| Author | Message | ||
     bets Citizen Username: Bets Post Number: 785 Registered: 6-2001  |
This is a very interesting agenda item. Why isn't the capital improvement identified? | ||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 143 Registered: 1-2004 |
What is curious is that at the previous meeting this resolution was tabled because of some changes needed (discussion in closed session Note: that amount was $2,378,307.50). Notice in the NewsRecord delinates at a high level the Bonding purposes i.e. Loan to Seton Hall for SOPAC "gift" - $1,075,000 Library Roof & Fire House Construction - $680,000 etc...... | ||
| PARROT HEAD Citizen Username: Island_jack Post Number: 9 Registered: 3-2004 |
I agree with Pizzaz. This town has much to offer. But let's offer it to our own residents. Why is there even talk about S.O. joining up with other towns. I'm not ashamed to tell people where I live, even with the negative association that comes with residing in close proximity to Newark, Irvington and the other towns that have the word "Orange" in their names. Maplewood has it's own tax problems and Livingston is just plain boring! You want to solve one of our tax problems, start by sending the appropriate authorities to C.H.S. early in the morning to ask a large number of the students why they are taking taxis to school that say Irvington and Newark on them. Go to the bus stops after school and see why S.O. residents are hopping on Newarkbound busses. Oh, that's right! They dont live here. That's just a drop in the tax bucket though. As far as uniting with other towns.....Why? As stated before, by Pizzaz and myself, this town has alot to offer. Lets show some pride in the historic town we live in. With the right people running this town, (I'll do my part at D.P.W.), people wont even consider giving in to the idea of a "South Mountain Village" Now, I'm not on the BOT. I don't attend meetings at Village Hall and I cant speak intelligently on such issues that are discussed at these meetings. I am just a humble employee of the Public Works Dept. in South Orange. If I'm out of line or if I've offended anyone, I appologize. I do, however, have ideas geared towards the good of this great town. One of those ideas is not to give up the name South Orange, New Jersey. Lets keep the name and keep making it better. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 1517 Registered: 5-2001  |
Howard, Did I read your note above correctly? We are bonding $1,075,000 for a loan to Seton Hall, which will be given to SOPAC? HUH? | ||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 146 Registered: 1-2004 |
MHD, you got it. Supposedly there were modifications to the SOPAC building plan to accommodate Seton Hall which should have been included in the signed agreement between the parties (SOPAC/Village/Seton Hall). I requested review of the agreement. It stated that the modification details was an attachment but none was included. | ||
| Allan J Rosen Citizen Username: Allanrosen Post Number: 108 Registered: 4-2003 |
The big capital ordinance is nothing other than a very late introduction this year of the annual capital budget; it was increased on first reading at the last meeting to include additional appropriations for the fire house renovations to finish the project. | ||
| Allan J Rosen Citizen Username: Allanrosen Post Number: 109 Registered: 4-2003 |
We are not making any loans TO Seton Hall for Sopac. Seton Hall will make all necessary payments including interest to the Village in a timely manner such that the Village will never have to be out of pocket one cent forh this money intended for SOPAC improvements. | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 627 Registered: 11-2001  |
Allan: Since you'll be leading the meeting tonight, please have the administration address specifically the status of projects around town. Alot of mention was given in June that the projects will be off and running in early September, is this still true? If not, why? | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 1520 Registered: 5-2001 |
Allan, Thank you for your responses. Perhaps you can also push for an additional meeting in August to ensure things don't slip any further. | ||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 148 Registered: 1-2004 |
Thanks Alan: Was there anything left out in this increase from the original estimate for the firehouse upgrade? If so, can someone describe what and why this project is overbudget. | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 634 Registered: 11-2001 |
In listening to the introduction of the final budget, and the comments concerning pension benefits, contractual pay increases, health benefits and McGreevy's imposition of a 2.5% cap increase, I think we are in a forseeable budget crisis. Allan, if we were to do a projection of anticipated municipal increases for the next three years, do you think we will be in over our heads with double digit increases by 2006 (outside of Cap)? We know we will have some offsets with increased tax collections from the quarry, but I'm assuming the need for substantial tax increases will begin to spiral out of control. Can you offer any prospective and should we now focus on a detailed study to reduce services and manage the budget differently. Cost Reductions, employee cost sharing, zero base budgeting and/or shared services, when will the Board consider these issues? Hopefully the nature of the Budget and anticipated increases under current conditions will be discussed publicly before the 2005 Election. Any thoughts, or do you see it differently? | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 639 Registered: 11-2001 |
Or, are the mega construction projects along Church Street, Valley Street, continuation of Third Street, Shop Rite Site, Beifus and Irvington Avenue, be on-line to offset the municipal burden which will then substantially shift the burden to the BoE? But nay, the municipal budget with pilot-itis will be managed within cap? Two way communications is a struggle when answers are not offered. I think the issue of openness in communicating to the public is by far the biggest agenda item that this board faces, as it has with all the BoTs for the past 12 years. Members have changed some, but the VP has not, what gives? Any opinions? I relish a response. | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 106 Registered: 5-2004 |
pilot-itis? Um, there is exactly one property with a PILOT in town. Other than some hysteria here on MOL, how is this "pilot-itis?" | ||
| Pizzaz Citizen Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 644 Registered: 11-2001 |
That's the problem, what's on the skillet? The public certainly doesn't know, but we know the Shop Rite Site is $1.5 million in the whole before the VA negotiates, and we've been told Beifus is expecting concessions. What more awaits us? Knowing today of the budget increases on the table, I think a rush for development will lead to over-development. The public will have little or no say, something similar to the quarry. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 1535 Registered: 5-2001 |
Will there be any additional meetings in August to address the pending PILOTs...uh, I mean Developer's Agreements, so these projects can move ahead once and for all? | ||
| Allan J Rosen Citizen Username: Allanrosen Post Number: 111 Registered: 4-2003 |
As an update on development, I can tell you the following: 1) Trenton finally approved the revised SOPAC plans early this past week. Hence the ground work for SOPAC should begin before September. 2) The New Market project (Shop Rite) has been revised down to a lower density development (one less floor) and will be presented to a special meeting of the Planning Board on August 23. 3) In the what-else-is new category the Beifus principals claim they will now present their numbers to the Redevelopment Committee withintwo weeks. They said the same thing two weeks ago. And before that. | ||
| MHD Citizen Username: Mayhewdrive Post Number: 1537 Registered: 5-2001 |
Thank you, Allan. What do you mean by "ground work for SOPAC"? Does that mean a REAL Groundbreaking (& subsequent construction) may occur this month? If Beifus does present their numbers this month will a "special" BOT meeting be held in August so there is not a further delay to September? | ||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 149 Registered: 1-2004 |
Alan, does this mean there is a conclusion on the arrangement (sale, lease, etc) for use of the proterty by SOPAC. I assume that there will need to be a resolution passed on this arrangement prior to SOPAC beginning construction. | ||
| Allan J Rosen Citizen Username: Allanrosen Post Number: 112 Registered: 4-2003 |
Mhd: No more "grounbreaking"; just breaking ground, digging, starting to prepare the foundation, etc. Building the building. Howard: The financial agreement has yet to be completed (and probably can't be done until September when the entire boards will be back together. That agreement will be voted on publicly and the details released. | ||
| doublea Citizen Username: Doublea Post Number: 713 Registered: 3-2003 |
Was the municipal budget passed on August 2 and if so, how much is the municipal increase? |
