Board Passes Budget with 4% Tax Hike

(Updated)

The Board of Education voted 7-1 to pass a budget totaling over $52 million that will raise taxes about $100 for the average homeowner.

The spending plan will result in 33 layoffs, and several sports programs are being eliminated, including all freshman sports, winter track, competition cheerleading, swimming, and fall weight training.  The district also cut summer school and the adult high school.

While newspaper accounts indicate teachers and staff in surrounding districts are taking pay freezes, the South Plainfield unions have not made similar concessions.  Nor have they indicated a willingness to discuss the option.

The budget would have raised taxes by about $140, but residents will benefit from an overbilling two years ago that reduces the increase by $40.  According to Superintendent Jose Negron, the money from the overbilling will be returned to taxpayers through an adjustment.

Board President Jim Giannakis called the tax hike "reasonable," especially given the budget constraints created by state aid reductions.  Facing an estimated $10 billion budget gap, the state cut aid to most school districts by about five percent of their budgets.  For South Plainfield that meant a $2.8 million cut.  The district made up for part of the cut by using $1.2 million of its surplus and $300,000 from its emergency reserve to offset the loss.

But not everyone favored the plan.  Board member Debbie Boyle criticized the lack of information from administrators and said she could not support a 4% tax increase when people were losing their jobs.  She also asked the Board's unions to agree to a wage freeze, saying she had made the same request a week earlier and that none had taken the offer.

Boyle also recommended an activity fee as an option to cutting sports programs.  She said the fee would allow the programs to continue, as would having players fundraise to offset the price of uniforms and other costs.

Board member Bob Jones, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said he agreed with Boyle's suggestions and asked for more cuts to administration.  Both he and Boyle said they had spent hours going over the budget for cost reductions that would not affect education.  Jones also criticized the decision not to include in the budget a $400,000 savings that results from a new law requiring employees to contribute 1.5% of their salaries to offset health-insurance costs.

Jones also said there would be a $200,000 savings by switching health insurance providers.  Board Vice President Pio Pennisi, however, called these savings "uncertain," saying they might be available at a later time but could not be counted on now.

Other members took a different  position.  Carol Byrne, who was re-elected to the Board last year, said the district was in a tough spot and the board was doing the best it could in a bad situation.  She said the board had been responsible.

While board members often disagreed, the tone was mostly civil, with the only major flash-point occurring when Negron said to applause that he would be willing to take a pay freeze.  Boyle, who chairs the Board's negotiations committee, questioned the sincerity of his offer, asking him whether he meant freezing his current contract's salary or freezing it as part of a renegotiated contract.  Negron responded by saying he would only be willing to negotiate the freeze as part of a new contract.

SP Residents Join UNICO

South Plainfield residents Susie Leonardis and Angela Baratta were recently sworn in as members of the Plainfields Chapter of UNICO National. UNICO is the country's largest Italian-American service organization and has a local chapter that includes towns in the Plainfield area, including South Plainfield.

From left to right in the photo below are Renato Biribin (former UNICO National President), Leonardis, Baratta, Deputy District Governor Bob Bengivenga, Sergeant at Arms Mike Colucci, Chapter President Anthony Bengivenga, and Past National President Frank Licato (reader submitted).  

Courier and Home News Tribune Honor SP Athletes

• Camilio Patino Named to All-Area Boys Swim Team
• HNT Wrestler of the Year: Anthony Ashnault
• Freddy Reichert Vaults over the Rest: HNT Boys Track First Team
• Five Named to HNT All-Area Wresting: Sacco, Delvecchio, Heilmann, Ashnault & Wagner

Spotlight on Local Talent: Justin Gaynor Photography

Twenty-five year old South Plainfield resident Justin Gaynor describes himself as a portrait, landscape, and New Jersey wedding photographer who has "spent the last ten years photographing beautiful sunrises at the Jersey shore, [and] capturing portraits of the amazing people.

That description does not do him justice.  Spend some time looking at his on-line portfolio...you'll be impressed.

Justin Gaynor Photography Website

Your View: Cut Administrators First

An 07080 web poll shows that most readers want administrative cuts as their first choice in reducing school costs.  Of those responding to the poll, 60% favored cuts in administration over other choices.  About a third of those taking the poll favored cutting back on raises and salaries, with few--two percent--wanting cuts in extra-curricular and sports programs.

The least favored option in the poll was raising taxes, with only one person saying a tax increase should be an option.

According to the Courier News Data Universe, South Plainfield Superintendent of Schools Jose Negron made $180,184 for the 2008-09 school year.  The central administration includes

• a superintendent,
• an assistant superintendent,
• a business administrator,
• a director of adult education,
• a supervisor of student personnel services (special education),
• a director of guidance,
• an athletic director,
• a technology supervisor,
• a transportation supervisor,
• a district accountant
• a staff developer, and
• an operations director

Each elementary school has one principal, and Grant School and the Middle School each have a principal and one assistant principal.  In addition to its principal, the high school has three assistant principals.  Maintenance and food service are contracted out to Sodexho USA, an international food service and facilities management company.

The 07080 web poll is not scientific and merely reflects the opinions of those who choose to respond.

Riley Principal Has His Back to the Wall for Kids!

Riley School Principal Al Czech has his back to the wall...literally.  The school's PTSO held a fundraiser where students paid two dollars for a piece of duct tape so they could tape their principal to the wall.  The group raised over $300.

(reader submitted)

Parent Reports Class "Left Behind" During Evac

An SPHS parent is reporting that an entire class allegedly was "left behind" yesterday when the high school was locked down and later evacuated.

The parent, who wishes to remain anonymous, said in an e-mail that she was furious upon learning that her child's class never knew about the evacuation due to an allegedly defective public address system.

According to the parent, the teacher and students never knew about the evacuation until after the remaining students had cleared the building and a janitor noticed one of the students at the doorway.

The parent questioned the procedures used by the school system and how an entire class could be missing without anyone noticing, asking "How in the world could they miss this?"

07080 has e-mailed schools Superintendent Jose Negron to verify the incident and seek comment.  This post will be updated with his response.  

High School in Lockdown - Updated

As of 9:30 a.m. this morning, the South Plainfield High School is in a lockdown.  A recorded phone message from Superintendent of Schools Jose Negron went out to parents and told them not to pick up their children from the school.

According to Negron, the South Plainfield Police Department is monitoring the lockdown.

Update:  As of 9:45 a.m. the students in the high school were evacuated safely to other schools and as of noon they were back in the high school.

Unconfirmed sources are saying that a student essay referred to explosives being in the building and that the lockdown and evacuation were conducted out of an abundance of caution even though the essay was not written  recently.

Reports also say that canine units are being brought into the school to check for explosives as an extra precaution.

Updates will be posted as more information becomes available...

Teachers Asked to Freeze Pay; Layoffs on the Table

Over three hundred teachers and staff packed the auditorium at Roosevelt School tonight to watch the Board of Education discuss this year's budget.  The discussions included possible layoffs, as well as a request by one board member that teachers and staff take a pay freeze.

At the beginning of the meeting schools superintendent Jose Negron talked about the possibility of changing health insurance carriers, which could save the board about $200,000.  He also pointed out that state legislation requiring teachers to contribute 1.5% of their salaries toward healthcare costs could save another $400,000. At this point, however, how that recent legislation would affect the budget is unclear. 

The board discussed two possible tax increase scenarios.  Right now, the budget calls for a 4% increase, which is about eleven tax points or $135 for the average homeowner.  This increase would require about 33 staff cuts.  The use of the healthcare savings (teacher contributions and savings from switching carriers) would bring that number down to about 15.  According to  Negron, a flat tax increase would require over 100 staff cuts.

Given the district's fiscal crisis, Board member Debbie Boyle invited each of the unions to discuss with her the possibility of renegotiating their contracts and possibly agreeing to a wage freeze.  Negron added that  Governor Christie has asked all unions to agree to a salary freeze for the 2010-11 school year.  In addition, the Governor has asked that all employees contribute to their health costs voluntarily, even though the new state requirement only kicks in when current contracts expire.  

Several members of the public asked the board to look closely at teacher cuts, pointing out that they could hurt education.  One member of the public, however, disagreed and asked the board to look out for the taxpayers.  Local activist Ginny O'Brien said a tax increase would be unacceptable in this economy, especially given the recent Board's recent budget surpluses.  When Board President Jim Giannakis responded by saying the Board had actually cut taxes slightly over the past two years, she reminded him that taxes unnecessarily skyrocketed a few years earlier, which led to recent surpluses.

During the meeting, Board member Steve Bohn suggested cutting all-day kindergarten as an option, and he said he'd like to see parents who want to send their kids all day pay for it as a separate charge.  The board attorney, however, said this was not legal.

The Board is looking to meet next Tuesday to consider the budget further and is expected to vote on the final proposal on Wednesday at its regularly scheduled meeting.

Hughes Takes on Senior Role

Kevin Hughes, the Borough's Recreation Director, will be taking on a new role today. Last night the Borough Council added the Senior Citizen Center to his responsibilities.   Hughes currently runs all the Borough's sports and recreation programs.  Borough Clerk Joann Graf had been handling these duties but quickly resigned without comment last week. 

Council Discusses Budget; Votes to Save on Recycling Costs

Facing a $1.1 million budget gap, the Council met tonight for a budget session to discuss ways to cut costs.  Council President Matthew Anesh discussed some of the savings to date, which included eliminating several positions and limiting overtime.  The majority of the meeting was taken up with discussion about ways to save money, with coucil members talking about taking a bipartisan approach to solving the shortfall. 

One idea on the table is the possibility of cancelling the Labor Day Parade, the fireworks, or both.  Overtime costs from the day-long festivities are a major cost, and limiting the events that day could save as much as $50,000 in overtime.  Discussion involving possible personnel cuts (which presumably includes possible layoffs) took place in executive session.

Bus Company Clean-Up Still Controversial

The Courier News and Home News Tribune are reporting on the Borough's plans to clean up the old Suburban Bus Company site on New Market Avenue.  Engineering estimates alone came in at over $100,000, and the actual costs for the clean-up are still to be determined, but will cost several hundred thousand dollars according to Maser Engineering, the firm hired to perform the environmental assessment.

According to the article, questions still abound regarding the legality of the initial purchase and the lack of approval by the Borough Council.

South Plainfield to begin study of Suburban Bus site cleanup

Storm Damage Prompts Pick-Up

The Borough will be having a curbside pick-up due to last week's storm damage.  Details are on the town's website, where a map shows the districts and the dates they are scheduled.

Pick-Up Information

Board Budget at $52 Million

An update on the BOE budget from the Courier and Home News Tribune:

South Plainfield's $52 million school budget proposal would eliminate up to 15 teaching posts

Borough Aid Cut $700,000

The Borough stands to lose $700,000 in aid based on figures announced by the Department of Community Affairs on Thursday.

The Borough received about $3.4 million in aid last year and is now slated to receive about $2.7 million for this year's budget.  That amounts to a 20.5% reduction.

The Borough Council is scheduled to hold a budget session Monday night.

To see how other towns in Middlesex County fared, visit:  http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/nj_municipalities_predict_layo.html?appSession=11254743893450

School Tax Could Increase 4%

South Plainfield taxpayers could see an increase in their tax bills based upon a vote by the Board of Education tonight.  The Board voted to introduce a budget with a four percent tax increase, which would raise taxes by eleven points, or about $135 on the average home.

Ledger Says Anesh and Bengivenga may Seek Mayor's Spot

The Star Ledger reported today that Republican Councilmen Matt Anesh and Rob Bengivenga intend to seek their party's nod to run for South Plainfield mayor.  This comes at a time when current Mayor Charles Butrico has announced that he will not seek re-election due to the pressure.

Democrats also face a  possible challenge for their nominee, with speculation that former Board of Education President Michael English will face-off against Councilwoman Christine Buteas.  English previously served as mayor in the 1980s.

http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/03/south_plainfield_mayor_wont_se.html

Board Loses $2.8 million in Aid - Layoffs Coming

South Plainfield school officials are facing a $2.8 million loss in school aid this year based on figures released today by the Department of Education.  This amounts to a 28% reduction in school aid to the district.

According to State reports, the district had a $56 million budget in 2009-10, and the reduction equals five percent of that total budget.

Water Back to Normal

The Courier-News reports that water is once again safe to drink without boiling...

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100316/NEWS/100316029/1007/NEWS0106

Graf Leaves Senior Post

Joann Graf, Director of the Office on Aging, resigned at last night's council meeting.  Graf, who also serves as Borough Clerk, will take on that role full time.  Neither the council nor Graf offered a reason for the surprise resignation.  

Butrico Won't Run for Re-Election

Claiming he is unhappy with politics in South Plainfield, Mayor Charles Butrico announced that he will not seek re-election in the fall.  Speculation is that former Board of Eduction President Michael English will be seeking the Democratic Party's nod.  English, who served as mayor in the late 80's, resigned from the school board before finishing his term.  He also served a stint as recreation director before retiring from the Borough.  Councilwoman Christine Buteas is also rumored to be considering a mayoral bid according to on-line politics site PolitickerNJ.

In other action, the council voted along party lines to sell property on Plainfield Avenue that had been slated for development of a new library.  Voters rejected the plan in 2008, and last week the Library Board of Trustees voted to move the library to Montrose Avenue. In rejecting the plan in 2008, voters said they were unhappy with the size of the site, the lack of parking, and the inability to expand the library if it were built on Plainfield Avenue. Others questioned the need for a new library and the timing for building it (given the economy).

An 07080 poll shows that most people oppose moving the library to Montrose and that many think a new library is unnecessary.

Butrico Won't Run; Buteas for Mayor?

PolitickerNJ reports that Mayor Charles Butrico will not seek re-election, that Councilwoman Christine Buteas is seeking the nod for the Democrats, and that Democratic Chairman and local Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan may not support her...

http://www.politickernj.com/max/37658/sources-butrico-wont-pursue-re-election-south-planfield

Storm Damage Pics (reader submitted)

Click pics to enlarge.

Left:  A pine tree (center) fell on Steven Terrace, cutting off power and forcing the road to close on Saturday night due to the storm.  




Right:  Flood waters can be seen the length of New Market Avenue, which has been a major flood-zone for decades.





Falling trees along Woodland Avenue cut off power to half a dozen homes, many of which were still without power as of early Sunday afternoon.







Right:  A Veteran's Park became Veteran's Lake, with several feet of water flooding entire portions of the park as of Sunday morning.  Neighboring homes suffered flooding.


Flooding at Veteran's Park was into the parking lot on Sunday night.  In fact, it was so hight that the bench (center right) was under water that evening.  A day later, some of the water has receded.


Another view of the major flooding on New Market Avenue.


Send your storm pics to 07080.blogspot@gmail.com





New:  Highland Avenue Flooding and Wind Damage.  Click "Read More" below.

Storm Rips Through Town - Updated 10:46 p.m.

Wind-driven rain is having its effect all over South Plainfield tonight.  Several roads are closed due to flooding, including New Market Avenue and the bridge on the South Clinton Extension.  Several smaller roads are also out.

High winds downed trees and power lines all over town, with scattered power outages near Park Avenue, along South Plainfield Avenue, and on South Clinton Avenue.  There are also reports of a partial roof collapse on South Clinton Avenue.

The Borough's police department and public works crews are out directing traffic and helping residents with downed trees.  Extra police, as well as public-works employees have been called in.

Spring Lake Park has overflown its banks (almost reaching the gas station and reaching the bottom of the bridge), and Veteran's Park is entirely under water, several feet deep in some areas.

The corner of Metuchen Road and Belmont Avenue is closed due to flooding, as are side-streets near New Market Pond.  Roads off New Market Avenue (Carmine, Elsie, etc.) are flooded as far as seven or eight house in. Fred Allen Drive is closed due to flood waters, as is the end of Lowden.  The parking lot behind Borough Hall is flooded, and police are moving their vehicles to TD Bank's parking lot.

Along Route 287 a downed tree resulted in a lane closure that snarled traffic.

Police to Kids: Don't be Afraid to Dial 911

In the wake of several home invasions, police are hitting the streets with safety tips for residents, especially for kids in school.

"Don't be afraid to dial 911," Police Officers Sheryl Courtney and Dave Franchak told a packed lunchroom at Roosevelt School Friday. 

Officers from the town's DARE program are going to schools this week and next to tell kids that safety matters.  The messages are simple.

• Don't answer the door for strangers.
• Don't be afraid to call 911
• Don't let people trick you into opening the door, even if the person says they are sick need help.
• Stay away from windows and doors if someone is knocking and you don't know who it is.

The safety program continues next week when the DARE officers visit other schools to teach the importance of safety.

South Plainfield Resident Joins the Judiciary...

A South Plainfield resident recently took the oath as an adminstrative law judge.
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100312/NEWS/3120379/1007/NEWS0106

BOE Looking at $110 Tax Increase

A $110 tax hike could hit Borough residents if the Board of Education's proposed "worst case" budget goes through next week, according to school board officials.

Residents saw no tax increase under the school board last year, and there was a 4-point tax cut the year before. But with higher salary costs, a large benefit increase, and a loss of state aid, school officials say taxpayers could see a rise this year.

The proposed budget presented by Superintendent Jose Negron assumes a 15% state-aid reduction, even though aid figures won't be announced until March 17 when the Governor gives his annual budget address. The proposal includes more than a dozen layoffs, as well as reductions in each school's budget for supplies.

The $110 increase would hit homeowners whose houses are assessed at $120,000, which is the Borough average. It's a 3% increase over last year. By state law, the most the board can increase taxes is 4%.

Pennisi Gets Open Board Seat

Board of Education Vice President Pio Pennisi, who chose not to run for re-election when school-board elections are held in April, was picked last night to fill an open seat on the school board created by the resignatnion of Tim Morgan.

Pennisi was one of two residents who applied for the seat, and the board voted unanimously to give him the spot, which runs until April 2011. The appointment is effective upon the expiration of Pennisi's current term, which expires in April when new board members are sworn in.

The vacancy arose after Morgan resigned as of March 1. Under New Jersey law, the board had 65 days to name a replacement.

Tiger Wrestlers Pound Opponents

Ashnault talks about taking the championship...

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20103070332

Butrico Fails to Derail Library Move

South Plainfield Mayor Charles Butrico failed to derail the decision by the Library Board of Trustees to move the library to Montrose Avenue...

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100310/NEWS/100310020/Board+approves+plan+to+relocate++expand+South+Plainfield+library

Plans for a new library were originally announced by Councilman Robert Cusick in 2003. After the plans were delayed, causing state funding to dry up, the public rejected building a new facility in 2007 when the town held Democracy Day to gauge the public's support. Then-candidates for Borough Council, Christine Buteas and Franky Salerno, pledged to revive the plan when they ran in 2008, but shortly after taking office stated that they had no plans to pursue it due to the economy.

Home Invasions Not a Random Act

Police Chief John Ferraro talks about the recent home invasions...

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100309/NEWS/3090344/1007/NEWS0106

Library Moving

The library will be moving to Montrose Avenue. The Library Board of Trustees voted to enter into a contract for the new site this evening, with one member dissenting. The vote came after public comment, much of which opposed the move.

The Board is appointed by the Mayor and is autonomous. The move does not require council approval or consent.

http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/03/south_plainfield_public_librar.html

Library to Move to Montrose?

Plans to move the library to Montrose Avenue are on the agenda for tonight. The library is currently on Plainfield Avenue, but the library board is looking to move it. This story got some, but not all, of the facts right. The referendum did not fail by a slim margin. The public said, "no." Neither the economy nor the location was right for building a new library.

http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/03/south_plainfield_mayor_will_tr.html

Police Meeting

About 300 residents attended a session with Police Chief John Ferraro this evening. The purpose was to talk about the rash of home invasions...

http://http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100307/NEWS01/100306012/1007/NEWS0106

Wrestlers No. 1 in the State!

South Plainfield High School ranked #1 in wrestling for the state! Way to go SPHS!

The South Plainfield High School wrestling team continues to prove it is worthy of the No. 1 ranking it will receive today from the New Jersey Wrestling Coaches Association...

http://http//www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20103060340

Wagner and Ashnault take it to the top...

http://http//www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20103060331