounds like they are only representing 40 percent of the [borough] then,” she added. “If they are voting based on the minority of the [borough] that voted, then I’d say they aren’t representing the majority of people.”
Catalano went on to say that she was surprised that the two councilmen voted the way they did.
“I thought that they should have all voted for it. I was surprised to see that they’d still vote against it even though the majority of … voters voted for it,” she continued.
The issue of cutting the open space tax rate became controversial during the summer when the Borough Council spent several meetings debating whether to submit a question on the open space tax rate to a referendum vote.
The council ended up accepting the referendum question with a 3-2 vote at the Aug. 18 council meeting, just nine days before the deadline to submit referendum questions to the state.
Council members Scott Larkin, NancyAnn Fama and Gary Baldwin supported adding the question to the ballot, while Mayer and Morrill did not.
When the topic of the open space tax first came up, the argument was whether to keep it at 3 cents or lower it to 1.5 cents, until Larkin eventually proposed the compromise of 2.25 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
Under the current 3-cent tax, Tinton Falls will collect $901,774 in dedicated open space funding, according to Pfeffer. With the rate cut approved by voters, approximately $676,000 will be collected during the 2010 tax year.
Pfeffer also has said that currently there is approximately $1.7 million in the open space trust fund.
According to Borough Clerk Karen Mount-Taylor, the borough collected $384,181 through the open space tax in 2007. After the borough’s property revaluation in 2008, the amount collected rose to $876,746.
With the tax rate cut approved, the average resident will receive a $25.79 tax cut this year. Last year, a resident with a house assessed at the borough average of $343,760 paid about $103 in taxes for open space.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Controversial measure will save residents $25 per yr.
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — After months of debate and different procedural maneuvers, Tinton Falls residents will finally get their open space tax rate cut.
The Borough Council adopted an ordinance cutting the rate at its Jan. 19 meeting with a 3-2 vote. The vote was in accordance with the Nov. 3 referendum in which nearly 60 percent of voters favored a reduction in the open space tax rate from 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to 2.25 cents.
Council President Duane Morrill and Councilman Andrew Mayer voted against the ordinance.
Morrill has opposed cutting the tax since August and in an interview last week said he never considered voting to cut the tax.
“I was against it from the beginning,” he said. “Just because I’m going to lose the battle doesn’t mean I’m going to change my vote.
“I just voted my conscience,” he added. “There was never a thought in my mind to switch the other way.”
Morrill acknowledged that the council’s vote reflects the results of the referendum.
“The town voted 60-40, and that’s the way the council voted as well,” he said. “There are two of us against lowering it and three of us that are for it.”
Morrill also explained that he felt in the long run this would end up hurting residents of Tinton Falls.
“Our financial guy [Director of Finance Stephen Pfeffer] has stated time and time again that the purchase of open space is going to save the town money in the long run because the cost of services are so much more that we have to provide from each house that comes into town,” he said. “In my mind it just makes good common sense to keep the open space and save the taxpayers the money in the long run.”
At least one resident took offense to Morrill’s voting against the tax cut.
“I found it upsetting and appalling because even though the voters voted for it, they still voted against it,” resident Denise Catalano said. “Duane’s reply was, ‘Well, so you see the voters voted 60-40 and so did the council.’
“It sounds like they are only representing 40 percent of the [borough] then,” she added. “If they are voting based on the minority of the [borough] that voted, then I’d say they aren’t representing the majority of people.”
Catalano went on to say that she was surprised that the two councilmen voted the way they did.
“I thought that they should have all voted for it. I was surprised to see that they’d still vote against it even though the majority of … voters voted for it,” she continued.
The issue of cutting the open space tax rate became controversial during the summer when the Borough Council spent several meetings debating whether to submit a question on the open space tax rate to a referendum vote.
The council ended up accepting the referendum question with a 3-2 vote at the Aug. 18 council meeting, just nine days before the deadline to submit referendum questions to the state.
Council members Scott Larkin, NancyAnn Fama and Gary Baldwin supported adding the question to the ballot, while Mayer and Morrill did not.
When the topic of the open space tax first came up, the argument was whether to keep it at 3 cents or lower it to 1.5 cents, until Larkin eventually proposed the compromise of 2.25 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
Under the current 3-cent tax, Tinton Falls will collect $901,774 in dedicated open space funding, according to Pfeffer. With the rate cut approved by voters, approximately $676,000 will be collected during the 2010 tax year.
Pfeffer also has said that currently there is approximately $1.7 million in the open space trust fund.
According to Borough Clerk Karen Mount-Taylor, the borough collected $384,181 through the open space tax in 2007. After the borough’s property revaluation in 2008, the amount collected rose to $876,746.
With the tax rate cut approved, the average resident will receive a $25.79 tax cut this year. Last year, a resident with a house assessed at the borough average of $343,760 paid about $103 in taxes for open space.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Master plan charts future of Long Branch
Master plan charts future of Long Branch
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Vibrant pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods around the Long Branch train station, bed-and-breakfast accommodations, mixed-use development along the riverfront, and live-work spaces are part of a master plan that will guide the future of Long Branch.
That vision came a step closer to reality last week with the presentation of the city’s draft master plan.
More than 20 years after the last revision of the master plan, the Planning Board held a public hearing on the proposed updated master plan, which is on schedule to be adopted in March after review by the City Council.
Before the presentation, Assistant Planning Director Carl Turner provided some history, including that the city’s first master plan was created in 1955 and the most recent was adopted in 1988.
“A lot has happened since then. Long Branch is a city with a large residential component,” he said. “One of the goals is to create a place to live with controlled commercial [development].
“What we found is that if we make it a nice place to live, people will visit. If you make it a nice place to visit, then people won’t want to live here,” Turner said. “This plan emphasizes the balance between residential and commercial components.”
Engineer David Maski made the presentation in front of a packed City Hall on Jan. 19, explaining that the master plan is a policy document adopted by the Planning Board and that zoning to implement the plan is the City Council’s jurisdiction.”
Maski explained that he doesn’t recommend a lot of changes in the zoning of Long Branch.
“About 4 percent of the city’s acreage is vacant, which isn’t a lot,” he said. “There are no sweeping changes in the land-use plan. It cleans up some of the zones.”
Maski said the proposed transit village would extend a quarter of a mile around the train station.
“That will require the city to create “a community around the station that is primarily residential but also mixed use to make the train station a very lively place,” he said.
“Not only will people be getting on the train there, but they will be living and shopping as well.”
Maski said the plan also calls for a riverfront, mixeduse development along Branchport Creek.
“It combines a couple of existing zones between AtlanticAvenue and Branchport Creek,” he said. “What it
does is allow some comprehensive development, and the plan suggests the development that goes in there be mindful of its presence on the water. One of the goals of the master plan is to increase access to the city’s other waterfront.”
Maski suggested that live-work homeoffice uses such as attorneys and dental offices be allowed in residential zones throughout the city.
“The land use plan is recommending … to allow a conversion without upsetting the residential character of a particular building,” he said.
He previously suggested the city consider moving City Hall farther east on Broadway, and last week specified a site.
“Something should probably happen with this complex,” he said. “It is not the most efficiently laid out. We can move it down the road a bit, near McDonald’s,” he added. “It is important for the civic nature of the zone.”
Following the presentation, Planning Board Chairman Howard Marlin praised the plan.
“This project started over five years ago,” he said. “During this time, many hours were spent on this project. It’s not perfect, but it’s close to it.”
Residents had mixed views on the presentation, with some making recommendations and others highly critical of the plan.
Dennis Sherman, of Save Ocean Avenue, presented the board with a list of recommendations the group compiled for the waterfront area.
“We have been working on 14 recommendations with the city to improve the boardwalk with all kinds of modern ideas to make Long Branch a 12-month place,” he said.
Among the recommendations Sherman advocated are more public art, boardwalk improvements and traffic-calming measures.
Resident Diana Multare was unhappy with the city’s plan to move forward with the transit village and the ferry and pier project.
“The demands of the ferry terminal are incredible to me,” she said. “The way I see this is that Long Branch will be used as an area to move people around.
“Long Branch as a city will be lost. I think it’s kind of a joke for you to talk about quality of life in Long Branch.”
“As far as I’m concerned, this is not ready for a City Council ordinance,” she said. “You’ve got a lot of work to do. The pier is OK, but not the way it is connected to this ferry terminal.”
The master plan includes a comprehensive look at the city’s demographics, and plans for community facilities, historical preservation, open space and recreation as well as affordable housing and age-restricted housing.
Other topics include the coastal evacuation plan, the city’s parking facilities, and a proposed shuttle service. The complete draft plan can be viewed on the city’s website, www.visitlongbranch.com; click on master plan.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter @gmnews.com.
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BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Vibrant pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods around the Long Branch train station, bed-and-breakfast accommodations, mixed-use development along the riverfront, and live-work spaces are part of a master plan that will guide the future of Long Branch.
That vision came a step closer to reality last week with the presentation of the city’s draft master plan.
More than 20 years after the last revision of the master plan, the Planning Board held a public hearing on the proposed updated master plan, which is on schedule to be adopted in March after review by the City Council.
Before the presentation, Assistant Planning Director Carl Turner provided some history, including that the city’s first master plan was created in 1955 and the most recent was adopted in 1988.
“A lot has happened since then. Long Branch is a city with a large residential component,” he said. “One of the goals is to create a place to live with controlled commercial [development].
“What we found is that if we make it a nice place to live, people will visit. If you make it a nice place to visit, then people won’t want to live here,” Turner said. “This plan emphasizes the balance between residential and commercial components.”
Engineer David Maski made the presentation in front of a packed City Hall on Jan. 19, explaining that the master plan is a policy document adopted by the Planning Board and that zoning to implement the plan is the City Council’s jurisdiction.”
Maski explained that he doesn’t recommend a lot of changes in the zoning of Long Branch.
“About 4 percent of the city’s acreage is vacant, which isn’t a lot,” he said. “There are no sweeping changes in the land-use plan. It cleans up some of the zones.”
Maski said the proposed transit village would extend a quarter of a mile around the train station.
“That will require the city to create “a community around the station that is primarily residential but also mixed use to make the train station a very lively place,” he said.
“Not only will people be getting on the train there, but they will be living and shopping as well.”
Maski said the plan also calls for a riverfront, mixeduse development along Branchport Creek.
“It combines a couple of existing zones between AtlanticAvenue and Branchport Creek,” he said. “What it
does is allow some comprehensive development, and the plan suggests the development that goes in there be mindful of its presence on the water. One of the goals of the master plan is to increase access to the city’s other waterfront.”
Maski suggested that live-work homeoffice uses such as attorneys and dental offices be allowed in residential zones throughout the city.
“The land use plan is recommending … to allow a conversion without upsetting the residential character of a particular building,” he said.
He previously suggested the city consider moving City Hall farther east on Broadway, and last week specified a site.
“Something should probably happen with this complex,” he said. “It is not the most efficiently laid out. We can move it down the road a bit, near McDonald’s,” he added. “It is important for the civic nature of the zone.”
Following the presentation, Planning Board Chairman Howard Marlin praised the plan.
“This project started over five years ago,” he said. “During this time, many hours were spent on this project. It’s not perfect, but it’s close to it.”
Residents had mixed views on the presentation, with some making recommendations and others highly critical of the plan.
Dennis Sherman, of Save Ocean Avenue, presented the board with a list of recommendations the group compiled for the waterfront area.
“We have been working on 14 recommendations with the city to improve the boardwalk with all kinds of modern ideas to make Long Branch a 12-month place,” he said.
Among the recommendations Sherman advocated are more public art, boardwalk improvements and traffic-calming measures.
Resident Diana Multare was unhappy with the city’s plan to move forward with the transit village and the ferry and pier project.
“The demands of the ferry terminal are incredible to me,” she said. “The way I see this is that Long Branch will be used as an area to move people around.
“Long Branch as a city will be lost. I think it’s kind of a joke for you to talk about quality of life in Long Branch.”
“As far as I’m concerned, this is not ready for a City Council ordinance,” she said. “You’ve got a lot of work to do. The pier is OK, but not the way it is connected to this ferry terminal.”
The master plan includes a comprehensive look at the city’s demographics, and plans for community facilities, historical preservation, open space and recreation as well as affordable housing and age-restricted housing.
Other topics include the coastal evacuation plan, the city’s parking facilities, and a proposed shuttle service. The complete draft plan can be viewed on the city’s website, www.visitlongbranch.com; click on master plan.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter @gmnews.com.
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9/11 responders urge action on benefits bill
9/11 responders urge action on benefits bill
Ralliers press Pallone to move bill out of committee
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Despite the driving rain, more than 30 people rallied in front of Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.’s Long Branch office Monday to urge the congressman to move forward with a bill that would guarantee extended health care for 9/11 first responders and people who worked and lived near the World Trade Center.
Injured or ailing 9/11 first responders and supporters stood in a drenching rain to rally in front of Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.’s Long Branch office Monday. KENNY WALTER Injured or ailing 9/11 first responders and supporters stood in a drenching rain to rally in front of Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.’s Long Branch office Monday. KENNY WALTER The rally, organized by the Fealgood Foundation, urged the 6th District Democrat to move the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act (H.R. 847) out of committee to a floor vote in Congress.
“We are not deterred by the rain,” said John Feal, rally organizer and president and founder of the foundation. “We’ve been rained on for years.
“This is 800-plus 9/11 first responders in heaven crying on us today. We simply want a mark-up date. We will rally again and the sun will shine.”
Feal explained in an interview what the foundation’s mission is.
“At the end of 2005 I started the Feal- Good Foundation,” he said. “We do fundraisers and donate financial assistance, and we also advocate for 9/11 responders.”
According to the website, the foundation’s primary mission is to spread awareness and educate the public about the catastrophic health effects experienced by 9/11 first responders. In addition, the foundation provides assistance “to relieve these great heroes of the financial burdens placed on them.”
A secondary goal of the foundation is to create a network of advocacy on 9/11 health care issues.
“We not only advocate for ground zero workers, but show others how they can advocate for themselves and help others through grassroots activism,” the website states.
Feal is one of those injured 9/11 responders. After spending five days at ground zero, his left foot was crushed by 8,000 pounds of steel and he lost half of his foot.
“I’ve had multiple surgeries, all the way up to 2006, on both feet,” he added. “I had to fight for benefits. Those couple of years after I got hurt, physical and mental therapy are what saved my life.”
At the Jan. 25 rally, Feal explained that the foundation is advocating for Pallone to bring the bill to a vote by members of the House Subcommittee on Health, which Pallone chairs.
“A mark-up date is a date where the bill would go to the congressman’s committee,” he said. “One part of the bill already went through the Judiciary Committee.
“Congressman Pallone’s committee is the final step before the bill goes to the floor for a vote and to get it out of [the House of Representatives] and into the Senate,” he added.
In an interview last week, Pallone said there aren’t enough favorable votes to move the bill forward. But Feal disagreed.
“The yes votes outnumber the no votes,” he said. “We know for a fact that he has the support of his committee for this vote.
“We want leadership and we want a mark-up date,” he said at the rally.
Feal was joined at the rally by Gary White, of the 9/11 Police Aid Foundation, and Kenny Specht, of the New York City Firefighters Brotherhood Foundation.
Specht said the bill would cover more than 30,000 people. He also claims that Pallone has enough votes to move forward with
“One hundred percent of us want care, and we cannot get it,” he said. “Twenty votes are needed, and we have 26.
“Unfortunately, we are out here today … we have to remind this man that 26 is six more than what is necessary. There is no reason for us to be out here.”
White concurred.
“They are sick, they are dying,” he said. “We have enough votes. Twenty votes are necessary, and we have 26.”
However, in an interview last week, Pallone said he isn’t sure there are enough votes to move the bill out of committee.
“I’m trying to get the votes for the bill, but I’m not there yet,” he said. “Some of the members have problems because they don’t like entitlements.
“The cost of this is approximately $10 billion over 10 years,” he added. “We have to come up with a way to pay for that, which means a new tax.
“Some of the members are also concerned with the community part; they don’t mind providing the money to the first responders, but they don’t necessarily want to give an entitlement to the people that were working there or live down there,” he continued.
Pallone explained what the current health care system provides for 9/11 responders.
“Basically right now if you were a first responder at the World Trade Center or someone who lived or worked in Lower Manhattan, you can get health care and go to a clinic that the federal government set up in various places,” he said. “There is one in the Busch Campus at Rutgers and there are several in New York.
“Anything that is health-related, you get free health care and it’s paid by the federal government,” he added.
Pallone explained the changes under the proposed bill.
“What this bill does is say that it is an entitlement,” he said. “Right now we vote the money every year, just like what we do with the veterans’ clinic.
“We have provided the funding and we have provided care, but what they want this to be is a permanent entitlement, meaning they are guaranteed this care for the rest of their lives, and we don’t have to vote on this every year,” Pallone said. “I’m in favor of that.
“We are getting there, and I think eventually we will have the votes and we will be able to post the bill,” he said. “I don’t want to bring the bill up and have it defeated or have it amended.”
Feal explained the progress of the bill so far.
“In June the Judiciary Committee marked up one half of our bill, the compensation part, with a vote of 22-9,” he said. “That vote was supposed to be a lot closer, but I filled that committee room with 9/11 responders.
“In September he [Pallone] said he’d mark up our bill, and he never did, and in December he said it again and he never did,” he continued. “We were told we had to take a back seat to the national health care bill; we understood that, but we weren’t happy.”
According to Feal, the primary issue is that there are a lot of people suffering from not only injuries, but also severe illnesses.
“You can’t see all the illnesses in these men and women that are sick and dying,” he said. “This is a national crime against humanity, and those in power have responsibilities.”
Pallone said he has worked with the Fealgood Foundation for years and understands their position.
“They’re not happy,” he said. “They want the bill voted on immediately.
“Their fear is that 10 or 20 years from now they are going to have more problems and it is going to be harder for them to be activists.
“It’s legitimate, but we’ve got to make sure we have the votes.”
Feal said he will continue pushing for the mark-up, and if that is achieved, he will give Pallone credit.
“I expect him to give us a mark-up date,” he said. “I told his office if he gives us a mark-up date before the [Jan.] 25th, I would turn that rally into a press conference, I will hold his hand, and he will be our champion. I will make the man like Elvis in the 9/11 community.”
Feal said the foundation and its supporters will not give up the effort to move the bill out of committee and to a vote.
“If he doesn’t mark it up, then we are going to [rally] again in the near future,” he added.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Ralliers press Pallone to move bill out of committee
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Despite the driving rain, more than 30 people rallied in front of Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.’s Long Branch office Monday to urge the congressman to move forward with a bill that would guarantee extended health care for 9/11 first responders and people who worked and lived near the World Trade Center.
Injured or ailing 9/11 first responders and supporters stood in a drenching rain to rally in front of Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.’s Long Branch office Monday. KENNY WALTER Injured or ailing 9/11 first responders and supporters stood in a drenching rain to rally in front of Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.’s Long Branch office Monday. KENNY WALTER The rally, organized by the Fealgood Foundation, urged the 6th District Democrat to move the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act (H.R. 847) out of committee to a floor vote in Congress.
“We are not deterred by the rain,” said John Feal, rally organizer and president and founder of the foundation. “We’ve been rained on for years.
“This is 800-plus 9/11 first responders in heaven crying on us today. We simply want a mark-up date. We will rally again and the sun will shine.”
Feal explained in an interview what the foundation’s mission is.
“At the end of 2005 I started the Feal- Good Foundation,” he said. “We do fundraisers and donate financial assistance, and we also advocate for 9/11 responders.”
According to the website, the foundation’s primary mission is to spread awareness and educate the public about the catastrophic health effects experienced by 9/11 first responders. In addition, the foundation provides assistance “to relieve these great heroes of the financial burdens placed on them.”
A secondary goal of the foundation is to create a network of advocacy on 9/11 health care issues.
“We not only advocate for ground zero workers, but show others how they can advocate for themselves and help others through grassroots activism,” the website states.
Feal is one of those injured 9/11 responders. After spending five days at ground zero, his left foot was crushed by 8,000 pounds of steel and he lost half of his foot.
“I’ve had multiple surgeries, all the way up to 2006, on both feet,” he added. “I had to fight for benefits. Those couple of years after I got hurt, physical and mental therapy are what saved my life.”
At the Jan. 25 rally, Feal explained that the foundation is advocating for Pallone to bring the bill to a vote by members of the House Subcommittee on Health, which Pallone chairs.
“A mark-up date is a date where the bill would go to the congressman’s committee,” he said. “One part of the bill already went through the Judiciary Committee.
“Congressman Pallone’s committee is the final step before the bill goes to the floor for a vote and to get it out of [the House of Representatives] and into the Senate,” he added.
In an interview last week, Pallone said there aren’t enough favorable votes to move the bill forward. But Feal disagreed.
“The yes votes outnumber the no votes,” he said. “We know for a fact that he has the support of his committee for this vote.
“We want leadership and we want a mark-up date,” he said at the rally.
Feal was joined at the rally by Gary White, of the 9/11 Police Aid Foundation, and Kenny Specht, of the New York City Firefighters Brotherhood Foundation.
Specht said the bill would cover more than 30,000 people. He also claims that Pallone has enough votes to move forward with
“One hundred percent of us want care, and we cannot get it,” he said. “Twenty votes are needed, and we have 26.
“Unfortunately, we are out here today … we have to remind this man that 26 is six more than what is necessary. There is no reason for us to be out here.”
White concurred.
“They are sick, they are dying,” he said. “We have enough votes. Twenty votes are necessary, and we have 26.”
However, in an interview last week, Pallone said he isn’t sure there are enough votes to move the bill out of committee.
“I’m trying to get the votes for the bill, but I’m not there yet,” he said. “Some of the members have problems because they don’t like entitlements.
“The cost of this is approximately $10 billion over 10 years,” he added. “We have to come up with a way to pay for that, which means a new tax.
“Some of the members are also concerned with the community part; they don’t mind providing the money to the first responders, but they don’t necessarily want to give an entitlement to the people that were working there or live down there,” he continued.
Pallone explained what the current health care system provides for 9/11 responders.
“Basically right now if you were a first responder at the World Trade Center or someone who lived or worked in Lower Manhattan, you can get health care and go to a clinic that the federal government set up in various places,” he said. “There is one in the Busch Campus at Rutgers and there are several in New York.
“Anything that is health-related, you get free health care and it’s paid by the federal government,” he added.
Pallone explained the changes under the proposed bill.
“What this bill does is say that it is an entitlement,” he said. “Right now we vote the money every year, just like what we do with the veterans’ clinic.
“We have provided the funding and we have provided care, but what they want this to be is a permanent entitlement, meaning they are guaranteed this care for the rest of their lives, and we don’t have to vote on this every year,” Pallone said. “I’m in favor of that.
“We are getting there, and I think eventually we will have the votes and we will be able to post the bill,” he said. “I don’t want to bring the bill up and have it defeated or have it amended.”
Feal explained the progress of the bill so far.
“In June the Judiciary Committee marked up one half of our bill, the compensation part, with a vote of 22-9,” he said. “That vote was supposed to be a lot closer, but I filled that committee room with 9/11 responders.
“In September he [Pallone] said he’d mark up our bill, and he never did, and in December he said it again and he never did,” he continued. “We were told we had to take a back seat to the national health care bill; we understood that, but we weren’t happy.”
According to Feal, the primary issue is that there are a lot of people suffering from not only injuries, but also severe illnesses.
“You can’t see all the illnesses in these men and women that are sick and dying,” he said. “This is a national crime against humanity, and those in power have responsibilities.”
Pallone said he has worked with the Fealgood Foundation for years and understands their position.
“They’re not happy,” he said. “They want the bill voted on immediately.
“Their fear is that 10 or 20 years from now they are going to have more problems and it is going to be harder for them to be activists.
“It’s legitimate, but we’ve got to make sure we have the votes.”
Feal said he will continue pushing for the mark-up, and if that is achieved, he will give Pallone credit.
“I expect him to give us a mark-up date,” he said. “I told his office if he gives us a mark-up date before the [Jan.] 25th, I would turn that rally into a press conference, I will hold his hand, and he will be our champion. I will make the man like Elvis in the 9/11 community.”
Feal said the foundation and its supporters will not give up the effort to move the bill out of committee and to a vote.
“If he doesn’t mark it up, then we are going to [rally] again in the near future,” he added.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
BOE president slams senior housing conversion
BOE president slams senior housing conversion
Planning Board to hear application Jan. 27
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — An application for a 300-unit housing development is set to be heard by the Planning Board later this month and has school officials worried about having to build a new school.
The applicant, Rose Glen at Tinton Falls, is scheduled to appear in front of the board on Jan. 27, seeking approval for a conversion of the application from active adult housing to non-age-restricted housing.
Developer Caruso Building LLC originally received approval for an age-restricted housing development in 2007 for the site located between Shafto Road and West Park Avenue and Tormee Drive, but has yet to start construction.
A state Senate bill, S2577, signed into law last spring permits the conversion of age-restricted housing developments to non-agerestricted housing under certain circumstances.
Tinton Falls Board of Education President Peter Karavites said last week that he will attend the Planning Board meeting and hopes that the conversion does not take place.
“We will be going to the meeting on the 27th because our Planning Board about three years ago gave permission with a variance to allow a large senior housing development to go on West Park and Shafto,” he said. “Then a conversion bill was passed … that allows the senior developments that haven’t put a shovel in the ground to be converted to market-rate housing.
“We of course are totally against that,” he added. “That is almost 900 bedrooms; that would kill the schools, overrun us with children.”
Ocean Township Attorney Thomas Hirsch is representing the Planning Board on the application.
Hirsch, who is taking the place of board attorney Dennis Collins, who recused himself, explained the intent of the new legislation.
“The purpose of this act is construct more affordable houses,” Hirsch said. “You have to make sure at least 20 percent is affordable housing.
“Once it gets under way, we will see exactly what the arguments are and we will see what our professionals have to say,” he added. “It is new so nobody has a lot of experience with these conversion hearings.”
According to the borough engineer’s report, the proposed project consists of 243 marketrate units and 61 affordable units. The market rate units are four-bedroom dwellings, while the affordable units range from one- to threebedroom dwellings.
Under the conversion plan, the number of bedrooms would decrease from 1,148 to 1,110. In the preliminary approval, each dwelling had a 500-square-foot cap.
Karavites said that if the development is built, it would result in the need for a new school in Tinton Falls.
“It will make us build new schools or new wings to schools,” he said. “The developer is going in front of the Planning Board to ask for permission to do it.
“The Board of Education is saying don’t let them,” he added.
Karavites was also critical of the Senate bill, the Planning Board and the Borough Council.
“The way the bill is written [it] is all positive for developers,” he said. “This bill has overstepped the local ability to zone the property the way [municipalities] want.
“I am very angry with our borough and our Planning Board,” he added. “They all point fingers in different directions saying it’s not us. No, it’s all of them, the council had chances to negotiate with the developer.”
According to Karavites, the developer was open to negotiating down the size of the development, but wanted certain concessions from the borough.
Sources said last week that the council turned down an offer from the developer to purchase a portion of the site for $5 million and questioned whether the developer still had the financial ability to go forward with the project.
Karavites said that because the council didn’t broker a deal with the developer, the project would end up costing taxpayers a lot more.
“This whole development is a fiasco that will cost the taxpayers $30-50 million to build a new school and to maintain that school,” he said. “I’m going to get to the council meeting and blast them pretty soon.”
Karavites said the development would have a larger impact than a proposal to privatize 300 units ofmilitary housing atNavalWeapons Station Earle in Colts Neck. The Board of Education is opposed to that proposal because Tinton Falls educates military dependents living at Earle.
“This is huge, it is double the amount of [bedrooms] that Earle would bring,” he added. “This will get tax dollars, but those tax dollars won’t come close to being enough to build a new school and to staff a new school.
“The numbers we came out with are that it will cost the taxpayer $4 [million] to $6 million to build a new school and to man it, and that’s forever,” he continued. “They can say truthfully your taxes went up because of your school board, but the bottom line is you’ve made us bring your taxes up.”
Karavites added that building a new school might not even be feasible.
“We don’t even have property for a new school,” he said. “With school districts, you have to go out for referendum, and the taxpayers won’t want to spend $30 million-$50 million.
“Our schools are going to go downhill, we will start having huge class sizes and we will have to put trailers up and then the public will say, ‘Enough’s enough go build a new school,’ but by then it will be too late.”
Karavites said that he expects the Board of Education to be blamed for any future problems resulting from the development, even though he has tried to stop the plan from the start.
“What I’m livid with is our council, mayor and Planning Board, they will blame us in five years and say your taxes are up because of our school board,” he said. “Well, you had a chance five years ago to stop this.
“They are going to blame the new law and blame everyone but themselves,” he added. “I was on the Planning Board then, and two or three of us voted to stop this and said, ‘Please don’t turn this into senior housing because you never know,’ and look what happened.”
Planning Board to hear application Jan. 27
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — An application for a 300-unit housing development is set to be heard by the Planning Board later this month and has school officials worried about having to build a new school.
The applicant, Rose Glen at Tinton Falls, is scheduled to appear in front of the board on Jan. 27, seeking approval for a conversion of the application from active adult housing to non-age-restricted housing.
Developer Caruso Building LLC originally received approval for an age-restricted housing development in 2007 for the site located between Shafto Road and West Park Avenue and Tormee Drive, but has yet to start construction.
A state Senate bill, S2577, signed into law last spring permits the conversion of age-restricted housing developments to non-agerestricted housing under certain circumstances.
Tinton Falls Board of Education President Peter Karavites said last week that he will attend the Planning Board meeting and hopes that the conversion does not take place.
“We will be going to the meeting on the 27th because our Planning Board about three years ago gave permission with a variance to allow a large senior housing development to go on West Park and Shafto,” he said. “Then a conversion bill was passed … that allows the senior developments that haven’t put a shovel in the ground to be converted to market-rate housing.
“We of course are totally against that,” he added. “That is almost 900 bedrooms; that would kill the schools, overrun us with children.”
Ocean Township Attorney Thomas Hirsch is representing the Planning Board on the application.
Hirsch, who is taking the place of board attorney Dennis Collins, who recused himself, explained the intent of the new legislation.
“The purpose of this act is construct more affordable houses,” Hirsch said. “You have to make sure at least 20 percent is affordable housing.
“Once it gets under way, we will see exactly what the arguments are and we will see what our professionals have to say,” he added. “It is new so nobody has a lot of experience with these conversion hearings.”
According to the borough engineer’s report, the proposed project consists of 243 marketrate units and 61 affordable units. The market rate units are four-bedroom dwellings, while the affordable units range from one- to threebedroom dwellings.
Under the conversion plan, the number of bedrooms would decrease from 1,148 to 1,110. In the preliminary approval, each dwelling had a 500-square-foot cap.
Karavites said that if the development is built, it would result in the need for a new school in Tinton Falls.
“It will make us build new schools or new wings to schools,” he said. “The developer is going in front of the Planning Board to ask for permission to do it.
“The Board of Education is saying don’t let them,” he added.
Karavites was also critical of the Senate bill, the Planning Board and the Borough Council.
“The way the bill is written [it] is all positive for developers,” he said. “This bill has overstepped the local ability to zone the property the way [municipalities] want.
“I am very angry with our borough and our Planning Board,” he added. “They all point fingers in different directions saying it’s not us. No, it’s all of them, the council had chances to negotiate with the developer.”
According to Karavites, the developer was open to negotiating down the size of the development, but wanted certain concessions from the borough.
Sources said last week that the council turned down an offer from the developer to purchase a portion of the site for $5 million and questioned whether the developer still had the financial ability to go forward with the project.
Karavites said that because the council didn’t broker a deal with the developer, the project would end up costing taxpayers a lot more.
“This whole development is a fiasco that will cost the taxpayers $30-50 million to build a new school and to maintain that school,” he said. “I’m going to get to the council meeting and blast them pretty soon.”
Karavites said the development would have a larger impact than a proposal to privatize 300 units ofmilitary housing atNavalWeapons Station Earle in Colts Neck. The Board of Education is opposed to that proposal because Tinton Falls educates military dependents living at Earle.
“This is huge, it is double the amount of [bedrooms] that Earle would bring,” he added. “This will get tax dollars, but those tax dollars won’t come close to being enough to build a new school and to staff a new school.
“The numbers we came out with are that it will cost the taxpayer $4 [million] to $6 million to build a new school and to man it, and that’s forever,” he continued. “They can say truthfully your taxes went up because of your school board, but the bottom line is you’ve made us bring your taxes up.”
Karavites added that building a new school might not even be feasible.
“We don’t even have property for a new school,” he said. “With school districts, you have to go out for referendum, and the taxpayers won’t want to spend $30 million-$50 million.
“Our schools are going to go downhill, we will start having huge class sizes and we will have to put trailers up and then the public will say, ‘Enough’s enough go build a new school,’ but by then it will be too late.”
Karavites said that he expects the Board of Education to be blamed for any future problems resulting from the development, even though he has tried to stop the plan from the start.
“What I’m livid with is our council, mayor and Planning Board, they will blame us in five years and say your taxes are up because of our school board,” he said. “Well, you had a chance five years ago to stop this.
“They are going to blame the new law and blame everyone but themselves,” he added. “I was on the Planning Board then, and two or three of us voted to stop this and said, ‘Please don’t turn this into senior housing because you never know,’ and look what happened.”
MLK message resonates in Long Branch
MLK message resonates in Long Branch
David Brown announces retirement from council
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
With the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. playing over loud speakers, Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider drew a parallel between King’s message and the diversity of Long Branch.
Sue Harrison, Ronald Mantley, Edna Daniels and Barbara Warren hold hands in unity and sing during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Guild’s annual service held at the city’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park on Atlantic Avenue in Long Branch Jan. 18. Below: Joan Minor helps place a wreath at the monument to King. More photos at www.gmnews.com. PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Sue Harrison, Ronald Mantley, Edna Daniels and Barbara Warren hold hands in unity and sing during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Guild’s annual service held at the city’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park on Atlantic Avenue in Long Branch Jan. 18. Below: Joan Minor helps place a wreath at the monument to King. More photos at www.gmnews.com. PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff “This is the last ceremony of the year for the legacy of Dr. King,” said Schneider during the city’s annual service held on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 18. “However, this isn’t the last moment in this town that we think about everything he’s meant.
“We have a blend of races and creeds and backgrounds,” he added. “We blend together and we work together.
“We’ve all done things together, we are members of the same organizations,” he continued. “That’s what makes Long Branch unique,” he said.
Schneider’s remarks came during the annual service held at the park named after the civil rights leader on Atlantic Avenue.
Councilman David Brown took the opportunity to announce he would not be seeking a fifth term on council.
“I’ve been associated with the MLK Guild for over 40 years,” Brown said to the crowd of about 30 at the memorial service. “I plan on continuing the work and memory of Dr. King.
“I am announcing officially that this will be my last year. After 29 years of [public service] I will step down. I think 30 years ago my wife wished I stepped down then.”
After announcing his retirement from public service after serving 16 years on the City Council and 13 years on the Zoning Board, Brown said that King’s legacy should be an example of service for the earthquake victims in Haiti.
“Dr. King’s legacy lives on in Long Branch,” he said. “We never want that dream to die, our friends and families in Haiti are suffering.
“We [Second Baptist Church] turned over our week’s proceedings to the people of Haiti,” he added. “That will continue this year because one donation is not going to help that country.
“It is an effort that is going to have to continue throughout the year as we try to help those who are suffering,” he continued.
Schneider also drew a parallel between King’s message and the presidency of Barack Obama.
“A year ago today we were 24 hours away from the inauguration of President Barack Obama,” he said. “He is out there fighting for things that were important to Dr. King, like jobs and health care and a safer world.”
Long Branch resident Hollis Cooper led the crowd in song, then Rabbi Gordon Yaffe of Ocean Township spoke of the significance of the holiday.
“American holidays have become days for picnics and parades,” he said, “days off from work and school to run errands and take advantage of the sales.
“For many, Martin Luther King Jr. Day has become part of a three-day weekend. We can reflect upon the life and legacy of Dr. King,” he added. “To renew our commitment to the values and the ideals.”
The crowd stood gathered in front of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. monument, which is surrounded by a brick walkway with pavers inscribed with names of donors.
“As you look along the walkway, you see bricks,” said Carl Jennings, Recreation and Human Services director. “We are in the process of another fundraiser to raise funds in the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.”
Jennings said those interested in sponsoring a brick paver should contact him at city hall.
David Brown announces retirement from council
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
With the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. playing over loud speakers, Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider drew a parallel between King’s message and the diversity of Long Branch.
Sue Harrison, Ronald Mantley, Edna Daniels and Barbara Warren hold hands in unity and sing during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Guild’s annual service held at the city’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park on Atlantic Avenue in Long Branch Jan. 18. Below: Joan Minor helps place a wreath at the monument to King. More photos at www.gmnews.com. PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Sue Harrison, Ronald Mantley, Edna Daniels and Barbara Warren hold hands in unity and sing during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Guild’s annual service held at the city’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park on Atlantic Avenue in Long Branch Jan. 18. Below: Joan Minor helps place a wreath at the monument to King. More photos at www.gmnews.com. PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff “This is the last ceremony of the year for the legacy of Dr. King,” said Schneider during the city’s annual service held on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 18. “However, this isn’t the last moment in this town that we think about everything he’s meant.
“We have a blend of races and creeds and backgrounds,” he added. “We blend together and we work together.
“We’ve all done things together, we are members of the same organizations,” he continued. “That’s what makes Long Branch unique,” he said.
Schneider’s remarks came during the annual service held at the park named after the civil rights leader on Atlantic Avenue.
Councilman David Brown took the opportunity to announce he would not be seeking a fifth term on council.
“I’ve been associated with the MLK Guild for over 40 years,” Brown said to the crowd of about 30 at the memorial service. “I plan on continuing the work and memory of Dr. King.
“I am announcing officially that this will be my last year. After 29 years of [public service] I will step down. I think 30 years ago my wife wished I stepped down then.”
After announcing his retirement from public service after serving 16 years on the City Council and 13 years on the Zoning Board, Brown said that King’s legacy should be an example of service for the earthquake victims in Haiti.
“Dr. King’s legacy lives on in Long Branch,” he said. “We never want that dream to die, our friends and families in Haiti are suffering.
“We [Second Baptist Church] turned over our week’s proceedings to the people of Haiti,” he added. “That will continue this year because one donation is not going to help that country.
“It is an effort that is going to have to continue throughout the year as we try to help those who are suffering,” he continued.
Schneider also drew a parallel between King’s message and the presidency of Barack Obama.
“A year ago today we were 24 hours away from the inauguration of President Barack Obama,” he said. “He is out there fighting for things that were important to Dr. King, like jobs and health care and a safer world.”
Long Branch resident Hollis Cooper led the crowd in song, then Rabbi Gordon Yaffe of Ocean Township spoke of the significance of the holiday.
“American holidays have become days for picnics and parades,” he said, “days off from work and school to run errands and take advantage of the sales.
“For many, Martin Luther King Jr. Day has become part of a three-day weekend. We can reflect upon the life and legacy of Dr. King,” he added. “To renew our commitment to the values and the ideals.”
The crowd stood gathered in front of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. monument, which is surrounded by a brick walkway with pavers inscribed with names of donors.
“As you look along the walkway, you see bricks,” said Carl Jennings, Recreation and Human Services director. “We are in the process of another fundraiser to raise funds in the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.”
Jennings said those interested in sponsoring a brick paver should contact him at city hall.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Open space tax cut one vote away
Open space tax cut one vote away
Public hearing, vote set for Jan. 19 meeting
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — Borough officials continued to be split on acceptance of a referendum that would cut the borough’s open space tax rate from 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to 2.25 cents.
The Borough Council introduced an ordinance by a 3-1 vote at the Jan. 5 meeting, accepting the Nov. 3 referendum in which nearly 60 percent of votes cast favored a reduction in the open space tax rate. Council President Duane Morrill was absent for the vote.
The lone dissenting vote was from Councilman Andrew Mayer, who has continued to oppose cutting the tax.
“I feel that it would be detrimental at this time,” he said in an interview. “I think it will be better for the taxpayer to have that money available at least in the near term until we can get the picture of how we are going to be using the open space funds.”
Mayer said he considered voting for the ordinance, but in the end he cited some confusion on the ballot as a reason he continues to go against the results.
“It was a hard decision, but I did speak to some people who voted on the referendum and didn’t realize the difference in the yes and no vote,” he said. “It was parallel with the state open space tax referendum.
“People voted yes on the state and voted yes on the Tinton Falls one, too, thinking they supported open space,” he added. “I actually heard from people who were confused.”
Mayer went on to say that with Fort Monmouth closing, the borough should be waiting before a change is made to the fund.
“Looking at the bigger picture and getting as much information as possible on acquisitions, including Fort Monmouth, would be wise to do before we go cutting the fund, because I think it may leave us short,” he said.
The tentative schedule has the ordinance up for adoption at the Jan. 19 council meeting, which will also include a public hearing. Mayer expects there to be a lot of public comment in support of the ordinance at the meeting.
“I think we will hear from people who come to the hearing,” he said. “I believe that there are probably the votes that will end up reducing the tax.
“We had 40 percent of the people vote to leave it the same, and I think representing that portion of the population, even though I probably won’t be successful, is worth it,” he added.
The issue of cutting the open space tax rate became controversial over the summer when the Borough Council spent several meetings debating whether to submit a question on the open space tax rate for a referendum vote.
The council ended up accepting the referendum question with a 3-2 vote at the Aug. 18 council meeting, just nine days before the deadline to submit referendum questions to the state.
Council members Scott Larkin, NancyAnn Fama and Gary Baldwin supported adding the question to the ballot, while Mayer and Morrill did not.
When the topic of the open space tax first came up, the argument was whether to keep it at 3 cents or lower it to 1.5 cents, until Larkin eventually proposed the compromise of 2.25 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
Under the current 3-cent tax, Tinton Falls will collect $901,774 in dedicated open space funding, according to Director of Finance Stephen Pfeffer. With the tax cut approved by voters, approximately $676,000 will be collected during the 2010 tax year.
Pfeffer also said that currently there is approximately $1.7 million in the open space trust fund.
According to Borough Clerk Karen Mount-Taylor, the borough collected $384,181 through the open space tax in 2007. After the borough’s property revaluation in 2008, the amount collected rose to $876,746.
With the tax rate cut approved, the average resident will receive a $25.79 tax cut a year. Last year, a resident with a house assessed at the borough average of $343,760 paid about $103 in taxes for open space.
The council also introduced the temporary replacement for former Business Administrator Bryan Dempsey, who took a position in Spring Lake Heights.
Current Public Works Director John Bucciero will temporarily replace Dempsey, and Bucciero said it might be difficult to balance the two jobs, but that he will have help.
“It’s a little bit of a task,” he said in an interview. “In public works, I have four good foremen, and they each run a division. I come in early, and we go over what needs to be done and by 8:30 I’m in this office.”
Bucciero has a history as a temporary replacement, taking over in 2005 from July to October.
“I used to stand in for Mayor [Peter] Maclearie until he hired Bryan Dempsey,” he said. “The job’s still the same, it’s still the government, and the same things still need to be done.”
Bucciero said his experience in the town is going to make the transition to the new administrator a lot easier.
“I volunteered before and I volunteered again,” he said. “I have no problem helping the borough out.
“I think it tends to make the transition a little easier from the one that left to the new one, because you have someone in here that is familiar with what has been going on.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Public hearing, vote set for Jan. 19 meeting
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — Borough officials continued to be split on acceptance of a referendum that would cut the borough’s open space tax rate from 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to 2.25 cents.
The Borough Council introduced an ordinance by a 3-1 vote at the Jan. 5 meeting, accepting the Nov. 3 referendum in which nearly 60 percent of votes cast favored a reduction in the open space tax rate. Council President Duane Morrill was absent for the vote.
The lone dissenting vote was from Councilman Andrew Mayer, who has continued to oppose cutting the tax.
“I feel that it would be detrimental at this time,” he said in an interview. “I think it will be better for the taxpayer to have that money available at least in the near term until we can get the picture of how we are going to be using the open space funds.”
Mayer said he considered voting for the ordinance, but in the end he cited some confusion on the ballot as a reason he continues to go against the results.
“It was a hard decision, but I did speak to some people who voted on the referendum and didn’t realize the difference in the yes and no vote,” he said. “It was parallel with the state open space tax referendum.
“People voted yes on the state and voted yes on the Tinton Falls one, too, thinking they supported open space,” he added. “I actually heard from people who were confused.”
Mayer went on to say that with Fort Monmouth closing, the borough should be waiting before a change is made to the fund.
“Looking at the bigger picture and getting as much information as possible on acquisitions, including Fort Monmouth, would be wise to do before we go cutting the fund, because I think it may leave us short,” he said.
The tentative schedule has the ordinance up for adoption at the Jan. 19 council meeting, which will also include a public hearing. Mayer expects there to be a lot of public comment in support of the ordinance at the meeting.
“I think we will hear from people who come to the hearing,” he said. “I believe that there are probably the votes that will end up reducing the tax.
“We had 40 percent of the people vote to leave it the same, and I think representing that portion of the population, even though I probably won’t be successful, is worth it,” he added.
The issue of cutting the open space tax rate became controversial over the summer when the Borough Council spent several meetings debating whether to submit a question on the open space tax rate for a referendum vote.
The council ended up accepting the referendum question with a 3-2 vote at the Aug. 18 council meeting, just nine days before the deadline to submit referendum questions to the state.
Council members Scott Larkin, NancyAnn Fama and Gary Baldwin supported adding the question to the ballot, while Mayer and Morrill did not.
When the topic of the open space tax first came up, the argument was whether to keep it at 3 cents or lower it to 1.5 cents, until Larkin eventually proposed the compromise of 2.25 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
Under the current 3-cent tax, Tinton Falls will collect $901,774 in dedicated open space funding, according to Director of Finance Stephen Pfeffer. With the tax cut approved by voters, approximately $676,000 will be collected during the 2010 tax year.
Pfeffer also said that currently there is approximately $1.7 million in the open space trust fund.
According to Borough Clerk Karen Mount-Taylor, the borough collected $384,181 through the open space tax in 2007. After the borough’s property revaluation in 2008, the amount collected rose to $876,746.
With the tax rate cut approved, the average resident will receive a $25.79 tax cut a year. Last year, a resident with a house assessed at the borough average of $343,760 paid about $103 in taxes for open space.
The council also introduced the temporary replacement for former Business Administrator Bryan Dempsey, who took a position in Spring Lake Heights.
Current Public Works Director John Bucciero will temporarily replace Dempsey, and Bucciero said it might be difficult to balance the two jobs, but that he will have help.
“It’s a little bit of a task,” he said in an interview. “In public works, I have four good foremen, and they each run a division. I come in early, and we go over what needs to be done and by 8:30 I’m in this office.”
Bucciero has a history as a temporary replacement, taking over in 2005 from July to October.
“I used to stand in for Mayor [Peter] Maclearie until he hired Bryan Dempsey,” he said. “The job’s still the same, it’s still the government, and the same things still need to be done.”
Bucciero said his experience in the town is going to make the transition to the new administrator a lot easier.
“I volunteered before and I volunteered again,” he said. “I have no problem helping the borough out.
“I think it tends to make the transition a little easier from the one that left to the new one, because you have someone in here that is familiar with what has been going on.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Fire chief's 2nd term is first for L.B. fire dept.
Fire chief’s 2nd term is first for L.B. fire dept.
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Sebastian Tomaine stepped up and ran for fire chief in Long Branch and in the process made department history.
Pictured at the Long Branch Fire Department organization meeting Jan. 1 are First Assistant Chief Alfred Sico (l-r), Chief of Department Sebastian M. Tomaine, Second Assistant Chief Harold “Buster” Bentley. Pictured at the Long Branch Fire Department organization meeting Jan. 1 are First Assistant Chief Alfred Sico (l-r), Chief of Department Sebastian M. Tomaine, Second Assistant Chief Harold “Buster” Bentley. Tomaine, who previously served as fire chief in 2002, is the first Long Branch firefighter to serve as chief for two nonconsecutive terms in the department’s 125-year history.
“It is a privilege to do it twice because no other chief has done that,” Tomaine said in an interview last week. “I’m kind of filling the void and I have the once-in-alifetime opportunity to serve for a second time, which makes history in the city of Long Branch.”
Tomaine has responsibility for the entire Long Branch Fire Department, including 22 paid firefighters and 170 certified volunteers who last year responded to more than 1,700 calls.
He took over Jan. 1 at the department’s reorganization meeting at City Hall from outgoing chief Don Pingitore and said it’s important for the chiefs to work together during the transition in leadership.
“There has to be consistency from year to year,” he said. “You can’t come into office and change the world.
“You have to see what needs to be corrected and make your adjustments from there,” he added. “There has to be a transition period.”
A volunteer firefighter with Independent Fire Engine & Truck Co. No. 2, Tomaine explained that he ran for chief again because many department members are new and lack the necessary experience.
“Our company had very young guys that didn’t meet the qualifications yet, and a lot of other people didn’t want to do it, and they asked me if I would do it again,” he said. “I said, ‘Sure, I had fun the first time and I hope I have fun the second time.’
“You have to achieve the office of captain before you become a chief,” he added. “It takes about five years to do that and [the newer guys] haven’t done that yet.”
There is a three-year cycle among the hierarchy of the department, with members serving a year as second assistant fire chief, followed by a year as first assistant fire chief and finally a year as fire chief.
Also sworn in at the Jan. 1 meeting with Tomaine was Alfred Sico, of Phil Daly Hose Co. No. 2, as first assistant and Harold “Buster” Bentley, Branchport Hose Co. No. 3, as second assistant.
Long Branch Fire Marshal Kevin Hayes joked that it is rare to find someone willing to run for the chief’s appointment twice in a lifetime.
“It is very rare that someone subjects himself to three years of hell twice,” Hayes said. “It’s a lot of work for three years. I did it in ’96 and I won’t be going again.”
Tomaine said that his decision to run for the appointment was hashed out when he finished his first term as chief.
“On Jan. 1 2003, when I was done with my office and introducing the new chief I said to myself if I was ever asked by my company again would I, and I said absolutely, in a heartbeat,” he said.
Tomaine, who also serves as a Long Branch police officer, said that his goal is to get the city’s nine fire companies on the same page.
“I get to know everybody in the city,” he said. “That is my whole goal: to get everybody to work as one, and that’s the way it should be. I started it last time and now I want to finish that.”
The nine Long Branch fire companies are: Atlantic Engine & Truck Co. No. 2, Branchport Hose Co. No. 3, Elberon Engine Co. No. 4, Independent Fire Engine & Truck Co. No. 2, Neptune Hose Co. No. 1, Oceanic Engine Co. No. 1, Oliver Byron Engine Co. No. 5, Phil Daly Hose Co. No. 2, West End Engine Co. No. 3.
Tomaine has a few more goals for the department in 2010.
“At this point it is to recruit more volunteer members and to have more functions that involve all the companies together and their families to make this one big happy family,” he said.
“One of my goals is to keep the traditions of the department,” he added. “When the chief leaves, he gets a badge, which we have been doing for 125 years.”
Tomaine said that one of the challenges for firefighters is keeping updated on automobile technology because car fires are an event the city’s firefighters frequently deal with.
“You have to be updated on new technologies,” he said. “Years ago it was very easy to fight a car fire, but now with air bags throughout the car, bumpers that have hydraulic systems in them, you have to be knowledgeable and schooled at how to do this.
“You have to fight fires with aluminum engines, not just regular engines,” he added. “You have to be up to speed on all this stuff.”
Tomaine also said he wants to build on what was a good year.
“We actually had a good year last year,” he said. “We only had 10 really bad structure fires, which was pretty good.”
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BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Sebastian Tomaine stepped up and ran for fire chief in Long Branch and in the process made department history.
Pictured at the Long Branch Fire Department organization meeting Jan. 1 are First Assistant Chief Alfred Sico (l-r), Chief of Department Sebastian M. Tomaine, Second Assistant Chief Harold “Buster” Bentley. Pictured at the Long Branch Fire Department organization meeting Jan. 1 are First Assistant Chief Alfred Sico (l-r), Chief of Department Sebastian M. Tomaine, Second Assistant Chief Harold “Buster” Bentley. Tomaine, who previously served as fire chief in 2002, is the first Long Branch firefighter to serve as chief for two nonconsecutive terms in the department’s 125-year history.
“It is a privilege to do it twice because no other chief has done that,” Tomaine said in an interview last week. “I’m kind of filling the void and I have the once-in-alifetime opportunity to serve for a second time, which makes history in the city of Long Branch.”
Tomaine has responsibility for the entire Long Branch Fire Department, including 22 paid firefighters and 170 certified volunteers who last year responded to more than 1,700 calls.
He took over Jan. 1 at the department’s reorganization meeting at City Hall from outgoing chief Don Pingitore and said it’s important for the chiefs to work together during the transition in leadership.
“There has to be consistency from year to year,” he said. “You can’t come into office and change the world.
“You have to see what needs to be corrected and make your adjustments from there,” he added. “There has to be a transition period.”
A volunteer firefighter with Independent Fire Engine & Truck Co. No. 2, Tomaine explained that he ran for chief again because many department members are new and lack the necessary experience.
“Our company had very young guys that didn’t meet the qualifications yet, and a lot of other people didn’t want to do it, and they asked me if I would do it again,” he said. “I said, ‘Sure, I had fun the first time and I hope I have fun the second time.’
“You have to achieve the office of captain before you become a chief,” he added. “It takes about five years to do that and [the newer guys] haven’t done that yet.”
There is a three-year cycle among the hierarchy of the department, with members serving a year as second assistant fire chief, followed by a year as first assistant fire chief and finally a year as fire chief.
Also sworn in at the Jan. 1 meeting with Tomaine was Alfred Sico, of Phil Daly Hose Co. No. 2, as first assistant and Harold “Buster” Bentley, Branchport Hose Co. No. 3, as second assistant.
Long Branch Fire Marshal Kevin Hayes joked that it is rare to find someone willing to run for the chief’s appointment twice in a lifetime.
“It is very rare that someone subjects himself to three years of hell twice,” Hayes said. “It’s a lot of work for three years. I did it in ’96 and I won’t be going again.”
Tomaine said that his decision to run for the appointment was hashed out when he finished his first term as chief.
“On Jan. 1 2003, when I was done with my office and introducing the new chief I said to myself if I was ever asked by my company again would I, and I said absolutely, in a heartbeat,” he said.
Tomaine, who also serves as a Long Branch police officer, said that his goal is to get the city’s nine fire companies on the same page.
“I get to know everybody in the city,” he said. “That is my whole goal: to get everybody to work as one, and that’s the way it should be. I started it last time and now I want to finish that.”
The nine Long Branch fire companies are: Atlantic Engine & Truck Co. No. 2, Branchport Hose Co. No. 3, Elberon Engine Co. No. 4, Independent Fire Engine & Truck Co. No. 2, Neptune Hose Co. No. 1, Oceanic Engine Co. No. 1, Oliver Byron Engine Co. No. 5, Phil Daly Hose Co. No. 2, West End Engine Co. No. 3.
Tomaine has a few more goals for the department in 2010.
“At this point it is to recruit more volunteer members and to have more functions that involve all the companies together and their families to make this one big happy family,” he said.
“One of my goals is to keep the traditions of the department,” he added. “When the chief leaves, he gets a badge, which we have been doing for 125 years.”
Tomaine said that one of the challenges for firefighters is keeping updated on automobile technology because car fires are an event the city’s firefighters frequently deal with.
“You have to be updated on new technologies,” he said. “Years ago it was very easy to fight a car fire, but now with air bags throughout the car, bumpers that have hydraulic systems in them, you have to be knowledgeable and schooled at how to do this.
“You have to fight fires with aluminum engines, not just regular engines,” he added. “You have to be up to speed on all this stuff.”
Tomaine also said he wants to build on what was a good year.
“We actually had a good year last year,” he said. “We only had 10 really bad structure fires, which was pretty good.”
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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Support grows for eminent domain ban
Support grows for eminent domain ban
DeStefano: Ordinance should apply outside redevelopment zones
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — With the city expected to eliminate the use of eminent domain in the Beachfront South redevelopment zone, some are calling for the ban to be extended to the entire city.
Council President Michael DeStefano weighed in on the issue at the end of the Dec. 29 City Council meeting, saying he would support an ordinance that would eliminate eminent domain outside the city’s six redevelopment zones, even though he considers such an ordinance a pointless political gesture. “I don’t really feel that resolution or ordinance is necessary, since it really isn’t going to be done ever again,” he said. “However, I’m starting to think it’s a useless gesture, probably a political one.
“It’s political times, maybe it’s time to consider.”
At council meetings in recent months residents have asked the council to consider a citywide ordinance, and DeStefano responded when a resident asked why he was afraid to do so.
“I have been asked regarding eminent domain what am I afraid of in terms of a resolution or ordinance or whatever it may take,” he said. “I’m not really sure fear is the right emotion or word.
“What I’ve been saying all along is to [designate] an area in need of redevelopment was a very difficult, long and public process,” he added. “There are six areas, and I have no intention of ever going through that process again.”
The discussion followed a unanimous vote by the council to introduce an ordinance eliminating eminent domain in Beachfront South. The ordinance, which also clarifies zoning regulations in the zone, will be voted on for adoption Jan. 29.
The Beachfront South zone extends from Bath to Morris avenues, between Ocean Boulevard and Ocean Avenue, and is one of the city’s six redevelopment zones. Other zones are Beachfront North Phase II, Beachfront North Phase I, Hotel Campus, Broadway-Gateway and Broadway Corridor.
DeStefano explained his position in an interview, saying that acquiring properties outside of the redevelopment zone is not really an option. He said an ordinance he would support would affect all properties outside of the six redevelopment zones.
“Maybe we should start thinking about it,” he said. “Leave the redevelopment zones alone to solve all political issues. It would be only outside of the redevelopment zones.”
DeStefano then said he doesn’t see eminent domain being used much in the future.
“I think there are hardly any properties left to acquire anyway,” he said. “I don’t really want to change anything that occurred.
“In MTOTSA it’s already been settled, and Beachfront South, it’s on its way,” he added. “Those are two of the redevelopment zones where it is basically off the table.”
DeStefano did name one zone where eminent domain could be used in the future.
“Broadway-Gateway, I think, is the only zone that has properties that still may be subject to eminent domain,” he said. “Anyone who has been down Broadway realizes that those areas really need to be repaired.”
DeStefano said he doesn’t see the need to enact an ordinance banning eminent domain citywide, but if it is what people want, he would support it.
“If it gives people a sense of satisfaction … , I’ll look
into what we need to do to say that,” he said.
DeStefano noted that no matter what measure is passed, any law is not permanent; however, he acknowledged that the economy and public opinion will not support further use of the city’s power of eminent domain to condemn private property.
“No matter what we do, anyone can undo it,” he said. “Who in this climate is going to create another redevelopment zone or rescind any ordinance or resolution that says you can’t use it outside a redevelopment zone?
“The public outcry would prevent you from doing it anyway,” he said
This was the first indication that DeStefano would consider eliminating eminent domain, while Councilman Brian Unger has pushed the city administration in recent years to eliminate it in the entire city.
“I think we need a citywide eminent domain ordinance that protects residents from the abuse of that [power],” Unger said at the meeting. “Certainly not in such a way that would limit lawful eminent domain that is for the public safety and public welfare, but certainly the abuse of that.”
Unger began asking that the city adopt an ordinance banning eminent domain as early as April 2008, proposing an “American Dream” ordinance that would eliminate eminent domain citywide.
Also speaking on the topic at the meeting was MTOTSA resident Lori Ann Vendetti, who said she favors a citywide ordinance.
“I know you are taking it in little sections here, and obviously it won’t be used in MTOTSA, but I still think we need to concentrate on an eminent domain ordinance for the city,” she said.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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DeStefano: Ordinance should apply outside redevelopment zones
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — With the city expected to eliminate the use of eminent domain in the Beachfront South redevelopment zone, some are calling for the ban to be extended to the entire city.
Council President Michael DeStefano weighed in on the issue at the end of the Dec. 29 City Council meeting, saying he would support an ordinance that would eliminate eminent domain outside the city’s six redevelopment zones, even though he considers such an ordinance a pointless political gesture. “I don’t really feel that resolution or ordinance is necessary, since it really isn’t going to be done ever again,” he said. “However, I’m starting to think it’s a useless gesture, probably a political one.
“It’s political times, maybe it’s time to consider.”
At council meetings in recent months residents have asked the council to consider a citywide ordinance, and DeStefano responded when a resident asked why he was afraid to do so.
“I have been asked regarding eminent domain what am I afraid of in terms of a resolution or ordinance or whatever it may take,” he said. “I’m not really sure fear is the right emotion or word.
“What I’ve been saying all along is to [designate] an area in need of redevelopment was a very difficult, long and public process,” he added. “There are six areas, and I have no intention of ever going through that process again.”
The discussion followed a unanimous vote by the council to introduce an ordinance eliminating eminent domain in Beachfront South. The ordinance, which also clarifies zoning regulations in the zone, will be voted on for adoption Jan. 29.
The Beachfront South zone extends from Bath to Morris avenues, between Ocean Boulevard and Ocean Avenue, and is one of the city’s six redevelopment zones. Other zones are Beachfront North Phase II, Beachfront North Phase I, Hotel Campus, Broadway-Gateway and Broadway Corridor.
DeStefano explained his position in an interview, saying that acquiring properties outside of the redevelopment zone is not really an option. He said an ordinance he would support would affect all properties outside of the six redevelopment zones.
“Maybe we should start thinking about it,” he said. “Leave the redevelopment zones alone to solve all political issues. It would be only outside of the redevelopment zones.”
DeStefano then said he doesn’t see eminent domain being used much in the future.
“I think there are hardly any properties left to acquire anyway,” he said. “I don’t really want to change anything that occurred.
“In MTOTSA it’s already been settled, and Beachfront South, it’s on its way,” he added. “Those are two of the redevelopment zones where it is basically off the table.”
DeStefano did name one zone where eminent domain could be used in the future.
“Broadway-Gateway, I think, is the only zone that has properties that still may be subject to eminent domain,” he said. “Anyone who has been down Broadway realizes that those areas really need to be repaired.”
DeStefano said he doesn’t see the need to enact an ordinance banning eminent domain citywide, but if it is what people want, he would support it.
“If it gives people a sense of satisfaction … , I’ll look
into what we need to do to say that,” he said.
DeStefano noted that no matter what measure is passed, any law is not permanent; however, he acknowledged that the economy and public opinion will not support further use of the city’s power of eminent domain to condemn private property.
“No matter what we do, anyone can undo it,” he said. “Who in this climate is going to create another redevelopment zone or rescind any ordinance or resolution that says you can’t use it outside a redevelopment zone?
“The public outcry would prevent you from doing it anyway,” he said
This was the first indication that DeStefano would consider eliminating eminent domain, while Councilman Brian Unger has pushed the city administration in recent years to eliminate it in the entire city.
“I think we need a citywide eminent domain ordinance that protects residents from the abuse of that [power],” Unger said at the meeting. “Certainly not in such a way that would limit lawful eminent domain that is for the public safety and public welfare, but certainly the abuse of that.”
Unger began asking that the city adopt an ordinance banning eminent domain as early as April 2008, proposing an “American Dream” ordinance that would eliminate eminent domain citywide.
Also speaking on the topic at the meeting was MTOTSA resident Lori Ann Vendetti, who said she favors a citywide ordinance.
“I know you are taking it in little sections here, and obviously it won’t be used in MTOTSA, but I still think we need to concentrate on an eminent domain ordinance for the city,” she said.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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L.B. council divides MTOTSA right of way
L.B. council divides MTOTSA right of way
Land will be added to three properties
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The City Council adopted an ordinance splitting a right of way among three properties in the MTOTSA neighborhood.
As part of an agreement between the MTOTSAAlliance and the city, three beachfront properties will receive a share of the vacated, city-owned right of way.
The council voted 5-0 to adopt the ordinance, which will increase the size of the three properties in the Beachfront North Phase II redevelopment zone.
Dave Fisher, vice president of Matzel & Mumford, a K. Hovnanian division that owns one of the properties that will receive land, explained the history of the right of way.
“The right of way in question is one that existed for quite some time to provide access to what was probably at one time a landlocked parcel that didn’t have access to a public street,” Fisher said. “There is no need for the right of way at this juncture because all the properties have access to public streets.
“One of our lots gets part of the right of way and the other two properties are MTOTSA residents involved in the settlement,” he added.
Fisher also cleared up confusion about the developer’s plan for the neighborhood.
“We are only building residential housing,” he said. “Our plans depict single-family homes with the exception of one three-unit town home building on Ocean Boulevard.
“The homes to be constructed are all single family, detached residential homes,” he added. “There will be no commercial development on Seaview.”
Fisher spoke after Long Branch attorney John Tatulli appeared on behalf of a commercial property owner, voicing concern that the ordinance is unclear on the description of the land.
“I went by the site today and there wasn’t really a clear description of the site,” he said.
Tatulli was also concerned whether commercial properties would be allowed elsewhere in the Beachfront North Phase II zone. Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley Jr. addressed his concerns.
“It calls for the developer to build conforming, for the most part, single-family properties,” he said. “It is just a residential section; there are only two areas in the zone that allow commercial development.”
Another resident questioned whether the right of way had clear title or had been appraised.
“My understanding is that the city has clear title,” said attorney Barry Capp, who was filling in for City Attorney James Aaron. “I’m not aware of an appraisal being done.”
The ordinance is in keeping with the city’s settlement with property owners in the Marine Terrace, Ocean Terrace and Seaview Avenue neighborhood reached after years of contention and legal action.
The settlement between the city and the MTOTSA Alliance was formalized in court Sept. 15. Signed by all but six property owners in MTOTSA, the agreement required the property owners to waive their right to sue the city for compensatory damages. In return, the city agreed not to use its power of eminent domain to take properties in MTOTSA, the three-street neighborhood that gained national attention when residents fought off the city’s attempt to condemn their homes
As part of the 14-point settlement with the MTOTSA property owners, the city also agreed to pay $435,000 in legal fees the alliance accrued and to have the developer demolish several vacant, boarded-up houses in the neighborhood. In addition, the city agreed to pave the roads and fix lighting conditions in the area within two years, and the property owners are eligible for five-year tax abatements if they improve their properties.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Land will be added to three properties
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The City Council adopted an ordinance splitting a right of way among three properties in the MTOTSA neighborhood.
As part of an agreement between the MTOTSAAlliance and the city, three beachfront properties will receive a share of the vacated, city-owned right of way.
The council voted 5-0 to adopt the ordinance, which will increase the size of the three properties in the Beachfront North Phase II redevelopment zone.
Dave Fisher, vice president of Matzel & Mumford, a K. Hovnanian division that owns one of the properties that will receive land, explained the history of the right of way.
“The right of way in question is one that existed for quite some time to provide access to what was probably at one time a landlocked parcel that didn’t have access to a public street,” Fisher said. “There is no need for the right of way at this juncture because all the properties have access to public streets.
“One of our lots gets part of the right of way and the other two properties are MTOTSA residents involved in the settlement,” he added.
Fisher also cleared up confusion about the developer’s plan for the neighborhood.
“We are only building residential housing,” he said. “Our plans depict single-family homes with the exception of one three-unit town home building on Ocean Boulevard.
“The homes to be constructed are all single family, detached residential homes,” he added. “There will be no commercial development on Seaview.”
Fisher spoke after Long Branch attorney John Tatulli appeared on behalf of a commercial property owner, voicing concern that the ordinance is unclear on the description of the land.
“I went by the site today and there wasn’t really a clear description of the site,” he said.
Tatulli was also concerned whether commercial properties would be allowed elsewhere in the Beachfront North Phase II zone. Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley Jr. addressed his concerns.
“It calls for the developer to build conforming, for the most part, single-family properties,” he said. “It is just a residential section; there are only two areas in the zone that allow commercial development.”
Another resident questioned whether the right of way had clear title or had been appraised.
“My understanding is that the city has clear title,” said attorney Barry Capp, who was filling in for City Attorney James Aaron. “I’m not aware of an appraisal being done.”
The ordinance is in keeping with the city’s settlement with property owners in the Marine Terrace, Ocean Terrace and Seaview Avenue neighborhood reached after years of contention and legal action.
The settlement between the city and the MTOTSA Alliance was formalized in court Sept. 15. Signed by all but six property owners in MTOTSA, the agreement required the property owners to waive their right to sue the city for compensatory damages. In return, the city agreed not to use its power of eminent domain to take properties in MTOTSA, the three-street neighborhood that gained national attention when residents fought off the city’s attempt to condemn their homes
As part of the 14-point settlement with the MTOTSA property owners, the city also agreed to pay $435,000 in legal fees the alliance accrued and to have the developer demolish several vacant, boarded-up houses in the neighborhood. In addition, the city agreed to pave the roads and fix lighting conditions in the area within two years, and the property owners are eligible for five-year tax abatements if they improve their properties.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Pilot program at hospital, health center deemed success
Pilot program at hospital, health center deemed success
Grant aims to shift patients from ER to health center
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Midway through a two-year study, two local health care facilities are seeing positive results from a pilot program aimed at reducing costs and shifting primarycare patients from hospital emergency rooms to community health centers.
The Emergency Department at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch is participating in a two-year study aimed at educating patients to use a health center for primary care rather than the ER. ERIC SUCAR staff The Emergency Department at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch is participating in a two-year study aimed at educating patients to use a health center for primary care rather than the ER. ERIC SUCAR staff Monmouth Medical Center, part of the St. Barnabas Health Care System, and its affiliate, Monmouth Family Health Center, both in Long Branch, are participating in the pilot program that is designed to encourage and support the transition of Medicaid and uninsured patients from the hospital Emergency Department to the health center for primary care.
According to Bill Vasquez, project director, the two Long Branch health care facilities were selected to be part of a $2 million grant program.
Above: The emergency room at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. Left: Monmouth Family Health Center, an affiliate of the hospital, is located on Broadway. Above: The emergency room at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. Left: Monmouth Family Health Center, an affiliate of the hospital, is located on Broadway. “The program was funded by CMS [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services],” Vasquez said. “New Jersey looked at high-volume counties that had more than the average of Medicaid visits in their emergency departments.”
The pilot program is designed to run for two years and began in December 2008.
The grant, which is administered through the New Jersey Hospital Association, was awarded to Monmouth Medical Center, SecondAvenue, and Monmouth Family Health Center, which is located at 370 Broadway and on-site at the hospital.
According to the St. Barnabas website, the health center “provides economically disadvantaged individuals in Long Branch and surrounding communities with highquality, comprehensive, affordable, culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate primary and preventive health care.”
The center’s staff provides a wide range of services to more than 10,000 people each year, with more than 40,000 visits annually, the website states.
Most insurance plans are accepted, and deeply discounted services are provided to uninsured pediatric and adult patients. The center is staffed with personnel who speak fluent English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Health Center Executive Director Marta Silverberg explained the statistics and demographics for the health center.
“The population is 30 percent Hispanic, and 50 percent of our patients are below the poverty guidelines.
“Sixty percent are on Medicaid and 25 percent are uninsured,” she added. “We have 13,000 patients in our system and maybe 5,000 pediatric.”
Monmouth’s Emergency Department, which handles about 42,000 annual visits, provides comprehensive care to the acutely ill. The department also operates Express Care, a unit that is available for adults and children with minor emergencies.
Vasquez explained that the grant money provides for dedicated staffing in the Emergency Department and in the health center. The staffing includes advanced-practice nurses in the hospital, patient care assistants, a full-time physician, nursing staff, case management staff, a data analyst and outreach staff. He explained how the program works for the patient who currently comes to the emergency room for primary care.
“[When] a patient comes into the ED, they are seen in triage,” he said, “the same course any patient would take.
“It is then determined that the patient has a primary-care diagnosis, something that could otherwise be treated by a primary care physician. The advanced-practice nurse is called to see that patient and does the assessment, treatment, and medicates the patient accordingly.
“Then she educates the patient,” he continued. “She gets on the computer and pulls up the record of this patient, and accesses the appointment system and makes an appointment in real time.”
Dr. Catherine Hanlon, chairwoman of emergency medicine at Monmouth Medical Center, explained that the extra support provided to patients has helped them transition to the health center.
“We always referred patients to the health center, but what we did was typically give them a phone number and had them call to make their own appointment,” she said. “If you really want to beef up compliance, you need to walk them through the system a little better.
“We have a health center computer in our emergency department that we actually use to make patients’ appointments. It is not left open-ended for them to do.”
Vasquez confirmed that thus far the program has been successful in that patients are keeping appointments at the health center.
“What we found [is] that of the patients that were seen in the ED and appointments were made for them, that 70 percent show up and are seen in the health center as a result of the program,” he added. “The other 30 percent are individuals that say ‘I have my own doctor, I don’t need to go to your health center.’ ”
The program is succeeding in cutting down on the number of patients returning to the emergency department for primary care, he said.
“Of the 1,000 or so patients that have been referred [to the health center],” he said, “about one in nine have returned to the ED.”
Vasquez said those results are higher than anticipated.
“What we consider so successful is so many people are taking advantage of it,” he said. “I don’t know if we would have predicted a 70 percent success rate. We would have been real happy with 50 [percent].”
One of the most important aspects of the program is educating the patient, he noted.
“This is where we begin educating the patient,” Vasquez said. “It is not just moving people, it’s actually educating.
“Because this advanced-practice nurse is additional staff, she has more time to spend with these patients. She can really help educate them [on] why it is important, signs and symptoms to look for, why a follow-up visit is important,” he continued.
Vasquez explained that the true goal of the program is to use the facilities more cost-effectively.
“The goal of this demonstration was to more efficiently use the resources,” he said. “A primary-care visit costs that ER close to $400 a visit. The cost for that visit in the health center is about $125.
“To stretch those Medicaid dollars,” he explained, “they’d much rather have patients be seen in the appropriate setting.”
Vasquez explained the differences in the type of care the two facilities are designed to deliver.
“The ER is really episodic,” he said. “They go in there and take care of this, and this alone.
“[At the health center] they look at the well-being of the individual, their family history. We want the health center to become their medical home.”
Vasquez said that the inappropriate use of the emergency room by the community is what the pilot program aims to change.
“It is a model that people are looking to because it takes care of a portion of the population that uses resources poorly,” he said. “[In] the hospital, they want to take care of you if you’re really sick. When you’re a little sick, you should go to some place where that care is more appropriate.”
The idea is to educate people to use the health center for primary medical care.
“The ED doesn’t want to waste their time with the ‘walking well,’ and the HC wants to see that ‘walking well,’ ” Vasquez said. “It’s just people not being familiar with the resources.”
Vasquez explained that there is no guarantee for future funding once the grant program concludes.
“We don’t know whether there will be additional funding to continue it,” he said. “Given the kind of results we are seeing, we are hopeful that’s the case.”
There is also no guarantee that the program will work, because any patient who shows up at the ED must be seen.
“This is not an alternative to receiving care in the emergency room,” he said. “The federal requirement is that anyone who appears in an ER to request care must be seen.”
Vasquez explained the role of the health center.
“What the family health center cares for are individuals who would not otherwise have access to a primary care physician,” he said.
Vasquez explained that one misconception is that the ED is free health care.
“You’re always charged. You may not be able to pay it, but there is no such thing as free care,” he said. “The health center has a sliding scale; it is important [that] everybody contribute something.
“If they did lots and lots of free care, they’d go out of business,” he added. “We’ve seen a whole rash of hospitals close.”
When the grant was first being talked about, Vasquez explained, there was some initial trepidation in both organizations.
“There was certainly reticence, and there was some trust issues that needed to be breached,” he said. “The [family health center] and hospital work closely and collaboratively; they are two separate organizations.
“Fortunately, we worked things through in a positive manner,” he added. “Also, since the money was shared equally … there was no competition.
“The grant was developed between them, and both had to sign off on it before the grant was submitted,” he continued. “It took a little work, but everyone saw it as a plus for each side.”
Silverberg agreed that the existing relationship between the two facilities helped with the introduction of the program.
“We had a lot of the structure set up for it,” she said. “We are already connected electronically; we didn’t have to start from scratch,” she said. “It was easy to implement, because we had a very strong relationship.”
According to Hanlon, as of October there were about 800 referrals to the health center, but there also seem to be more and more patients using the emergency room.
“Of the patients that have been referred, there definitely was a decrease in the number of patients that have gone to the clinic and come back,” she said, adding, “We are still seeing an increase in the volume of emergency patients going up, and that is a national trend, not just a New Jersey trend,” she said.
“This is why we are running this grant, to try to get some of these people into more appropriate and cost-effective places to be seen.”
Hanlon said she is encouraged by the preliminary data that there will be cost savings realized.
“It will decrease but not eliminate the emergency room visits,” she said. “For the population that we are seeing, I think we definitely will see a decrease in visits.
“That’s what we are shooting for,” she added. “Our preliminary data are very encouraging.”
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Grant aims to shift patients from ER to health center
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Midway through a two-year study, two local health care facilities are seeing positive results from a pilot program aimed at reducing costs and shifting primarycare patients from hospital emergency rooms to community health centers.
The Emergency Department at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch is participating in a two-year study aimed at educating patients to use a health center for primary care rather than the ER. ERIC SUCAR staff The Emergency Department at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch is participating in a two-year study aimed at educating patients to use a health center for primary care rather than the ER. ERIC SUCAR staff Monmouth Medical Center, part of the St. Barnabas Health Care System, and its affiliate, Monmouth Family Health Center, both in Long Branch, are participating in the pilot program that is designed to encourage and support the transition of Medicaid and uninsured patients from the hospital Emergency Department to the health center for primary care.
According to Bill Vasquez, project director, the two Long Branch health care facilities were selected to be part of a $2 million grant program.
Above: The emergency room at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. Left: Monmouth Family Health Center, an affiliate of the hospital, is located on Broadway. Above: The emergency room at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch. Left: Monmouth Family Health Center, an affiliate of the hospital, is located on Broadway. “The program was funded by CMS [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services],” Vasquez said. “New Jersey looked at high-volume counties that had more than the average of Medicaid visits in their emergency departments.”
The pilot program is designed to run for two years and began in December 2008.
The grant, which is administered through the New Jersey Hospital Association, was awarded to Monmouth Medical Center, SecondAvenue, and Monmouth Family Health Center, which is located at 370 Broadway and on-site at the hospital.
According to the St. Barnabas website, the health center “provides economically disadvantaged individuals in Long Branch and surrounding communities with highquality, comprehensive, affordable, culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate primary and preventive health care.”
The center’s staff provides a wide range of services to more than 10,000 people each year, with more than 40,000 visits annually, the website states.
Most insurance plans are accepted, and deeply discounted services are provided to uninsured pediatric and adult patients. The center is staffed with personnel who speak fluent English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Health Center Executive Director Marta Silverberg explained the statistics and demographics for the health center.
“The population is 30 percent Hispanic, and 50 percent of our patients are below the poverty guidelines.
“Sixty percent are on Medicaid and 25 percent are uninsured,” she added. “We have 13,000 patients in our system and maybe 5,000 pediatric.”
Monmouth’s Emergency Department, which handles about 42,000 annual visits, provides comprehensive care to the acutely ill. The department also operates Express Care, a unit that is available for adults and children with minor emergencies.
Vasquez explained that the grant money provides for dedicated staffing in the Emergency Department and in the health center. The staffing includes advanced-practice nurses in the hospital, patient care assistants, a full-time physician, nursing staff, case management staff, a data analyst and outreach staff. He explained how the program works for the patient who currently comes to the emergency room for primary care.
“[When] a patient comes into the ED, they are seen in triage,” he said, “the same course any patient would take.
“It is then determined that the patient has a primary-care diagnosis, something that could otherwise be treated by a primary care physician. The advanced-practice nurse is called to see that patient and does the assessment, treatment, and medicates the patient accordingly.
“Then she educates the patient,” he continued. “She gets on the computer and pulls up the record of this patient, and accesses the appointment system and makes an appointment in real time.”
Dr. Catherine Hanlon, chairwoman of emergency medicine at Monmouth Medical Center, explained that the extra support provided to patients has helped them transition to the health center.
“We always referred patients to the health center, but what we did was typically give them a phone number and had them call to make their own appointment,” she said. “If you really want to beef up compliance, you need to walk them through the system a little better.
“We have a health center computer in our emergency department that we actually use to make patients’ appointments. It is not left open-ended for them to do.”
Vasquez confirmed that thus far the program has been successful in that patients are keeping appointments at the health center.
“What we found [is] that of the patients that were seen in the ED and appointments were made for them, that 70 percent show up and are seen in the health center as a result of the program,” he added. “The other 30 percent are individuals that say ‘I have my own doctor, I don’t need to go to your health center.’ ”
The program is succeeding in cutting down on the number of patients returning to the emergency department for primary care, he said.
“Of the 1,000 or so patients that have been referred [to the health center],” he said, “about one in nine have returned to the ED.”
Vasquez said those results are higher than anticipated.
“What we consider so successful is so many people are taking advantage of it,” he said. “I don’t know if we would have predicted a 70 percent success rate. We would have been real happy with 50 [percent].”
One of the most important aspects of the program is educating the patient, he noted.
“This is where we begin educating the patient,” Vasquez said. “It is not just moving people, it’s actually educating.
“Because this advanced-practice nurse is additional staff, she has more time to spend with these patients. She can really help educate them [on] why it is important, signs and symptoms to look for, why a follow-up visit is important,” he continued.
Vasquez explained that the true goal of the program is to use the facilities more cost-effectively.
“The goal of this demonstration was to more efficiently use the resources,” he said. “A primary-care visit costs that ER close to $400 a visit. The cost for that visit in the health center is about $125.
“To stretch those Medicaid dollars,” he explained, “they’d much rather have patients be seen in the appropriate setting.”
Vasquez explained the differences in the type of care the two facilities are designed to deliver.
“The ER is really episodic,” he said. “They go in there and take care of this, and this alone.
“[At the health center] they look at the well-being of the individual, their family history. We want the health center to become their medical home.”
Vasquez said that the inappropriate use of the emergency room by the community is what the pilot program aims to change.
“It is a model that people are looking to because it takes care of a portion of the population that uses resources poorly,” he said. “[In] the hospital, they want to take care of you if you’re really sick. When you’re a little sick, you should go to some place where that care is more appropriate.”
The idea is to educate people to use the health center for primary medical care.
“The ED doesn’t want to waste their time with the ‘walking well,’ and the HC wants to see that ‘walking well,’ ” Vasquez said. “It’s just people not being familiar with the resources.”
Vasquez explained that there is no guarantee for future funding once the grant program concludes.
“We don’t know whether there will be additional funding to continue it,” he said. “Given the kind of results we are seeing, we are hopeful that’s the case.”
There is also no guarantee that the program will work, because any patient who shows up at the ED must be seen.
“This is not an alternative to receiving care in the emergency room,” he said. “The federal requirement is that anyone who appears in an ER to request care must be seen.”
Vasquez explained the role of the health center.
“What the family health center cares for are individuals who would not otherwise have access to a primary care physician,” he said.
Vasquez explained that one misconception is that the ED is free health care.
“You’re always charged. You may not be able to pay it, but there is no such thing as free care,” he said. “The health center has a sliding scale; it is important [that] everybody contribute something.
“If they did lots and lots of free care, they’d go out of business,” he added. “We’ve seen a whole rash of hospitals close.”
When the grant was first being talked about, Vasquez explained, there was some initial trepidation in both organizations.
“There was certainly reticence, and there was some trust issues that needed to be breached,” he said. “The [family health center] and hospital work closely and collaboratively; they are two separate organizations.
“Fortunately, we worked things through in a positive manner,” he added. “Also, since the money was shared equally … there was no competition.
“The grant was developed between them, and both had to sign off on it before the grant was submitted,” he continued. “It took a little work, but everyone saw it as a plus for each side.”
Silverberg agreed that the existing relationship between the two facilities helped with the introduction of the program.
“We had a lot of the structure set up for it,” she said. “We are already connected electronically; we didn’t have to start from scratch,” she said. “It was easy to implement, because we had a very strong relationship.”
According to Hanlon, as of October there were about 800 referrals to the health center, but there also seem to be more and more patients using the emergency room.
“Of the patients that have been referred, there definitely was a decrease in the number of patients that have gone to the clinic and come back,” she said, adding, “We are still seeing an increase in the volume of emergency patients going up, and that is a national trend, not just a New Jersey trend,” she said.
“This is why we are running this grant, to try to get some of these people into more appropriate and cost-effective places to be seen.”
Hanlon said she is encouraged by the preliminary data that there will be cost savings realized.
“It will decrease but not eliminate the emergency room visits,” she said. “For the population that we are seeing, I think we definitely will see a decrease in visits.
“That’s what we are shooting for,” she added. “Our preliminary data are very encouraging.”
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Tuesday, March 2, 2010
L.B. Planning Board moves forward on master plan
L.B. Planning Board moves forward on master plan
Attorney: City is meeting affordable housing quota
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The city Planning Board continues to work toward a comprehensive master plan, which is due to be completed by March.
At the Dec. 15 meeting, the planners passed a resolution approving the fair-share housing plan for the city that was originally presented to them in October.
Attorney Robert Beckelman, of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith and Davis, Woodbridge, explained that the city will meet its obligation to provide affordable housing under the state Council on Affordable Housing guidelines.
“This lays out how the city goes forward with our fair share obligation with projects that have already taken place or projects that are in the pipeline or being contemplated,” he said. “Given the housing authority projects that have already taken place and that we expect to take place, it is something we expect to handle.”
Beckelman explained there has been a change in the city’s status.
“The numbers have changed,” Beckelman said. “We estimated 675 units, which is higher than COAH’s projection.”
Since its inception in 1985, COAH has had two previous rounds that the city has not participated in.
According to the master plan, the city’s obligation has been to create 254 units of affordable housing from 2004 to 2018. This includes 119 units of affordable housing from the projected 593 market-rate units that will be created, according to the master plan.
It also includes an additional 135 affordable units based on projections that 2,164 jobs will be created, or one affordable unit per 16 jobs, as per COAH regulations.
COAH was established in 1985 by the state Legislature in response to a series of state Supreme Court rulings commonly known as the Mount Laurel Doctrine.
According to the Department of Community Affairs, COAH has the power to define housing regions, estimate
low- and moderate-income
housing needs, set criteria and guidelines for municipalities to determine and address their own fair-share numbers, and approve and review housing fair-share plans for municipalities.
Since its inception, COAH has had three phases of fair-housing plans. Round one of the plan focused on creating reasonable opportunities for affordable housing through municipal zoning ordinances. The second round focused on rehabilitating existing housing. COAH’s third round focuses on establishing a uniform growth share element for New Jersey municipalities.
Affordable housing, as defined by the state, is housing that can be bought or rented with 30 percent or less of an individual’s income.
The fair share plan is just one section of the master plan that is scheduled to be adopted by spring.
Also included in the master plan is a self-assessment report that includes a list of projects and demographics of the city and a list of recommendations, including creating a transit village and moving City Hall farther east on Broadway.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Attorney: City is meeting affordable housing quota
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The city Planning Board continues to work toward a comprehensive master plan, which is due to be completed by March.
At the Dec. 15 meeting, the planners passed a resolution approving the fair-share housing plan for the city that was originally presented to them in October.
Attorney Robert Beckelman, of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith and Davis, Woodbridge, explained that the city will meet its obligation to provide affordable housing under the state Council on Affordable Housing guidelines.
“This lays out how the city goes forward with our fair share obligation with projects that have already taken place or projects that are in the pipeline or being contemplated,” he said. “Given the housing authority projects that have already taken place and that we expect to take place, it is something we expect to handle.”
Beckelman explained there has been a change in the city’s status.
“The numbers have changed,” Beckelman said. “We estimated 675 units, which is higher than COAH’s projection.”
Since its inception in 1985, COAH has had two previous rounds that the city has not participated in.
According to the master plan, the city’s obligation has been to create 254 units of affordable housing from 2004 to 2018. This includes 119 units of affordable housing from the projected 593 market-rate units that will be created, according to the master plan.
It also includes an additional 135 affordable units based on projections that 2,164 jobs will be created, or one affordable unit per 16 jobs, as per COAH regulations.
COAH was established in 1985 by the state Legislature in response to a series of state Supreme Court rulings commonly known as the Mount Laurel Doctrine.
According to the Department of Community Affairs, COAH has the power to define housing regions, estimate
low- and moderate-income
housing needs, set criteria and guidelines for municipalities to determine and address their own fair-share numbers, and approve and review housing fair-share plans for municipalities.
Since its inception, COAH has had three phases of fair-housing plans. Round one of the plan focused on creating reasonable opportunities for affordable housing through municipal zoning ordinances. The second round focused on rehabilitating existing housing. COAH’s third round focuses on establishing a uniform growth share element for New Jersey municipalities.
Affordable housing, as defined by the state, is housing that can be bought or rented with 30 percent or less of an individual’s income.
The fair share plan is just one section of the master plan that is scheduled to be adopted by spring.
Also included in the master plan is a self-assessment report that includes a list of projects and demographics of the city and a list of recommendations, including creating a transit village and moving City Hall farther east on Broadway.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
MRHS suits may add privacy claim
MRHS suits may add privacy claim
Female employees say they were taped by hidden camera
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
The attorney representing three female employees suing the Monmouth Regional High School District in Tinton Falls said last week that two of the complaints may be amended to add allegations of invasion of privacy.
Mahwah-based lawyer Lydia Cotz said in an interview that she is considering amending complaints filed on behalf of two of the three employees who are charging the district discriminated against them based on race, gender and age.
According to Cotz, two of the women, Diana Davis and Tamara White, were allegedly videotaped, without their knowledge or consent, in the office they share at Monmouth Regional High School.
“My clients have found a camera that the administration placed in their office,” Cotz said. “This is very upsetting for them.”
According to Cotz, the hidden camera was found in an office shared by the two women before the lawsuit was filed.
“They discovered the camera prior to the suit,” she said. “What’s been going on since is, I’ve been trying to get the videos back.
“That is a problem because the administration is saying [they] don’t have the videos any longer,” she added.
Peter Spaeth, the attorney representing the defendants in the lawsuits, has not responded to calls seeking comment on the lawsuits or the allegations regarding the hidden camera. In addition to the district, the suits name former district Superintendent James Cleary, MRHS Vice Principal Scott Larkin, MRHS Business Administrator Maria Parry, current MRHS Athletic Director Anthony D’Orio, and Principal Andrew Teeple as defendants.
According to Cotz, district officials are claiming that the camera was installed because of a possible theft; Cotz, however, said her clients were unaware of the camera’s presence.
“There was no police activity; the school did this on their own,” she said. “They do not have the right to simply [carry out] surveillance [of] my clients because they feel like it.
“They [Davis and White] were told some kind of [pretext that] the camera was put there because someone was ‘taking money,’ ” Cotz said.
Cotz said she was not aware of when the camera was installed, and she implied that the alleged action may be considered criminal.
“This is a serious invasion of privacy and we think perhaps it’s stalking,” she said. “It’s problematic for my clients in many ways.
“We don’t know why the camera was put there; we don’t know how long the camera was put there; we do know the clients weren’t told about the camera,” she added. “We think it was another personal attack on my clients for making grievances.”
Cotz said one of the complaints is that the two women use the office to change clothing.
“What is disturbing about it is that it is an area where my clients have been getting undressed,” she said. “Those are their own offices and these women use the offices to get changed during the day, especially Ms. White because she was involved in coaching.”
Photographs provided by Cotz show a hole in the wall of the office shared by Davis and White where the women claim a camera was placed next to the office clock providing a view of the entire office.
“[My clients] sent me pictures where the camera was placed,” she said.
A hole was actually carved out, she said.
Cotz said her clients originally discovered the camera, which they believe was then removed from the office.
“They saw the camera and they have since tried to locate the camera,” she said. “[We believe] the camera was removed by another teacher; then we understand that the camera was in the possession of [school officials].
“Since then, we’ve been trying to find out where this camera is,” she added. “We have gotten no response, and the [district’s] lawyer has told me that there is no video.”
Another legal issue, Cotz said, is that the district is refusing to produce the videotapes.
“We have been asking for the videos to be given back, and the administration has been saying that they don’t have them anymore,” she said. “We think this is an extreme violation of their privacy.
“We don’t believe them because they have been saying they don’t have all kinds of documents that we know that they do have because they’ve been produced by my clients,” she added.
Cotz said because of this, she is expecting to file a motion to amend the complaint.
“We are going to file a motion to allege new facts,” Cotz said. “We are now going to allege a spoliation [destruction of evidence] motion.
“If they do not come up with these videos, then they have purposely destroyed them for purposes of this lawsuit,” she added. “That’s a serious issue.”
Cotz claims that she has been asking for the videos for some time.
“When Ms. Davis filed her lawsuit, she had already been asking for those videos,” she said. “They knew I’d be asking for this in discovery, and now those videos are nowhere in sight.
“They are supposed to preserve evidence,” she added.
Cotz is expecting the district to oppose the addition of the camera complaint to the suits filed.Cotz filed three separate lawsuits on behalf of Monmouth Regional employees Davis, PatriciaDomanich and White. Cotz said that Domanichwould not be included in the additional complaint involving the alleged hidden camera.
The suit brought on behalf of Davis was filed in February and a response was filed in April. The other two suits were filed in August and responses were filed on Oct. 29 and 30.
The suit filed on behalf of Davis, 56, who is African American, names Cleary, who retired in June, and the school district as defendants. The complaint charges discrimination based on age, gender and race.
The suit brought on behalf of Domanich, 52, names Cleary, Vice Principal Larkin, Business Administrator Parry and the school district as defendants. The complaint charges discrimination based on age and gender.
The legal action in which White is the plaintiff names Cleary, the school district, and athletic director D’Orio as defendants. The complaint charges discrimination based on gender.
In the response to the legal actions, Spaeth, of Wolff, Helies, Duggan, Spaeth & Lucas, Manasquan, countered that the suits are frivolous and requested a jury trial.
Contact Kenny Walter at
Kwalter@gmnews.com.
Female employees say they were taped by hidden camera
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
The attorney representing three female employees suing the Monmouth Regional High School District in Tinton Falls said last week that two of the complaints may be amended to add allegations of invasion of privacy.
Mahwah-based lawyer Lydia Cotz said in an interview that she is considering amending complaints filed on behalf of two of the three employees who are charging the district discriminated against them based on race, gender and age.
According to Cotz, two of the women, Diana Davis and Tamara White, were allegedly videotaped, without their knowledge or consent, in the office they share at Monmouth Regional High School.
“My clients have found a camera that the administration placed in their office,” Cotz said. “This is very upsetting for them.”
According to Cotz, the hidden camera was found in an office shared by the two women before the lawsuit was filed.
“They discovered the camera prior to the suit,” she said. “What’s been going on since is, I’ve been trying to get the videos back.
“That is a problem because the administration is saying [they] don’t have the videos any longer,” she added.
Peter Spaeth, the attorney representing the defendants in the lawsuits, has not responded to calls seeking comment on the lawsuits or the allegations regarding the hidden camera. In addition to the district, the suits name former district Superintendent James Cleary, MRHS Vice Principal Scott Larkin, MRHS Business Administrator Maria Parry, current MRHS Athletic Director Anthony D’Orio, and Principal Andrew Teeple as defendants.
According to Cotz, district officials are claiming that the camera was installed because of a possible theft; Cotz, however, said her clients were unaware of the camera’s presence.
“There was no police activity; the school did this on their own,” she said. “They do not have the right to simply [carry out] surveillance [of] my clients because they feel like it.
“They [Davis and White] were told some kind of [pretext that] the camera was put there because someone was ‘taking money,’ ” Cotz said.
Cotz said she was not aware of when the camera was installed, and she implied that the alleged action may be considered criminal.
“This is a serious invasion of privacy and we think perhaps it’s stalking,” she said. “It’s problematic for my clients in many ways.
“We don’t know why the camera was put there; we don’t know how long the camera was put there; we do know the clients weren’t told about the camera,” she added. “We think it was another personal attack on my clients for making grievances.”
Cotz said one of the complaints is that the two women use the office to change clothing.
“What is disturbing about it is that it is an area where my clients have been getting undressed,” she said. “Those are their own offices and these women use the offices to get changed during the day, especially Ms. White because she was involved in coaching.”
Photographs provided by Cotz show a hole in the wall of the office shared by Davis and White where the women claim a camera was placed next to the office clock providing a view of the entire office.
“[My clients] sent me pictures where the camera was placed,” she said.
A hole was actually carved out, she said.
Cotz said her clients originally discovered the camera, which they believe was then removed from the office.
“They saw the camera and they have since tried to locate the camera,” she said. “[We believe] the camera was removed by another teacher; then we understand that the camera was in the possession of [school officials].
“Since then, we’ve been trying to find out where this camera is,” she added. “We have gotten no response, and the [district’s] lawyer has told me that there is no video.”
Another legal issue, Cotz said, is that the district is refusing to produce the videotapes.
“We have been asking for the videos to be given back, and the administration has been saying that they don’t have them anymore,” she said. “We think this is an extreme violation of their privacy.
“We don’t believe them because they have been saying they don’t have all kinds of documents that we know that they do have because they’ve been produced by my clients,” she added.
Cotz said because of this, she is expecting to file a motion to amend the complaint.
“We are going to file a motion to allege new facts,” Cotz said. “We are now going to allege a spoliation [destruction of evidence] motion.
“If they do not come up with these videos, then they have purposely destroyed them for purposes of this lawsuit,” she added. “That’s a serious issue.”
Cotz claims that she has been asking for the videos for some time.
“When Ms. Davis filed her lawsuit, she had already been asking for those videos,” she said. “They knew I’d be asking for this in discovery, and now those videos are nowhere in sight.
“They are supposed to preserve evidence,” she added.
Cotz is expecting the district to oppose the addition of the camera complaint to the suits filed.Cotz filed three separate lawsuits on behalf of Monmouth Regional employees Davis, PatriciaDomanich and White. Cotz said that Domanichwould not be included in the additional complaint involving the alleged hidden camera.
The suit brought on behalf of Davis was filed in February and a response was filed in April. The other two suits were filed in August and responses were filed on Oct. 29 and 30.
The suit filed on behalf of Davis, 56, who is African American, names Cleary, who retired in June, and the school district as defendants. The complaint charges discrimination based on age, gender and race.
The suit brought on behalf of Domanich, 52, names Cleary, Vice Principal Larkin, Business Administrator Parry and the school district as defendants. The complaint charges discrimination based on age and gender.
The legal action in which White is the plaintiff names Cleary, the school district, and athletic director D’Orio as defendants. The complaint charges discrimination based on gender.
In the response to the legal actions, Spaeth, of Wolff, Helies, Duggan, Spaeth & Lucas, Manasquan, countered that the suits are frivolous and requested a jury trial.
Contact Kenny Walter at
Kwalter@gmnews.com.
Planners OK eminent domain ordinance
Planners OK eminent domain ordinance
Board backs elimination of condemnation in Beachfront South
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Long Branch came a step closer last week to taking eminent domain off the table in the next phase of its oceanfront redevelopment plan.
The Long Branch Planning Board met on Dec. 15 and reviewed a proposed ordinance that would eliminate the use of eminent domain in the Beachfront South zone and unanimously recommended that the City Council introduce the ordinance and clarify zoning regulations in the zone at its Dec. 29 meeting.
At the City Council's Dec. 8 meeting, the council referred the proposed ordinance to the Planning Board, which is required to review the ordinance because it impacts zoning issues.
Robert Beckelman, of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith and Davis, Woodbridge, the attorney who drew up the ordinances, explained some of the background work that led up to the ordinances.
"There have been meetings with the property owners over the past year, and some of the concern is that the redevelopment plan may have been unclear with respect to some of the uses and continuation of uses.
"This ordinance does not amend the redevelopment, but clarifies what is our position already," he added. "This addresses the concerns raised by the property owners."
Assistant Planning Director Carl Turner explained why the board is recommending the ordinances be adopted.
"We are not acting on it, it is something the council will be acting on," Turner said. "But we are joined at the hip.
"If the Planning Board approves this recommendation, then it goes to the City Council and they vote on it to make it official."
Beckelman also explained how the ordinances would affect future development in the zone.
"They can continue residential uses that are already there without the threat of eminent domain," he said. "As far as forward moving redevelopment, it just clarifies what those uses would be."
With no opposition from any member of the board, Building and Development Director Kevin Hayes Sr. moved that the board refer the ordinances back to the council.
"I would move the board recommend the ordinance to be referred to City Council with our blessing and our approval," Hayes said.
The ordinances are scheduled to be introduced at the Dec. 29 council meeting and could be approved at the Jan. 12 council meeting.
Beachfront South resident Harold Bobrow, who attended the Planning Board meeting, said he is pleased with the results and is looking forward to the ordinance being presented to the City Council.
Beachfront South residents and the city administration have met multiple times in the past year, including as recently as Nov. 5, to discuss issues and try to come to an agreement about redevelopment of the zone.
A major point of contention between the city and residents has been the specter of eminent domain, a tactic used by the city to condemn properties in previous redevelopment zones.
Tensions sometimes ran high at the meetings, and many residents called for the city to adopt a measure that would ban the use of eminent
domain in the zone
prior to any agreement.
Mayor Adam Schneider told residents last August the city would not use its power of eminent domain to condemn properties for the redevelopment as it had in the MTOTSA neighborhood. He said the city would adopt an ordinance eliminating eminent domain after residents reached an agreement with the city.
"At the end of this process, there will not be eminent domain," he said at the time.
Besides the issue of eminent domain, some residents have objected to the city's designating the zone as a redevelopment zone and the restrictions that involves,
City officials have contended that keeping their neighborhood as a redevelopment zone would protect residents from intrusive development. They also contend that clarifying the language of the zoning regulations allows residents a better understanding of what they can do with their properties.
Under the amended zoning ordinance, Beachfront South would remain a redevelopment zone, which means that property owners would be restricted from seeking use variances for any improvements.
The neighborhood was designated a redevelopment zone in 1996, and the threat of eminent domain has been a possibility since.
The Beachfront South zone extends from Bath to Morris avenues, between Ocean Boulevard and Ocean Avenue, and is one of the city's six redevelopment zones. Other zones include Beachfront North Phase II, Beachfront North Phase I, Hotel Campus, Broadway-Gateway and Broadway-Corridor.
Contact Kenny Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com.
Board backs elimination of condemnation in Beachfront South
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Long Branch came a step closer last week to taking eminent domain off the table in the next phase of its oceanfront redevelopment plan.
The Long Branch Planning Board met on Dec. 15 and reviewed a proposed ordinance that would eliminate the use of eminent domain in the Beachfront South zone and unanimously recommended that the City Council introduce the ordinance and clarify zoning regulations in the zone at its Dec. 29 meeting.
At the City Council's Dec. 8 meeting, the council referred the proposed ordinance to the Planning Board, which is required to review the ordinance because it impacts zoning issues.
Robert Beckelman, of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith and Davis, Woodbridge, the attorney who drew up the ordinances, explained some of the background work that led up to the ordinances.
"There have been meetings with the property owners over the past year, and some of the concern is that the redevelopment plan may have been unclear with respect to some of the uses and continuation of uses.
"This ordinance does not amend the redevelopment, but clarifies what is our position already," he added. "This addresses the concerns raised by the property owners."
Assistant Planning Director Carl Turner explained why the board is recommending the ordinances be adopted.
"We are not acting on it, it is something the council will be acting on," Turner said. "But we are joined at the hip.
"If the Planning Board approves this recommendation, then it goes to the City Council and they vote on it to make it official."
Beckelman also explained how the ordinances would affect future development in the zone.
"They can continue residential uses that are already there without the threat of eminent domain," he said. "As far as forward moving redevelopment, it just clarifies what those uses would be."
With no opposition from any member of the board, Building and Development Director Kevin Hayes Sr. moved that the board refer the ordinances back to the council.
"I would move the board recommend the ordinance to be referred to City Council with our blessing and our approval," Hayes said.
The ordinances are scheduled to be introduced at the Dec. 29 council meeting and could be approved at the Jan. 12 council meeting.
Beachfront South resident Harold Bobrow, who attended the Planning Board meeting, said he is pleased with the results and is looking forward to the ordinance being presented to the City Council.
Beachfront South residents and the city administration have met multiple times in the past year, including as recently as Nov. 5, to discuss issues and try to come to an agreement about redevelopment of the zone.
A major point of contention between the city and residents has been the specter of eminent domain, a tactic used by the city to condemn properties in previous redevelopment zones.
Tensions sometimes ran high at the meetings, and many residents called for the city to adopt a measure that would ban the use of eminent
domain in the zone
prior to any agreement.
Mayor Adam Schneider told residents last August the city would not use its power of eminent domain to condemn properties for the redevelopment as it had in the MTOTSA neighborhood. He said the city would adopt an ordinance eliminating eminent domain after residents reached an agreement with the city.
"At the end of this process, there will not be eminent domain," he said at the time.
Besides the issue of eminent domain, some residents have objected to the city's designating the zone as a redevelopment zone and the restrictions that involves,
City officials have contended that keeping their neighborhood as a redevelopment zone would protect residents from intrusive development. They also contend that clarifying the language of the zoning regulations allows residents a better understanding of what they can do with their properties.
Under the amended zoning ordinance, Beachfront South would remain a redevelopment zone, which means that property owners would be restricted from seeking use variances for any improvements.
The neighborhood was designated a redevelopment zone in 1996, and the threat of eminent domain has been a possibility since.
The Beachfront South zone extends from Bath to Morris avenues, between Ocean Boulevard and Ocean Avenue, and is one of the city's six redevelopment zones. Other zones include Beachfront North Phase II, Beachfront North Phase I, Hotel Campus, Broadway-Gateway and Broadway-Corridor.
Contact Kenny Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com.
L.B. superintendent will retire in 2011
L.B. superintendent will retire in 2011
Ferraina leaves open possibility of running for public office
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Long Branch School District Superintendent Joseph M. Ferraina announced last week that he will end his 15-plus-year tenure and retire at the end of the 2010-11 school year.
Superintendent Joseph Ferraina heads a district with 10 schools and over 5,000 students. CHRIS KELLY staff Superintendent Joseph Ferraina heads a district with 10 schools and over 5,000 students. CHRIS KELLY staff Ferraina will remain as superintendent of the prekindergarten-through-12th-grade district, one of 31 Abbott districts in the state, for another year and a half, until June 30, 2011.
He said he has rejected numerous attempts by the Board of Education to renew his contract.
"I was offered a new five-year contract five times already, but I said, 'Thank you but no thank you,' " Ferraina said in an interview last week. "It is a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to retire at a time where I love what I'm doing.
"About three years ago I sat down and said, 'I'm not going to do this forever. I'm not going to go beyond 61 years old.' "
Factoring into Ferraina's decision is his desire to begin a new career.
"The time to leave is now when I can still hit home runs," he said. "I'm young, I'm healthy, and I'm looking to do some consulting."
Ferraina, who heads a diverse, multicultural district with 10 schools educating over 5,000 students, said his new career would not be as intensive as his current one.
"I'm going to do it on my time, on my terms," he said. "Meaning if you call me up and say, 'I'm having problems,' I'll come and help you.
"It's not going to hold me down to anything," he added. "It's not about making money; I have a good pension."
Ferraina also left open the possibility of running for public office.
"Everybody asks me many times to run for many different offices," he said, adding that there have been rumors that he would run for mayor.
"There has always been a lot of speculation," he said. "A lot of people got nervous when I bought my house in Long Branch.
"They were so worried that they were checking whether or not you can be superintendent and mayor at the same time," he added. "I can be superintendent and mayor at the same time.
"The problem is there is no way you can work as superintendent and do anything else. You can't do both."
Although he would not close the door on running for public office, it would have to wait until after his retirement, he said.
At times a controversial public figure, Ferraina has been criticized in the media for his $300,000-plus annual salary and generous benefits.
He said he is not afraid to address controversy, particularly the payout for his sick days.
"There has always been controversy about me getting paid for my sick days," he said. "I was the poster child for the sick days five years ago."
He acknowledged that most have already made up their minds about him.
"It's not about what other people think," he said. "There are two kinds of people in Long Branch: those that love me and those that hate me. Everybody knows me, though."
As for a successor, Ferraina said giving the board more than a year's notice would allow for an easy transition.
"We always try to promote from within," he said. "Hopefully, in the next three or four months [the board will] pick someone as my replacement, and I will work with that person for a year."
One person who is out of the running is Assistant Superintendent George Catrambone, who will be retiring at the end of the month.
As for his accomplishments as superintendent, Ferraina cited improving school facilities, a goal achieved with the help of some $9 million in Abbott funding.
"Facilities were an issue. If you walk around Long Branch, you'll find that virtually every school is a brand-new facility," he said.
"In our facilities, we have things that no one else has … because we've made it happen.
"Our sports facilities are second to none," he continued. "We have an amazing football stadium, and we are going to have an amazing baseball field."
Ferraina described some of the other amenities the new classrooms enjoy, some of which can be used in case of an emergency in the city.
"At every school in Long Branch we can lock down our classrooms," he said. "Every classroom has a portable bathroom. We have food in every school so that we can provide shelter for people.
"One of the things that we fought very hard for is for every school to have a backup generator— major league generators, not little generators," he added. "You can run those facilities as shelters for the city."
Ferraina said he is also proud of the steps taken to enhance the curriculum that give students an academic advantage.
"Every fourth-grade student has a laptop computer all the way up," he said. "We have the best academic programs, from AP courses to students with the greatest needs."
Ferraina, who rose from Long Branch police officer to school superintendent, shared his theory on how to curtail problems that are plaguing schools across the country.
"Teachers have to have connections with students," he said. "By having connections with students, then we will be able to understandwhenwe have a drug problem, when we have a violence problem.
"We can curtail it prior to it happening," he added. "Long Branch has really been in the lead of providing a safe environment for children."
Ferraina also said that teachers' interaction with students could help keep them out of gangs.
"Gangs are a problem across the county, across the state and across the country," he said. "It all has to do with [that] we try to have connections with students, and that's how we reduce the problem.
"Do we have students that I'm sure want to be gang members? Definitely," he added. "Do we have some that are? Probably. Our goal is to let those students know that there is a much better place with the school than with the gang."
While the district is in good shape, Ferraina said there are some things to be concerned about.
"The major challenge they are going to face is going to be funding," he said, alluding to the state's budget crisis and uncertainty over Abbott funding.
Last year, voters rejected the $86.2 million district budget by just nine votes.
Ferraina acknowledged that the budget would be a concern, particularly with a new governor taking office.
"The biggest issue is with the incredible shortfall of the state. How does the governor balance the budget?" he asked. "Once he makes that tough call, we are all going to have to react to the tough call.
"I made a plan on how we are going to do what we have to do to best serve our students," he added. "I always have to rely on whatever the state's going to give me. I don't have an option.
"The second challenge is going to be maintaining these amazing facilities," he continued.
"You're going to have to have the expertise to keep these systems going well 20 or 30 years down the road."
The challenge for his successor will be to move the district forward, he said.
"The person that takes my place is going to really look at where technology is going, how are we going to get there, and how are we going to deliver services."
Ferraina said that his retirement is coming at a time when he has accomplished one of his main goals.
"I've dedicated my life to my profession," he said. "My goal was to have all the facilities built and retire by the time I was 60.
"The last facility we are going to build is going to start probably when I'm 60," he added.
"The truth of the matter is, I told the teachers in September I would go," he continued. "I am very confident that this was the best time to do it."
Ferraina also said the district is heading in the right direction. According to the state Department of Education report card, scores for students in the Long Branch Public School District rose for language proficiency by almost 5 percent and math scores by more then 10 percent from the 2006-07 academic year to 2007-08.
"The schools are great, the children are doing a great job," he said. "Our test scores are going up. Everything is going in the right direction."
Ferraina was born in Argentina and immigrated to New Jersey when he was 13. He earned a bachelor's degree from Jersey City College (now New Jersey City University) and a master's degree from Monmouth University
He started his career as a special police officerwith the Long Branch Police Department. He then took a job as a Spanish teacher at the Long Branch Middle School, working his way through the system until he became superintendent in 1994.
In his 15-plus years as superintendent, Ferraina said a few traits have helped him succeed.
"People always knew I was dedicated to a cause," he said. "I'm not afraid to make decisions.
"I'm not afraid to take whatever heat comes from those decisions. If I believe in it and I think it's good for the kids, then I'm not going to give up on it."
Ferraina credited the people he surrounded himself with for his success.
"I surrounded myself with people who are smarter than me and as dedicated as me," he said. "When I have a great teacher in the classroom, I look good. The teachers here are dedicated, they care about children."
Ferraina said he was grateful for the opportunity he has had in Long Branch.
"They gave me this great opportunity in Long Branch," he said. "There are times with a lot of pain where you have to be there for them, and there are times of great success stories.
"You can't have sunshine without rain," he added. "I have fun every day I come to work."
Contact Kenny Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com.
CHRIS KELLY staff
Ferraina leaves open possibility of running for public office
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Long Branch School District Superintendent Joseph M. Ferraina announced last week that he will end his 15-plus-year tenure and retire at the end of the 2010-11 school year.
Superintendent Joseph Ferraina heads a district with 10 schools and over 5,000 students. CHRIS KELLY staff Superintendent Joseph Ferraina heads a district with 10 schools and over 5,000 students. CHRIS KELLY staff Ferraina will remain as superintendent of the prekindergarten-through-12th-grade district, one of 31 Abbott districts in the state, for another year and a half, until June 30, 2011.
He said he has rejected numerous attempts by the Board of Education to renew his contract.
"I was offered a new five-year contract five times already, but I said, 'Thank you but no thank you,' " Ferraina said in an interview last week. "It is a wonderful opportunity for me to be able to retire at a time where I love what I'm doing.
"About three years ago I sat down and said, 'I'm not going to do this forever. I'm not going to go beyond 61 years old.' "
Factoring into Ferraina's decision is his desire to begin a new career.
"The time to leave is now when I can still hit home runs," he said. "I'm young, I'm healthy, and I'm looking to do some consulting."
Ferraina, who heads a diverse, multicultural district with 10 schools educating over 5,000 students, said his new career would not be as intensive as his current one.
"I'm going to do it on my time, on my terms," he said. "Meaning if you call me up and say, 'I'm having problems,' I'll come and help you.
"It's not going to hold me down to anything," he added. "It's not about making money; I have a good pension."
Ferraina also left open the possibility of running for public office.
"Everybody asks me many times to run for many different offices," he said, adding that there have been rumors that he would run for mayor.
"There has always been a lot of speculation," he said. "A lot of people got nervous when I bought my house in Long Branch.
"They were so worried that they were checking whether or not you can be superintendent and mayor at the same time," he added. "I can be superintendent and mayor at the same time.
"The problem is there is no way you can work as superintendent and do anything else. You can't do both."
Although he would not close the door on running for public office, it would have to wait until after his retirement, he said.
At times a controversial public figure, Ferraina has been criticized in the media for his $300,000-plus annual salary and generous benefits.
He said he is not afraid to address controversy, particularly the payout for his sick days.
"There has always been controversy about me getting paid for my sick days," he said. "I was the poster child for the sick days five years ago."
He acknowledged that most have already made up their minds about him.
"It's not about what other people think," he said. "There are two kinds of people in Long Branch: those that love me and those that hate me. Everybody knows me, though."
As for a successor, Ferraina said giving the board more than a year's notice would allow for an easy transition.
"We always try to promote from within," he said. "Hopefully, in the next three or four months [the board will] pick someone as my replacement, and I will work with that person for a year."
One person who is out of the running is Assistant Superintendent George Catrambone, who will be retiring at the end of the month.
As for his accomplishments as superintendent, Ferraina cited improving school facilities, a goal achieved with the help of some $9 million in Abbott funding.
"Facilities were an issue. If you walk around Long Branch, you'll find that virtually every school is a brand-new facility," he said.
"In our facilities, we have things that no one else has … because we've made it happen.
"Our sports facilities are second to none," he continued. "We have an amazing football stadium, and we are going to have an amazing baseball field."
Ferraina described some of the other amenities the new classrooms enjoy, some of which can be used in case of an emergency in the city.
"At every school in Long Branch we can lock down our classrooms," he said. "Every classroom has a portable bathroom. We have food in every school so that we can provide shelter for people.
"One of the things that we fought very hard for is for every school to have a backup generator— major league generators, not little generators," he added. "You can run those facilities as shelters for the city."
Ferraina said he is also proud of the steps taken to enhance the curriculum that give students an academic advantage.
"Every fourth-grade student has a laptop computer all the way up," he said. "We have the best academic programs, from AP courses to students with the greatest needs."
Ferraina, who rose from Long Branch police officer to school superintendent, shared his theory on how to curtail problems that are plaguing schools across the country.
"Teachers have to have connections with students," he said. "By having connections with students, then we will be able to understandwhenwe have a drug problem, when we have a violence problem.
"We can curtail it prior to it happening," he added. "Long Branch has really been in the lead of providing a safe environment for children."
Ferraina also said that teachers' interaction with students could help keep them out of gangs.
"Gangs are a problem across the county, across the state and across the country," he said. "It all has to do with [that] we try to have connections with students, and that's how we reduce the problem.
"Do we have students that I'm sure want to be gang members? Definitely," he added. "Do we have some that are? Probably. Our goal is to let those students know that there is a much better place with the school than with the gang."
While the district is in good shape, Ferraina said there are some things to be concerned about.
"The major challenge they are going to face is going to be funding," he said, alluding to the state's budget crisis and uncertainty over Abbott funding.
Last year, voters rejected the $86.2 million district budget by just nine votes.
Ferraina acknowledged that the budget would be a concern, particularly with a new governor taking office.
"The biggest issue is with the incredible shortfall of the state. How does the governor balance the budget?" he asked. "Once he makes that tough call, we are all going to have to react to the tough call.
"I made a plan on how we are going to do what we have to do to best serve our students," he added. "I always have to rely on whatever the state's going to give me. I don't have an option.
"The second challenge is going to be maintaining these amazing facilities," he continued.
"You're going to have to have the expertise to keep these systems going well 20 or 30 years down the road."
The challenge for his successor will be to move the district forward, he said.
"The person that takes my place is going to really look at where technology is going, how are we going to get there, and how are we going to deliver services."
Ferraina said that his retirement is coming at a time when he has accomplished one of his main goals.
"I've dedicated my life to my profession," he said. "My goal was to have all the facilities built and retire by the time I was 60.
"The last facility we are going to build is going to start probably when I'm 60," he added.
"The truth of the matter is, I told the teachers in September I would go," he continued. "I am very confident that this was the best time to do it."
Ferraina also said the district is heading in the right direction. According to the state Department of Education report card, scores for students in the Long Branch Public School District rose for language proficiency by almost 5 percent and math scores by more then 10 percent from the 2006-07 academic year to 2007-08.
"The schools are great, the children are doing a great job," he said. "Our test scores are going up. Everything is going in the right direction."
Ferraina was born in Argentina and immigrated to New Jersey when he was 13. He earned a bachelor's degree from Jersey City College (now New Jersey City University) and a master's degree from Monmouth University
He started his career as a special police officerwith the Long Branch Police Department. He then took a job as a Spanish teacher at the Long Branch Middle School, working his way through the system until he became superintendent in 1994.
In his 15-plus years as superintendent, Ferraina said a few traits have helped him succeed.
"People always knew I was dedicated to a cause," he said. "I'm not afraid to make decisions.
"I'm not afraid to take whatever heat comes from those decisions. If I believe in it and I think it's good for the kids, then I'm not going to give up on it."
Ferraina credited the people he surrounded himself with for his success.
"I surrounded myself with people who are smarter than me and as dedicated as me," he said. "When I have a great teacher in the classroom, I look good. The teachers here are dedicated, they care about children."
Ferraina said he was grateful for the opportunity he has had in Long Branch.
"They gave me this great opportunity in Long Branch," he said. "There are times with a lot of pain where you have to be there for them, and there are times of great success stories.
"You can't have sunshine without rain," he added. "I have fun every day I come to work."
Contact Kenny Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com.
CHRIS KELLY staff
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