Saturday, May 4, 2013
Check out the top stories from this past week in Montclair.
An investigation into a student found with a BB gun at Glenfield Middle School last week has led to the resignation of the school's principal. The Montclair Council has taken steps to reinvest in township libraries, schooling and homeless services in 2013, all while decreasing the tax levy. The 33-year-old former West Orange High School teacher and Montclair resident who admitted to having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student was sentenced Monday and will serve no jail time, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said. A local shoe and running store is going the extra mile to help those injured in the Boston Marathon bombings. It’s showtime for the Montclair Film Festival. The festival’s second year opened Monday with a sold …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The Montclair Council's Financial Committee wants to reduce the tax levy from the originally proposed increase of 2.4 percent to 1.9 percent.
The Montclair Council has taken steps to reinvest in township libraries, schooling and homeless services in 2013, all while decreasing the tax levy. The council’s Financial Committee unveiled a new commitment to funding services that have been reduced in recent years at a special budget meeting on Tuesday. The committee nixed more $180,000 in other areas to not only fund these local services, but reduce the municipal tax levy increase from 2.4 percent to 1.9 percent, according to township estimates. “This is good news; this is good stuff,” said Councilwoman Robin Schlager after hearing about the increased funding of community services. The committee — comprised of Mayor Robert Jackson, and Councilors William Hurlock and Renee …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Aging garbage trucks and Public Works Department equipment and an expected $800,000 investment in new parking meters were highlights in the 2013 budget.
The final round of departmental budget hearings were heard Tuesday by the Township Council for this year's $77.8 million municipal budget. Presenting budget requests that night were Montclair Parking Utility, departments of public works and finance, the offices of the township attorney, and municipal clerk and township manager. In addition, the Health Department presented its $1.8 million budget request. The 2013 budget is up $2.25 million or 3 percent from 2012. The municipal tax levy will rise 2.4 percent this year or $1.25 million. Parking Utility The newly created Montclair Parking Utility will request $3.1 million in 2013. The utility, which took over for the Montclair Parking Authority at the start of the year, is expected to …
New sidewalk cafe licenses generating money and department looks to cut down on environmental waste.
The Montclair Health Department requested a $1.18 million budget in 2013 from the Township Council on Tuesday. The Health Department, which includes nursing services and animal control, generates about $530,800 in revenues for the township, bringing its total cost to taxpayers to about $650,000. Health Department Director Sue Portuese said the township's new sidewalk cafe ordinance, which was passed last year 11 businesses are fully licensed so far, which has generated $3,500. Portuese said sidewalk cafe licenses will bring in more money to the township in the coming years as some fees were waived for the first year of the ordinance. “We should see some increase in revenues for this,” said Portuese. Animal Control requested an …
Monday, April 15, 2013
Watch the entire meeting live from your computer here on Montclair Patch.
The Montclair Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the municipal building, at 205 Claremont Ave. The council will vote on spending $174,567 for improvement to Glenridge Avenue from Pine Street to Bay Street, and a $2,900.000 bonding ordinance for various improvements to school buildings and grounds, among other things. The final departmental budget hearings will also be presented to the council Tuesday. The budget presentations on the agenda are for the Department of Community Services, Health Department and capital budget The meeting will televised live on TV34 and streaming above online. The full agenda can be found in the photo gallery of this article. Last week, Montclair Police Chief David Sabagh presented a $13.6 million …
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Montclair Police Chief David Sabagh presented a $13.6 million budget to the council Tuesday, an increase of about $855,000 from 2012.
The Montclair Police Department wants to bolster its ranks this year and is requesting a 6.6 percent increase to its 2013 budget. Montclair Police Chief David Sabagh presented a $13.6 million budget to the council Tuesday, an increase of about $855,000 from 2012. If approved, salaries would increase by about $775,000, in addition to approximately $80,000 for other expenses. The net cost of the police department to taxpayers after revenues is $10.1 million. The lion’s share of the budget would go to salaries, which total slightly more than $13 million. The department is looking to hire two dispatchers, said Sabagh; increase to its overtime budget by 5 percent; purchase three new Dodge Chargers as patrol vehicles; and hire two community …
The Montclair Public Library requests $3,048,749 for 2013, still about $800,000 less than its 2008 budget.
The Montclair Public Library called for an increase of $165,000 to its 2013 budget as administrators and volunteers take on growing circulation and attendance. The increase would bring the library’s operating budget to $3,048,749, which is about $800,000 less than the library’s budget in 2008. After managing increasing attendance with less staff and more volunteers, Director David Hinkley said the added funding is necessary to establish a “stable fiscal base” for the fifth largest municipal library in the state. “Despite resulted hours, staffing and material reductions, 2012 use-statistics and volunteer hours demonstrate there is a substantial embedded demand and direct community support for library services in Montclair,” said Hinkley…
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Check out what's happening this week in Montclair.
The Montclair Board of Education will meet on Monday at 7:30 p.m in the George Inness Annex, at 141 Park St. The full Board of Education agenda can be found in the photo gallery of this article. The meeting comes less than a week after the Board of School Estimate unanimously approve the school budget put together by the Board of Education. The $114 million overall budget is 3.3-percent higher than the 2012-13 budget, and $97,509,698 will be raised from taxpayers. The Montclair Planning Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in the municipal building, at 205 Claremont Ave. The board continued its discussion last month on drafting regulations for neighborhood chicken coops and apiaries, or beehives. Among the recommendations discussed …
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Recreation Department, Fire Department, Code Enforcement and township attorney will present their 2013 budget requests to the council.
The Montclair Township budget hearings will continue Saturday at 9 a.m. in the municipal building, located at 205 Claremont Ave. Council members will hear budget presentations and requests from the Recreation Department, Montclair Fire Department, Code Enforcement and township attorney. The meetings will be televised live on TV34 and streaming live at http://montclair.peg.tv. On Tuesday, Township Manager Marc Dashield unvield the new framework for how the council and departments will analyse their budgets. The system breaks down the financial costs of each department in town, and compares it to technologies needed to revive township services, desired outcomes and how these outcomes can be measured. Also on Tuesday, the Municipal Court, …
Thursday, April 4, 2013
The Board of School Estimate also approved $116,000 in bonds to help pay for $2.7 million worth of districtwide capital projects.
The Montclair School District’s $114 million school budget passed Thursday night and included no tax increase. The Board of School Estimate unanimously voted to approve the school budget put together by the Board of Education. The $114 million overall budget is 3.3-percent higher than the 2012-13 budget, and $97,509,698 will be raised from taxpayers. Mayor Robert Jackson, who is on the Board of School Estimate, said the board made no substantive changes to the budget that was proposed by the Board of Education in February, but noted some adjustments could be made later. “There could be some maneuvering still, but I think it was a good job of addressing our needs,” said Jackson. “Moving forward, it certainly addresses the objectives […
frank rubacky
11:42 pm on Friday, May 3, 2013
Thank you Jeff. That would explain most of it. more ›