TOWN WATCH
NEWARK – The city, as of Noon Sept. 27, has a $968.17 million 2024 Calendar Year Municipal Budget. That official outlay, whose document should be in New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ Division of Local Government Services by now, includes increases in the Newark Public Library and Department of Public Safety line items – and a 2.3 percent tax increase on the average property owner here.
Council President Lawrence Crump and his colleagues approved the final budget in a special Friday meeting. It is presumed that Mayor Ras J. Baraka had signed, or will sign, the budget between Sept. 27 and Oct. 16.
The DCA division in Trenton will be glad to get the CY 24 city budget. That document, should it pass DLGS muster, will be integrated into the 2024-25 State Budget and clear the way for sending state aid. The state can cross Newark off the list of government agencies who have not sent their 2024 budgets to date.
The State Legislature approved and Gov. Phil Murphy (D-Rumson) signed the state 24-25 budget June 30. All government agencies were to send their final budgets to Trenton on or before April 30.
This budget’s final edition was postponed a month until Newark’s elders had agreed to add $1 million to its $10.91 million state formulated public library minimum. NPL and AFSCME Local 2298 officials and public speakers had wanted a $2.25 – $3 million increase for infrastructure and wage upgrades.
The budget also reflects an additional $20 million, or a 14.4 percent increase, on the public safety budget. The $21 million of increases were compensated by cuts in other line items. All New Jersey government entities must pass balanced budgets.
The 2.3 percent increase, to be paid quarterly, comes out to $216 more on the average homeowner’s tax bill. The now-$7,259 to pay Newark is based on the average assessed house’s value of $190,395.
IRVINGTON – A Funeral Mass for longtime township resident Irene Galasso was held in Newark’s St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, followed by burial at Union’s Hollywood Cemetery, Sept. 11. Galasso, 78, a longtime accounts payable employee, died Sept. 3.
Galasso, who was born April 2 , 1946 in Bremerhaven, W. Germany, worked in Coastal Oil, of Newark, and Anselmi & DeCicco Construction, of Maplewood, before retiring in 2018. She and her late husband Robert raised Robert, Jr., Jessica, Carmen, Tracy, Marco and Natalie in Irvington.
She emigrated with parents Vera and Michael through Ellis Island in 1951.They and brothers John and Michael first arrived in Newark, where they mastered English. That experience developed her speaking skills in Ukrainian, Polish, Russian and, in her official obituary, “her favorite language – profanity.”
Galasso devoted much time and care in rescuing and nurturing stray cats.
Ten grandchildren are also among her survivors. Her parents and brother John predeceased her. The family thanks Kathy Venier for assisting her.
Union Funeral Home – Lytwyn and Grillo made her arrangements and held her Sept. 10 visitation.
EAST ORANGE – Three of the city’s public schools became the latest victims of social media-generated threats here Sept. 27.
City police responded to threats made to East Orange Campus High School, the Patrick F. Healey Middle School and the Cicely Tyson School of Fine and Performing Arts at 1:50, 1:59 and 2:14 p.m. that Friday. The message included a handgun icon and “We ain’t come to school today because we were at a lot of schools.”
The three East Orange threats came the day after similar threats were made to Newark’s Central High School and KIPP Newark Lab High School at 3 p.m. and Newark Collegiate Academy at 3:30 p.m. A separate “active shooter in the building” threat was made on the Maria L. Varisco Charter School 1:44 p.m. Sept. 21.
South Orange and Maplewood police meanwhile investigated a perceived threat made on Columbia High School Sept. 23. Authorities, including the South Orange-Maplewood School District, deemed that the student’s post was “taken out of context.”
Belleville Public Schools received a threat against Belleville Middle School the Same Sunday. Although the threat was also labeled “non creditable,” BMS was put under precautionary lockdown during Monday’s First Period.
The affected school districts also entered degrees of lockdown or sheltering in place on the reported days or the next school days. Police patrols there have increased.
The five towns’ detectives are looking for links among the threats. NPD has arrested three 13-year-olds – two boys and a girl – on making the Sept 21 threats and are facing a hearing in juvenile court. Authorities are looking for a fourth suspect.
They have been charged with third-degree creating a false public alarm and making terroristic threats and fourth-degree cyber harassment, among other counts. Other suspects in the other towns’ cases may likely face similar charges.
ORANGE – It can be said that Heaven gained a distinctive voice in Willie Lee Davis, Sr., 77, when the 36-year city resident died on Sept. 9.
Davis, who was born Sept. 15, 1946 in Goldsboro, NC, loved to sing and applied his baritone to the New Jersey Philharmonic Glee Club, the oldest continuing African American singing group in the US. He had auditioned for the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra opera place around 1965 but that was canceled by an illness.
Davis was a member of the Faith Temple Original FreeWill Baptist Church No. 1’s Male Chorus, Mass Choir, the OFWB Conference Choir and The Brotherhood Ministry after he joined the East Orange faith community Feb. 9, 1986.
Between signing dates, Davis helped keep the lights on and the electrical equipment running at the now-University Hospital in Newark. He was employed at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/Rutgers as an Environmental Service Worker for 31 years.
Davis, who joined the latter part of the Great Migration after graduating from Hollywood, Fla. ‘s Crispus Attucks High School in 1964, was a free and accepted Mason. He was named 2023’s Master Mason of the Year” by Newark’s Alpha and Omega Lodge No. 1.
Wife Hancey Houston Davis of Orange, daughter Pasqualina Yesmen Caldwell of Orange, son Willie Jr., brothers Arthur Jr. and Neal, sisters Francis Baker, Jeanette Davis and Shirley Cooper and two grandchildren and great-grandchildren each are among his survivors.
His respective Sept. 16 visitation and funeral were held at Orange’s Woody’s Home for Services of Orange and the Original Free Will Baptist Church, followed by burial at Rosedale Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the OFWBC Senior Choir.
WEST ORANGE – The days and nights of consuming alcohol and/or cannabis products in the township’s public outdoors are numbered, if not have expired by now.
Ordinance No. 2871-24, which the Township Council has 20 days to sign a passed council resolution, approved after a second reading and public hearing Sept. 24, may have already been signed by Mayor Susan McCartney; the mayor has 20 days from council passage to sign or veto any passed council measure.
2871-24 bars the drinking of alcohol and any drinking, smoking, eating and/or vaping of cannabis products in public parks, school grounds and playgrounds within West Orange. This an amendment to the township’s code chapter 3, sections 33.1-2 – which already bans said use on public streets, sidewalks, driveways, patchways and any other public property.
The amendment, which was drawn up on Aug. 28, was initially passed on its Sept. 18 introduction. The measure also permits police to break up any said parties who openly use the consumables.
Bill sponsor Councilwoman Michelle Casalino said she was responding to residents’ complaints of booze and pot parties going on until late at night in several municipal parking lots. She cited the town lot off Willow Street and the Quigley lot in the Mississippi Avenue Loop/Watchung Heights neighborhood. There had been accounts of participants littering, being noisy, publicly urinating and setting up barbecue grills.
Chief of Police James Abbot, at the Sept. 18 meeting, said that, “There’s a big push to not have people smoking cannabis on our parking lots and sidewalks; the (West Orange) Legal Department said we can regulate that as well.” Abbot cautioned that, under the state Alcohol Treatment and Rehabilitation Act, alcoholism is a medical condition.
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD – Members of the South Orange-Maplewood Education Association teachers union demonstrated their dissatisfaction on labor negotiations with the South Orange-Maplewood School District here at the Sept 24 board of education meeting.
At least 20 SOEMA leaders and rank and file members, 48 hours after declaring a negotiations impasse, marched to the administration building that Thursday night ahead of the meeting. Teachers – many of whom wore “Worthy” t-shirts and holding “Settle Now” signs – took up most of the BOE conference room, making it a standing-room-only space.
Teachers and other SOMEA workers are instructing with a contract that expired on June 30 but is being honored. The union is asking for salary raises and job stability.
“Misleading communications, including a false SOMEA Salary Guide shared by a board member to make the community believe that our compensation is greater than the two districts he selected,” said Seth Boyden Fifth Grade teacher Jesse Hein. “According to the guide posted this morning, I should be making $80,000 more than my current frozen salary. I’m managing a class that’s 50 percent larger than my previous one.”
Columbia High School parent Andrea Alexander said that her son is on his third guidance counselor in as many months. She noted that the two-town district “has seen six superintendents, three elementary school principals and three high school principals in four years.”
“Teachers salaries need to be a priority in our district,” added new board student representative Oliver Nesin. “Although many teachers of our district possess a true passion for education, they are still people who need to be compensated for all the work that they do.”
“What I hear a lot is ‘keep negotiations going,’ ” responded Superintendent of Schools Jason Bing. “We’re in a good group right here; in my 14 years as a superintendent, I’ve been on boards (of education who) don’t want to pay. We want to get back to the table.”
BLOOMFIELD – The township has been seeking volunteers for its newly-created Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee since Sept. 22.
Mayor Ted Gamble and his Township Council colleagues created the panel that Monday night to find improvements to Bloomfield’s stormwater management.
Bloomfield’s elders passing of the resolution is in response to growing demand by residents of a literally rising problem. Residents and other stakeholders say they have been wading through more frequent flooding and greater volume in recent years.
The township is no stranger to stormwater flooding. Lion Gate Park in the North Center section, for example, was created in part to give the adjacent Third River overflow space instead of underground detention tanks that several would-be apartment developers have proposed.
It is believed that climate change is driving the recent flooding frequency. FMAC members will compare that belief to the state of stormwater infrastructure.
Panelists will be taking stakeholders’ testimony on their way to make recommendations to township officials. Identifying funding sources will be among the recommendations.
FMAC may consider whether to establish a stormwater utility, separate from water and wastewater sewer operations. Maplewood Township Committee members, for example, had been mulling over such a proposal since April.
MONTCLAIR – Robert Duncan, with Township Council approval Sept. 12, has officially ascended to Montclair Fire Chief.
The Council, that Thursday, removed “Acting” from the job title he has held since April. The then-deputy chief was first promoted to succeed the retired John Herrmann.
Duncan – who, while as deputy, authored fire incident press releases – joined “Montclair’s Bravest” in 1994. He was respectively promoted to lieutenant in 2003, captain in 2010 and deputy chief in 2015.
“Rob’s promotion is a testament (that) his extensive experience and proven track record make him the perfect fit for fire chief,” said Mayor Dr. Renee Baskerville. “We’re excited for the Montclair Fire Department’s future and are grateful for his continued dedication to protecting our community.”
“Robert Duncan has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication during his tenure with the department,” said Town Manager Michael LaPolla. “His deep knowledge of our community and his commitment to its safety and well-being make him the ideal candidate for this role. Township residents can be confident that he’ll continue to lead the department with integrity and excellence.”
GLEN RIDGE – It is not clear as of press time whether a borough man has returned home after a tentative Sept. 19 Hudson County court arraignment or remains in one of its South Kearny jail cells.
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said, on Sept. 16, that Prince Narang, 37, was arrested earlier that Monday at her Jersey City offices by the Insurance Fraud Unit. He has been charged with second-degree theft by deception and two counts of fourth-degree forgery.
Narang is accused of filing a fake certificate of insurance with the City of Jersey City of a property there to land an interior remodeling contract with the property owner and his or her bank. Narang’s company, Artisan Design and Construction, was hired by the property owner for said work.
The property owner later filed a property damage claim with his or her own insurance carrier – and discovered that the insurance certificate was invalid.
Artisan Design and Construction, of Upper Montclair, does for-hire remodeling in northern and central New Jersey.
BELLEVILLE – One Belleville Public Schools Board of Education trustee, after hearing positive news about the district’s finances, made a suggestion to keep its fiscal books “excellent” here Sept. 17.
Trustee Nicole Daddis, that Monday night, called for an audit of PBS’ technology expenses to find duplicate and/or outdated line items. Daddis made her call after School Board Administrator/Secretary Matthew J. Paladino described district finances being “in a good place.”
Paladino, in his monthly report announced that the Association of School Board Officials have awarded BPS a certificate of excellence for the second straight year. ASBO cited the district’s “diligent and accurate” reporting of its finances to the New Jersey Department of Education and State Legislature last June.
“Under the leadership of Interim Superintendent of Schools Nick Perrapato, Board of Trustees under President Gabrielle Bennett-Meany and our state monitor Thomas Eagan, we’re already off to a great school year,” said Paladino. “We’re hoping to continue to build upon the fiscal discipline and strategic execution that we’ve established.”
Eagan, who serves as umpire on BPS’ budgets and finances, came with the $4.2 million loan made by NJDOE to the district in 2014. The then-board and district administrators discovered that spring that their 2013-14 budget was $4 million in the red and sought state relief.
Perrapato, for the record, succeeded Dr. Richard Tomko, who left for Garfield Jan. 1. Tomko was schools superintendent for eight of the last 10 years, which included a 2016 corrective practice report on its finances.
Tomko, in his last report, projected 625 more students, largely due to the residential redevelopment boom, into 2034. Eagan, this spring, approved a 6.42 percent school tax rate hike for the 2024-25 school year budget. The hike was part of a 3-3-1 split vote by the trustees that stalled passage of the said budget.
The 6.42 percent hike comes out to a $171 boost on a house with an average assessed value of $278,760 in 2023. BPS accounts for 38.8 percent of an average $10,979 annual property tax bill. (The other 61.2 percent of property taxes are for the township and Essex County.)
NUTLEY – Relatives and friends of Justin Veras have been making his funeral arrangements while the State Police investigates the cause of a Sept. 29 crash on the New Jersey Turnpike that killed him and injured a toddler.
State Police patrols, said Sgt. Jeffry Lebron Sept. 30, responded to a 9:08 p.m. report that Sunday of a car and tractor trailer truck accident by NJ Turnpike Exit 72, for Rt. 9 West, in Fort Lee.
Responding troopers found a Toyota Camry having rear-ended a Kenworth tractor trailer truck on the Turnpike Northbound express lanes’ right hand shoulder at Milepost 121.4. They immediately called for medics.
The Camry’s driver, Veras, 34, was declared dead. Veras’ passenger, a 20-month old child, was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries; the child’s relationship to Veras was not known as of Sept. 30.
Fort Lee Exit 72 retains its designation since when it was built as part of Interstates 80-95 in 1964. It is the east end of “The Leonia Buttonhook” curve that NJDOT sold to the Turnpike Authority to help balance the 1992 state budget.
