Amended T.F. budget seeds road program
$50K cut from department budgets allocated for roads
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
TINTON FALLS — The Borough Council amended the 2010 budget last week, allocating approximately $50,000 gleaned from department budgets to build a future road program.
The council voted 5-0 Sept. 7 to approve an amendment to fund roadwork and earmark over $50,000 in the capital fund for road improvements.
Borough Director of Finance Stephen Pfeffer explained where the $50,000 came from.
“We went through various appropriations within the budget with all the department heads at the recommendation of the council president,” he said. “We have come up with a list of reductions in these budget line items.
“The intent of the amendment was to come up with the seed money for a road program in the future to help offset bonding,” he added.
Pfeffer said that he expected the borough to build up the funds over multiple years before beginning to use the money.
“The $50,000 will be transferred to the capital fund and will be earmarked in the capital fund to be built on for future years,” he added. “The ultimate decision is the council’s. The administration can say, ‘Let’s put together a road program,’ and they can say, ‘Let’s use this money,’ but ultimately that’s the council’s decision.”
The $22 million 2010 budget was originally on the agenda to be approved in July, but a state review delay gave the administration and council a window to move the funds around for the road program.
The $22 million budget, up from last year’s $21.6 million spending plan, includes an $11.7 million tax levy and an increase in the tax rate of 1.26 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, bringing the tax rate to 39.26 cents per $100.
The budget also includes a 0.75-cent decrease in the borough’s open space tax rate and factors in a $383,000 decrease in state aid from last year.
The budget reflects over $70,000 anticipated in state aid, but in order to receive the funds, the budget must score high on the state’s Best Practices Worksheet.
“Recently we received the Best Practices Worksheet from the state and are in the process of completing it,” Pfeffer said. “How we score determines what our final state aid payment will be.
“The final state aid payment is scheduled as $70,986, and the worksheet is due back to the state on Oct. 1,” he added. “We need to score 80 percent or better to receive 100 percent of the aid.”
Pfeffer said the worksheet covers general management, operational management, public safety, public works, health, energy and utilities, and municipal and school relations.
As a supplement to the future road program, the council also introduced an ordinance that, if approved, would bond almost $2 million for road improvements.
The council voted 4-1 to introduce the ordinancewithCouncilmanAndrewMayer voting against the measure.
Pfeffer said that the ordinance is an exact replica of the one that the borough voted down in April, with just Councilmen Gary Baldwin and Scott Larkin supporting it.
The bond would be for slightly over $1.8 million, with more than $300,000 of the $2.1 million project to be funded by other sources.
The 17 roads that were scheduled to have work done are Hochockson Road, Riveredge Road, Heritage Drive, Mulberry Lane, Laurel Court, Meadow Drive, Stratford Avenue, Devon Court, Catebury Lane, Winchester Drive, Rutgers Drive, Water Street, Old Farm Road, Old Mill Road, Marland Lane, Colonial Drive and Squankum Road.
Much of the debate about allocating funding for the road program has revolved around whether funding should be placed in the budget on a yearly basis or whether road work should be funded by bond, which is what the ordinance calls for.
Pfeffer also said that whether or not the council approves the ordinance would have no impact on the money taken from the budget for the road project.
The next Borough Council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 21.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com
Saturday, February 19, 2011
New police chief named in Tinton Falls
New police chief named in Tinton Falls
PBA asked council to fill post vacant since April
BY KENNY WALKER Staff Writer
Just days after a group of Tinton Falls police officers urged the Borough Council to fill the vacant position of police chief, Mayor Michael Skudera made his call.
John Scrivanic John Scrivanic Skudera swore in Detective Sgt. John Scrivanic, a 16-year member of the force, as police chief on Sept. 10 at a ceremony at Borough Hall. The position had been vacant since April when former chief Gerald Turning Sr. retired.
Some 20 members of the borough’s police force showed up at the Sept. 7 meeting to express concern that a police chief had not been named in the six months since Turning’s retirement.
Officers in uniform and plainclothes entered the meeting en mass about 10 minutes after the start of the session. Their representatives requested that the administration move swiftly to replace Turning, who was appointed borough administrator in May.
“I would like to thank the mayor and council for their hard work and diligence establishing an ordinance for the position of chief. The Tinton Falls PBA feels it’s important to be led by a chief,” PBA Local 251 President John Talerico told the council.
“I’m here tonight in regard to the questions surrounding the chief’s position, and on behalf of the PBA we’d like to know how the vacancy will be filled and when can we expect it to be.”
The police chief position was eliminated by ordinance when Turning was promoted to chief, and after he retired, the council voted in July to re-establish the position.
Talerico thanked the council for re-establishing the position but requested that the administration move faster in promoting someone to the position and expressed his desire to work with the council and administration in naming a new chief.
“It’s our intention as a local to support the mayor and the town council in regard to this matter, and we’d like to offer our assistance,” he said.
Skudera replied that he wanted to wait until after the 2010 budget was approved before making a decision.
“I want to wait until after the council has approved the budget to proceed with this,” he said. “Any announcements I make will be at the appropriate time.”
In a press release announcing Scrivanic’s appointment, Turning, who is currently borough administrator, commended the new chief for his community service.
“John Scrivanic is highly respected in the community due to his commendable enthusiasm and commitment to numerous community organizations,” the release states.
Scrivanic, who has a master’s degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, joined the force in 1994. He is a member of Police Benevolent Association Local 251. Since his graduation from the Monmouth County Police Academy in 1994, Scrivanic has been promoted through the ranks of both the patrol division and the detective bureau. He was promoted to his previous position in 2004.
Turning cited Scrivanic’s participation in Tinton Falls CURE, Tinton Falls Little League, Tinton Falls Travel Mid-Monmouth Basketball League, Tinton Falls Recreation Boys Basketball and Girls Basketball and Tinton Falls Cub Scouts.
The appointment of chief is a direct appointment by Skudera, meaning that the council does not have the ability to block the appointment.
According to Turning, the appointment of a chief must be made from within the Tinton Falls Police Department, with captain being the position directly under chief.
Turning had stated that there is only one captain, David Trevena, and he was being considered for the promotion.
PBA state delegate Thomas Dennehy said at the Sept. 7 meeting that he was personally disappointed by the delay in announcing the chief.
“We do need a leader; it’s been six months and we’ve not had a clear defined leader,” he said.
Dennehy drew parallels between the police situation and the recently announced retirement of Borough Clerk Karen Mount-Taylor.
“I would like to congratulate Mrs. Mount-Taylor for her retirement and Miss
Maureen] Murphy for your new position,” he said. “It is somewhat perplexing to see this transition go over so smoothly, and for the current one that we are standing here in front of you for, the only answer we get is, when the time is right.
“That’s the answer we’ll have to take and we will be respectful about this,” he added.
A PBA spokesperson could not be reached to comment on the appointment of Scrivanic.
Council President Gary Baldwin and Councilman Andrew Mayer both said at the Sept. 7 meeting that there would be an appointment in the near future.
“Bear with us and bear with the mayor, and we will do it as quick as we can,” Baldwin said.
“I think the council sent a very clear message when we made the approval of that position, so we hope the administration will take that seriously and move swiftly,” Mayer said.
The ordinance approved in July also establishes a cap on the number of officers who can hold certain positions in the police force.
According to the ordinance, there will be one chief, two captains, five lieutenants, seven sergeants and 26 patrol officers.
Turning said previously that the borough has had to update this ordinance to include
cap on those positions because the previous ordinance was written six years ago.
“There were no limitations on the number of people we could have in each position, and there is case law since that was originally written,” he said. “By putting a number on there, it tells the council exactly how much they need to budget for.”
Without a police chief, the department was being run by a civilian director of public safety, Doug Gotfredsen.
PBA asked council to fill post vacant since April
BY KENNY WALKER Staff Writer
Just days after a group of Tinton Falls police officers urged the Borough Council to fill the vacant position of police chief, Mayor Michael Skudera made his call.
John Scrivanic John Scrivanic Skudera swore in Detective Sgt. John Scrivanic, a 16-year member of the force, as police chief on Sept. 10 at a ceremony at Borough Hall. The position had been vacant since April when former chief Gerald Turning Sr. retired.
Some 20 members of the borough’s police force showed up at the Sept. 7 meeting to express concern that a police chief had not been named in the six months since Turning’s retirement.
Officers in uniform and plainclothes entered the meeting en mass about 10 minutes after the start of the session. Their representatives requested that the administration move swiftly to replace Turning, who was appointed borough administrator in May.
“I would like to thank the mayor and council for their hard work and diligence establishing an ordinance for the position of chief. The Tinton Falls PBA feels it’s important to be led by a chief,” PBA Local 251 President John Talerico told the council.
“I’m here tonight in regard to the questions surrounding the chief’s position, and on behalf of the PBA we’d like to know how the vacancy will be filled and when can we expect it to be.”
The police chief position was eliminated by ordinance when Turning was promoted to chief, and after he retired, the council voted in July to re-establish the position.
Talerico thanked the council for re-establishing the position but requested that the administration move faster in promoting someone to the position and expressed his desire to work with the council and administration in naming a new chief.
“It’s our intention as a local to support the mayor and the town council in regard to this matter, and we’d like to offer our assistance,” he said.
Skudera replied that he wanted to wait until after the 2010 budget was approved before making a decision.
“I want to wait until after the council has approved the budget to proceed with this,” he said. “Any announcements I make will be at the appropriate time.”
In a press release announcing Scrivanic’s appointment, Turning, who is currently borough administrator, commended the new chief for his community service.
“John Scrivanic is highly respected in the community due to his commendable enthusiasm and commitment to numerous community organizations,” the release states.
Scrivanic, who has a master’s degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, joined the force in 1994. He is a member of Police Benevolent Association Local 251. Since his graduation from the Monmouth County Police Academy in 1994, Scrivanic has been promoted through the ranks of both the patrol division and the detective bureau. He was promoted to his previous position in 2004.
Turning cited Scrivanic’s participation in Tinton Falls CURE, Tinton Falls Little League, Tinton Falls Travel Mid-Monmouth Basketball League, Tinton Falls Recreation Boys Basketball and Girls Basketball and Tinton Falls Cub Scouts.
The appointment of chief is a direct appointment by Skudera, meaning that the council does not have the ability to block the appointment.
According to Turning, the appointment of a chief must be made from within the Tinton Falls Police Department, with captain being the position directly under chief.
Turning had stated that there is only one captain, David Trevena, and he was being considered for the promotion.
PBA state delegate Thomas Dennehy said at the Sept. 7 meeting that he was personally disappointed by the delay in announcing the chief.
“We do need a leader; it’s been six months and we’ve not had a clear defined leader,” he said.
Dennehy drew parallels between the police situation and the recently announced retirement of Borough Clerk Karen Mount-Taylor.
“I would like to congratulate Mrs. Mount-Taylor for her retirement and Miss
Maureen] Murphy for your new position,” he said. “It is somewhat perplexing to see this transition go over so smoothly, and for the current one that we are standing here in front of you for, the only answer we get is, when the time is right.
“That’s the answer we’ll have to take and we will be respectful about this,” he added.
A PBA spokesperson could not be reached to comment on the appointment of Scrivanic.
Council President Gary Baldwin and Councilman Andrew Mayer both said at the Sept. 7 meeting that there would be an appointment in the near future.
“Bear with us and bear with the mayor, and we will do it as quick as we can,” Baldwin said.
“I think the council sent a very clear message when we made the approval of that position, so we hope the administration will take that seriously and move swiftly,” Mayer said.
The ordinance approved in July also establishes a cap on the number of officers who can hold certain positions in the police force.
According to the ordinance, there will be one chief, two captains, five lieutenants, seven sergeants and 26 patrol officers.
Turning said previously that the borough has had to update this ordinance to include
cap on those positions because the previous ordinance was written six years ago.
“There were no limitations on the number of people we could have in each position, and there is case law since that was originally written,” he said. “By putting a number on there, it tells the council exactly how much they need to budget for.”
Without a police chief, the department was being run by a civilian director of public safety, Doug Gotfredsen.
Backpack drive provides school supplies to students
Backpack drive provides school supplies to students
Donations help Family & Children’s Service fill 600 backpacks
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Backpacks are ready to be filled with back-to-school supplies by volunteers for the Long Branch-based nonprofit Family and Children’s Service, which distributed more than 600 backpacks to local elementary school children throughout Monmouth County. Backpacks are ready to be filled with back-to-school supplies by volunteers for the Long Branch-based nonprofit Family and Children’s Service, which distributed more than 600 backpacks to local elementary school children throughout Monmouth County. LONG BRANCH — While not every student in Monmouth County arrived prepared for the first day of school, many went home that way thanks to a local nonprofit.
Long Branch-based Family & Children’s Service raised funds and donations to provide more than 600 backpacks filled with school supplies to students at 11 different elementary schools across the county.
Samantha White, Family & Children’s Service manager of volunteer services, explained what the backpacks contain.
“Each backpack we provide [has] notebook, folders, pencil cases filled with pens, pencils, glue sticks, scissors, erasers, rulers,” she said. “We kind of put everything in.”
The backpacks were distributed to students at elementary schools in West Long Branch, Red Bank, Keyport, Middletown, Keansburg, Highlands, Freehold, Bradley Beach and three different schools in Asbury Park.
White explained why each of the schools was selected as a beneficiary of the Reading Buddies Backpack Project.
“They are part of our Reading Buddies program, which is a yearlong program where we have senior volunteers go into schools in Monmouth County and read to the students, usually kindergarten, first or second grade, for an hour a week,” she said. “Those are schools that are part of that program, and that’s how we decide to give the backpacks out.”
The group started collecting backpacks and supplies in June, and White explained where the donations came from.
“We start in June, July and August collecting supplies, and we fill the backpacks during one week in August,” she said.
A young student totes a backpack filled with donated school supplies. A young student totes a backpack filled with donated school supplies. “A lot come from the businesses that will do drives for us, and a lot of individuals will bring in backpacks and supplies. Some people do make monetary donations, and then we will go out and purchase the supplies and backpacks,” she added.
The FCS estimated that nearly $12,000 worth of supplies were donated during the summer months, and some of the business partners include: Staples, Panera Bread, Old Navy, New Jersey Natural Gas, Wells Fargo, Brookdale Community College, Jersey Shore Woman’s Club, Women’s Club of Colts Neck, United Way of Monmouth County, Red Bank Rotary Foundation, Wayside United Methodist Church, All Saints’ Memorial Church, St. Anselm’s Church, and employees of Whole Foods and the Banana Republic Factory Store.
The agency praised volunteers who helped organize the supplies.
“Also vital to the program’s success are the volunteers from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program and area schools, who for several days in August sorted through hundreds of new notebooks, scissors, paper, pencils and pens piled in the agency’s small conference room, insuring that each of the 600 backpacks received adequate and equal amounts of school supplies,” a release stated.
White said this drive was the third she has been involved with and the total number of backpacks has increased from 250 her first year to 500 her second year and 600 in 2010.
She also said the biggest challenge in organizing the drive is to make sure they have enough supplies to go around.
“This year we had a lot more people participate, and I guess our greatest challenge is you just want to make sure you get enough for all of the kids,” White said. “The need is greater than 600, so every year we are trying to add more to the total that we can give out.
“At the end of the year, we ask the principals how many they may need based on their school population,” she added. “We [generally] can’t give as many as they need, but we try.”
White said that Long Branch will be a part of the Reading Buddies program this year and will be a part of the backpack drive next year.
“Long Branch is part of our Reading Buddies schools; we are adding them for the first time in October,” she said.
“They didn’t get backpacks because we really haven’t started the program with them yet,” White added. “Next year they will be added to the schools that get backpacks.”
White said one of the reasons the drive has become so popular is that a lot of people start to remember what their first day of school was like.
“It is a great program and a lot of people get behind it,” she said. “I think everybody remembers going to school on the first day and wanting to have a great first day.
“I think that is why so many people are willing to participate and help us,” she added.
But with increased participation, White said, they are also seeing an increase in the need for the backpacks and supplies.
“The lists that we get from the schools are getting a little more detailed about the supplies that the kids need,” she said.
“I think there is a greater need. Schools that before weren’t asking for them are starting to ask for them now.”
The FCS has been a fixture in Long Branch since 1909 and according to the website, the nonprofit has been “dedicated to creating programs and opportunities that make life a little easier for many struggling through tough times and in need of help and guidance.”
For more information, call 732-222- 9111 or visit the website at www.fcsmonmouth. org.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Donations help Family & Children’s Service fill 600 backpacks
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Backpacks are ready to be filled with back-to-school supplies by volunteers for the Long Branch-based nonprofit Family and Children’s Service, which distributed more than 600 backpacks to local elementary school children throughout Monmouth County. Backpacks are ready to be filled with back-to-school supplies by volunteers for the Long Branch-based nonprofit Family and Children’s Service, which distributed more than 600 backpacks to local elementary school children throughout Monmouth County. LONG BRANCH — While not every student in Monmouth County arrived prepared for the first day of school, many went home that way thanks to a local nonprofit.
Long Branch-based Family & Children’s Service raised funds and donations to provide more than 600 backpacks filled with school supplies to students at 11 different elementary schools across the county.
Samantha White, Family & Children’s Service manager of volunteer services, explained what the backpacks contain.
“Each backpack we provide [has] notebook, folders, pencil cases filled with pens, pencils, glue sticks, scissors, erasers, rulers,” she said. “We kind of put everything in.”
The backpacks were distributed to students at elementary schools in West Long Branch, Red Bank, Keyport, Middletown, Keansburg, Highlands, Freehold, Bradley Beach and three different schools in Asbury Park.
White explained why each of the schools was selected as a beneficiary of the Reading Buddies Backpack Project.
“They are part of our Reading Buddies program, which is a yearlong program where we have senior volunteers go into schools in Monmouth County and read to the students, usually kindergarten, first or second grade, for an hour a week,” she said. “Those are schools that are part of that program, and that’s how we decide to give the backpacks out.”
The group started collecting backpacks and supplies in June, and White explained where the donations came from.
“We start in June, July and August collecting supplies, and we fill the backpacks during one week in August,” she said.
A young student totes a backpack filled with donated school supplies. A young student totes a backpack filled with donated school supplies. “A lot come from the businesses that will do drives for us, and a lot of individuals will bring in backpacks and supplies. Some people do make monetary donations, and then we will go out and purchase the supplies and backpacks,” she added.
The FCS estimated that nearly $12,000 worth of supplies were donated during the summer months, and some of the business partners include: Staples, Panera Bread, Old Navy, New Jersey Natural Gas, Wells Fargo, Brookdale Community College, Jersey Shore Woman’s Club, Women’s Club of Colts Neck, United Way of Monmouth County, Red Bank Rotary Foundation, Wayside United Methodist Church, All Saints’ Memorial Church, St. Anselm’s Church, and employees of Whole Foods and the Banana Republic Factory Store.
The agency praised volunteers who helped organize the supplies.
“Also vital to the program’s success are the volunteers from the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program and area schools, who for several days in August sorted through hundreds of new notebooks, scissors, paper, pencils and pens piled in the agency’s small conference room, insuring that each of the 600 backpacks received adequate and equal amounts of school supplies,” a release stated.
White said this drive was the third she has been involved with and the total number of backpacks has increased from 250 her first year to 500 her second year and 600 in 2010.
She also said the biggest challenge in organizing the drive is to make sure they have enough supplies to go around.
“This year we had a lot more people participate, and I guess our greatest challenge is you just want to make sure you get enough for all of the kids,” White said. “The need is greater than 600, so every year we are trying to add more to the total that we can give out.
“At the end of the year, we ask the principals how many they may need based on their school population,” she added. “We [generally] can’t give as many as they need, but we try.”
White said that Long Branch will be a part of the Reading Buddies program this year and will be a part of the backpack drive next year.
“Long Branch is part of our Reading Buddies schools; we are adding them for the first time in October,” she said.
“They didn’t get backpacks because we really haven’t started the program with them yet,” White added. “Next year they will be added to the schools that get backpacks.”
White said one of the reasons the drive has become so popular is that a lot of people start to remember what their first day of school was like.
“It is a great program and a lot of people get behind it,” she said. “I think everybody remembers going to school on the first day and wanting to have a great first day.
“I think that is why so many people are willing to participate and help us,” she added.
But with increased participation, White said, they are also seeing an increase in the need for the backpacks and supplies.
“The lists that we get from the schools are getting a little more detailed about the supplies that the kids need,” she said.
“I think there is a greater need. Schools that before weren’t asking for them are starting to ask for them now.”
The FCS has been a fixture in Long Branch since 1909 and according to the website, the nonprofit has been “dedicated to creating programs and opportunities that make life a little easier for many struggling through tough times and in need of help and guidance.”
For more information, call 732-222- 9111 or visit the website at www.fcsmonmouth. org.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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