| Author | Message | ||
     Daniel I. Goldberg Citizen Username: Dig Post Number: 165 Registered: 8-2004 |
Anybody notice if they are working there today? I saw a front loader moving around this morning, but couldn't tell if it was actually doing anything. Reminded me of what I used to do with my vegetables when my parents told me I couldn't get up from the dinner table until I was done. Just pushing some if this and that around, in the hopes that it would appear that the peas had vanished. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4373 Registered: 5-2001  |
From today's News Record: (based on Allan Rosen's long overdue epiphany, I would take that to confirm that he is running for re-election) Work stalled on Beifus By Philip Sean Curran Staff Writer Village officials last week received assurances that developer Andrew Beifus has the financing in place to build condominiums on South Orange Avenue. Those assurances, coming in a letter from Beifus’ attorney to the village, came amid fresh questions about his ability to complete the project. Village administrator John O. Gross, using measured language, said the village had been led to believe Beifus had “ issues with his financing.” Gross would not elaborate on what “ issues” meant or the source of the information. Yet the village considered it credible enough to have village attorney Edwin R. Matthews correspond officially with Beifus’ attorney. “ The information we received that led to our inquiry raised an extremely serious concern on our part,” Gross said. In his letter, attorney John M. McKenna wrote the mortgage commitment to the project “ remains in place. It has not been amended, altered or withdrawn.” Even with the letter in hand, village officials said they remain skeptical. “ Mr. Beifus has to provide the village with more than assurances,” Gross said, noting the village would seek to confirm that Beifus has the financing. He declined to elaborate. Beifus did not return a phone call seeking comment. For some village officials, their patience with Beifus has run out. Trustee Allan Rosen said Beifus “ has no credibility with me. I don’t trust anything he says.” The Beifus project is a mixed use of retail and residential on approximately 1.5 acres of land. Work on the project has stopped. Beifus, who operates Beifus Motors on Valley Street, was chosen as the developer of the site in 2001, according to the village Web site. But three years later, the village took away his developer designation. In April 2005, trustees approved a developers agreement with him to ensure “ the project would be under construction by mid- year,” according to the village Web site. The village also worked out a deal for Beifus to pay the village $ 425,000 a year rather than pay property taxes. A payment in lieu of taxes is a common agreement between developers and municipal governments. Rosen said that unless work gets moving within the next month, he would suggest at the July 24 Board of Trustees meeting to have the village take the property through eminent domain. “ He’s not lived up to what he’s promised,” Rosen said, “ and he’s had plenty of time to do it.” To Trustee Mark Rosner, such talk is long overdue. “ At this point, we should condemn it and find a developer who’s willing to work with us,” Rosner said. | ||
| Josh Holtz Citizen Username: Jholtz Post Number: 516 Registered: 4-2004 |
John M. McKenna? What happened to Mr. Williams, Beifus' attorney, who spoke so slickly in front of both the Planning Board and the BOT. | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 652 Registered: 1-2006 |
So, condemnation? Or, friend of Bill gets tax reduction, waits for intolerable parking situation, ans sells to town for exhorbitant price. Why does property owner who razes his property for improvement get a tax reduction until new structure is in place? What is intent of assessment? jd | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 653 Registered: 1-2006 |
late proofreading leads me to confess: "ans" should be -and-. Otherwise, who will distance himself/herself from Bill on Monday night? Sayid? jd | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 654 Registered: 1-2006 |
pdf the mortgage commitment to the public, here on rivercityonline.com, please. jd | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 655 Registered: 1-2006 |
pdf the mortgage commitment to the public, please. jd | ||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave  Post Number: 10051 Registered: 4-1997  |
Philip Sean Curran shoots..... and scores. GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4374 Registered: 5-2001 |
From Today's Star Ledger: http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1152160286250940.xml?starledger? nmotm&coll=1 East Hanover mayor target of recall campaign Critics say Agnellino fosters overdevelopment When East Hanover residents arrived at Town Hall recently, two cars in the parking lot greeted them with large signs. "No Billy, No Bully in 2006" stated one sign, perched in a gold Ford Escort. Another, in the bed of a Dodge Dakota pickup, showed a picture of Mayor William Agnellino wearing a crown and a purple robe, and said in big lettering, "Well, all hail the undisputed king of overdevelopment." [In South Orange, we hail the undisputed king of NONdevelopment] The cars' owners sat at a picnic table near the building's entrance, greeting residents and holding petitions to recall Agnellino. Herman Marmon and Don Leger have collected just shy of 1,000 signatures, they said. They need 1,991 signatures -- 25 percent of the township's registered voters -- by August to place the issue on the ballot. Their reason for the recall: "He's insolent, he's rude, he's demeaning, he's argumentative," Marmon said. Deja vu! | ||
| Elaine Harris Citizen Username: Elaineharris Post Number: 204 Registered: 12-2004 |
"The village took away his developer designation?" Is there any evidence of this? It is my understanding that this is not possible. Once given, developer status is like a property right that can not be taken away, especially so casually. I believe from what I read above, that Mr. McKenna is the attorney for the mortgage lender, not the attorney for Mr. Beifus. I could be wrong, but that is how I read it. What page was this on in the NR? | ||
| Dan Shelffo Citizen Username: Openspacer Post Number: 187 Registered: 6-2001  |
Well, as of this moment, Mr. Beifus is on DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION! PS Someone should notify the authorities that the Food King has been looted. | ||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 633 Registered: 1-2004  |
Elaine, see the following: #255-04 – Resolution Rescinding Resolution #86-02 Designating Jacqueline and Andrew Beifus as the Redevelopers of Block 1904, Lots 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 in the Central Business District Redevelopment Area. Moved by Trustee Rosen, seconded by Trustee Theroux and carried by the Board. The Village Clerk announced the resolution passed. | ||
| Elaine Harris Citizen Username: Elaineharris Post Number: 207 Registered: 12-2004 |
Howard, my point is, was that Resolution "effective"? I mean, what if they passed a resolution to take away your house. Just because it is a resolution does not mean it is enforceable. That may have been window dressing to appease the masses. From what I understand, that resolution would not have been enforceable had they tried to enforce it. | ||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 634 Registered: 1-2004 |
We have a Village Counsel who prepared the Resolution and should be aware of the law. I would assume that the members of the Board rely on his knowledge and advise. | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 662 Registered: 1-2006 |
Unless they state why, it seems like a breach of a contract. The reasons to rescind can and should be stated. Perhaps the resolution has some "whereas" clauses attached to it. Perhaps not. jd | ||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1825 Registered: 3-2003 |
The rescinding of Beifus' redeveloper status received front page treatment in the News Record. Allan Rosen even made a point of it on MOL when he was still posting. I asked what the consequences were, since as far as I could see, it hadn't changed anything. I never received an answer. As a matter of fact, Beifus is referred to as the "developer" in the development agreement. Futhermore, Beifus was granted a PILOT. In order to receive a tax abatement in a redevelopment zone, the developer must be designated a "reveloper." If in fact Beifus was stripped of his redeveloper status per the resolution, when was he reinstated as a "redeveloper?" The whole thing was a sham just like the entire deal, and our elected officials were the facilitators. How much time and money have we, as residents and taxpayers of the Village, lost because of this? | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 665 Registered: 1-2006 |
Ask the board pres. on Monday night, at the meeting, and on camera. jd | ||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1826 Registered: 3-2003 |
I'm out of town. Maybe someone can ask when Beifus was reinstated as a redeveloper. Either the resolution rescinding his status as a redeveloper was not valid, as Elaine suggests, or if it was, the PILOT agreement is not valid if there was no reinstatement. I'm pretty sure there was no independent resolution, and it's not done via incorporation in the developer's agreement. | ||
| Two Senses Citizen Username: Twosense Post Number: 449 Registered: 7-2004 |
July 9, 2007 -- 14 months since Beifus-Shovel-in-the-Dirt Day (and only 10 months to Clean Sweep of Village Hall Day). | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4389 Registered: 5-2001 |
According to Calabrese last night, Beifus's attorney was supposed to send a letter to Village Hall yesterday with details of his plans. Suprisingly, no letter ever arrived. The BOT then claimed that if no substantial progress is made within the next 2 weeks, they would move to condemn. Ironically, by the time condemnation would actually proceed, SOPAC may be open & the value of his property will have increased. Maybe the BOT should have listened to residents that have been calling for condemnation for the past few years. If they actually move forward with condemnation NOW, it will actually cost US millions of dollars more and Beifus gets to pocket millions more. Brilliant! Hmmm....can someone remind me again when Beifus knocked down his building to give the appearance of progress being made? | ||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 637 Registered: 1-2004 |
I would assume if they condemned his property today it would be on the basis of his current assessment and tax payments - land only! | ||
| Mike Matterly Citizen Username: Ittakesavillage Post Number: 66 Registered: 4-2005 |
Howard - correct, but rest assured he would use all the "coming soons" to try and leverage a better deal on the land value. It is clearly time to bring in some responsible blood to the BOT. I mentioned this prior to the last election and it is time to bring it up once again. A true leader (in business) understands what he (or she) does not know and then surrounds him (or her)self with experts. We clearly have a problem in SO. My father was a fantastic Dr. I trusted him with medical questions, however I would never let him touch my finances (opinions "yes" - but decisions "no"). I hope my point is clear. We (citizens of SO) need to come together in the proper fashion to support 1, 2 or even 3 candidates for the BOT so that we ensure that we are not stuck with the same old situation the week following the election. The town collectively shot itself in the foot the last go around, as we hand too many candidates (not far off from the issues) working hard to garner the same votes. A ton of young (34 - 45) year olds who are working towards great careers in the corporate world, have children in the schools and pay ridiculous taxes really do care a great deal about SO, however often find it difficult to comprehend why poor business decisions are made so often here in SO. Many of us would be dismissed from our positions if we ran our business units in this manner. Let me get off my soapbox as I am beginning to get a little dizzy from this nonsense! MM | ||
| kevin Supporter Username: Kevin Post Number: 792 Registered: 2-2002 |
MHD asked: "Hmmm....can someone remind me again when Beifus knocked down his building to give the appearance of progress being made?" How about April of 2003?  | ||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 23529 Registered: 6-2001  |
And exactly 1 day before a municipal election. Progress!!! | ||
| Soparents Supporter Username: Soparents Post Number: 1971 Registered: 5-2005  |
kevin, that's not a question that really TAXES the brain, is it? | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4400 Registered: 5-2001 |
By the way...since it has already been determined that there is contaminated WATER on the Beifus site (which was a big reason the basement had to be eliminated), wouldn't that suggest that the current mountain of soil on the property is also contaminated?  Is anybody concerned that this is immediately next to our pool? | ||
| Soparents Supporter Username: Soparents Post Number: 1974 Registered: 5-2005 |
Don't tell me that, my kiddies are in that pool twice a week, plus perpetually playing in the playground and Cameron field. If that soil is contaminated at the very least it should be tarped, or better still it should have been taken away.. MHD, now you have me concerned. That "pile" has been there since about April - if there is a contaminant with all the rain/storms/wind we have had, it's pulled it into the air/gone into the ground. Forget concerned. I'm worried sick.. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4427 Registered: 5-2001 |
Instead of being 14 months since Beifus-Shovel-in-the-dirt-day, we are now only 7 days until Beifus-Condemnation-Day, according to what we were told at the last BOT Meeting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCM9BdEw3UQ Considering the contamination on the site, I am not sure if this is good or bad news? | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 723 Registered: 1-2006 |
We can hire a soil engineer, and get our own opinion. We can also directly ask Drewski for his engineer's opinion, for if he has been stringing us along, we should sue him, and get the fed government and state government to mitigate the pollution. They would sue Beifus to recover the costs, after giving him the chance to propose a remediation plan out of his pocket, and clean it up himself. Basic CERCLA. jd | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 507 Registered: 2-2006 |
Let us know when, Joel. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4432 Registered: 5-2001 |
For anyone wondering - still ZERO activity at the Beifus site, which now makes us 5 days until Beifus-Condemnation-Day. | ||
| Soparents Supporter Username: Soparents Post Number: 2195 Registered: 5-2005 |
MHD - you missed the activity... The grass is growing.  | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 3584 Registered: 5-2004  |
MHD, I think it's 5 days until the BOT reconsiders what to do about Beifus. I don't think they have explicitly said that they will definitely condemn if he doesn't get to work by Monday. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4435 Registered: 5-2001 |
Ya think?  I'd be willing to bet that the BOT lays down another bogus deadline (if Beifus doesn't at least mow the grass on the property by the time the BOT returns from Summer hiatus in September than....) and threatens another bogus consequence (...we'll put him on triple secret probation and we really really really mean it this time) | ||
| notehead Supporter Username: Notehead Post Number: 3602 Registered: 5-2001  |
Can we please, please just elect a new BOT now?! | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 4451 Registered: 5-2001 |
I heard the "Mount Beifus" is being hauled away by truck this morning. In typical fashion, Beifus performs some action right before a deadline to make it appear like something is happening. However, he could have saved himself some trouble by looking at the agenda for the next BOT Meeting and seen that this is not even a topic for discussion and he has until September when the BOT returns for his next game of "move the dirt". | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 750 Registered: 1-2006 |
If they haul away enough, we can have Lake Beifus. Boating, lazing away the afternoon. Ahhh. jd | ||
| Josh Holtz Citizen Username: Jholtz Post Number: 542 Registered: 4-2004 |
Joel: Remember - the Lake may or may not have contaminated water. My opinion is stay out of the water. | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 753 Registered: 1-2006 |
We are in it up to our necks already. jd | ||
| Soparents Supporter Username: Soparents Post Number: 2268 Registered: 5-2005 |
How much was hauled away? I went passed there about 10 times today and could see a bulldozer on top of mount Beifus, but on each occasion the gates were shut. Was I just missing the carting soil away ceremony or did the gates never open? |
