T.F. BOE revises budget to reflect $1.3M aid cut
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — The Tinton Falls Board of Education presented a tentative 2010-11 budget earlier this month based on a state aid reduction of 15 percent.
When the state announced aid figures two weeks ago, the district learned it would lose 31 percent of state aid, or $1.3 million, and was forced to scramble to make additional cuts.
“We did our preliminary budget and that was a somber meeting,” Board of Education President Peter Karavites said at a special board meeting held on March 24. “We had to cut programs, we had to cut staff.
“We thought everything was OK. Now, they cut another $678,000 from us since that last meeting.”
The district will receive close to $2.9 million in aid toward the tentative $26.5 million 2010-11 budget.
If the budget is introduced and approved, Tinton Falls residents would see an increase of around 3 cents per $100 of assessed property valuation in the school tax, bringing the total to a little over 65 cents. Residents of Shrewsbury Township, a sending district, will see a minimal decrease from last year’s 67.04 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
At the board meeting Tinton Falls Superintendent John Russo explained some of the cuts the district will make to compensate for reduced state aid.
“We looked at everything — construction supplies, administrative supplies and so on,” he said. “We looked at travel expenses, workshops outside of the district, printing expenses.
“We looked at assemblies and class trips,” he added. “We have gone through every possible line [item].”
Gov. Chris Christie directed school districts to use a portion of their surplus funds to offset withheld state aid, resulting in $1.47 million in state aid withheld to Tinton Falls this year.
The governor announced a plan to cut $475 million in state aid to school districts for 2009-10, part of a plan to deal with the state’s multibillion-dollar budget gap.
School districts are allowed to have a surplus account, with any amount above 2 percent considered excess surplus and earmarked for taxpayer relief. By Christie’s direction, the district must use the excess surplus toward the 2009-10 budget.
At the board’s March 8 meeting the district laid out a plan to cut various positions, including one middle school science teacher, one and a half middle school language arts teaching positions, two guidance counselors, one part-time basic skills teacher, one part-time secretary, one part-time child study team member, one special education teacher, two paraprofessionals and one elementary school teacher.
With the state aid reduction greater than expected, the district will also cut the media center specialist, the curriculum consultant, an administration office secretary, one information technology support staff member, one library clerk and two elementary school world language teachers.
Russo said that cutting more staff is not something he wanted to do.
“We did our best to chip around the edges when we thought our reduction was 15 percent,” he said. “We now face a much larger cut in state aid, but we haven’t changed our philosophical approach.
“We continue to look at these cuts and continue to do everything possible to protect class sizes and to protect programs,” he added. “We unfortunately had to go back to the drawing board.
Russo explained that another decision is to charge a fee for after-school sports and activities.
“Our plan, and it is not completely fleshed out, is to develop a subscription for these activities,” he said. “Many middle schools are cutting those activities out completely or choosing to do the subscription.”
The district’s original plan called for exceeding the mandated 4 percent cap on the tax levy increase because of increased costs for health benefits.
“There are a few areas that if you qualify you have the option to go above the 4 percent cap,” Business Administrator Tamar Sydney- Gens said. “We are maintaining the 4 percent tax levy.”
However, she explained that the district could no longer go over the cap to fund the $417,000 increase in the cost of health benefits.
“Four percent is the max, and if you go higher the executive county superintendents have basically been told to look to cut or disapprove,” she said.
Sydney-Gens said that the district was told to use maintenance reserves to make up the difference, which will leave the district $150,000 short of the increase.
“We don’t know if the county superintendent is going to say OK, or cut another $150,000,” she said.
At the meeting, the board also announced that in an effort to mitigate the cost of salary increases, many of the highest paid district employees voluntarily gave up raises this year.
“Voluntarily the superintendent, the business administrator, all principals, supervisors, directors of special services and confidential secretaries have approached the board and offered a zero-percent increase for next year,” Karavites said. “They said to us, ‘Take care of the district; we will forgo a salary increase next year.’ ”
Karavites also said there have been negotiations ongoing between the district and the teachers association.
“We are in negotiations,” Karavites said. “We have not settled. When and if we do settle, that outcome will hopefully change the amount of money that we need to expend.”
During the public portion of the meeting a former board member suggested that instead of cutting staff and programs that the district should fight for the right to raise taxes.
“There is a process in place and it is illegal for them to ignore that process,” Michael Laffey said. “I think this board should go to the county [superintendent] and say we want to exceed that cap.
“If you tell us no, we will see you in court,” he added. “I know there is risk associated, I know they can impose cuts on us. don’t see how it could get any worse.”
Another resident said she is willing to help in any way she can.
“I want to commend you on the very difficult decisions you’ve had to make,” Christina Warren, who serves on the borough’s activity committee, said. “I wouldn’t want to be sitting up there.
“I know there are many parents like me who would be willing to donate their time, whether it be sports activities or something like the yearbook,” she added. “School can get quite tedious at times and they do need something to fall back on.”
Residents can vote on the budget on April 20 between 3 and 9 p.m.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Riders tell NJ Transit about impact of cuts
Riders tell NJ Transit about impact of cuts
People with disabilities depend on service
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
William Leonard, who is blind, has just one transportation option when leaving his Fair Haven home, and that may soon be eliminated.
Top: William Leonard [center], of Fair Haven, listens to a speaker during a public hearing March 26 on NJ Transit’s proposal to raise fares and cut services. Above: Jesse Grivin, of Ocean Township, listens to the presentation held at the Long Branch Middle School auditorium. Top: William Leonard [center], of Fair Haven, listens to a speaker during a public hearing March 26 on NJ Transit’s proposal to raise fares and cut services. Above: Jesse Grivin, of Ocean Township, listens to the presentation held at the Long Branch Middle School auditorium. “I take Access Link to go to the doctor, to try to be social, to go to a blind citizens group,” he said. “With the elimination of bus 835, I will be stuck at home, pretty much in a prison cell.
“Access Link is valuable to people with special needs, and that should be considered here.”
Leonard spoke at the March 26 New Jersey Transit public hearing held at the Long Branch Middle School, where transit officials presented a proposal for fare hikes and service cuts to make up a $300 million budget deficit.
PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff “The potential budget deficit for 2011 is approaching $300 million,” Thomas Woods, NJ Transit hearing officer, said. “These aren’t actions we want to take but actions we proposed out of necessity to balance our budget.”
In a presentation, Charles Ingoglia outlined a 25 percent fare increase as well as cuts to service on all of the transit services.
Ingoglia explained some of the hardships the transit authority is facing.
“We are facing cost increases for fuel, parts and contracts,” he said. “Against that, ridership has declined around 4 percent, which significantly impacts revenue.
“The state is not in the position to provide increased operating money,” he added. “We have an obligation to balance the budget and come up with solutions for sustainable finances to NJ Transit.”
Thomas Woods, NJ Transit hearing officer, addresses attendees. Thomas Woods, NJ Transit hearing officer, addresses attendees. Ingoglia outlined some of the ways NJ Transit has cut from within, including 200 layoffs, an emergency spending freeze, cutbacks on 401k accounts, cutting executive salaries, hiring and salary freezes, and furloughs, resulting in $30 million in savings.
“We are looking first internally and reviewing every option within our own house to reduce operating costs,” he said. “Fare increases and service reductions are always an option of last resort.”
According to estimates, the proposed plan would generate $140 million in revenue to fill the agency’s budget gap for 2010-11, NJ Transit officials said.
The cuts and fare hikes are still a proposal, and the NJ Transit board will vote on the proposals at the April 14 meeting.
However, many people at the hearing were concerned that over 30 bus lines were being cut across the state, and that many residents use the Access Link system.
Jack Hill, of Howell, addresses the audience and NJ Transit officials. Jack Hill, of Howell, addresses the audience and NJ Transit officials. “My concern is that people with disabilities will be unfairly disadvantaged by this,” Darryl Banks said. “Access Link shadows many of these buses that will be discontinued.
“People who have disabilities already have the least access to the services,” he added. “You really are talking about an unfair disparity for these individuals.”
Much like Leonard, Colts Neck resident Jennifer Sterner said she would be stranded at home without the Access Link service.
“I am a frequent Access Link rider,” said Sterner, who uses a wheelchair. “I take Access Link everywhere.
“I do not drive, so basically that is my only transportation. If that route disappears, I am stuck in my house forever.
“I don’t mind paying an extra 25 percent, but if they take away the route completely, I’m left stranded.”
Also commenting was Alexandra Maldonado, who spoke on behalf of Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District).
“My concern with the mass transit cuts is that they can be counterproductive,” she said. “These fair hikes and service cuts may force fewer New Jersey commuters to take public transportation and put more cars on our already packed roadways.
“These rate hikes will hit all the middle-income commuters the hardest, especially commuters whose only option to get to work is to utilize public transit,” she added.
Monmouth County Freeholder John D’Amico also expressed concern that more residents would be forced to drive.
“Fair increases and service cuts are counterproductive, resulting in loss of revenue and diversion of riders to single- occupancy vehicles that will cause increased traffic congestion on already congested Monmouth County roadways,” he said.
D’Amico’s comments came a day after the Board of Chosen Freeholders passed a resolution urging NJ Transit to reject the proposal to raise fares and cut service.
According to a press release from the freeholders, a one-way rail fare from Middletown to New York’s Penn Station would rise from $11.50 to $14.25. An off-peak round trip would increase from $19.75 to $28.50, and a monthly pass would climb from $326 to $408.
Also, about 1,000 commuters would be adversely affected by the elimination of certain trains, including four trains on the North Jersey Coast Line.
Weekday train 2306 (6:41 a.m. departure from Bay Head), weekday train 2309 (5:10 p.m. departure from Hoboken), weekday train 3517 (7:42 p.m. departure from New York) and weekday train 3518 (9:13 p.m. departure from South Amboy) would no longer be in service.
Jesse Grivin, of Ocean Township, spoke as a member of the Lackawanna Coalition, one of the nation’s oldest rail advocacy organizations.
“I speak as a human being that has consistently had vision problems and will become increasingly dependent on our state’s public transportation system,” he said. “I speak as a citizen outraged at our state’s discrimination against those who cannot afford or safely operate a car.”
Another Ocean Township resident was concerned about the environmental impact that the proposals will generate.
“These proposals are going to be counter to environmental issues,” Stephen Lofthouse said. “New Jersey should be focused on taking more automobiles off the roads, not forcing people into their cars.”
Lofthouse also proposed an idea that the state should take up instead of cutting transit services.
“I believe the governor is wrong in ruling out raising the gasoline tax,” he said. “Why doesn’t someone do the arithmetic on this and see if it would actually work?”
Another group that would be adversely affected by the proposal is students, according to one of their mentors.
“There are quite a few students in Monmouth County who take public transportation to go to school,” Constance Lefferts, who works at Brookdale Community College, said. “Without public transportation, they have no way to go to school.
“They will have to drop scholarships,” she added. “These are students who will become active participants within our community if they can finish school.”
The Long Branch hearing was one of several held last week, including a hearing in Manalapan on March 25.
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People with disabilities depend on service
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
William Leonard, who is blind, has just one transportation option when leaving his Fair Haven home, and that may soon be eliminated.
Top: William Leonard [center], of Fair Haven, listens to a speaker during a public hearing March 26 on NJ Transit’s proposal to raise fares and cut services. Above: Jesse Grivin, of Ocean Township, listens to the presentation held at the Long Branch Middle School auditorium. Top: William Leonard [center], of Fair Haven, listens to a speaker during a public hearing March 26 on NJ Transit’s proposal to raise fares and cut services. Above: Jesse Grivin, of Ocean Township, listens to the presentation held at the Long Branch Middle School auditorium. “I take Access Link to go to the doctor, to try to be social, to go to a blind citizens group,” he said. “With the elimination of bus 835, I will be stuck at home, pretty much in a prison cell.
“Access Link is valuable to people with special needs, and that should be considered here.”
Leonard spoke at the March 26 New Jersey Transit public hearing held at the Long Branch Middle School, where transit officials presented a proposal for fare hikes and service cuts to make up a $300 million budget deficit.
PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff “The potential budget deficit for 2011 is approaching $300 million,” Thomas Woods, NJ Transit hearing officer, said. “These aren’t actions we want to take but actions we proposed out of necessity to balance our budget.”
In a presentation, Charles Ingoglia outlined a 25 percent fare increase as well as cuts to service on all of the transit services.
Ingoglia explained some of the hardships the transit authority is facing.
“We are facing cost increases for fuel, parts and contracts,” he said. “Against that, ridership has declined around 4 percent, which significantly impacts revenue.
“The state is not in the position to provide increased operating money,” he added. “We have an obligation to balance the budget and come up with solutions for sustainable finances to NJ Transit.”
Thomas Woods, NJ Transit hearing officer, addresses attendees. Thomas Woods, NJ Transit hearing officer, addresses attendees. Ingoglia outlined some of the ways NJ Transit has cut from within, including 200 layoffs, an emergency spending freeze, cutbacks on 401k accounts, cutting executive salaries, hiring and salary freezes, and furloughs, resulting in $30 million in savings.
“We are looking first internally and reviewing every option within our own house to reduce operating costs,” he said. “Fare increases and service reductions are always an option of last resort.”
According to estimates, the proposed plan would generate $140 million in revenue to fill the agency’s budget gap for 2010-11, NJ Transit officials said.
The cuts and fare hikes are still a proposal, and the NJ Transit board will vote on the proposals at the April 14 meeting.
However, many people at the hearing were concerned that over 30 bus lines were being cut across the state, and that many residents use the Access Link system.
Jack Hill, of Howell, addresses the audience and NJ Transit officials. Jack Hill, of Howell, addresses the audience and NJ Transit officials. “My concern is that people with disabilities will be unfairly disadvantaged by this,” Darryl Banks said. “Access Link shadows many of these buses that will be discontinued.
“People who have disabilities already have the least access to the services,” he added. “You really are talking about an unfair disparity for these individuals.”
Much like Leonard, Colts Neck resident Jennifer Sterner said she would be stranded at home without the Access Link service.
“I am a frequent Access Link rider,” said Sterner, who uses a wheelchair. “I take Access Link everywhere.
“I do not drive, so basically that is my only transportation. If that route disappears, I am stuck in my house forever.
“I don’t mind paying an extra 25 percent, but if they take away the route completely, I’m left stranded.”
Also commenting was Alexandra Maldonado, who spoke on behalf of Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District).
“My concern with the mass transit cuts is that they can be counterproductive,” she said. “These fair hikes and service cuts may force fewer New Jersey commuters to take public transportation and put more cars on our already packed roadways.
“These rate hikes will hit all the middle-income commuters the hardest, especially commuters whose only option to get to work is to utilize public transit,” she added.
Monmouth County Freeholder John D’Amico also expressed concern that more residents would be forced to drive.
“Fair increases and service cuts are counterproductive, resulting in loss of revenue and diversion of riders to single- occupancy vehicles that will cause increased traffic congestion on already congested Monmouth County roadways,” he said.
D’Amico’s comments came a day after the Board of Chosen Freeholders passed a resolution urging NJ Transit to reject the proposal to raise fares and cut service.
According to a press release from the freeholders, a one-way rail fare from Middletown to New York’s Penn Station would rise from $11.50 to $14.25. An off-peak round trip would increase from $19.75 to $28.50, and a monthly pass would climb from $326 to $408.
Also, about 1,000 commuters would be adversely affected by the elimination of certain trains, including four trains on the North Jersey Coast Line.
Weekday train 2306 (6:41 a.m. departure from Bay Head), weekday train 2309 (5:10 p.m. departure from Hoboken), weekday train 3517 (7:42 p.m. departure from New York) and weekday train 3518 (9:13 p.m. departure from South Amboy) would no longer be in service.
Jesse Grivin, of Ocean Township, spoke as a member of the Lackawanna Coalition, one of the nation’s oldest rail advocacy organizations.
“I speak as a human being that has consistently had vision problems and will become increasingly dependent on our state’s public transportation system,” he said. “I speak as a citizen outraged at our state’s discrimination against those who cannot afford or safely operate a car.”
Another Ocean Township resident was concerned about the environmental impact that the proposals will generate.
“These proposals are going to be counter to environmental issues,” Stephen Lofthouse said. “New Jersey should be focused on taking more automobiles off the roads, not forcing people into their cars.”
Lofthouse also proposed an idea that the state should take up instead of cutting transit services.
“I believe the governor is wrong in ruling out raising the gasoline tax,” he said. “Why doesn’t someone do the arithmetic on this and see if it would actually work?”
Another group that would be adversely affected by the proposal is students, according to one of their mentors.
“There are quite a few students in Monmouth County who take public transportation to go to school,” Constance Lefferts, who works at Brookdale Community College, said. “Without public transportation, they have no way to go to school.
“They will have to drop scholarships,” she added. “These are students who will become active participants within our community if they can finish school.”
The Long Branch hearing was one of several held last week, including a hearing in Manalapan on March 25.
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L.B. officials spar over court filings
L.B. officials spar over court filings
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
The political season in Long Branch has barely begun, but things are heating up with city officials and a mayoral candidate trading accusations of wrongdoing.
At the March 23 City Council meeting, Peter DeLisa, campaign manager for Councilman and mayoral candidate Brian Unger, asked Mayor Adam Schneider and each council member point-blank if they had ever accepted a bribe from a developer,
Each council member answered no, whereupon DeLisa asked, “Mr. Mayor, did you take the money?”
Schneider said he was not the unnamed person in news reports.
The confrontation came after an article about an alleged payoff to an unnamed councilman by former developer and FBI informant Solomon Dwek appeared in The Star-Ledger’s March 21 issue.
The controversy emerged after Unger sent out a press release following the council meeting about the allegations and demanded Schneider identify the unnamed councilman.
“I am not convinced that a bribe didn’t take place,” Unger said. “Developers who bribe don’t care whether it is a zoning board or a planning board, they want their project approval guaranteed and they grease the wheels to make sure.
“I am now asking Adam Schneider directly: Did you ever, at any time, or in any location, meet with Solomon Dwek and a Long Branch city councilman?”
Schneider answered the charges in a press release, calling on Unger “to stop the lies, the politics of personal destruction and start talking about real issues. Once again distorting any semblance of the truth, just as Mr. Unger has done many times before, he continues his pattern of lies and innuendo by slandering the hard-working people of Long Branch.”
In an interview, Schneider explained that during a legal battle for assets in bankruptcy court between trustee Charles A. Stanziale Jr. and Dwek associate Barry Kantrowitz, Dwek testified that he was introduced to an unnamed mayor and a Long Branch councilman and reportedly made a $10,000 contribution toward approvals for a Long Branch development project.
Schneider said the Dwek project refers to a 2001 application to construct 11 townhouses along Ocean Boulevard. In the court proceedings, no city official is named specifically.
Unger’s press release continues: “At Tuesday’s Long Branch City Council meeting it was disclosed that the townhouse complex that Dwek reportedly bribed officials for approvals on was the Newport condominiums, Ocean Boulevard corner of Bath Avenue. The Newport was developed by Dwek in conjunction with controversial city Sewerage Authority Commissioner John Brockriede, a Schneider campaign donor.
“It has not been disclosed whether Brockriede’s bank, Central Jersey Bank, financed the deal, but a bank director, attorney Mark Aikins, presented the project to the city Planning Board in September 2002. Brockriede attended the board meeting. City Attorney James Aaron is also a director of the bank. Dwek was a co-founder and former board member, as well.”
Schneider said at the council meeting that the charges are misunderstood.
“Most people don’t even understand the accusations,” he said.
“The trustee’s job is to do what is called marshal assets,” he said. “List all the assets of the debtor, in this case Solomon [Dwek], bring them all under his control and then sell them.”
According to Schneider, Kantrowitz is claiming some of the assets are his.
He also said that Stanziale isn’t making the accusations, Dwek is.
“Kantrowitz denies it; these are Dwek’s allegations,” he said.
According to the court filings, Kantrowitz introduced Dwek to the mayor and councilman, which Schneider is claiming proves he is not the mayor referred to in the court filings, adding that he has known Dwek for many years.
“I was not introduced to him by Barry Kantrowitz,” he said. “The way they set that out, it ain’t me.”
Schneider said he understands the assumptions people are making.
“Dwek has apparently alleged that Kantrowitz set up this meeting between an unnamed councilman and an unnamed mayor influencing a Long Branch project,” he said. “Clearly the logic would be a Long Branch councilman, but it is not alleged. For whatever reason, they don’t go there.”
Schneider also said the project didn’t require variances.
“It was not a major project nine years ago … [it] required no substantial approval,” he said. “It was kind of a nobrainer of an application.”
Schneider said that even though he denies any allegations, he is taking them seriously.
“Once the accusations came up, we took a look at it,” he said. “You have a responsibility when there is an allegation made.
“No matter how much merit you give, you have to take a look.”
Long Branch resident Diana Multare took the opportunity to push for a city ethics board because of the appearance of a conflict of interest.
“The attorney that represented Dwek and Brockriede was Mark Aikins,” she said. Aikins is the city’s conflict attorney.
However, Schneider said that an allegation of this type wouldn’t go to an ethics board.
“According to Mr. Stanziale, it was presented to the FBI,” he said. “Where else could it possibly go?
“We have looked at the file. We did that right away. Of course I’m interested in getting to the bottom of it, but right now it is just an allegation with no factual basis, as far as we know. We are not the appropriate investigative authority, the FBI is.”
Another resident suggested that the city should cut off all contact with Dwek.
“Some people are bad people; I think Mr. Dwek might be one of them,” Harold “Pudgy” Cooper said. “I would suggest to our council and mayor to probably not deal with him because it just looks bad.
“It seems like his name is always intertwined with bad things.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
The political season in Long Branch has barely begun, but things are heating up with city officials and a mayoral candidate trading accusations of wrongdoing.
At the March 23 City Council meeting, Peter DeLisa, campaign manager for Councilman and mayoral candidate Brian Unger, asked Mayor Adam Schneider and each council member point-blank if they had ever accepted a bribe from a developer,
Each council member answered no, whereupon DeLisa asked, “Mr. Mayor, did you take the money?”
Schneider said he was not the unnamed person in news reports.
The confrontation came after an article about an alleged payoff to an unnamed councilman by former developer and FBI informant Solomon Dwek appeared in The Star-Ledger’s March 21 issue.
The controversy emerged after Unger sent out a press release following the council meeting about the allegations and demanded Schneider identify the unnamed councilman.
“I am not convinced that a bribe didn’t take place,” Unger said. “Developers who bribe don’t care whether it is a zoning board or a planning board, they want their project approval guaranteed and they grease the wheels to make sure.
“I am now asking Adam Schneider directly: Did you ever, at any time, or in any location, meet with Solomon Dwek and a Long Branch city councilman?”
Schneider answered the charges in a press release, calling on Unger “to stop the lies, the politics of personal destruction and start talking about real issues. Once again distorting any semblance of the truth, just as Mr. Unger has done many times before, he continues his pattern of lies and innuendo by slandering the hard-working people of Long Branch.”
In an interview, Schneider explained that during a legal battle for assets in bankruptcy court between trustee Charles A. Stanziale Jr. and Dwek associate Barry Kantrowitz, Dwek testified that he was introduced to an unnamed mayor and a Long Branch councilman and reportedly made a $10,000 contribution toward approvals for a Long Branch development project.
Schneider said the Dwek project refers to a 2001 application to construct 11 townhouses along Ocean Boulevard. In the court proceedings, no city official is named specifically.
Unger’s press release continues: “At Tuesday’s Long Branch City Council meeting it was disclosed that the townhouse complex that Dwek reportedly bribed officials for approvals on was the Newport condominiums, Ocean Boulevard corner of Bath Avenue. The Newport was developed by Dwek in conjunction with controversial city Sewerage Authority Commissioner John Brockriede, a Schneider campaign donor.
“It has not been disclosed whether Brockriede’s bank, Central Jersey Bank, financed the deal, but a bank director, attorney Mark Aikins, presented the project to the city Planning Board in September 2002. Brockriede attended the board meeting. City Attorney James Aaron is also a director of the bank. Dwek was a co-founder and former board member, as well.”
Schneider said at the council meeting that the charges are misunderstood.
“Most people don’t even understand the accusations,” he said.
“The trustee’s job is to do what is called marshal assets,” he said. “List all the assets of the debtor, in this case Solomon [Dwek], bring them all under his control and then sell them.”
According to Schneider, Kantrowitz is claiming some of the assets are his.
He also said that Stanziale isn’t making the accusations, Dwek is.
“Kantrowitz denies it; these are Dwek’s allegations,” he said.
According to the court filings, Kantrowitz introduced Dwek to the mayor and councilman, which Schneider is claiming proves he is not the mayor referred to in the court filings, adding that he has known Dwek for many years.
“I was not introduced to him by Barry Kantrowitz,” he said. “The way they set that out, it ain’t me.”
Schneider said he understands the assumptions people are making.
“Dwek has apparently alleged that Kantrowitz set up this meeting between an unnamed councilman and an unnamed mayor influencing a Long Branch project,” he said. “Clearly the logic would be a Long Branch councilman, but it is not alleged. For whatever reason, they don’t go there.”
Schneider also said the project didn’t require variances.
“It was not a major project nine years ago … [it] required no substantial approval,” he said. “It was kind of a nobrainer of an application.”
Schneider said that even though he denies any allegations, he is taking them seriously.
“Once the accusations came up, we took a look at it,” he said. “You have a responsibility when there is an allegation made.
“No matter how much merit you give, you have to take a look.”
Long Branch resident Diana Multare took the opportunity to push for a city ethics board because of the appearance of a conflict of interest.
“The attorney that represented Dwek and Brockriede was Mark Aikins,” she said. Aikins is the city’s conflict attorney.
However, Schneider said that an allegation of this type wouldn’t go to an ethics board.
“According to Mr. Stanziale, it was presented to the FBI,” he said. “Where else could it possibly go?
“We have looked at the file. We did that right away. Of course I’m interested in getting to the bottom of it, but right now it is just an allegation with no factual basis, as far as we know. We are not the appropriate investigative authority, the FBI is.”
Another resident suggested that the city should cut off all contact with Dwek.
“Some people are bad people; I think Mr. Dwek might be one of them,” Harold “Pudgy” Cooper said. “I would suggest to our council and mayor to probably not deal with him because it just looks bad.
“It seems like his name is always intertwined with bad things.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Friday, April 16, 2010
Board hears plan to convert age-restricted development
Board hears plan to convert age-restricted development
BOE officials: Conversion would burden schools
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — The Planning Board continued hearing an application on March 3 for the conversion of an approved, age-restricted housing development.
If approved, the new housing development, to be located between Shafto Road and West Park Avenue and Tormee Drive, would consist of more than 300 market-rate units.
Developer Caruso Building received approval for the age-restricted Rose Glen at Tinton Falls in 2007 but did not go forward with plans.
Senate bill S2577, signed into law last spring, permits the conversion of age-restricted housing to non-age-restricted housing under certain circumstances, and the developer is asking the Planning Board to approve such a conversion.
The board began hearing the testimony at the March 3 meeting at which Kenneth Pape, attorney for Caruso, called the first witness to testify about real estate trends in the state and country.
“The purpose of our presentation was to give the board a broad background of the trends in the state,” said Pape, of Heilbrunn, Pape & Goldstein, who testified for the developer.
Pape explained the requirements to seek the conversion before bringing up his first witness.
“You have to have an approval before 2009 for an age-restricted community,” he said. “You can’t have units that have been sold, rented or marketed.”
Pape then brought up Jeffrey Otteau, president of the Otteau Valuation Group. Otteau spoke of real estate trends, claiming that a growing number of New Jersey homes are becoming childless.
“We have now reached the point in New Jersey where two out of every three households have no children living at home,” he said. “This is a very big trend that has been developing for a decade.”
Otteau cited a Virginia Tech report that the number may increase in the next five to 10 years, adding that younger families are putting off having children due to financial hardship.
“There are severe financial constraints on younger-aged households,” he said. “Increasingly we are seeing declining school enrollments in the face of large numbers of new homes being built at the beginning of this decade.”
Otteau cited school enrollment in Tinton Falls, which he said declined 17 percent from 2000 to 2008, but two members of the Tinton Falls Board of Education refuted the claim.
“Did you take into account that we’ve lost nearly 300 children from the privatization of [Naval Weapons Station] Earle?” Board of Education President Peter Karavites asked. “In reality we’ve had a decrease, but it’s being backfilled every year.”
“Nearly 300 children left that weren’t even residents of the town,” said board member Wayne Wiebalk. “We are pretty much flat over the eight-year period, not a reduction.”
According to Otteau, the project as originally planned is no longer financially feasible and the Senate bill provides an option.
“It would not have the demand to go forward, and in the end it lacked financial feasibility,” he said. “When the bill was designed, it had a project like this in mind.”
Otteau said he expects to see families with fewer children buying homes in the future.
“Baby-boomer households are becoming empty nests and young families are not having children,” he said. “There will be fewer children per household going forward … ”
Karavites argued that the stats on the schools are faulty.
“A new development with younger families would be putting kids in the schools,” he said. “Your testimony is making it seem like they wouldn’t be, and in reality they’d be backfilling our schools.”
Otteau said the future of real estate in the state would be different than in the past.
“Jersey still remains a very potent consumer market,” he said. “New Jersey no longer has the highest income in the country, but we have the fifth highest.
“There is a future here in New Jersey, but that future will look different than we thought it would awhile back. That means we need to adjust our … developments and ideas as to what is feasible going forward.”
Otteau said that active-adult housing is a trend that might not have been studied fully.
“Active-adult housing is a relatively new concept intended to fill a gap between family housing and retirement housing,” he said. “It was developed as a concept when the projections were that New Jersey would have a lot of affluent 55-plus households.
“We really didn’t understand this. It seemed like a convenient way to build developments without the tie-in to the schools. Our expectations have been overstated.”
Otteau also said that the market for agerestricted housing is not what it once was.
“The 55-plus population is relatively small,” he said. “New Jersey is no longer retaining its older residents. People are leaving our state at an increasing velocity.”
According to the borough engineer’s report, the proposed project consists of 243 market-rate units and 61 affordable units. The market-rate units are four-bedroom dwellings, while the affordable units range from one- to three-bedroom units.
Under the conversion plan, the number of bedrooms would decrease from 1,148 to 1,110.
The next Planning Board meeting was scheduled for March 24.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
BOE officials: Conversion would burden schools
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — The Planning Board continued hearing an application on March 3 for the conversion of an approved, age-restricted housing development.
If approved, the new housing development, to be located between Shafto Road and West Park Avenue and Tormee Drive, would consist of more than 300 market-rate units.
Developer Caruso Building received approval for the age-restricted Rose Glen at Tinton Falls in 2007 but did not go forward with plans.
Senate bill S2577, signed into law last spring, permits the conversion of age-restricted housing to non-age-restricted housing under certain circumstances, and the developer is asking the Planning Board to approve such a conversion.
The board began hearing the testimony at the March 3 meeting at which Kenneth Pape, attorney for Caruso, called the first witness to testify about real estate trends in the state and country.
“The purpose of our presentation was to give the board a broad background of the trends in the state,” said Pape, of Heilbrunn, Pape & Goldstein, who testified for the developer.
Pape explained the requirements to seek the conversion before bringing up his first witness.
“You have to have an approval before 2009 for an age-restricted community,” he said. “You can’t have units that have been sold, rented or marketed.”
Pape then brought up Jeffrey Otteau, president of the Otteau Valuation Group. Otteau spoke of real estate trends, claiming that a growing number of New Jersey homes are becoming childless.
“We have now reached the point in New Jersey where two out of every three households have no children living at home,” he said. “This is a very big trend that has been developing for a decade.”
Otteau cited a Virginia Tech report that the number may increase in the next five to 10 years, adding that younger families are putting off having children due to financial hardship.
“There are severe financial constraints on younger-aged households,” he said. “Increasingly we are seeing declining school enrollments in the face of large numbers of new homes being built at the beginning of this decade.”
Otteau cited school enrollment in Tinton Falls, which he said declined 17 percent from 2000 to 2008, but two members of the Tinton Falls Board of Education refuted the claim.
“Did you take into account that we’ve lost nearly 300 children from the privatization of [Naval Weapons Station] Earle?” Board of Education President Peter Karavites asked. “In reality we’ve had a decrease, but it’s being backfilled every year.”
“Nearly 300 children left that weren’t even residents of the town,” said board member Wayne Wiebalk. “We are pretty much flat over the eight-year period, not a reduction.”
According to Otteau, the project as originally planned is no longer financially feasible and the Senate bill provides an option.
“It would not have the demand to go forward, and in the end it lacked financial feasibility,” he said. “When the bill was designed, it had a project like this in mind.”
Otteau said he expects to see families with fewer children buying homes in the future.
“Baby-boomer households are becoming empty nests and young families are not having children,” he said. “There will be fewer children per household going forward … ”
Karavites argued that the stats on the schools are faulty.
“A new development with younger families would be putting kids in the schools,” he said. “Your testimony is making it seem like they wouldn’t be, and in reality they’d be backfilling our schools.”
Otteau said the future of real estate in the state would be different than in the past.
“Jersey still remains a very potent consumer market,” he said. “New Jersey no longer has the highest income in the country, but we have the fifth highest.
“There is a future here in New Jersey, but that future will look different than we thought it would awhile back. That means we need to adjust our … developments and ideas as to what is feasible going forward.”
Otteau said that active-adult housing is a trend that might not have been studied fully.
“Active-adult housing is a relatively new concept intended to fill a gap between family housing and retirement housing,” he said. “It was developed as a concept when the projections were that New Jersey would have a lot of affluent 55-plus households.
“We really didn’t understand this. It seemed like a convenient way to build developments without the tie-in to the schools. Our expectations have been overstated.”
Otteau also said that the market for agerestricted housing is not what it once was.
“The 55-plus population is relatively small,” he said. “New Jersey is no longer retaining its older residents. People are leaving our state at an increasing velocity.”
According to the borough engineer’s report, the proposed project consists of 243 market-rate units and 61 affordable units. The market-rate units are four-bedroom dwellings, while the affordable units range from one- to three-bedroom units.
Under the conversion plan, the number of bedrooms would decrease from 1,148 to 1,110.
The next Planning Board meeting was scheduled for March 24.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
School districts react to state aid cuts
School districts react to state aid cuts
Districts rework budgets for submission to county
BY ANDREW DAVISON & KENNY WALTER Staff Writers
The state Department of Education released state aid figures to school districts March 18, with some districts sustaining cuts of up to 100 percent in state aid compared to last year.
In the face of aid cuts across districts, the 2010-11 state budget still grants approximately $70 million more in state funds to education aid than last year.
District administrators had a four-day turnaround period to submit tentative budgets to the Monmouth County Executive Superintendent’s Office by March 22 for review.
The Ocean Township School District will be receiving close to $3.4 million in state aid for 2010-11, a decrease of 33 percent compared to last year.
Ocean Township Superintendent Thomas Pagano said last week the district was prepared for a decrease in state aid, but officials were not prepared for the amount cut.
“We have prepared for a best-case scenario and a worst-case scenario, but this worst-case scenario is even worse than the worst-case scenario we have prepared for,” he said. “We were told to prepare for a 15 percent reduction, so we said we’d better be prepared for 20.”
Pagano said the district will have a budget prepared for the March 30 public hearing.
Pagano pointed out that the aid decrease is compounded by the requirement that districts use a portion of their surplus funding to combat the loss of state aid for the 2009 fiscal year.
“That $3.4 million is coupled with the $2.1 million that they have already taken away from us from this year’s surplus,” Pagano said. “That is $2.1 million that we would have put toward next year’s budget.
“So we have a $5.5 million loss of revenue that we have to grapple with as we form this budget.”
Pagano said district officials have not decided where to make cuts, but will be considering all options.
“We have to take a look at all areas of the budget including personnel, line accounts, technology, transportation, administration,” he said. “We have to take a look at all areas of the budget and look to reduce them.”
He acknowledged that the district will be forced lay off staff.
“Most of the school budget is made up of personnel, salaries and benefits, so that’s where we have to go,” he said. “There absolutely will be [layoffs].
“We are trying as best we can through attrition, through retirements and resignations,” he said. “It is going to be a mix of layoffs and cost reductions.”
Robert A. Green Jr., business administrator for the Eatontown School District, said last week he and his colleagues had to go “back to the table to sharpen [their] pencils.” Eatontown’s tentative budget anticipated a 15 percent reduction in state aid. The district’s state aid was cut by 22.7 percent, with the district receiving $5,389,794 in aid for 2010-2011.
Green said district officials are currently in the process of re-evaluating the budget to find another $448,000 to cut. Eatontown’s public hearing on the school budget will be held on Monday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial School, 7 Grant Ave.
A spokeswoman for the Monmouth Regional High School District in Tinton Falls said officials would not comment on the budget until after the public budget hearing on March 30 at 7:45 p.m. at the school, located at Norman J. Field Way. Monmouth Regional’s state aid was cut by 28 percent, with the district in line to receive state aid in the amount of $4,764,419 for 2010-11.
The Long Branch School District, an Abbott District, had aid cut by $2.7 million or roughly 5.4 percent, bringing their 2010- 11 state aid figure to $47.3 million.
The West Long Branch School District lost all state aid for 2010-11 after receiving $467,323 in aid last year.
The Monmouth Beach School District had state aid cut by 91.4 percent.
The district will receive $22,190 in special education aid for 2010-11.
Aid to the Shore Regional High School District was cut drastically. Last year the district received $786,378, but received $42,075 this year.
Faced with a multibillion dollar budget gap, Gov. Chris Christie said his administration was required to make hard choices about the biggest category of spending in the state budget — state aid to public school districts.
For 2010-11, Christie said public school districts would receive approximately $820 million less than last year, as announced during a joint session of the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly on March 16.
The governor explained no school district in New Jersey would face a reduction in aid greater than 5 percent of its school budget.
“I am also proposing legislation to finally give school districts the power they have repeatedly asked for in collective bargaining and in setting employee benefits so that they can lower the costs of their budget without affecting learning in the classroom,” he said.
Christie also proposed reforms to the public sector itself, explaining employee costs, health care costs, retirement costs and a “failure to set priorities” have contributed to “out of control” state spending growth.
He also noted every school district employee should pay a reasonable portion of their health care costs, like New Jerseyans in the private sector.
“If we do not end this dual system, state and local government will have to raise taxes endlessly to pay for it,” Christie said. “Teachers are not the problem. They get it. Trenton special interests are the problem and we must stand up to them.”
According to the Department of Education (DOE), school districts will need to present their budgets to the public before any of the governor’s spending reforms can be acted upon by the Legislature.
On Feb. 18 the New Jersey commissioner of education advised all school districts to anticipate a 15 percent decrease in state aid revenue in preparing their budgets.
Christie also directed that all school districts use a portion of their surplus funds to offset withheld state aid.
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Districts rework budgets for submission to county
BY ANDREW DAVISON & KENNY WALTER Staff Writers
The state Department of Education released state aid figures to school districts March 18, with some districts sustaining cuts of up to 100 percent in state aid compared to last year.
In the face of aid cuts across districts, the 2010-11 state budget still grants approximately $70 million more in state funds to education aid than last year.
District administrators had a four-day turnaround period to submit tentative budgets to the Monmouth County Executive Superintendent’s Office by March 22 for review.
The Ocean Township School District will be receiving close to $3.4 million in state aid for 2010-11, a decrease of 33 percent compared to last year.
Ocean Township Superintendent Thomas Pagano said last week the district was prepared for a decrease in state aid, but officials were not prepared for the amount cut.
“We have prepared for a best-case scenario and a worst-case scenario, but this worst-case scenario is even worse than the worst-case scenario we have prepared for,” he said. “We were told to prepare for a 15 percent reduction, so we said we’d better be prepared for 20.”
Pagano said the district will have a budget prepared for the March 30 public hearing.
Pagano pointed out that the aid decrease is compounded by the requirement that districts use a portion of their surplus funding to combat the loss of state aid for the 2009 fiscal year.
“That $3.4 million is coupled with the $2.1 million that they have already taken away from us from this year’s surplus,” Pagano said. “That is $2.1 million that we would have put toward next year’s budget.
“So we have a $5.5 million loss of revenue that we have to grapple with as we form this budget.”
Pagano said district officials have not decided where to make cuts, but will be considering all options.
“We have to take a look at all areas of the budget including personnel, line accounts, technology, transportation, administration,” he said. “We have to take a look at all areas of the budget and look to reduce them.”
He acknowledged that the district will be forced lay off staff.
“Most of the school budget is made up of personnel, salaries and benefits, so that’s where we have to go,” he said. “There absolutely will be [layoffs].
“We are trying as best we can through attrition, through retirements and resignations,” he said. “It is going to be a mix of layoffs and cost reductions.”
Robert A. Green Jr., business administrator for the Eatontown School District, said last week he and his colleagues had to go “back to the table to sharpen [their] pencils.” Eatontown’s tentative budget anticipated a 15 percent reduction in state aid. The district’s state aid was cut by 22.7 percent, with the district receiving $5,389,794 in aid for 2010-2011.
Green said district officials are currently in the process of re-evaluating the budget to find another $448,000 to cut. Eatontown’s public hearing on the school budget will be held on Monday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial School, 7 Grant Ave.
A spokeswoman for the Monmouth Regional High School District in Tinton Falls said officials would not comment on the budget until after the public budget hearing on March 30 at 7:45 p.m. at the school, located at Norman J. Field Way. Monmouth Regional’s state aid was cut by 28 percent, with the district in line to receive state aid in the amount of $4,764,419 for 2010-11.
The Long Branch School District, an Abbott District, had aid cut by $2.7 million or roughly 5.4 percent, bringing their 2010- 11 state aid figure to $47.3 million.
The West Long Branch School District lost all state aid for 2010-11 after receiving $467,323 in aid last year.
The Monmouth Beach School District had state aid cut by 91.4 percent.
The district will receive $22,190 in special education aid for 2010-11.
Aid to the Shore Regional High School District was cut drastically. Last year the district received $786,378, but received $42,075 this year.
Faced with a multibillion dollar budget gap, Gov. Chris Christie said his administration was required to make hard choices about the biggest category of spending in the state budget — state aid to public school districts.
For 2010-11, Christie said public school districts would receive approximately $820 million less than last year, as announced during a joint session of the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly on March 16.
The governor explained no school district in New Jersey would face a reduction in aid greater than 5 percent of its school budget.
“I am also proposing legislation to finally give school districts the power they have repeatedly asked for in collective bargaining and in setting employee benefits so that they can lower the costs of their budget without affecting learning in the classroom,” he said.
Christie also proposed reforms to the public sector itself, explaining employee costs, health care costs, retirement costs and a “failure to set priorities” have contributed to “out of control” state spending growth.
He also noted every school district employee should pay a reasonable portion of their health care costs, like New Jerseyans in the private sector.
“If we do not end this dual system, state and local government will have to raise taxes endlessly to pay for it,” Christie said. “Teachers are not the problem. They get it. Trenton special interests are the problem and we must stand up to them.”
According to the Department of Education (DOE), school districts will need to present their budgets to the public before any of the governor’s spending reforms can be acted upon by the Legislature.
On Feb. 18 the New Jersey commissioner of education advised all school districts to anticipate a 15 percent decrease in state aid revenue in preparing their budgets.
Christie also directed that all school districts use a portion of their surplus funds to offset withheld state aid.
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Crowded field vying for L.B. mayor, council
Crowded field vying for L.B. mayor, council
Three candidates for mayor, 21 for council in May 11 race
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — When the deadline passed for filing last week, a full field of candidates had committed to a late spring run at mayoral and council positions.
Three residents are running for mayor, while 21 candidates are vying for one of the five open City Council seats up for election on May 11.
Incumbent five-term Mayor Adam Schneider is being challenged by current Councilman Brian Unger and financial adviser Robert G. Krebs in the race for mayor.
On Schneider’s ticket of potential council members are current Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli, community activist Joy Bastelli, former school administrator Kathleen Billings, former Board of Education President Michael Sirianni, and Alan Menkin, president of the Long Branch Recreation Wrestling Club.
Unger’s ticket has former U.S. Marine Cpl. Kent Thornton, retired police detective Joe Mauriello, attorney John Gregory, accounts receivable specialist Sharon Wise and retired schoolteacher Diane Zuchnik.
Krebs’ ticket has local builder Dave Pizzo, substitute teacher Joseph Wayne, John Freda, a business consultant, and Don Riley, who has previously run for council.
Running as a ticket for council seats are former Long Branch Councilman John Pallone and David G. Brown II, son of a current councilman and the current director of public works and urban development for the city of Plainfield.
Others running for council are community activists Marco Diaz and Harold Cooper; former Long Branch High School track standout Michael Bland; Raul Pacheco, president of the Spanish Fraternity of Monmouth County; and Jackeline Biddle Shuler, a local attorney and former councilwoman.
City Clerk Irene Joline said the 2006 election featured three mayoral candidates and 13 council candidates.
Celli is the only current council member seeking re-election. Councilmen Michael DeStefano, David Brown and Anthony Giordano are not running for reelection.
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Three candidates for mayor, 21 for council in May 11 race
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — When the deadline passed for filing last week, a full field of candidates had committed to a late spring run at mayoral and council positions.
Three residents are running for mayor, while 21 candidates are vying for one of the five open City Council seats up for election on May 11.
Incumbent five-term Mayor Adam Schneider is being challenged by current Councilman Brian Unger and financial adviser Robert G. Krebs in the race for mayor.
On Schneider’s ticket of potential council members are current Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli, community activist Joy Bastelli, former school administrator Kathleen Billings, former Board of Education President Michael Sirianni, and Alan Menkin, president of the Long Branch Recreation Wrestling Club.
Unger’s ticket has former U.S. Marine Cpl. Kent Thornton, retired police detective Joe Mauriello, attorney John Gregory, accounts receivable specialist Sharon Wise and retired schoolteacher Diane Zuchnik.
Krebs’ ticket has local builder Dave Pizzo, substitute teacher Joseph Wayne, John Freda, a business consultant, and Don Riley, who has previously run for council.
Running as a ticket for council seats are former Long Branch Councilman John Pallone and David G. Brown II, son of a current councilman and the current director of public works and urban development for the city of Plainfield.
Others running for council are community activists Marco Diaz and Harold Cooper; former Long Branch High School track standout Michael Bland; Raul Pacheco, president of the Spanish Fraternity of Monmouth County; and Jackeline Biddle Shuler, a local attorney and former councilwoman.
City Clerk Irene Joline said the 2006 election featured three mayoral candidates and 13 council candidates.
Celli is the only current council member seeking re-election. Councilmen Michael DeStefano, David Brown and Anthony Giordano are not running for reelection.
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Health care bill for 9/11 responders advances
Health care bill for 9/11 responders advances
Pallone: James Zadroga 9/11 act will become law
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Advocates of a federal bill guaranteeing health care for life for Sept. 11 first responders breathed a collective sigh of relief last week as the bill took a crucial step forward.
Members of the New York congressional delegation, members of the FealGood Foundation and 9/11 responders surround Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) at a rally held at ground zero in New York on March 14 prior to the House Subcommittee on Health approval of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act. Members of the New York congressional delegation, members of the FealGood Foundation and 9/11 responders surround Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) at a rally held at ground zero in New York on March 14 prior to the House Subcommittee on Health approval of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act. The House Subcommittee on Health, chaired by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District), passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act (H.R. 847) 25- 8 on March 16.
“I was very pleased with the vote, because we were able to defeat all the weakened amendments,” Pallone said.
Pallone said last week’s vote is a good indication that the nearly $11 billion bill will pass the necessary steps to become law.
“That bodes well for the future, trying to get it to the full committee, to the floor and ultimately to the president’s desk,” he said.
Pallone also said he is going to work with his Committee on Energy and Commerce to ensure the bill moves forward. “I am obviously going to continue to push it to committee and to the floor,” he said.
Pallone said one of the bill’s most critical provisions is that the 9/11 first responders would be guaranteed health care for life.
“This is a permanent program,” he said.
The proposed bill would cover more than 30,000 9/11 first responders and residents who were near or at the World Trade Center in New York City.
John Feal, founder of the FealGood Foundation and a 9/11 first responder, has been critical of Pallone’s work on the bill. He has organized protests in front of Pallone’s Long Branch office and lobbied vigorously for the bill.
Feal said last week he is pleased that the bill moved out of the subcommittee and was pleased with the congressman’s efforts.
“Can you feel my smile from ear to ear?” he asked. “Sunday we did a press conference at ground zero, and before we all spoke, I went up to Congressman Pallone and shook his hand.
“I said, Congressman, thank you for your leadership, and this was nothing personal,’ ” he added. “He shook my hand and said thank you.”
Currently, 9/11 responders receive free health care, but funding is discretionary from year to year. Under the proposed bill funding would be permanent and responders would receive health care for life.
In previous interviews Pallone has stated that the bill did not have enough votes to pass subcommittee, but during the week leading up to the vote he believed he did have the votes.
“We pretty much figured out what the vote would be, so I wasn’t surprised,” he said. “When we finally had the commitments last week, there were no surprises, but until that time, it was difficult.”
Pallone has previously stated that a new tax would have to be implemented to pay for the bill.
Feal attended the hearing in Washington, D.C., along with about 30 9/11 first responders. He also brought about 75 first responders with him to the press conference with Pallone at ground zero on March 14.
During his opening statement Pallone praised those who attended the hearing.
“I would like to recognize and thank all of the first responders who are here today,” he said. “You are true heroes.
“I would also like to thank some of the survivors who are with us as well,” he added. “I know the 9/11 terrorist attacks have changed your lives in ways that many of us could never understand.”
Pallone went on to explain the bill.
“H.R. 847 would establish the World Trade Center Health Program, a permanent program to screen, monitor and treat eligible responders and survivors who are suffering from World Trade Center-related diseases,” he said. “It would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research into new conditions that may be related to the attacks and to evaluate different and emerging methods of diagnosis and treatment.
“Also, the legislation would build upon the expertise of the Centers of Excellence, which are currently providing high-quality care to thousands of responders and survivors, ensuring ongoing data collection and analysis to evaluate health risks.”
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.
Feal has long contended that the bill had enough votes to pass.
“I’m vindicated because back in January when I had a meeting with Congressman Pallone, I said I had these votes,” he said. “There was even members of the New York delegation that didn’t think we’d have this many votes. The whole time I said we’d have 25, 26, 27 votes.”
The 25-8 vote did not include five members who did not vote. Feal was confident some of those would have supported the bill.
“I don’t how many of those people would have voted no, but I know for sure that a couple would have voted yes,” he said.
The hearing took around six hours during which various amendments were introduced and ultimately defeated, including an amendment that would have denied coverage to undocumented first responders and requiring New York City to pay 50 percent of the costs of treatment.
Feal said that even some of the people who supported the amendments voted for the bill without them.
“Even those on the Republican side that voted for amendments voted at the end of the day for the final passage of the bill,” he said.
The Obama administration has not supported the bill thus far, proposing instead that the funding be year to year. But Feal is now optimistic that the bill will eventually make it to the president’s desk, possibly even by Sept. 11, the ninth anniversary of the attacks.
“At the end of the day I just want to help as many 9/11 responders as I [can],” he said. “The bill might not pass, but I’m confident it will. We have a lot of work ahead of us and everybody has to be a team player.
“We have to educate the president on the importance of this bill. This is not a Republican or Democratic issue, it is an American issue.”
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Pallone: James Zadroga 9/11 act will become law
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Advocates of a federal bill guaranteeing health care for life for Sept. 11 first responders breathed a collective sigh of relief last week as the bill took a crucial step forward.
Members of the New York congressional delegation, members of the FealGood Foundation and 9/11 responders surround Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) at a rally held at ground zero in New York on March 14 prior to the House Subcommittee on Health approval of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act. Members of the New York congressional delegation, members of the FealGood Foundation and 9/11 responders surround Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) at a rally held at ground zero in New York on March 14 prior to the House Subcommittee on Health approval of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act. The House Subcommittee on Health, chaired by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District), passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act (H.R. 847) 25- 8 on March 16.
“I was very pleased with the vote, because we were able to defeat all the weakened amendments,” Pallone said.
Pallone said last week’s vote is a good indication that the nearly $11 billion bill will pass the necessary steps to become law.
“That bodes well for the future, trying to get it to the full committee, to the floor and ultimately to the president’s desk,” he said.
Pallone also said he is going to work with his Committee on Energy and Commerce to ensure the bill moves forward. “I am obviously going to continue to push it to committee and to the floor,” he said.
Pallone said one of the bill’s most critical provisions is that the 9/11 first responders would be guaranteed health care for life.
“This is a permanent program,” he said.
The proposed bill would cover more than 30,000 9/11 first responders and residents who were near or at the World Trade Center in New York City.
John Feal, founder of the FealGood Foundation and a 9/11 first responder, has been critical of Pallone’s work on the bill. He has organized protests in front of Pallone’s Long Branch office and lobbied vigorously for the bill.
Feal said last week he is pleased that the bill moved out of the subcommittee and was pleased with the congressman’s efforts.
“Can you feel my smile from ear to ear?” he asked. “Sunday we did a press conference at ground zero, and before we all spoke, I went up to Congressman Pallone and shook his hand.
“I said, Congressman, thank you for your leadership, and this was nothing personal,’ ” he added. “He shook my hand and said thank you.”
Currently, 9/11 responders receive free health care, but funding is discretionary from year to year. Under the proposed bill funding would be permanent and responders would receive health care for life.
In previous interviews Pallone has stated that the bill did not have enough votes to pass subcommittee, but during the week leading up to the vote he believed he did have the votes.
“We pretty much figured out what the vote would be, so I wasn’t surprised,” he said. “When we finally had the commitments last week, there were no surprises, but until that time, it was difficult.”
Pallone has previously stated that a new tax would have to be implemented to pay for the bill.
Feal attended the hearing in Washington, D.C., along with about 30 9/11 first responders. He also brought about 75 first responders with him to the press conference with Pallone at ground zero on March 14.
During his opening statement Pallone praised those who attended the hearing.
“I would like to recognize and thank all of the first responders who are here today,” he said. “You are true heroes.
“I would also like to thank some of the survivors who are with us as well,” he added. “I know the 9/11 terrorist attacks have changed your lives in ways that many of us could never understand.”
Pallone went on to explain the bill.
“H.R. 847 would establish the World Trade Center Health Program, a permanent program to screen, monitor and treat eligible responders and survivors who are suffering from World Trade Center-related diseases,” he said. “It would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research into new conditions that may be related to the attacks and to evaluate different and emerging methods of diagnosis and treatment.
“Also, the legislation would build upon the expertise of the Centers of Excellence, which are currently providing high-quality care to thousands of responders and survivors, ensuring ongoing data collection and analysis to evaluate health risks.”
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.
Feal has long contended that the bill had enough votes to pass.
“I’m vindicated because back in January when I had a meeting with Congressman Pallone, I said I had these votes,” he said. “There was even members of the New York delegation that didn’t think we’d have this many votes. The whole time I said we’d have 25, 26, 27 votes.”
The 25-8 vote did not include five members who did not vote. Feal was confident some of those would have supported the bill.
“I don’t how many of those people would have voted no, but I know for sure that a couple would have voted yes,” he said.
The hearing took around six hours during which various amendments were introduced and ultimately defeated, including an amendment that would have denied coverage to undocumented first responders and requiring New York City to pay 50 percent of the costs of treatment.
Feal said that even some of the people who supported the amendments voted for the bill without them.
“Even those on the Republican side that voted for amendments voted at the end of the day for the final passage of the bill,” he said.
The Obama administration has not supported the bill thus far, proposing instead that the funding be year to year. But Feal is now optimistic that the bill will eventually make it to the president’s desk, possibly even by Sept. 11, the ninth anniversary of the attacks.
“At the end of the day I just want to help as many 9/11 responders as I [can],” he said. “The bill might not pass, but I’m confident it will. We have a lot of work ahead of us and everybody has to be a team player.
“We have to educate the president on the importance of this bill. This is not a Republican or Democratic issue, it is an American issue.”
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tinton Falls BOE plans for reduced state aid
Tinton Falls BOE plans for reduced state aid
Staff cuts, service reductions anticipated
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Anticipating a 15 percent reduction in state aid, the Tinton Falls Board of Education presented the tentative 2010-11 budget last week, including a list of staffing changes.
The tentative budget was unanimously passed at the board’s March 8 meeting, where board members announced that if there is a 15 percent reduction in state aid, nearly 10 positions would have to be cut.
“After looking at every line item in our budget, there was nowhere else to go other than staff cuts,” Superintendent John Russo said. “This is based on whether or not this 15 percent reduction actually takes place.”
The positions that would be cut include one middle school science teacher, one and a half middle school language arts teachers, two guidance counselors, one part-time basic skills teacher, one part-time secretary, one part-time child study team member, one special education teacher, two paraprofessionals and one elementary school teacher.
On Feb. 18 the New Jersey commissioner of education advised all school districts to anticipate a 15 percent decrease in state aid revenue in preparing their budgets.
Gov. Chris Christie has also directed that all school districts use their surplus funds to offset withheld state aid. The governor has announced a plan to cut $475 million in state aid to school districts, part of a plan to deal with the state’s multibillion-dollar budget gap.
School districts are allowed to have a surplus account, with any amount above 2 percent considered excess surplus and earmarked for taxpayer relief. By Christie’s direction, the district must use the excess surplus toward the 2009-10 budget.
A 15 percent reduction in state aid will mean a cut of $630,000, but the district will still be in line to receive $3.5 million in aid toward the $27.1 million budget; $18.8 million would be raised from the local tax levy.
Russo said the board would be looking to make cuts without increasing class sizes.
“It was critically important to me that we do everything we can to protect class sizes,” he said. “We will do everything we can to not completely eliminate any one program or service. They will be reduced but not eliminated.”
Christie withheld state aid for this fiscal year, and districts must use their surplus funds instead, which meant that Tinton Falls had to use $1.47 million in surplus money in place of the state funding.
Board President Peter Karavites defended the district’s past history of saving surplus funds.
“What do we do with our surplus?” Karavites said. “We had a tax decrease last year. We have a very budget-minded board, and we use our surplus to lower taxes.”
District Business Administrator Tamar Sydney-Gens made a budget presentation to the council at the meeting and said the district’s costs for health benefits have risen in the past year.
“We as a district are in the state health benefits plan,” she said. “The state health benefits plan this current year jumped 25 percent, an enormous number.
“We were not expecting that level, and they are talking about another 23 to 25 percent increase for next year,” she added.
According to Sydney-Gens, employees pay 5 percent for the dependent portion of their benefits and zero percent of their personal benefits.
She went on to say that those provisions are collectively bargained, meaning that they couldn’t be cut during the current contract.
“I had no leeway; that is what our contract looks like,” she said.
Sydney-Gens said the district does shop for the best health insurance deals.
“One of the things we do is shop our health insurance, and I can tell you the state health benefits plan has the best bang for the buck, as expensive as that seems,” she said.
She said cuts are expected in state aid next year, and she does not expect the district to receive any extraordinary aid in the coming year.
According to Sydney-Gens, 69 percent of the budget comes from property taxes and 14 percent comes from state aid from last year. She explained that each department submitted an initial budget but had to go back and make further cuts.
“Everyone went back and made cuts,” she said. “Nobody was immune, and no stone was left unturned. We reduced every line that we possibly could.”
Some of the other cuts, Sydney-Gens explained, would come from reducing repair costs, sharing transportation costs with neighboring towns, and reducing instructional supplies.
She explained that the tentative budget would ultimately look different.
“We built this budget on assumption,” she said. “Every day, those assumptions have changed in the last four weeks. I expect they will continue to change.”
Districts will find out about their state aid by March 18. The next public hearing on the budget will be held March 31, and the board is slated to vote on the budget April 20.
Staff cuts, service reductions anticipated
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Anticipating a 15 percent reduction in state aid, the Tinton Falls Board of Education presented the tentative 2010-11 budget last week, including a list of staffing changes.
The tentative budget was unanimously passed at the board’s March 8 meeting, where board members announced that if there is a 15 percent reduction in state aid, nearly 10 positions would have to be cut.
“After looking at every line item in our budget, there was nowhere else to go other than staff cuts,” Superintendent John Russo said. “This is based on whether or not this 15 percent reduction actually takes place.”
The positions that would be cut include one middle school science teacher, one and a half middle school language arts teachers, two guidance counselors, one part-time basic skills teacher, one part-time secretary, one part-time child study team member, one special education teacher, two paraprofessionals and one elementary school teacher.
On Feb. 18 the New Jersey commissioner of education advised all school districts to anticipate a 15 percent decrease in state aid revenue in preparing their budgets.
Gov. Chris Christie has also directed that all school districts use their surplus funds to offset withheld state aid. The governor has announced a plan to cut $475 million in state aid to school districts, part of a plan to deal with the state’s multibillion-dollar budget gap.
School districts are allowed to have a surplus account, with any amount above 2 percent considered excess surplus and earmarked for taxpayer relief. By Christie’s direction, the district must use the excess surplus toward the 2009-10 budget.
A 15 percent reduction in state aid will mean a cut of $630,000, but the district will still be in line to receive $3.5 million in aid toward the $27.1 million budget; $18.8 million would be raised from the local tax levy.
Russo said the board would be looking to make cuts without increasing class sizes.
“It was critically important to me that we do everything we can to protect class sizes,” he said. “We will do everything we can to not completely eliminate any one program or service. They will be reduced but not eliminated.”
Christie withheld state aid for this fiscal year, and districts must use their surplus funds instead, which meant that Tinton Falls had to use $1.47 million in surplus money in place of the state funding.
Board President Peter Karavites defended the district’s past history of saving surplus funds.
“What do we do with our surplus?” Karavites said. “We had a tax decrease last year. We have a very budget-minded board, and we use our surplus to lower taxes.”
District Business Administrator Tamar Sydney-Gens made a budget presentation to the council at the meeting and said the district’s costs for health benefits have risen in the past year.
“We as a district are in the state health benefits plan,” she said. “The state health benefits plan this current year jumped 25 percent, an enormous number.
“We were not expecting that level, and they are talking about another 23 to 25 percent increase for next year,” she added.
According to Sydney-Gens, employees pay 5 percent for the dependent portion of their benefits and zero percent of their personal benefits.
She went on to say that those provisions are collectively bargained, meaning that they couldn’t be cut during the current contract.
“I had no leeway; that is what our contract looks like,” she said.
Sydney-Gens said the district does shop for the best health insurance deals.
“One of the things we do is shop our health insurance, and I can tell you the state health benefits plan has the best bang for the buck, as expensive as that seems,” she said.
She said cuts are expected in state aid next year, and she does not expect the district to receive any extraordinary aid in the coming year.
According to Sydney-Gens, 69 percent of the budget comes from property taxes and 14 percent comes from state aid from last year. She explained that each department submitted an initial budget but had to go back and make further cuts.
“Everyone went back and made cuts,” she said. “Nobody was immune, and no stone was left unturned. We reduced every line that we possibly could.”
Some of the other cuts, Sydney-Gens explained, would come from reducing repair costs, sharing transportation costs with neighboring towns, and reducing instructional supplies.
She explained that the tentative budget would ultimately look different.
“We built this budget on assumption,” she said. “Every day, those assumptions have changed in the last four weeks. I expect they will continue to change.”
Districts will find out about their state aid by March 18. The next public hearing on the budget will be held March 31, and the board is slated to vote on the budget April 20.
Schneider team in place for May 11
Schneider team in place for May 11
Celli is only returning council candidate
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Incumbent Mayor Adam Schneider kicked off his re-election campaign last week at campaign headquarters.
Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider (center) poses with his slate of candidates for City Council: (l-r) Kathleen Billings, Alan Menkin, Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli, Joy Bastelli and Michael Sirianni. KENNY WALTER Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider (center) poses with his slate of candidates for City Council: (l-r) Kathleen Billings, Alan Menkin, Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli, Joy Bastelli and Michael Sirianni. KENNY WALTER Campaign headquarters, located on Brighton Avenue, was filled with more than 50 people for the March 11 kickoff that introduced the five-term mayor’s ticket.
Current Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli, grassroots activist Joy Bastelli, retired former school administrator Kathleen Billings, former Board of Education President Michael Sirianni, and president of the Long Branch Recreation Wrestling Club Alan Menkin will be on the ticket with Schneider for the May 11 municipal elections.
Schneider finds himself in unfamiliar company, with longtime running mates Councilmen Michael DeStefano, David Brown and Anthony Giordano not seeking re-election.
“It’s different,” Schneider said. “I had a lot of fun putting the ticket together.”
The announcement of his running mates came weeks after word came out that Schneider would run again, and the mayor gave some insight on what it took to put the ticket together.
“Getting people together that have worked on the campaigns before and bringing people in to be interviewed by all of us,” he said. “Getting a sense of community involvement, how they are going to work together, their understanding of the election process, and just having a wide range of conversations. You don’t have to agree with everything I’ve done.
“It took longer than I thought it would.”
Schneider will have one familiar face on board, with Celli running for a fifth term. Celli said last week that despite the council changing, she always knew she was going to run.
“I always wanted to run, whether they ran or not. I can run with anybody, I can work with anybody,” she said. “They are great candidates with fresh, new ideas, which I think will be good for the city.”
Other ticket members credited Schneider’s and the council’s work in the city.
“I really like the way Adam and the council have moved the city to a better quality of life with the revitalization, the crime rate, and I want to be part of that,” Billings said.
Schneider said the biggest issue facing the city is stabilizing the tax rate.
“The biggest issues are going to be taxes and the budget,” he said. “For the last 20 years, that’s been the biggest issue.
“The combination of controlling expenses and spending while still providing services is a daily challenge,” he added. “Taxes stay much more stable in Long Branch, and we’ve done it without laying people off.”
Schneider reflected on his previous five terms as mayor, saying that he may be most proud of what he has done with the city’s parks.
“When I first ran, that was a big issue,” he said. “Jackson Woods wasn’t owned by the city, and that is what brought my original campaign group together.”
Celli also revealed some of her finer moments on council.
“I am proud of saving the senior center,” she said. “I saved it from being moved.
“That is where they wanted to stay,” she added. “I think the library is number one.
“We put a lot of money into them, and they turned out beautiful. UEZ [Urban Enterprise Zone] has done a lot for the city.”
Schneider also said that in his earlier campaigns, crime was a big issue.
“When I ran in ’90 and ’94, there was a huge outcry about crime,” he said. “Our crime stats have shown a decline in crime for 16 years now.
“It makes the town a much better investment.”
Bastelli, who is a third-generation Long Branch resident, said she saw firsthand how bad crime once was in the city.
“When I was raising children 17 years ago, I found myself in a decaying neighborhood. Crime was rampant — my home was robbed twice,” she said.
Bastelli’s family owned a shop on Broadway called Fast Eddie’s, where she said she would watch incidents of crime from her shop’s window.
“My customers couldn’t go from the car to the shop door without being approached by drug dealers, prostitutes or to buy stolen goods,” she said.
Bastelli said that the police force has grown to deal with the crime rate.
“Back then, the police force was understaffed and overworked,” she said. “Since then, they’ve grown to over 100 officers.
“Crime has gone down every year,” she added. “I want to see progress continue, I don’t want to see it go backward.”
Schneider said that one of the city’s strong points is that there is a lot to do.
“People come here to go to the beach, they come here to go to Pier Village, they come here to go out to eat, they come here because they are safe,” he said.
Schneider also said that running a city is a little like juggling: you must balance all the aspects.
“It is all connected, and it is about balancing it all,” he said. “If you can’t work together, then that balancing act falls quickly.”
Another big issue for the candidates is plans for a pier to replace the one that was destroyed by fire in the 1980s.
“I think that the pier is also going to be an issue,” Billings said. “I think it’s a good idea. I’d like to see us do it. I remember the old pier and think it would be a good place for families to come.
“I want to see the fishing pier rebuilt. I think it is an important part of our history,” Bastelli said.
Sirianni said that his experience of working with the Board of Education would help ease his transition to government.
“Laws change, procedures change, but there is still the common foundation. Understanding the way the school districts run gave me some insight on how the city runs,” he said.
Sirianni also named some of the issues he thinks are important.
“Going into the future, I think there is still work that needs to be done with the revitalization program that we have,” he said. “I’m very interested in the pier, Lower Broadway, and whatever else comes our way in the everyday life of the city.”
Menkin has been heavily involved in youth sports in Long Branch, including soccer and wrestling, and credits his involvement for broadening his experience.
“I’m more diversified because I’m involved with all the sports,” Menkin said. “You have all the different ethnic backgrounds involved with all the sports.
“I’ve adapted to everyone’s personalities and beliefs.”
Schneider is being challenged by Councilman Brian Unger and financial adviser Robert Krebs.
Schneider’s council candidates also face a crowded field, with 22 residents picking up candidates’ packets from the Clerk’s Office. March 18 is the deadline filing packets with accompanying petition signatures to qualify to run in the Long Branch municipal election, which will be held May 11.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Celli is only returning council candidate
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Incumbent Mayor Adam Schneider kicked off his re-election campaign last week at campaign headquarters.
Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider (center) poses with his slate of candidates for City Council: (l-r) Kathleen Billings, Alan Menkin, Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli, Joy Bastelli and Michael Sirianni. KENNY WALTER Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider (center) poses with his slate of candidates for City Council: (l-r) Kathleen Billings, Alan Menkin, Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli, Joy Bastelli and Michael Sirianni. KENNY WALTER Campaign headquarters, located on Brighton Avenue, was filled with more than 50 people for the March 11 kickoff that introduced the five-term mayor’s ticket.
Current Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli, grassroots activist Joy Bastelli, retired former school administrator Kathleen Billings, former Board of Education President Michael Sirianni, and president of the Long Branch Recreation Wrestling Club Alan Menkin will be on the ticket with Schneider for the May 11 municipal elections.
Schneider finds himself in unfamiliar company, with longtime running mates Councilmen Michael DeStefano, David Brown and Anthony Giordano not seeking re-election.
“It’s different,” Schneider said. “I had a lot of fun putting the ticket together.”
The announcement of his running mates came weeks after word came out that Schneider would run again, and the mayor gave some insight on what it took to put the ticket together.
“Getting people together that have worked on the campaigns before and bringing people in to be interviewed by all of us,” he said. “Getting a sense of community involvement, how they are going to work together, their understanding of the election process, and just having a wide range of conversations. You don’t have to agree with everything I’ve done.
“It took longer than I thought it would.”
Schneider will have one familiar face on board, with Celli running for a fifth term. Celli said last week that despite the council changing, she always knew she was going to run.
“I always wanted to run, whether they ran or not. I can run with anybody, I can work with anybody,” she said. “They are great candidates with fresh, new ideas, which I think will be good for the city.”
Other ticket members credited Schneider’s and the council’s work in the city.
“I really like the way Adam and the council have moved the city to a better quality of life with the revitalization, the crime rate, and I want to be part of that,” Billings said.
Schneider said the biggest issue facing the city is stabilizing the tax rate.
“The biggest issues are going to be taxes and the budget,” he said. “For the last 20 years, that’s been the biggest issue.
“The combination of controlling expenses and spending while still providing services is a daily challenge,” he added. “Taxes stay much more stable in Long Branch, and we’ve done it without laying people off.”
Schneider reflected on his previous five terms as mayor, saying that he may be most proud of what he has done with the city’s parks.
“When I first ran, that was a big issue,” he said. “Jackson Woods wasn’t owned by the city, and that is what brought my original campaign group together.”
Celli also revealed some of her finer moments on council.
“I am proud of saving the senior center,” she said. “I saved it from being moved.
“That is where they wanted to stay,” she added. “I think the library is number one.
“We put a lot of money into them, and they turned out beautiful. UEZ [Urban Enterprise Zone] has done a lot for the city.”
Schneider also said that in his earlier campaigns, crime was a big issue.
“When I ran in ’90 and ’94, there was a huge outcry about crime,” he said. “Our crime stats have shown a decline in crime for 16 years now.
“It makes the town a much better investment.”
Bastelli, who is a third-generation Long Branch resident, said she saw firsthand how bad crime once was in the city.
“When I was raising children 17 years ago, I found myself in a decaying neighborhood. Crime was rampant — my home was robbed twice,” she said.
Bastelli’s family owned a shop on Broadway called Fast Eddie’s, where she said she would watch incidents of crime from her shop’s window.
“My customers couldn’t go from the car to the shop door without being approached by drug dealers, prostitutes or to buy stolen goods,” she said.
Bastelli said that the police force has grown to deal with the crime rate.
“Back then, the police force was understaffed and overworked,” she said. “Since then, they’ve grown to over 100 officers.
“Crime has gone down every year,” she added. “I want to see progress continue, I don’t want to see it go backward.”
Schneider said that one of the city’s strong points is that there is a lot to do.
“People come here to go to the beach, they come here to go to Pier Village, they come here to go out to eat, they come here because they are safe,” he said.
Schneider also said that running a city is a little like juggling: you must balance all the aspects.
“It is all connected, and it is about balancing it all,” he said. “If you can’t work together, then that balancing act falls quickly.”
Another big issue for the candidates is plans for a pier to replace the one that was destroyed by fire in the 1980s.
“I think that the pier is also going to be an issue,” Billings said. “I think it’s a good idea. I’d like to see us do it. I remember the old pier and think it would be a good place for families to come.
“I want to see the fishing pier rebuilt. I think it is an important part of our history,” Bastelli said.
Sirianni said that his experience of working with the Board of Education would help ease his transition to government.
“Laws change, procedures change, but there is still the common foundation. Understanding the way the school districts run gave me some insight on how the city runs,” he said.
Sirianni also named some of the issues he thinks are important.
“Going into the future, I think there is still work that needs to be done with the revitalization program that we have,” he said. “I’m very interested in the pier, Lower Broadway, and whatever else comes our way in the everyday life of the city.”
Menkin has been heavily involved in youth sports in Long Branch, including soccer and wrestling, and credits his involvement for broadening his experience.
“I’m more diversified because I’m involved with all the sports,” Menkin said. “You have all the different ethnic backgrounds involved with all the sports.
“I’ve adapted to everyone’s personalities and beliefs.”
Schneider is being challenged by Councilman Brian Unger and financial adviser Robert Krebs.
Schneider’s council candidates also face a crowded field, with 22 residents picking up candidates’ packets from the Clerk’s Office. March 18 is the deadline filing packets with accompanying petition signatures to qualify to run in the Long Branch municipal election, which will be held May 11.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Despite controversy, council approves commissioner
Despite controversy, council approves commissioner
Attorney’s report finds conflict of interest
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — After sitting through questioning by members of the public, the City Council approved a controversial resolution reappointing a commissioner to the Long Branch Sewerage Authority last week.
The appointment of John Brockriede was on the agenda for the Jan. 26 council meeting but was tabled when members of the public brought up a possible conflict of interest in the appointment, based on the fact that Brockriede and members of the administration are involved with Central Jersey Bank N.A.
Central Jersey Bank is a subsidiary of Central Jersey Bancorp, a bank holding company headquartered in Ocean Township.
Brockriede and City Attorney James Aaron are members of the bank’s board of directors. Councilman Anthony Giordano III is the bank’s senior executive vice president, CFO/treasurer and assistant secretary. Councilman David Brown works part time at the bank and Councilman Michael DeStefano is a shareholder.
Aaron decided at the Jan. 26 meeting to table the appointment and have the city hire a conflict attorney to look into whether the council should vote on Brockriede’s appointment.
“When the issue first came up, I said, ‘Hold up, there is an issue here,’ ” Aaron said at the March 9 meeting. ‘I think I should excuse myself from this matter.’ ”
“I then went to Mr. [Howard] Woolley [business administrator] and advised him that I believe that there would be an appearance of an impropriety if I had anything to do with making a ruling.”
However, at the March 9 meeting, the council passed the resolution reappointing Brockriede with a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Brian Unger casting the dissenting vote.
After the January meeting the city hired Red Bank attorney Michael Dupont, of McKenna Dupont Higgins & Stone, as the conflict attorney.
Aaron said Dupont found that while there is a conflict, the council is still allowed to vote on the appointment.
“My understanding is there is precedential case law that even if an entire body is conflicted, the courts have ruled that they could vote on the issue,” he said. “The issue would be whether or not that vote is arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable.”
Resident Diana Multare, who initially questioned the appointment in January, faulted the finding.
“In other words even though most of the members of council have an alleged conflict of interest, go ahead with it because you need a quorum,” she said. “If we had a local ethics board in place, you wouldn’t have to have a conflict attorney.”
Another resident questioned the case law cited.
“There could be argument made that the conflict was an incurable, inescapable conflict,” John Gregory said. “There is also supporting case law that says that the vote can’t be made.”
Before casting his vote against the appointment, Unger read a line from the report Dupont submitted.
“In this particular instance there appears to be a conflict with all the members of the council excluding one Mr. Unger,” he said.
Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli took issue with the report.
“The conflict attorney indicated that there was only one person on the council that did not have a conflict. I take exception to that,” she said. “I do not have any stock, I do not work there and I do not have a conflict.”
DeStefano gave background on the Brockriede appointment, saying there had never been an issue previously.
“Mr. Brockriede has served on this board for 10 years,” he said. “He has been appointed by this council before under the same circumstances.
“Go look at his service to see if he’s done anything to harm the city.”
DeStefano also gave some background on how the council usually makes appointments to boards and commissions.
“What we usually do is solicit people in the community that are interested,” he said. “We look at résumés to see whether or not people have the ability to serve, and then we make appointments.”
However, DeStefano went on to say that when a tenured member is up for reappointment, the council generally does not look for replacements.
“Typically when a member is up for reappointment that has served for any length of time, we reappoint them,” he said. “It is hard to get members of the boards to begin with, especially knowledgeable people.”
One resident criticized Mayor Adam Schneider, saying he is also in conflict with the appointment
“Your recent representation, Mayor Schneider, of John Brockriede, of his mortgage refinance of a vacant lot along Route 35, should be sufficient for this council,” Vincent Lepore said, while submitting the filings for public record. “Your name appears on recent public filings.”
Schneider defended the appointment and also claimed that the term conflict was being misrepresented.
“The boards aren’t easy to fill; not that many people are interested,” he said. “I’ve known him for 17 or 18 years.
“He owns a lot of property, but pays a lot in sewage bills. This is nonsense about conflict of interest. I hear it bandied about but no one says what it would legally be.”
Unger agreed with Schneider’s comments about Brockriede but at the same time disagreed that there isn’t a conflict.
“I think Adam made very nonobjectionable, positive remarks about Mr. Brockriede, and I endorse those remarks,” he said. “He has served on so many boards and commissions and has been active in the city.
“I personally endorse him, but I have to go with my gut and my interpretation, and I think this council is in a conflict.”
Brown explained that his position with the bank does not make for a conflict.
“As an employee part time, I don’t answer to Mr. Brockriede,” he said. “I don’t answer to the board, I don’t answer to the president of the bank.
“I have a supervisor, and that’s the extent. I work four hours a day and go home. I also own stock, but I don’t see that being a conflict.
“My stock in the bank does not allow me to dictate anything,” he continued. “My stock is less than 1 percent of 1 percent.
Resident Harold Cooper questioned whether, because of the controversy, the council should pick another appointee, but DeStefano disagreed.
“Wouldn’t it be much better to just pick another person?” Cooper asked.
“No, because he has continuity and he is a valuable member of the board,” DeStefano responded, adding that the only reason the appointment is being challenged is because of the upcoming May municipal election.
“If it weren’t for the campaign Mr. Brockriede wouldn’t be an issue,” he said. “There was no concern about his appointment initially and there was no concern about his subsequent reappointment.
“Stop making this a campaign issue,” he added. “This is about stalling an appointment.
“Well, it’s this council’s job to get this done.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Attorney’s report finds conflict of interest
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — After sitting through questioning by members of the public, the City Council approved a controversial resolution reappointing a commissioner to the Long Branch Sewerage Authority last week.
The appointment of John Brockriede was on the agenda for the Jan. 26 council meeting but was tabled when members of the public brought up a possible conflict of interest in the appointment, based on the fact that Brockriede and members of the administration are involved with Central Jersey Bank N.A.
Central Jersey Bank is a subsidiary of Central Jersey Bancorp, a bank holding company headquartered in Ocean Township.
Brockriede and City Attorney James Aaron are members of the bank’s board of directors. Councilman Anthony Giordano III is the bank’s senior executive vice president, CFO/treasurer and assistant secretary. Councilman David Brown works part time at the bank and Councilman Michael DeStefano is a shareholder.
Aaron decided at the Jan. 26 meeting to table the appointment and have the city hire a conflict attorney to look into whether the council should vote on Brockriede’s appointment.
“When the issue first came up, I said, ‘Hold up, there is an issue here,’ ” Aaron said at the March 9 meeting. ‘I think I should excuse myself from this matter.’ ”
“I then went to Mr. [Howard] Woolley [business administrator] and advised him that I believe that there would be an appearance of an impropriety if I had anything to do with making a ruling.”
However, at the March 9 meeting, the council passed the resolution reappointing Brockriede with a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Brian Unger casting the dissenting vote.
After the January meeting the city hired Red Bank attorney Michael Dupont, of McKenna Dupont Higgins & Stone, as the conflict attorney.
Aaron said Dupont found that while there is a conflict, the council is still allowed to vote on the appointment.
“My understanding is there is precedential case law that even if an entire body is conflicted, the courts have ruled that they could vote on the issue,” he said. “The issue would be whether or not that vote is arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable.”
Resident Diana Multare, who initially questioned the appointment in January, faulted the finding.
“In other words even though most of the members of council have an alleged conflict of interest, go ahead with it because you need a quorum,” she said. “If we had a local ethics board in place, you wouldn’t have to have a conflict attorney.”
Another resident questioned the case law cited.
“There could be argument made that the conflict was an incurable, inescapable conflict,” John Gregory said. “There is also supporting case law that says that the vote can’t be made.”
Before casting his vote against the appointment, Unger read a line from the report Dupont submitted.
“In this particular instance there appears to be a conflict with all the members of the council excluding one Mr. Unger,” he said.
Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli took issue with the report.
“The conflict attorney indicated that there was only one person on the council that did not have a conflict. I take exception to that,” she said. “I do not have any stock, I do not work there and I do not have a conflict.”
DeStefano gave background on the Brockriede appointment, saying there had never been an issue previously.
“Mr. Brockriede has served on this board for 10 years,” he said. “He has been appointed by this council before under the same circumstances.
“Go look at his service to see if he’s done anything to harm the city.”
DeStefano also gave some background on how the council usually makes appointments to boards and commissions.
“What we usually do is solicit people in the community that are interested,” he said. “We look at résumés to see whether or not people have the ability to serve, and then we make appointments.”
However, DeStefano went on to say that when a tenured member is up for reappointment, the council generally does not look for replacements.
“Typically when a member is up for reappointment that has served for any length of time, we reappoint them,” he said. “It is hard to get members of the boards to begin with, especially knowledgeable people.”
One resident criticized Mayor Adam Schneider, saying he is also in conflict with the appointment
“Your recent representation, Mayor Schneider, of John Brockriede, of his mortgage refinance of a vacant lot along Route 35, should be sufficient for this council,” Vincent Lepore said, while submitting the filings for public record. “Your name appears on recent public filings.”
Schneider defended the appointment and also claimed that the term conflict was being misrepresented.
“The boards aren’t easy to fill; not that many people are interested,” he said. “I’ve known him for 17 or 18 years.
“He owns a lot of property, but pays a lot in sewage bills. This is nonsense about conflict of interest. I hear it bandied about but no one says what it would legally be.”
Unger agreed with Schneider’s comments about Brockriede but at the same time disagreed that there isn’t a conflict.
“I think Adam made very nonobjectionable, positive remarks about Mr. Brockriede, and I endorse those remarks,” he said. “He has served on so many boards and commissions and has been active in the city.
“I personally endorse him, but I have to go with my gut and my interpretation, and I think this council is in a conflict.”
Brown explained that his position with the bank does not make for a conflict.
“As an employee part time, I don’t answer to Mr. Brockriede,” he said. “I don’t answer to the board, I don’t answer to the president of the bank.
“I have a supervisor, and that’s the extent. I work four hours a day and go home. I also own stock, but I don’t see that being a conflict.
“My stock in the bank does not allow me to dictate anything,” he continued. “My stock is less than 1 percent of 1 percent.
Resident Harold Cooper questioned whether, because of the controversy, the council should pick another appointee, but DeStefano disagreed.
“Wouldn’t it be much better to just pick another person?” Cooper asked.
“No, because he has continuity and he is a valuable member of the board,” DeStefano responded, adding that the only reason the appointment is being challenged is because of the upcoming May municipal election.
“If it weren’t for the campaign Mr. Brockriede wouldn’t be an issue,” he said. “There was no concern about his appointment initially and there was no concern about his subsequent reappointment.
“Stop making this a campaign issue,” he added. “This is about stalling an appointment.
“Well, it’s this council’s job to get this done.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Brookdale job fair draws hundreds
Brookdale job fair draws hundreds
Jobs are available, but not all are full time
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Anastasia Davis has been out of work for eight months but is hopeful that her employment status will change sometime soon.
Adriane Smith (r), of Long Branch, speaks with Kerry Zukowski, Eatontown, at the U.S. Census Bureau booth during a job fair sponsored by Brookdale Community College and held at the Long Branch Portuguese Club on March 12. Story and more photos, page 24. Adriane Smith (r), of Long Branch, speaks with Kerry Zukowski, Eatontown, at the U.S. Census Bureau booth during a job fair sponsored by Brookdale Community College and held at the Long Branch Portuguese Club on March 12. Story and more photos, page 24. Davis, of Asbury Park, attended a job fair sponsored by the Brookdale Learning Center in Long Branch last week and walked away feeling unsure about her job outlook.
“I felt a little discouraged,” Davis said as she was leaving the March 12 fair, which was held at the Portuguese Club on Broadway.
Davis had the opportunity to speak with companies such as ShopRite, Aflac, Avon, Marshalls and with the Army National Guard, which had representatives at the fair.
She was one of 700-plus job seekers expected to attend the job fair that featured 55 vendors eager to talk to potential employees.
Job seekers talk with representatives of local employers at a job fair held at the Long Branch Portuguese Club on March 12. CHRIS KELLY Job seekers talk with representatives of local employers at a job fair held at the Long Branch Portuguese Club on March 12. CHRIS KELLY Learning Center Director Ed Johnson said in an interview before the event that this year’s fair was expected to have a larger turnout than previous job fairs.
“This is the fourth year that I’ve done the job fair,” he said. “The first two or three years we usually had about 50-55 vendors and maybe just over 200 participants.
“Last year we had close to 700,” he added. “There was a dramatic increase based on the economy.
“This year the amount of calls that we’ve had from interested participants and community members has led us to believe that we are going to surpass last year.”
Johnson said some companies were prepared to interview job candidates on Friday.
Simone Williams, Asbury Park, and Sheteema Wright, Neptune, fill out job applications for one of the employers at the Brookdale Community College job fair held at the Long Branch Portuguese Club on March 12. CHRIS KELLY Simone Williams, Asbury Park, and Sheteema Wright, Neptune, fill out job applications for one of the employers at the Brookdale Community College job fair held at the Long Branch Portuguese Club on March 12. CHRIS KELLY “There are some representatives that indicated they will be doing on-site interviews, so we have private interview rooms set up,” he added. “We really just sort of connect people who are looking for jobs with vendors that are looking for employees.”
On Friday, Johnson said the first few hours of the fair were already well attended.
“We’ve had a great start this morning,” he said. “There are some that come with specific needs and there are some that just come in general.”
Johnson said the type of participant the fair attracts has changed in recent years.
“Our original crowd used to be seasonal, sort of college-age crowd,” he said. “In the last two years, we saw that quadruple because of the economy.”
He said a wide range of employers attend the job fair.
“We have a wide variety of vendors, from seasonal like Great Adventure to larger companies like ShopRite and some of the stores down Route 36 and 35,” he said. “There are just a wide variety of part-time, seasonal and full-time employment situations.”
Also listed were Monmouth County, New Jersey Transit, New Jersey Department of Labor, Brookdale Community College, Aflac, the U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard, and others.
“The U.S. Census is going to be here, and they are looking to hire hundreds of people,” he said. “That’s not really based on your previous employment history; they are looking for community members with people skills.”
Johnson said the fair draws job seekers from far and wide.
“It is open to really the entire community,” he said. “We have some local Long Branch people, people from Monmouth County, and we even have people coming from other counties.
“The economy is really a challenge for everybody, so people are really coming from far away in search of employment.”
Some at the fair last week were looking for a new career.
“I’m looking to expand on my previous experience or move on into a different career,” Long Branch resident Mark Miller said. He previously worked in retail management and has been unemployed since May 2009.
Freehold resident Laquanda Washington talked to representatives of three banks at the job fair but left not feeling confident of being hired, because of her lack of experience.
Some came away feeling optimistic about their chances.
“It’s going really well,” Red Bank resident Lianne Matarese said. “I see a lot of different people here.”
Matarese, currently a temporary social worker for the Center for Vocational Rehabilitation in Eatontown, led a group of 10 people to the job fair who were looking for jobs.
Matarese graduated from college in May 2009 with a degree in social services and has had a difficult time finding full-time work, she said.
At least one vendor said there are jobs available with his firm.
“We are looking to hire full-time financial representatives,” Dimitri Kontarinis, of Northwestern Mutual, said. “There is no set number, but we have opportunities and we have hired from this campus before.”
Kontarinis, who is assistant to the human resources director, said the company has been successful in hiring qualified candidates at the Brookdale job fair in the past.
“We’ve been to the job fair before,” he said. “We have gotten a great recruit from here that is still with the company.”
According to Johnson, this year Brookdale wants to do a better job of tracking whether or not those who attend the fair actually get jobs.
“We have not done really anything formally, but we intend to do [tracking] as it’s become more successful,” he said, adding that they would rely this year on the participants contacting them.
“We are trying to do some tracking,” he said. “This year we have a form that individuals can fill out, and we ask them to keep in touch with us.”
He said one of the most important factors in a successful job fair is to get the word out.
“We had postcard mailings, we’ve had some newspaper and radio spots,” he said. “The word really has been out there. It really has reached hundreds of businesses.”
He said there is a misconception that there are no employers looking to hire at this time.
“The silver lining is that there are jobs,” he said. “I’d say we’ve gotten close to 35 employers that are ready and need people.”
But he acknowledged that many businesses are looking for part-time employees, to defray some of the rising cost of health benefits.
“The challenge here is a lot of them [job openings] are going to be part time to threequarter time,” he said. “I think what we’ve seen is that we have a lot of positions just below the 40-hour job.
“I guess that’s a breaking point for benefits,” he added. “We are seeing a lot of the 30-, 35-, 39-hour jobs.”
However, Johnson said that because of the job climate, people who are unemployed are willing to take jobs they may not have been willing to take in the past.
“At this point, we are seeing people that just need to bring an income in,” he said. “We are talking about food and mortgage and electricity. It may not be their original salary, but they need something.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Jobs are available, but not all are full time
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Anastasia Davis has been out of work for eight months but is hopeful that her employment status will change sometime soon.
Adriane Smith (r), of Long Branch, speaks with Kerry Zukowski, Eatontown, at the U.S. Census Bureau booth during a job fair sponsored by Brookdale Community College and held at the Long Branch Portuguese Club on March 12. Story and more photos, page 24. Adriane Smith (r), of Long Branch, speaks with Kerry Zukowski, Eatontown, at the U.S. Census Bureau booth during a job fair sponsored by Brookdale Community College and held at the Long Branch Portuguese Club on March 12. Story and more photos, page 24. Davis, of Asbury Park, attended a job fair sponsored by the Brookdale Learning Center in Long Branch last week and walked away feeling unsure about her job outlook.
“I felt a little discouraged,” Davis said as she was leaving the March 12 fair, which was held at the Portuguese Club on Broadway.
Davis had the opportunity to speak with companies such as ShopRite, Aflac, Avon, Marshalls and with the Army National Guard, which had representatives at the fair.
She was one of 700-plus job seekers expected to attend the job fair that featured 55 vendors eager to talk to potential employees.
Job seekers talk with representatives of local employers at a job fair held at the Long Branch Portuguese Club on March 12. CHRIS KELLY Job seekers talk with representatives of local employers at a job fair held at the Long Branch Portuguese Club on March 12. CHRIS KELLY Learning Center Director Ed Johnson said in an interview before the event that this year’s fair was expected to have a larger turnout than previous job fairs.
“This is the fourth year that I’ve done the job fair,” he said. “The first two or three years we usually had about 50-55 vendors and maybe just over 200 participants.
“Last year we had close to 700,” he added. “There was a dramatic increase based on the economy.
“This year the amount of calls that we’ve had from interested participants and community members has led us to believe that we are going to surpass last year.”
Johnson said some companies were prepared to interview job candidates on Friday.
Simone Williams, Asbury Park, and Sheteema Wright, Neptune, fill out job applications for one of the employers at the Brookdale Community College job fair held at the Long Branch Portuguese Club on March 12. CHRIS KELLY Simone Williams, Asbury Park, and Sheteema Wright, Neptune, fill out job applications for one of the employers at the Brookdale Community College job fair held at the Long Branch Portuguese Club on March 12. CHRIS KELLY “There are some representatives that indicated they will be doing on-site interviews, so we have private interview rooms set up,” he added. “We really just sort of connect people who are looking for jobs with vendors that are looking for employees.”
On Friday, Johnson said the first few hours of the fair were already well attended.
“We’ve had a great start this morning,” he said. “There are some that come with specific needs and there are some that just come in general.”
Johnson said the type of participant the fair attracts has changed in recent years.
“Our original crowd used to be seasonal, sort of college-age crowd,” he said. “In the last two years, we saw that quadruple because of the economy.”
He said a wide range of employers attend the job fair.
“We have a wide variety of vendors, from seasonal like Great Adventure to larger companies like ShopRite and some of the stores down Route 36 and 35,” he said. “There are just a wide variety of part-time, seasonal and full-time employment situations.”
Also listed were Monmouth County, New Jersey Transit, New Jersey Department of Labor, Brookdale Community College, Aflac, the U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard, and others.
“The U.S. Census is going to be here, and they are looking to hire hundreds of people,” he said. “That’s not really based on your previous employment history; they are looking for community members with people skills.”
Johnson said the fair draws job seekers from far and wide.
“It is open to really the entire community,” he said. “We have some local Long Branch people, people from Monmouth County, and we even have people coming from other counties.
“The economy is really a challenge for everybody, so people are really coming from far away in search of employment.”
Some at the fair last week were looking for a new career.
“I’m looking to expand on my previous experience or move on into a different career,” Long Branch resident Mark Miller said. He previously worked in retail management and has been unemployed since May 2009.
Freehold resident Laquanda Washington talked to representatives of three banks at the job fair but left not feeling confident of being hired, because of her lack of experience.
Some came away feeling optimistic about their chances.
“It’s going really well,” Red Bank resident Lianne Matarese said. “I see a lot of different people here.”
Matarese, currently a temporary social worker for the Center for Vocational Rehabilitation in Eatontown, led a group of 10 people to the job fair who were looking for jobs.
Matarese graduated from college in May 2009 with a degree in social services and has had a difficult time finding full-time work, she said.
At least one vendor said there are jobs available with his firm.
“We are looking to hire full-time financial representatives,” Dimitri Kontarinis, of Northwestern Mutual, said. “There is no set number, but we have opportunities and we have hired from this campus before.”
Kontarinis, who is assistant to the human resources director, said the company has been successful in hiring qualified candidates at the Brookdale job fair in the past.
“We’ve been to the job fair before,” he said. “We have gotten a great recruit from here that is still with the company.”
According to Johnson, this year Brookdale wants to do a better job of tracking whether or not those who attend the fair actually get jobs.
“We have not done really anything formally, but we intend to do [tracking] as it’s become more successful,” he said, adding that they would rely this year on the participants contacting them.
“We are trying to do some tracking,” he said. “This year we have a form that individuals can fill out, and we ask them to keep in touch with us.”
He said one of the most important factors in a successful job fair is to get the word out.
“We had postcard mailings, we’ve had some newspaper and radio spots,” he said. “The word really has been out there. It really has reached hundreds of businesses.”
He said there is a misconception that there are no employers looking to hire at this time.
“The silver lining is that there are jobs,” he said. “I’d say we’ve gotten close to 35 employers that are ready and need people.”
But he acknowledged that many businesses are looking for part-time employees, to defray some of the rising cost of health benefits.
“The challenge here is a lot of them [job openings] are going to be part time to threequarter time,” he said. “I think what we’ve seen is that we have a lot of positions just below the 40-hour job.
“I guess that’s a breaking point for benefits,” he added. “We are seeing a lot of the 30-, 35-, 39-hour jobs.”
However, Johnson said that because of the job climate, people who are unemployed are willing to take jobs they may not have been willing to take in the past.
“At this point, we are seeing people that just need to bring an income in,” he said. “We are talking about food and mortgage and electricity. It may not be their original salary, but they need something.”
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Click here to enlarge
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Saturday, April 10, 2010
O'port mayor sees borough ahead of trends
O’port mayor sees borough ahead of trends
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
OCEANPORT — With municipalities across the state bracing for a fiscal year with little to no state aid, Oceanport officials are thinking the borough may actually be ahead of the curve.
Mayor Michael Mahon spoke at the March 4 Borough Council meeting more than a week after attending the 18th Mayors’ Legislative Day in Trenton on Feb. 24.
Mahon said that Gov. Chris Christie spoke at the meeting and was very upfront about the state’s budget situation.
“He was pretty blunt that the fiscal constraints that the state finds itself in will be dealt with,” he said. “That means that municipalities are going to do some more sacrificing.
“He is pretty much calling for municipalities to follow his lead.”
Mahon said one of the issues the New Jersey League of Municipalities has addressed is the effectiveness of the statemandated 4 percent cap on property tax increases, and Mahon said Christie is not likely to eliminate it.
“One of the things that he was particularly stern about is there is a 4 percent tax levy [cap], and the governor doesn’t support lifting that cap,” he said, “because the governor doesn’t support local municipalities saying, ‘Well, if we don’t get it from Trenton we will just raise taxes locally to pay for what we want to have instead of making the tough choices.’
“So that cap will stay in place, and the governor will not sign any legislation lifting that,” he said.
Council President Joseph Irace and Clerk/Administrator Kimberly Jungfer said this year’s budget would once again remain under the cap.
“We’ve been under that 4 percent cap, and as far as this year, we are going to be sure we are under it,” Irace said.
“Though barely, we will be under it,” Jungfer added.
Oceanport has had state aid cut two years in a row, and Mahon is confident that the system to dole out the aid may actually work in favor of the borough.
“He also indicated that we can expect all forms of municipal aid will be cut, but it will be cut fairly,” Mahon said. “That may make a difference to us because the previous administration cut municipal aid based on population.
“It might be a plus for us or a minus, so we are not sure,” he added.
One councilman questioned the state for cutting state aid while continuing to mandate certain budget line items.
“The problem still comes up with the unfunded mandates,” Councilman Jay Briscione said. “They are asking us to stay under the cap, while cutting state aid and demanding that you do certain things.”
Mahon assured him that unfunded mandates are also going to be looked at.
“One of the things that the lieutenant governor [Kim Guadagno] is doing is looking at the unfunded mandates,” he said.
Mahon also spoke about a Senate bill passed last month that would mandate public employees pay at least 1.5 percent into their health insurance benefits.
Mahon said the bill wouldn’t affect Oceanport because the borough is ahead of the curve on that issue.
“That is because last year we enacted the same provisions.
“We already had that for our employees that are non-contract last year, and we have a tentative agreement with our contract employees that has a similar provision,” he added. “We have already achieved those savings, so the bill won’t have an impact on us.”
Another idea raised at the league meeting, Mahon said, was changing the way schools are funded.
“Under the state Constitution, the state is responsible for education, not the municipalities,” he said.
“The practice has always been historically to collect property taxes in order to pay for the schools. What they are hoping to do is shift it to another mechanism that more or less relies on individual income.”
Mahon said the league has already formed a committee and is asking municipalities to support the idea.
Mahon said he wants to look closer at the benefits and drawbacks of the plan, but his initial thought is that the switch would be positive.
“At first glance, that seems to be a shift that is more fair,” he said. “It does not change the cost of education, it simply shifts the cost in a different direction.”
Irace said that this system has some precedent across the country.
“It is based on the Michigan plan; it basically shifts it out of property and into income,” he said.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
OCEANPORT — With municipalities across the state bracing for a fiscal year with little to no state aid, Oceanport officials are thinking the borough may actually be ahead of the curve.
Mayor Michael Mahon spoke at the March 4 Borough Council meeting more than a week after attending the 18th Mayors’ Legislative Day in Trenton on Feb. 24.
Mahon said that Gov. Chris Christie spoke at the meeting and was very upfront about the state’s budget situation.
“He was pretty blunt that the fiscal constraints that the state finds itself in will be dealt with,” he said. “That means that municipalities are going to do some more sacrificing.
“He is pretty much calling for municipalities to follow his lead.”
Mahon said one of the issues the New Jersey League of Municipalities has addressed is the effectiveness of the statemandated 4 percent cap on property tax increases, and Mahon said Christie is not likely to eliminate it.
“One of the things that he was particularly stern about is there is a 4 percent tax levy [cap], and the governor doesn’t support lifting that cap,” he said, “because the governor doesn’t support local municipalities saying, ‘Well, if we don’t get it from Trenton we will just raise taxes locally to pay for what we want to have instead of making the tough choices.’
“So that cap will stay in place, and the governor will not sign any legislation lifting that,” he said.
Council President Joseph Irace and Clerk/Administrator Kimberly Jungfer said this year’s budget would once again remain under the cap.
“We’ve been under that 4 percent cap, and as far as this year, we are going to be sure we are under it,” Irace said.
“Though barely, we will be under it,” Jungfer added.
Oceanport has had state aid cut two years in a row, and Mahon is confident that the system to dole out the aid may actually work in favor of the borough.
“He also indicated that we can expect all forms of municipal aid will be cut, but it will be cut fairly,” Mahon said. “That may make a difference to us because the previous administration cut municipal aid based on population.
“It might be a plus for us or a minus, so we are not sure,” he added.
One councilman questioned the state for cutting state aid while continuing to mandate certain budget line items.
“The problem still comes up with the unfunded mandates,” Councilman Jay Briscione said. “They are asking us to stay under the cap, while cutting state aid and demanding that you do certain things.”
Mahon assured him that unfunded mandates are also going to be looked at.
“One of the things that the lieutenant governor [Kim Guadagno] is doing is looking at the unfunded mandates,” he said.
Mahon also spoke about a Senate bill passed last month that would mandate public employees pay at least 1.5 percent into their health insurance benefits.
Mahon said the bill wouldn’t affect Oceanport because the borough is ahead of the curve on that issue.
“That is because last year we enacted the same provisions.
“We already had that for our employees that are non-contract last year, and we have a tentative agreement with our contract employees that has a similar provision,” he added. “We have already achieved those savings, so the bill won’t have an impact on us.”
Another idea raised at the league meeting, Mahon said, was changing the way schools are funded.
“Under the state Constitution, the state is responsible for education, not the municipalities,” he said.
“The practice has always been historically to collect property taxes in order to pay for the schools. What they are hoping to do is shift it to another mechanism that more or less relies on individual income.”
Mahon said the league has already formed a committee and is asking municipalities to support the idea.
Mahon said he wants to look closer at the benefits and drawbacks of the plan, but his initial thought is that the switch would be positive.
“At first glance, that seems to be a shift that is more fair,” he said. “It does not change the cost of education, it simply shifts the cost in a different direction.”
Irace said that this system has some precedent across the country.
“It is based on the Michigan plan; it basically shifts it out of property and into income,” he said.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Eatontown will look at rezoning intersection
Eatontown will look at rezoning intersection
Roadwork to begin this month on Route 35/36 interchange
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
With roadwork set to begin this month, Eatontown is considering changing zoning regulations around the Route 35/36 intersection.
Roadwork on Routes 35 and 36 in Eatontown will alleviate traffic congestion at this busy intersection. Roadwork on Routes 35 and 36 in Eatontown will alleviate traffic congestion at this busy intersection. Eatontown Business Administrator George Jackson requested that the council authorize planner Jennifer Beahm, of Birdsall Engineering, to study rezoning the area.
“We’ve had a discussion with Ms. Beahm about the prospect of doing some rezoning in relation to the Route 35 and Route 36 improvements,” Jackson said at the March 3 workshop meeting.
“We want to reflect the changes [rezoning] would have on those properties,” he added. “Ms. Beahm has submitted a proposal, and she has a figure of $8,500 that we would charge to our general engineering.”
The project is expected to bring significant improvements to the congested interchange, which carries travelers to and from the shore and Monmouth Park.
Jackson explained the possible zoning changes further in an interview after the meeting.
“We are going to be looking at the zoning for the properties along the improvements because there is going to be an expansion of the highway and taking of [portions of] properties,” he said.
Jackson explained that with certain properties losing frontage, the resulting parcels may not conform to zoning regulations.
“It is our concern that with some of the lane widenings, the existing buildings would actually be in violation of our current zoning,” he said.
Jackson said the properties would be grandfathered and not be in violation of the zoning code, but new construction could be.
“In the event the building is going to be replaced by an identical building, they would have to get a variance,” he said
Jackson said the former Levitz building and the Macy’s furniture outlet store on Route 35 north would both be affected.
“They are going to lose some property,” he said. “Their setbacks are going to be affected, so we want to address it.”
Jackson also gave an updated schedule of the intersection construction, which is set to begin March 22.
“The construction project is going to take about two years, and we don’t have a hard timetable on this for zoning,” he added.
He said the rezoning recommendations would ultimately go back to the Borough Council for approval.
“We are going to authorize our planner to go ahead and examine all the properties and come up with suggestions for us that the council will have to consider and decide whether or not to change the zoning,” he said.
Plans call for a new jughandle to be constructed at the intersection to allow drivers traveling east on Route 36 to access Route 35 north.
Construction of a new dual left-turn lane is included in the plans to allow vehicles traveling south on Route 35 to make a left turn onto Route 36.
The current layout of the intersection requires drivers to take a jughandle from Route 35 to Route 36, which can cause significant traffic delays.
The project will also realign eastbound Route 36 to alleviate the lane drop in the left lane, and a ramp would also be constructed to connect northbound Route 35 with eastbound Route 36.
Plans include adding acceleration and deceleration lanes on both roads, additional overhead and road-level signage, additional lighting and shoulders, and upgraded traffic signals for vehicles entering and exiting Monmouth Mall.
Pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the area will also see upgrades with the addition of crosswalks and sidewalks in the area of the mall.
The proposed traffic-pattern changes are not expected to negatively impact any businesses in the area.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Roadwork to begin this month on Route 35/36 interchange
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
With roadwork set to begin this month, Eatontown is considering changing zoning regulations around the Route 35/36 intersection.
Roadwork on Routes 35 and 36 in Eatontown will alleviate traffic congestion at this busy intersection. Roadwork on Routes 35 and 36 in Eatontown will alleviate traffic congestion at this busy intersection. Eatontown Business Administrator George Jackson requested that the council authorize planner Jennifer Beahm, of Birdsall Engineering, to study rezoning the area.
“We’ve had a discussion with Ms. Beahm about the prospect of doing some rezoning in relation to the Route 35 and Route 36 improvements,” Jackson said at the March 3 workshop meeting.
“We want to reflect the changes [rezoning] would have on those properties,” he added. “Ms. Beahm has submitted a proposal, and she has a figure of $8,500 that we would charge to our general engineering.”
The project is expected to bring significant improvements to the congested interchange, which carries travelers to and from the shore and Monmouth Park.
Jackson explained the possible zoning changes further in an interview after the meeting.
“We are going to be looking at the zoning for the properties along the improvements because there is going to be an expansion of the highway and taking of [portions of] properties,” he said.
Jackson explained that with certain properties losing frontage, the resulting parcels may not conform to zoning regulations.
“It is our concern that with some of the lane widenings, the existing buildings would actually be in violation of our current zoning,” he said.
Jackson said the properties would be grandfathered and not be in violation of the zoning code, but new construction could be.
“In the event the building is going to be replaced by an identical building, they would have to get a variance,” he said
Jackson said the former Levitz building and the Macy’s furniture outlet store on Route 35 north would both be affected.
“They are going to lose some property,” he said. “Their setbacks are going to be affected, so we want to address it.”
Jackson also gave an updated schedule of the intersection construction, which is set to begin March 22.
“The construction project is going to take about two years, and we don’t have a hard timetable on this for zoning,” he added.
He said the rezoning recommendations would ultimately go back to the Borough Council for approval.
“We are going to authorize our planner to go ahead and examine all the properties and come up with suggestions for us that the council will have to consider and decide whether or not to change the zoning,” he said.
Plans call for a new jughandle to be constructed at the intersection to allow drivers traveling east on Route 36 to access Route 35 north.
Construction of a new dual left-turn lane is included in the plans to allow vehicles traveling south on Route 35 to make a left turn onto Route 36.
The current layout of the intersection requires drivers to take a jughandle from Route 35 to Route 36, which can cause significant traffic delays.
The project will also realign eastbound Route 36 to alleviate the lane drop in the left lane, and a ramp would also be constructed to connect northbound Route 35 with eastbound Route 36.
Plans include adding acceleration and deceleration lanes on both roads, additional overhead and road-level signage, additional lighting and shoulders, and upgraded traffic signals for vehicles entering and exiting Monmouth Mall.
Pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the area will also see upgrades with the addition of crosswalks and sidewalks in the area of the mall.
The proposed traffic-pattern changes are not expected to negatively impact any businesses in the area.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Filmakers set out to solve 124-year-old murder mystery
Filmmakers set out to solve 124-year-old murder mystery
Pair hopes to learn who killed Samuel Johnson
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Christopher Rott and Steve Steinhauser were just biding time in a bookstore when they came upon a passage that may lead to solving one of Monmouth County’s oldest murder mysteries.
Percy Munoz (l-r), Steve Steinhauser and psychic Jane Doherty discuss the legend that a ghost haunts Wampum Park in Eatontown. Filmmaker Chris Rott (second from right) plays an audio clip for Nicole Twomey. PHOTOS BY LAUREN CASSELBERRY Percy Munoz (l-r), Steve Steinhauser and psychic Jane Doherty discuss the legend that a ghost haunts Wampum Park in Eatontown. Filmmaker Chris Rott (second from right) plays an audio clip for Nicole Twomey. PHOTOS BY LAUREN CASSELBERRY While perusing a copy of “Images of America: Eatontown and Fort Monmouth” by Helen Pike, Rott and Steinhauser read about Samuel “Mingo Jack” Johnson, a former Eatontown resident, who was killed by a mob in 1886. They knew they had to learn more.
After researching the incident on the Internet and talking to local historians, the duo decided Johnson’s story would be the subject of their first documentary for their new film company, Go Home Films.
“[The book] didn’t go too much into it,” said Steinhauser, “so we decided to research it ourselves. It turned out that it was a pretty big deal in the town.
Doherty explains her reaction to the purported paranormal activity in Wampum Park, while Munoz (center) and Steinhauser record her insights on March 5. Doherty explains her reaction to the purported paranormal activity in Wampum Park, while Munoz (center) and Steinhauser record her insights on March 5. “As we were reading, we felt that we needed to get the story out there because it really is messed up,” he added. “It was almost like an obligation.”
Rott, of Eatontown, studied film production at Brookdale Community College and Jersey City University.
Steinhauser, of Tinton Falls, who has studied photography and graphic design at Brookdale, said that since November 2008, the two have had casual talks about starting a film company, but about eight months ago they became more serious about it.
According to the book, Johnson, an African American, was accused of attacking and raping a neighbor on March 5, 1886. He was locked up at the Eatontown jail and shortly before midnight was beaten and killed by a mob.
Rott said that the documentary will explore the racial tensions at the time the film is set, the post- Civil War 1880s.
“I think one of the major things is we want to depict what it was like being African American in 1886,” he said. “There was a trial that was a farce.
“I think people still can identify with it. It was a hate crime, and it is just unacceptable for that to have happened, especially in our hometown. I wouldn’t say we are on a crusade, but it is almost like a mission to tell this guy’s story.”
Rott and Steinhauser began filming the documentary last Friday, the anniversary of the event, at Wampum Park, the former site of the Eatontown jail.
The filmmakers appeared recently in front of the Borough Council to ask for permission to film at the park after dark. They also will be filming at the Eatontown Historical Museum and are hoping to film at Monmouth Park racetrack in Oceanport.
During the coming months they plan to talk to local historians, including the Eatontown author whose book inspired their project.
“We actually contacted Helen Pike, and she is going to appear in this project,” Rott said. “She is going to provide us with a little more insight into the story.”
The film will tell Johnson’s story, explaining the landscape of Eatontown, then and now, and the legend that Johnson’s ghost still haunts the site.
“We definitely want to get the entire story out and explain every possible angle,” Steinhauser said. “There is not much information out there, and we want to uncover things that maybe aren’t published.”
Steinhauser said the last sentence of Pike’s piece on Johnson really intrigued him.
“Mingo Jack’s ghost is said to have haunted the Eatontown jail while it remained on West Street,” Pike writes in the book.
Steinhauser explained his infatuation with the ghost story.
“Not only is this a terrible story, the ghost part is interesting as well and definitely capturedmy interest,” he said. “A portion of the documentary is the paranormal, the ghost hunting part of it.”
“We want to know if there is any truth to the ghost story,” Rott added.
Steinhauser said that the paranormal aspect of the documentary might be the wild card in the whole project because the filmmakers don’t know how much information they are going to come up with.
He explained that the duo purchased $500 worth of ghost-hunting equipment, including Electro Magnetic Field detectors, thermometers, infrared extenders for cameras to view different spectrums of light, audio recorders, electronic voice phenomenon detectors.
Rott is hoping not only to present the story, but also to possibly solve the mystery of who killed Johnson.
“One of the goals is to find out who committed the crime against Samuel Johnson,” he said. “Everyone was so quick to be the judge, jury and executioner. If there is a way to find out who committed the crime against him, that would be the ultimate outcome.”
Steinhauser said that if the answer isn’t found, they can still tell Johnson’s story.
Rott said the documentary, which does not yet have a title, is expected to be completed by summer.
“The town actually offered to show the movie when it’s done,” Rott said.
The filmmakers are funding the project out of pocket.
“We are not expecting any financial gain to come out of this,” Rott said.
“We are not doing it for money,” Steinhauser added. “We are doing it for fun and the experience.
Rott said the documentary will be submitted to local film festivals in Red Bank and Jersey City, and will be made available at local libraries and at Brookdale.
Steinhauser expects to use the Internet and YouTube to promote the documentary.
“The Internet is the biggest and cheapest form of advertising,” he said. “Promoting these days is very easy.”
Steinhauser and Rott, who have been friends since high school, explained that this is their first project, but others may follow.
“We will look into local hauntings; that is what we want to focus on,” Steinhauser said. “Any projects we work on will be historical as well as paranormal.
“There are names flying around in our heads about a bunch of different projects that have historical value,” he added. “We want to start in our hometown and branch off.
“We want to do more history, but the haunted history,” he said. “Anything that has to do with ghosts I’m all about.”
Rott said their film company is in its infancy and the filmmakers expect to create a website in the coming months.
Along with the film company, the duo has started a group called the Paranormal Rangers to research paranormal activity.
Steinhauser explained that a fun part of the documentary is that the filmmakers have no idea how the film is going to end.
“You never know what is going to happen once you start filming,” he said.
Rott agreed. “I think it is going to be a film that unfolds as we go along,” he said. “It is not going to be something where we know the ending, which is different from anything I’ve done in the past.”
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Pair hopes to learn who killed Samuel Johnson
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Christopher Rott and Steve Steinhauser were just biding time in a bookstore when they came upon a passage that may lead to solving one of Monmouth County’s oldest murder mysteries.
Percy Munoz (l-r), Steve Steinhauser and psychic Jane Doherty discuss the legend that a ghost haunts Wampum Park in Eatontown. Filmmaker Chris Rott (second from right) plays an audio clip for Nicole Twomey. PHOTOS BY LAUREN CASSELBERRY Percy Munoz (l-r), Steve Steinhauser and psychic Jane Doherty discuss the legend that a ghost haunts Wampum Park in Eatontown. Filmmaker Chris Rott (second from right) plays an audio clip for Nicole Twomey. PHOTOS BY LAUREN CASSELBERRY While perusing a copy of “Images of America: Eatontown and Fort Monmouth” by Helen Pike, Rott and Steinhauser read about Samuel “Mingo Jack” Johnson, a former Eatontown resident, who was killed by a mob in 1886. They knew they had to learn more.
After researching the incident on the Internet and talking to local historians, the duo decided Johnson’s story would be the subject of their first documentary for their new film company, Go Home Films.
“[The book] didn’t go too much into it,” said Steinhauser, “so we decided to research it ourselves. It turned out that it was a pretty big deal in the town.
Doherty explains her reaction to the purported paranormal activity in Wampum Park, while Munoz (center) and Steinhauser record her insights on March 5. Doherty explains her reaction to the purported paranormal activity in Wampum Park, while Munoz (center) and Steinhauser record her insights on March 5. “As we were reading, we felt that we needed to get the story out there because it really is messed up,” he added. “It was almost like an obligation.”
Rott, of Eatontown, studied film production at Brookdale Community College and Jersey City University.
Steinhauser, of Tinton Falls, who has studied photography and graphic design at Brookdale, said that since November 2008, the two have had casual talks about starting a film company, but about eight months ago they became more serious about it.
According to the book, Johnson, an African American, was accused of attacking and raping a neighbor on March 5, 1886. He was locked up at the Eatontown jail and shortly before midnight was beaten and killed by a mob.
Rott said that the documentary will explore the racial tensions at the time the film is set, the post- Civil War 1880s.
“I think one of the major things is we want to depict what it was like being African American in 1886,” he said. “There was a trial that was a farce.
“I think people still can identify with it. It was a hate crime, and it is just unacceptable for that to have happened, especially in our hometown. I wouldn’t say we are on a crusade, but it is almost like a mission to tell this guy’s story.”
Rott and Steinhauser began filming the documentary last Friday, the anniversary of the event, at Wampum Park, the former site of the Eatontown jail.
The filmmakers appeared recently in front of the Borough Council to ask for permission to film at the park after dark. They also will be filming at the Eatontown Historical Museum and are hoping to film at Monmouth Park racetrack in Oceanport.
During the coming months they plan to talk to local historians, including the Eatontown author whose book inspired their project.
“We actually contacted Helen Pike, and she is going to appear in this project,” Rott said. “She is going to provide us with a little more insight into the story.”
The film will tell Johnson’s story, explaining the landscape of Eatontown, then and now, and the legend that Johnson’s ghost still haunts the site.
“We definitely want to get the entire story out and explain every possible angle,” Steinhauser said. “There is not much information out there, and we want to uncover things that maybe aren’t published.”
Steinhauser said the last sentence of Pike’s piece on Johnson really intrigued him.
“Mingo Jack’s ghost is said to have haunted the Eatontown jail while it remained on West Street,” Pike writes in the book.
Steinhauser explained his infatuation with the ghost story.
“Not only is this a terrible story, the ghost part is interesting as well and definitely capturedmy interest,” he said. “A portion of the documentary is the paranormal, the ghost hunting part of it.”
“We want to know if there is any truth to the ghost story,” Rott added.
Steinhauser said that the paranormal aspect of the documentary might be the wild card in the whole project because the filmmakers don’t know how much information they are going to come up with.
He explained that the duo purchased $500 worth of ghost-hunting equipment, including Electro Magnetic Field detectors, thermometers, infrared extenders for cameras to view different spectrums of light, audio recorders, electronic voice phenomenon detectors.
Rott is hoping not only to present the story, but also to possibly solve the mystery of who killed Johnson.
“One of the goals is to find out who committed the crime against Samuel Johnson,” he said. “Everyone was so quick to be the judge, jury and executioner. If there is a way to find out who committed the crime against him, that would be the ultimate outcome.”
Steinhauser said that if the answer isn’t found, they can still tell Johnson’s story.
Rott said the documentary, which does not yet have a title, is expected to be completed by summer.
“The town actually offered to show the movie when it’s done,” Rott said.
The filmmakers are funding the project out of pocket.
“We are not expecting any financial gain to come out of this,” Rott said.
“We are not doing it for money,” Steinhauser added. “We are doing it for fun and the experience.
Rott said the documentary will be submitted to local film festivals in Red Bank and Jersey City, and will be made available at local libraries and at Brookdale.
Steinhauser expects to use the Internet and YouTube to promote the documentary.
“The Internet is the biggest and cheapest form of advertising,” he said. “Promoting these days is very easy.”
Steinhauser and Rott, who have been friends since high school, explained that this is their first project, but others may follow.
“We will look into local hauntings; that is what we want to focus on,” Steinhauser said. “Any projects we work on will be historical as well as paranormal.
“There are names flying around in our heads about a bunch of different projects that have historical value,” he added. “We want to start in our hometown and branch off.
“We want to do more history, but the haunted history,” he said. “Anything that has to do with ghosts I’m all about.”
Rott said their film company is in its infancy and the filmmakers expect to create a website in the coming months.
Along with the film company, the duo has started a group called the Paranormal Rangers to research paranormal activity.
Steinhauser explained that a fun part of the documentary is that the filmmakers have no idea how the film is going to end.
“You never know what is going to happen once you start filming,” he said.
Rott agreed. “I think it is going to be a film that unfolds as we go along,” he said. “It is not going to be something where we know the ending, which is different from anything I’ve done in the past.”
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Boro to seek grant for senior center upgrades
Boro to seek grant for senior center upgrades
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
The Eatontown Borough Council will seek funding from the county for upgrades to the Senior Center/Community Center located on Broad Street.
Eatontown Community Center KENNY WALTER Eatontown Community Center KENNY WALTER The council discussed submitting an application under the county’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and is expected to pass a resolution at its next meeting authorizing borough architect Kevin Settembrino to draw up an application for the funding.
According to the county website, the CDBG program awards almost $4 million annually for the county’s Housing Improvement Program, Fair Housing Board and Office and Emergency Home Repair Program as well as for nonprofit and municipal projects.
Eatontown Business Administrator George Jackson said at the March 3 council workshop meeting that the last CDBG the borough received was in 2006.
“We received back in ’06 a grant for over $180,000 to renovate our preschool/ community center annex,” he said. “I’d like to pursue another Community Development Block Grant to address the needs of our companion building, the senior center/community center.”
Jackson went on to say that the grant request in 2006 was designed to fund repairs to both buildings, but the funding was not available for both.
“The original application had renovations to both buildings,” he said. “The amount of money was far short to do both.
“There were a number of issues that were on the original application, but when it was re-examined, it was obvious that the funding wasn’t available to do both buildings,” he said. “We decided to narrow the scope to just the one building and do what we needed to do there.”
Jackson explained what the funding would be used for.
“We’d like to address a number of issues and we’d also like to address the playground equipment at the preschool.”
Some of the upgrades to the building would include the gutters, windows, doors, the front porch, the front and side steps, siding, and a rear deck.
Jackson said the building includes a large kitchen, front stage and multipurpose room and is used for all senior activities as well as other meetings.
He said the building’s condition is largely due to its age.
“It is a very, very old building,” he said. “I’m not even sure when it was built, and my understanding is that it was transported here from New York.”
Jackson gave some of the details of the application and the application process.
“The maximum amount we’d like to pursue is $250,000,” he said. “It’s been four years since we’ve applied.”
He said Settembrino would be hired to complete the application and help with the presentation to the county.
“He’s given us a proposal to do all this for $12,500,” he added. “He will prepare the application and assist in the presentation, and I will be doing that with him.”
The deadline for the submission of the application is June 4, and Jackson believes that the borough has a good chance of obtaining the funding.
“I think we stand a good chance of getting upwards of $150,000 to $200,000,” he said. “We’ve been out of the loop for several years, but I’ve been attending the presentations for the last two. This is a really good project.”
Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo approved of the project.
“I think we ought to go for it,” he said. “Seems like a reasonable proposal.”
Tarantolo took an unofficial vote of the council in which all six council members signed off on pursuing the grant.
Jackson suggested that the borough might want to look into matching a portion of the grant funding to make the application more attractive.
He confirmed that a resolution approving retaining Settembrino for the application would be on the agenda for the March 10 meeting.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
The Eatontown Borough Council will seek funding from the county for upgrades to the Senior Center/Community Center located on Broad Street.
Eatontown Community Center KENNY WALTER Eatontown Community Center KENNY WALTER The council discussed submitting an application under the county’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and is expected to pass a resolution at its next meeting authorizing borough architect Kevin Settembrino to draw up an application for the funding.
According to the county website, the CDBG program awards almost $4 million annually for the county’s Housing Improvement Program, Fair Housing Board and Office and Emergency Home Repair Program as well as for nonprofit and municipal projects.
Eatontown Business Administrator George Jackson said at the March 3 council workshop meeting that the last CDBG the borough received was in 2006.
“We received back in ’06 a grant for over $180,000 to renovate our preschool/ community center annex,” he said. “I’d like to pursue another Community Development Block Grant to address the needs of our companion building, the senior center/community center.”
Jackson went on to say that the grant request in 2006 was designed to fund repairs to both buildings, but the funding was not available for both.
“The original application had renovations to both buildings,” he said. “The amount of money was far short to do both.
“There were a number of issues that were on the original application, but when it was re-examined, it was obvious that the funding wasn’t available to do both buildings,” he said. “We decided to narrow the scope to just the one building and do what we needed to do there.”
Jackson explained what the funding would be used for.
“We’d like to address a number of issues and we’d also like to address the playground equipment at the preschool.”
Some of the upgrades to the building would include the gutters, windows, doors, the front porch, the front and side steps, siding, and a rear deck.
Jackson said the building includes a large kitchen, front stage and multipurpose room and is used for all senior activities as well as other meetings.
He said the building’s condition is largely due to its age.
“It is a very, very old building,” he said. “I’m not even sure when it was built, and my understanding is that it was transported here from New York.”
Jackson gave some of the details of the application and the application process.
“The maximum amount we’d like to pursue is $250,000,” he said. “It’s been four years since we’ve applied.”
He said Settembrino would be hired to complete the application and help with the presentation to the county.
“He’s given us a proposal to do all this for $12,500,” he added. “He will prepare the application and assist in the presentation, and I will be doing that with him.”
The deadline for the submission of the application is June 4, and Jackson believes that the borough has a good chance of obtaining the funding.
“I think we stand a good chance of getting upwards of $150,000 to $200,000,” he said. “We’ve been out of the loop for several years, but I’ve been attending the presentations for the last two. This is a really good project.”
Eatontown Mayor Gerald Tarantolo approved of the project.
“I think we ought to go for it,” he said. “Seems like a reasonable proposal.”
Tarantolo took an unofficial vote of the council in which all six council members signed off on pursuing the grant.
Jackson suggested that the borough might want to look into matching a portion of the grant funding to make the application more attractive.
He confirmed that a resolution approving retaining Settembrino for the application would be on the agenda for the March 10 meeting.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Friday, April 9, 2010
Tinton Falls loses bid for open space funds
Tinton Falls loses bid for open space funds
Boro will revise application for county grant funding
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — Borough officials learned earlier this month that their pursuit of county open space funding for improvements at Liberty Park II has been rejected.
Borough Engineer David Marks, of T&M Associates, said in an interview last week that the Monmouth County Open Space Grant program notified the borough that the bid had been rejected.
“The application for this year was denied by the county,” he said. “At this point we don’t have any reasoning. The letter just said ‘Unfortunately the application will not be funded this year.’ ”
Marks admitted that the pursuit of county funding was a very competitive one.
“I believe there were 20-some towns that submitted applications and only a handful were funded,” he said.
Marks said he is planning to meet with county officials to get a better explanation on why the grant proposal was rejected and what, moving forward, a better plan would be.
“What we’d like to do is meet with the county open space program and discuss our application,” he said, “find out why the project wasn’t funded.
“We haven’t had an opportunity to schedule that with the county yet,” he added. “Once we understand the reasons for the denial, we can either improve our application and reapply for Liberty Park II or we can pursue a different project.”
Marks explained that after the meeting takes place, the borough will decide how to proceed in seeking open space funds.
“At this point we have quite a bit of flexibility,” he said. “Based on the meeting we have with the county, we will then determine whether or not to continue pursuing the grant funding for Liberty Park II for the next grant funding cycle or if we should pursue a different park altogether.”
The proposed sports complex improvements included upgrades to the parking lot, lighting for the football practice field, a tot lot, a playground area, a picnic area and expanded parking.
The process leading up to the grant application was contentious. When the rough draft of the proposal was presented to the council in October, several people involved with Pop Warner criticized the plan for not including lights for the football field. Marks explained that a subsequent meeting followed and a revised plan was sent to the county.
“After that meeting, I sat down with Pop Warner representatives and we discussed the goal of the project and what we needed to do,” Marks said. “They were onboard with the plan that was finally submitted to the county.
“I really think some of the Pop Warner members didn’t fully understand the scope of what we were proposing at the time.
“A lot of those improvements were incorporated into that initial plan. We were able to work things out with Pop Warner and they were onboard with the application,” he added.
As for a timeline, Marks said he is not sure when the meeting with the county will take place, but the borough has a lot of time to come up with a plan.
“The grants won’t be due again until the end of summer, so we have plenty of time to come up with a plan,” Marks said.
The park is located on West Park Avenue in Tinton Falls and, according to Marks, the complex is 37 acres and contains football and softball fields, a dog park, two basketball courts, nature and jogging trails, and a concession stand as well as parking.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Boro will revise application for county grant funding
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — Borough officials learned earlier this month that their pursuit of county open space funding for improvements at Liberty Park II has been rejected.
Borough Engineer David Marks, of T&M Associates, said in an interview last week that the Monmouth County Open Space Grant program notified the borough that the bid had been rejected.
“The application for this year was denied by the county,” he said. “At this point we don’t have any reasoning. The letter just said ‘Unfortunately the application will not be funded this year.’ ”
Marks admitted that the pursuit of county funding was a very competitive one.
“I believe there were 20-some towns that submitted applications and only a handful were funded,” he said.
Marks said he is planning to meet with county officials to get a better explanation on why the grant proposal was rejected and what, moving forward, a better plan would be.
“What we’d like to do is meet with the county open space program and discuss our application,” he said, “find out why the project wasn’t funded.
“We haven’t had an opportunity to schedule that with the county yet,” he added. “Once we understand the reasons for the denial, we can either improve our application and reapply for Liberty Park II or we can pursue a different project.”
Marks explained that after the meeting takes place, the borough will decide how to proceed in seeking open space funds.
“At this point we have quite a bit of flexibility,” he said. “Based on the meeting we have with the county, we will then determine whether or not to continue pursuing the grant funding for Liberty Park II for the next grant funding cycle or if we should pursue a different park altogether.”
The proposed sports complex improvements included upgrades to the parking lot, lighting for the football practice field, a tot lot, a playground area, a picnic area and expanded parking.
The process leading up to the grant application was contentious. When the rough draft of the proposal was presented to the council in October, several people involved with Pop Warner criticized the plan for not including lights for the football field. Marks explained that a subsequent meeting followed and a revised plan was sent to the county.
“After that meeting, I sat down with Pop Warner representatives and we discussed the goal of the project and what we needed to do,” Marks said. “They were onboard with the plan that was finally submitted to the county.
“I really think some of the Pop Warner members didn’t fully understand the scope of what we were proposing at the time.
“A lot of those improvements were incorporated into that initial plan. We were able to work things out with Pop Warner and they were onboard with the application,” he added.
As for a timeline, Marks said he is not sure when the meeting with the county will take place, but the borough has a lot of time to come up with a plan.
“The grants won’t be due again until the end of summer, so we have plenty of time to come up with a plan,” Marks said.
The park is located on West Park Avenue in Tinton Falls and, according to Marks, the complex is 37 acres and contains football and softball fields, a dog park, two basketball courts, nature and jogging trails, and a concession stand as well as parking.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Pallone, Brown in Long Branch council bid
Pallone, Brown in Long Branch council bid
Candidates have family ties in city
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Two independent candidates with deep roots in Long Branch are gearing up for a run at City Council seats.
Council hopefuls David G. Brown II (l) and John Pallone pick up candidates’ packets at Long Branch City Hall, indicating they will run for council seats in the May 11 election. Council hopefuls David G. Brown II (l) and John Pallone pick up candidates’ packets at Long Branch City Hall, indicating they will run for council seats in the May 11 election. John Pallone, a former Long Branch councilman and brother of Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District), and David G. Brown II, son of current Long Branch Councilman David Brown, announced that they are running for council independently of a mayoral candidate.
Pallone said he and Brown are running together because they agree on many of the issues the city is facing.
“Basically, Dave and I have the same vision for this city,” he said. “We see eye to eye on a lot of things. I think he’d bring a lot of experience.”
In a press release announcing their candidacies, Brown echoed Pallone’s words.
“John and I have heard from many residents in Long Branch that they are looking for positive, experienced city leaders who will be the voices of individuals from every walk of life and every neighborhood in our community,” Brown said. “That’s why we are running together and hope to serve on the City Council.”
In an interview last week, Pallone spoke about the need for transparency within the municipal government.
“A big priority for both me and Dave is getting citizens involved in the legislative process,” he said. “We want to listen to their ideas and concerns.”
Pallone listed some of their ideas for promoting open government.
“We are talking about more office hours, public forums, and council meetings should be televised,” he said. “The city website should be more interactive, getting involved in surveys.
“We want to try being more responsive to residents. A lot of communities have things like online surveys on their municipalities just to get people more involved in the community.”
Brown agreed with Pallone’s message of transparency.
“We’d like to see the council meetings televised and provide more public documents on the website and make things easier to find for individuals,” he said, also mentioning office hours and community forums.
Pallone also said that with the current state of the economy, it is the governing body’s job to do more with fewer resources.
“We are in some tough economic times, so I think we all need to do more with less,” he said. “We want to make local government more effective and more efficient.”
Brown also addressed some issues the city’s governing body should deal with.
“John and I are looking to come in with new thoughts and new processes,” Brown said. “We really want to focus on stabilizing the taxes and continuing to reduce crime, as well as all the aspects of Long Branch.
“One of the things is, there are different sections of Long Branch and each one individually has its own characteristics and needs. We want to be able to focus on all of Long Branch.”
Brown has held various positions in municipal government, including business administrator for the borough of Roselle, vice president of real estate development in the city of Newark, and his current position as director of public works and urban development for the city of Plainfield.
Brown said his experience in these municipalities gives him a good grasp on issues in Long Branch.
“Plainfield and Newark have a lot of similarities and issues that Long Branch has,” he said.
Brown discussed some of his goals for development in the city.
“We would look at re-invigorating our downtown area and the Broadway redevelopment area,” he said.
Councilman David Brown announced earlier this year that he would retire from council, which his son said is a major reason why he decided to run.
“Knowing he wasn’t going to run again made it possible for me to come to that decision,” he said. “I think I’m seasoned enough now.”
Pallone, who served on council from 1990 to 1994, said he would like to find ways to share services to save money.
One such idea, Pallone said, would be to use the TV studio at the high school to broadcast council meetings, either live or on tape delay.
Pallone said that he is willing to work with whoever wins the mayoral race and the other council seats.
“We really need to work together with the council and the mayor,” he said. “I think whoever is the mayor, whoever is on council, we all need to work together.
“We are going to be facing a lot of problems, but problems can be solved, and if not solved perfectly but worked out as best we can.”
Brown agreed that continuity on council is going to be very important.
“It is very important for the council as a whole to work together and not work in an antagonistic way,” he said. “We have to be positive and look out for the interests of all the residents.”
Pallone served on council from 1990 to 1994 and said he feels that 16 years later it is a good time for him to rejoin the race.
“It was a family decision, and I think the time is right,” he said. “We are all in this together, and we can make a difference with some new ideas and a different perspective.
“There will be some changes on council, and we both would like to be a part of that and help the community.”
The two are part of a crowded field of Long Branch candidates that includes current Mayor Adam Schneider, who is seeking a sixth term, and challengers Councilman Brian Unger and financial adviser Robert Krebs, plus some 22 candidates for City Council.
Candidates have until March 18 to pick up a packet and gather petition signatures to qualify to run in the Long Branch municipal election, which will be held May 11.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Candidates have family ties in city
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Two independent candidates with deep roots in Long Branch are gearing up for a run at City Council seats.
Council hopefuls David G. Brown II (l) and John Pallone pick up candidates’ packets at Long Branch City Hall, indicating they will run for council seats in the May 11 election. Council hopefuls David G. Brown II (l) and John Pallone pick up candidates’ packets at Long Branch City Hall, indicating they will run for council seats in the May 11 election. John Pallone, a former Long Branch councilman and brother of Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District), and David G. Brown II, son of current Long Branch Councilman David Brown, announced that they are running for council independently of a mayoral candidate.
Pallone said he and Brown are running together because they agree on many of the issues the city is facing.
“Basically, Dave and I have the same vision for this city,” he said. “We see eye to eye on a lot of things. I think he’d bring a lot of experience.”
In a press release announcing their candidacies, Brown echoed Pallone’s words.
“John and I have heard from many residents in Long Branch that they are looking for positive, experienced city leaders who will be the voices of individuals from every walk of life and every neighborhood in our community,” Brown said. “That’s why we are running together and hope to serve on the City Council.”
In an interview last week, Pallone spoke about the need for transparency within the municipal government.
“A big priority for both me and Dave is getting citizens involved in the legislative process,” he said. “We want to listen to their ideas and concerns.”
Pallone listed some of their ideas for promoting open government.
“We are talking about more office hours, public forums, and council meetings should be televised,” he said. “The city website should be more interactive, getting involved in surveys.
“We want to try being more responsive to residents. A lot of communities have things like online surveys on their municipalities just to get people more involved in the community.”
Brown agreed with Pallone’s message of transparency.
“We’d like to see the council meetings televised and provide more public documents on the website and make things easier to find for individuals,” he said, also mentioning office hours and community forums.
Pallone also said that with the current state of the economy, it is the governing body’s job to do more with fewer resources.
“We are in some tough economic times, so I think we all need to do more with less,” he said. “We want to make local government more effective and more efficient.”
Brown also addressed some issues the city’s governing body should deal with.
“John and I are looking to come in with new thoughts and new processes,” Brown said. “We really want to focus on stabilizing the taxes and continuing to reduce crime, as well as all the aspects of Long Branch.
“One of the things is, there are different sections of Long Branch and each one individually has its own characteristics and needs. We want to be able to focus on all of Long Branch.”
Brown has held various positions in municipal government, including business administrator for the borough of Roselle, vice president of real estate development in the city of Newark, and his current position as director of public works and urban development for the city of Plainfield.
Brown said his experience in these municipalities gives him a good grasp on issues in Long Branch.
“Plainfield and Newark have a lot of similarities and issues that Long Branch has,” he said.
Brown discussed some of his goals for development in the city.
“We would look at re-invigorating our downtown area and the Broadway redevelopment area,” he said.
Councilman David Brown announced earlier this year that he would retire from council, which his son said is a major reason why he decided to run.
“Knowing he wasn’t going to run again made it possible for me to come to that decision,” he said. “I think I’m seasoned enough now.”
Pallone, who served on council from 1990 to 1994, said he would like to find ways to share services to save money.
One such idea, Pallone said, would be to use the TV studio at the high school to broadcast council meetings, either live or on tape delay.
Pallone said that he is willing to work with whoever wins the mayoral race and the other council seats.
“We really need to work together with the council and the mayor,” he said. “I think whoever is the mayor, whoever is on council, we all need to work together.
“We are going to be facing a lot of problems, but problems can be solved, and if not solved perfectly but worked out as best we can.”
Brown agreed that continuity on council is going to be very important.
“It is very important for the council as a whole to work together and not work in an antagonistic way,” he said. “We have to be positive and look out for the interests of all the residents.”
Pallone served on council from 1990 to 1994 and said he feels that 16 years later it is a good time for him to rejoin the race.
“It was a family decision, and I think the time is right,” he said. “We are all in this together, and we can make a difference with some new ideas and a different perspective.
“There will be some changes on council, and we both would like to be a part of that and help the community.”
The two are part of a crowded field of Long Branch candidates that includes current Mayor Adam Schneider, who is seeking a sixth term, and challengers Councilman Brian Unger and financial adviser Robert Krebs, plus some 22 candidates for City Council.
Candidates have until March 18 to pick up a packet and gather petition signatures to qualify to run in the Long Branch municipal election, which will be held May 11.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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