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November 10, 2011 Hawthorne Press 2011 Election Results With only an 18.2% voter turnout, Democrats outpolled Republicans for all seats. In the council race, Felicia Ortiz, an incumbant led the field with 411 votes. Her running mate, Robert Artis, garnered 408 votes. Artis is replacing Councilman Andre Greer on the ticket. Republicans Thomas Magura and Karl Hoffman received 204 and 188 votes respectively. The sports betting question won by a slim margin in this community 125-113. Tope vote-getter in the borough was Assemblywoman Nellie Pou, who received 405 votes for the 35th District legislative seat. In all the other Democratic office holders each received over 300 votes while Republicans each garnered less than 200. June 9, 2011 The Gazette
Towns
approve Manchester budget without cuts
by Justin Zaremba The governing bodies of Haledon, North Haledon and Prospect Park approved the Manchester Regional High School budget for 2011-2012 on May 18 without any additional cuts. After voters defeated the Manchester Regional budget on April 27, the three boroughs were given the task of determining whether to issue additional cuts. Copies of the budget and other financial records were supplied by the district to each borough and the state Department of Education (DOE). Under the $16.3 million budget, Manchester Regional has a local tax levy of $9.9 million and will cut 9.5 staffing positions from the district resulting in larger class sizes. Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah said "two main factors" spurred the governing body to approve the budget – first the decrease in the school tax rate for homeowners; as well as the fact that Prospect Park voters approved the passage of the budget. "We do care about the education of the children, but we have to obviously go with it rather than wrangling with it," Khairullah said, later adding, "We saw no reason to go with further cuts." In Haledon, the tax levy is $4.3 million with an increase of $81.20 for a tax bill of $2,060 for the average house assessed at $157,800. In North Haledon, the tax levy is $2.9 million with a decrease of $24.96 for a tax bill of $949 for the average house assessed at $142,600. In Prospect Park, the local tax levy is $2.7 million with a decrease of $100.90 for a tax bill of $2,211 for the average house assessed at $147,887. Last year, Manchester Regional’s budget was also defeated and went before the DOE after the three towns failed to reach a consensus over appropriate cuts. After a review by the DOE, the department determined the school’s budget was $348,000 over adequacy. April 28, 2011 The Gazette
Two
newcomers win BOE seats in Prospect Park
by Justin Zaremba Prospect Park residents approved the school budget and voted for two newcomers for the Board of Education. Residents approved the $2,535,350 tax levy, 144 to 85. Prospect Park voters were for the Manchester Regional budget, 133 to 102, but collectively it failed, 611 to 598. Manchester Regional is made up of Haledon, North Haledon and Prospect Park. Incumbent Thomas F.X. Magura (162 votes) lost his seat to Nydia Cano (217) and Mohammed Hussain (176), who will fill the two, three-year terms on the BOE. Cano, 52, of North 8th Street, has four children and is an assisted living homecare aide. Cano is involved in "many activities of the school and town" as well as the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). "I am a really concerned parent for years and I really want to work with them for the budget next year," Cano said. "I want to make sure that everything goes well with the taxes. I'm really concerned for my kids and for all the kids [in Prospect Park]." Cano said she also intended to focus on overcrowding in the school. "The school is a little crowded and I intend to work on that," Cano said. "I want to work with the taxes. I want the taxes to stay the same. Better education for the kids and a lot of the things involved in it." She later added, "I've lived in town for 30 years and I want to know what can be done for better education." Hussain, 38, of Struyk Avenue, is married with three children. He works in sales for a printing company and is a member of the PTA. Hussain said he got involved to support his children. "I want to make sure everything is good for the future of the country," Hussain said. "I wanted to make sure the school is running well." April 7, 2011 The Gazette Borough prepared to appeal new Manchester formula by Justin Zaremba During a review of a judge’s recommendation regarding the Manchester Regional High School funding formula on March 28, Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah said the borough will appeal the ruling if the Acting Commissioner of Education approved it. For the past two decades, North Haledon has sought to redress the taxation rate for the Manchester Regional School District, contending that residents pay a disproportionate amount per pupil compared to Haledon and Prospect Park. North Haledon has also attempted to withdraw from the district, which would drastically increase the tax rate on the two smaller municipalities. Haledon and Prospect Park have claimed that a funding formula based on the number of rateables in the town as opposed to per pupil cost best serves the boroughs. By that calculation, Haledon and Prospect Park pay significantly less than North Haledon for the per pupil cost due to North Haledon’s relative affluence compared to the other boroughs. On March 16, Judge Maria Mancini La Fiandra with the Office of Administrative Law recommended a funding ratio for the municipalities based on 67 percent from pupil enrollment and 33 percent property valuation. La Fiandra’s recommendation will be referred to Acting Commissioner of Education Chris Cerf, who will decide whether to approve it. Allan Dzwilewski, Prospect Park’s legal counsel on the case, told the governing body on March 28 that there were "real problems" with La Fiandra’s analysis. "I’m reasonably confident," Dzwilewski said. "There’s a number of mistakes the judge made, or omissions, which really strengthens our hand." In particular, Dzwilewski said the statistics used by La Fiandra – the assessment value of properties – were not as accurate an assessment as the "true value." According to the cited figures, the average assessed value for properties in North Haledon and Prospect Park are respectively, $145,000 and $148,000. "What she forgot is that North Haledon assessed their true value at only 22 percent," Dzwilewski said, adding that the $145,000 for the average household was likely "over half a million." According to Dzwilewski, Prospect Park’s true value was assessed at 40 percent. Prior to 2004, the three boroughs contributed to the regional school based on 100 percent property valuation as opposed to per pupil enrollment. In New Jersey, 66 out of 70 regional school districts presently receive funding through a similar formula, according to La Fiandra. The other four regional districts are newer and have different funding formulas based on factors of pupil enrollment and equalized property valuation, Dzwilewski said. The funding formula currently utilized for Manchester Regional originated under William Librera, the Commissioner of Education in 2004, employed a 67/33 split based on property valuation and per pupil enrollment, respectively. La Fiandra’s recommendation "flips" the formula, according to Dzwilewski. While La Fiandra recommended a 67/33 split, she determined that the "most equitable proposed formula is the 20/80 formula proposed by North Haledon i.e. 20 percent property valuation/80 percent per pupil contribution." "As noted above, however, my mandate is not for the most equitable formula, but for an equitable formula under all of the circumstances," La Fiandra said in her decision. "Accordingly, it is my recommendation that a formula employing a ratio of 33 percent property valuation and 67 percent per pupil valuation be implemented for the purpose of allocating the funding of operating costs of Manchester Regional School District." La Fiandra also recommended implementing the formula over a period of two years. Dzwilewski said he received permission from Cerf to file comments responding to La Fiandra’s recommendation and that both Haledon and North Haledon would be provided an opportunity to respond. However, a decision is not expected any time soon as La Fiandra took eight months to offer a recommendation from the closing of the five-day hearing last year. Cerf will likely require a significant amount of time to get up-to-speed on the case, Dzwilewski said. Besides Khairullah, Haledon Mayor Domenick Stampone has also indicated that his borough will appeal the measure if Cerf approves La Fiandra’s recommendation. March 10, 2011 The Gazette
Manchester knocked out by Edward Kensik Manchester’s boys basketball dreams of at least getting to the Group 2, North 1 state sectional final blew up on Friday as the sixth-seeded Falcons lost 62-50 at second-seeded and defending champions, Pequannock. Manchester fell behind at second-seeded Pequannock in the first quarter and could never get over the top of the Panthers in the Group 2, North 1 state semi-final game in Morris County. Zhimir Butler led Manchester with 18 points, while Tuhray Smith added 13 for the Falcons’ cause. Unfortunately for Manchester, the Pequannock defense bottled up one of the Falcons’ top scorers in Taques Franklin who was limited to five points. Kenny Brunda had a game-high of 19 points for the Panthers. The boys team finished with a 21-7 record. Getting to the semi-finals, the sixth-seeded Falcons needed to win on the road as they travelled to third-seeded Mountain Lakes on March 2. After the Herd led by two after the first period, 15-13, the Manchester offense got in gear and ran off to a 19-8 run that put the team in a strong position by halftime with a 32-23 lead heading into the third quarter. Behind the scoring of Franklin and Butler, the Falcons were able to keep the Mountain Lakes comeback at bay and won the 54-47 decision in the sectional quarterfinals. Franklin collected a team-high 17 points, while Butler added 10 points including a three-point bucket. February 26, 2011 The Record School
board member censured over alleged ethics violations
by Justin Zaremba The state’s acting education chief reprimanded the borough’s
school board vice president for violating ethics laws by voting on
matters relating to an administrator’s contract while his wife was a
school district employee.
The censure of Paul J. Birch was adopted by the state School Ethics Commission early this year, and the Prospect Park Board of Education followed suit on Feb. 15, said school district Business Administrator Michael Jordan. On Oct. 26, 2010, the ethics commission found "probable cause" that in 2009 Paul J. Birch participated in the discussion of measures related to the contract of James Barriale, the superintendent at the time. Barriale died on Nov. 24. Christopher Cerf, acting state education commissioner, said it is "undisputed" that Birch took part in negotiating committee discussions and made motions to advance recommendations for votes on measures related to administrators’ salaries. Birch’s wife, Ruth, was a special education classroom aide in the district at the time of Birch’s actions. Under state law, board members with immediate family members employed by the district should not participate in discussions or votes concerning administrators, including the superintendent. The commissioner could reconsider the censure, a formal reprimand, only if Birch appeals it. Birch could not be reached for comment, but a response on his behalf argues that his participation in discussions and board motions did not represent a lapse of objectivity. Cerf said the censure conforms with legal precedent. Allison Kobus, a state education department spokeswoman, said censure is an "expression of disapproval" that must be adopted as a formal resolution by both the School Ethics Commission and the local school board. In 2009, Birch served on the board’s negotiating committee. In August of that year he attended a committee meeting where a salary adjustment for Barriale was discussed. Birch said last week that the one-time 3.5 percent increase was a stipend for work done after hours. The board voted 4-0 on Sept. 8 to approve that amendment to Barriale’s contract, based on the negotiating committee’s recommendation. That one-time increase, plus an annual 6 percent raise and $7,500 in longevity pay, raised Barriale’s contracted pay to $203,801 for the 2009-10 school year. Birch and board members Alejandro Makino and Jose Pantoja abstained. Although Birch did not vote on the contract, he made the motions to approve the amendment to Barriale’s contract and additional compensation for the vice principal and principal. Birch also voted against a motion to table the amendment to the superintendent’s contract. On Nov. 17, 2009, he voted to approve the revised amendment to the superintendent’s contract. Birch previously stated that he voted on those decisions at the advice of board attorney Jeffrey Merlino. January 26, 2011 Gazette News Town working on deal with squad by Justin Zaremba North Haledon may be less than a week away from sole coverage by a new ambulance squad - North Haledon Volunteer Ambulance, Inc. Mayor Randy George said on Jan. 19 that he and Councilman Robert Dyer finished negotiating an agreement with the Haledon Emergency Ambulance Association (HEAA) "two weeks ago." George said an agreement with the ambulance squad was pending, adding that he expected it "next week." Last year, the HEAA informed the boroughs of Haledon, North Haledon and Prospect Park that it would dissolve after 77 years effective Feb. 1, 2011. Two years ago, HEAA requested that the three boroughs purchase a new ambulance for the volunteer company to replace a 12-year-old emergency vehicle. North Haledon has maintained it would purchase the third and fourth new ambulances due to the fact that the borough purchased the HEAA's headquarters several years ago. Haledon and Prospect Park would be responsible for the purchase of the first and second new ambulances. Both Haledon and Prospect Park balked at the purchase of a new ambulance - with an estimated cost of $160,000 to $200,000 - expressing concerns with regard to reduced volunteerism and daytime coverage. As a result, Haledon and Prospect Park have pursued an agreement with the Paterson Fire Department for coverage. January 6, 2011 Hawthorne Press Prospect Park Inauguration Day Senator Girgenti noted that Judge Mawla is the first
Muslim judge in
the New Jersey courts. "Prospect Park is an example of a town where all socio-economic groups work together. It's a true melting pot," said Girgenti. 'It's the smallest community in Passaic County but will not get treated any less'" The senator said he has worked well with Prospect Park's leaders in the past and stands ready to work with the community in the future. Councilman Sam Hayek was elected council president by a unanimous vote of his colleagues. He pledged "to work diligently and faithfully... I know we have a bumpy road ahead of us'" The ceremony also marked the beginning of a.three- year term for Fire Chief Douglas Struyk along with the following officers: Assistant Chief Mike Van Lenten, Assistant Chief Douglas Laubshire; Captains Mark Sweetman and Chamil Oumer; Lieutenants Michael Scherer Jr. and Leelonn Webb. Re-appointed to their positions in the municipality were: Denis Murphy, borough attorney; Stephen Sanzari, chief financial officer; the frrm of Ferraioli, Wielkotz, Cerullo & Cava; borough auditor; Gibbons PC, band counsel; Ricci planning, borough planner and Capital Alternatives, grantwriter. Rehired to their respective posts were Joseph Perconti, municipal judge for a three-year term; David Ferrante, municipal prosecutor; Richard Baldi, public defender, Naomi Kasib, court administrator; Heide Amaral, deputy court administrator. Renamed housing official was Paul "Jay" Birch; deputy tax collector, Hana Hataf; safety coordinator, Ken Valt; DPW worker, Jeff Dansen, custodian, Anthony Lovell; part-time administrative assistants, Diana Pleasant, Randi Padavano. William Smith was re-appointed as fire official; Scott Hook fire inspector; Raymond Dansen Sr., superintendent of alarms; William Mullanaphy, deputy OEM coordinator; Jose Ruiz, recreation director. Cheryl Martensen, Janice Ferriola and Nancy Malave were appointed to the Board of Health. |
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