January 2, 2003 Hawthorne Press The Best & Worst of 2002 Most Times In Court Prospect Park Mayor Will Kubofcik holds the 2002 record for the most times in court. In the past year, he: . tried to stop the quarry from operating .defended the quarry ordinance .fought against the quarry's tax appeal . was sued by former Police Chief George Faso for back pay. On the personal level, he: .pursued a citizen's complaint against a Paterson motorist .accused a Passaic man of stalking his wife .charged North Haledon resident Steve Orsini with five complaints. Orsini countercharged with eight complaints for an incident related to referendum shenanigans. All the charges were later dropped. January 10, 2003 Bergen Record MAYOR FAULTS SCHOOL PULLOUT PLAN by Charles Austin The Passaic County superintendent of schools has issued guidelines governing the withdrawal of North Haledon students from Manchester Regional High School, but officials in North Haledon and Manchester are concerned that key financial matters remain unresolved. The guidelines from County Superintendent Maria Nuccetelli were discussed at the high school's Board of Education meeting Wednesday night, and North Haledon Mayor Randy George sharply criticized some aspects of the plan. George said that, among other things, North Haledon wants an audit of the assets of the high school to see if "there are any liquid assets that must be shared" when North Haledon students are withdrawn. George also said the state commissioner of education should be reclassifying Manchester so that it would be eligible for more state aid. But John Vandermolen, president of the Manchester board, said that although he was unhappy with the results of the Sept. 24 referendum on allowing North Haledon to leave, "I don't think these guidelines are going to be amended." Vandermolen also expressed frustration at the way the state is handling the details of the withdrawal, but he said he believes Nuccetelli is "doing her best" to move things along. According to the guidelines, which were drawn up after consultation with school officials in North Haledon, Prospect Park, and Haledon - the towns currently sending students to the high school - all North Haledon students now at the high school will continue at Manchester, and only incoming ninth-graders will begin at Midland Park High School, where North Haledon is contracting to send its students. The guidelines also stipulate that students currently enrolled in non-public high schools will not be allowed to attend Midland Park. If they withdraw from non-public schools, they will be eligible to attend Manchester. George said another unanswered question is the status of high school students who move into North Haledon during the phased withdrawal and whether they will be required to attend Manchester or be allowed to enroll at Midland Park. Nuccetelli has directed all of the municipalities involved to present Manchester with an accurate count of incoming ninth-graders and, in the case of North Haledon, those who will be continuing at the regional high school. This is to allow Manchester to produce its budget, which must be presented to voters in April. Until that is done, it remains unclear precisely how much tuition North Haledon will be paying to the high school for the students who remain there. The per-pupil cost is based on a complicated formula, involving both local costs and state directives, said Jeannette Makus, Manchester's business administrator. But she estimated that the tuition for North Haledon could be $9,000 to $10,000 per student. What state aid Manchester will be eligible to receive also remains uncertain. If the school is reclassified by the state as a result of the withdrawal, it might be eligible for a considerable increase in aid, local officials said. However, the state has placed a 10 percent cap on aid increases, and it is unclear whether this cap would apply to Manchester next year. Because of the withdrawal, North Haledon will also have to pay for the costs of special education students, including transportation and related services, the guidelines say. Both Prospect Park and Haledon also need to identify high school students in need of special education or those who will go to the Passaic County Technical Institute, according to the guidelines. The guidelines say enrollment figures should be provided to Nuccetelli's office by Jan. 15, and that by Jan. 31 North Haledon should seek state approval of the agreement with Midland Park. Meanwhile, Manchester's legal challenge to the withdrawal is working its way through the courts. Vandermolen said hearings on whether the Sept. 24 referendum was legal are scheduled for mid-February. January 10, 2003 Bergen Record MAYOR PROPOSES ONE POLICE CHIEF TO SERVE 2 TOWNS by Charles Austin As Prospect Park continues its search for a chief of police, Mayor Will Kubofcik is suggesting that the borough join with next-door neighbor Haledon in hiring a police chief to serve both towns. Haledon's chief has said he intends to retire this year. Kubofcik floated the idea at the Haledon Borough Council meeting this week, where the matter was referred to its Public Safety Committee. Kubofcik said the two small towns are similar in demographics and could possibly save money by sharing a chief. The towns would maintain separate departments and Police Benevolent associations, he said. Haledon has a police force of 17; there are 13 officers and a captain in Prospect Park. Together, the two towns have a population of about 14,000. "It sounds good in theory, but is it feasible? We'll have to see whether it's practical," Haledon Councilman Aymen Mamkej said. Mamkej, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said questions would have to be answered about how the chief would be hired and supervised. "A lot of issues need to be addressed," Mamkej said. And some town ordinances might have to be rewritten. When he was elected mayor of Prospect Park, Kubofcik fought for a law that made the chief directly accountable to the mayor. Mitchell Sklar, executive director of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, said he did not know of any other towns in New Jersey sharing a chief. He questioned whether the idea would be workable. "There is an enormous amount of responsibility legally and administratively," he said, "and in a small town, the chief does the job of several administrators, because you don't have a large command structure." Sklar said that despite the savings, "You could be short-changing the residents of the town, with what would be essentially a part-time police chief." Mamkej said his Public Safety Committee would meet next week, but that the matter might not yet be on the agenda. Prospect Park is moving slowly in its attempt to find another chief, and Kubofcik has said the town has been getting along well with a captain as the highest-ranking officer. February 13, 2003 Herald & News by Whitney Kvasager Even though Manchester Regional High School is slated to receive more than $800,000 in state aid next year, officials say they'll have barely enough money to squeak by. According to Schools Superintendent Ray Kwak, unless assemblymen and state senators award the school a special grant, it's likely taxes will increase in the district's two remaining boroughs, Prospect Park and Haledon. Kwak said neither assemblymen nor senators have given any indication that they plan to give the school a special grant. Manchester's state aid, announced last week, is nearly 22 percent higher than the amount they received last year. The regional district was given the second-highest increase in the county. North Haledon, which will receive 54 percent more state aid than last year, was given the highest. It's not clear why North Haledon was given a heftier increase. As long as an appellate court judge rules in its favor, North Haledon will begin removing its students from Manchester in September and enrolling them at Midland Park High School in Bergen County. The withdrawal is in accord with last September's referendum that voters overwhelmingly adopted. It will shrink Manchester's budget by about $3 million, Kwak said. There is no hearing date yet for Manchester's last of four appeals made against the borough. Kwak, who will present Manchester's preliminary budget at tonight's school board meeting at 7:30, said spending next year will be a "bare minimum" of what it costs to maintain and run the school. No programs or teachers will be added, he said. He would not say if anything was cut. He also would not give a specific budget amount for the 2003-04 school year, but in the past has said the school costs around $10 million a year to operate. "I don't want to poor-mouth you," but the school needs a new boiler, heating systems in classrooms and new doors, Kwak said. According to a 1999 architectural study, Manchester needs about $16 million in maintenance, including a new heating system, new windows, doors and walkways. Kwak did not return a call as to why these items could not be bonded. "This budget is just a disaster," said Albert Demarest, board member from Prospect Park. "When I saw the numbers, I said, 'What in God's name am I supposed to do with this?' There's no way I can vote yes" on the proposed budget. Demarest said Prospect Park residents can't afford the inevitable tax increase that would result from Manchester's proposed budget, and that the same was true for Haledon. "We're losing $3 million from North Haledon, and we're getting $800,000 from the state. You do the math," said Haledon board member Jeff Fischer. February 14, 2003 The Record BIG RISE FOR MANCHESTER SCHOOL TAX by Whitney Kvasager Manchester Regional High School officials presented a bare-bones budget of $10.77 million Thursday night for the 2003-04 school year. It barely covers school essentials, but will raise taxes. In Haledon, where the average house is valued at $158,000, taxes will increase by $557.72 a year. In Prospect Park, where the average house is valued at $143,000, taxes will increase by $577.72 a year. The regional district was partially dissolved in September, when voters approved a proposal to allow North Haledon to leave. Some board members said they were stunned by a budget that raised taxes but didn't cover all the school's needs. "This is just a disaster," said finance committee member Albert Demarest of Prospect Park. "I saw the budget, and I said, 'What in God's name am I supposed to do with this?' There's no way I can vote yes." And some board members predicted that the budget will fail when it goes to voters in April. "I don't know how they can run the school with [this budget]," Demarest said. "But at the same time, Prospect Park is not going to pass that increase. We cannot afford it." Superintendent Ray Kwak, who presented the budget, had his doubts as well. "Where is the impact of North Haledon's withdrawal? It's on our two [remaining] communities," Kwak said. The spending plan, up from last year's $9.28 million budget, covered all current programs and staff, but excluded all requested equipment, extra staff, and new programs. "As a practical matter, our spending is at a bare minimum," Kwak said. "It allows us to continue to run the place, but we will have no enhancements to our programs at all." All maintenance projects will be put off indefinitely, Kwak said. A study done in 1999 indicated necessary maintenance would cost $16 million, including such things as new heating equipment, new windows, and new walkways. None of the recommendations has been implemented. "We have 11 or 12 classrooms with insufficient heating," Kwak said. "And we can't lock some of the exterior doors. If you jiggle some of them, you can get in. The security isn't good." Kwak said it would be pointless to try to bond building maintenance projects, because there's no way voters would accept the tax increase. Although Manchester received a 21.8 percent state aid increase to $800,000, Kwak said, the $3 million lost through North Haledon's withdrawal squeezes the district too hard. Officials do not yet know how much North Haledon will continue paying per student during the three-year withdrawal from the district. In September, North Haledon will begin sending students to Midland Park High School, if an appeals court rules in the borough's favor. Manchester has filed four appeals to overturn last year's referendum. There is no hearing date for the final appeal. Kwak said he hopes the state will give the district a special grant, but state officials have not said whether they are considering that. Representatives from the state Department of Education did not return phone calls. Kwak said he expects that taxes will go up in Haledon and Prospect Park, regardless of how board members vote on the budget. "This budget is terrible. It's absolutely awful and a travesty," Haledon Mayor Ken Pengitore said. "The tax increase to my town is going to be staggering." Pengitore said Manchester is in a rough position. It needs more money, but Haledon and Prospect Park residents can't afford to pay. "Where is the money supposed to come from? When a guy looks at the bottom line and sees 'Oh, my God, my taxes are going to skyrocket,' he votes no in self-defense," Pengitore said. The board is scheduled to vote on the budget Feb. 27. "Will they pass the budget? Well, I certainly hope so," Kwak said. His deadline to submit a budget to the county superintendent is March 4. February 23, 2003 The Record STORM CLEANUP COST HAS TOWN HOPING FOR HELP by Whitney Kvasager The Presidents' Day snowstorm cleanup cost the borough as much as $50,000, but nobody knows where that money will come from. Mayor Will Kubofcik said the Department of Public Works paid $30,000 to eight contractors to move snow. The Fire Department was on round-the-clock standby to dig out hydrants. "We thought it was going to be [state] funded, so we went gangbusters trying to keep the roads clear," Kubofcik said. "The Department of Public Works always puts something in their budget for snow removal, but it was already gone by Monday." The borough's $3 million budget was badly bruised by earlier snowstorms. Public Works Superintendent Kenny Valt did not return phone calls. "So it's going to be begging and screaming for money," Kubofcik said. "We'll try to get some kind of emergency allocation and try to fund [the cleanup] over several years." February 26, 2003 The Shopper News NORTH HALEDON: RACE NOT ISSUE IN WITHDRAWAL by Dan Kedem The outcome of a referendum held last September 24 gave North Haledon the right to withdraw from Manchester Regional High School, but a staunch legal battle may prevent them from doing so. So far Haledon and Prospect Park have filed three appeals, and last week attorneys asked the state to delay the July 1 withdrawal date and judicial proceedings until a budget has been adopted. Until recently, opponents of the withdrawal emphasized the financial consequences of dissolving the school district. Now the focus has been shifted toward racial imbalance. Despite census figures that indicate North Haledon's withdrawal will minimally affect the racial diversity at Manchester, attorneys from Prospect Park and Haledon asked a panel of Appellate Court judges to consider the ramifications during a hearing held two weeks ago. "It is unfortunate that they're trying to play the race card," said North Haledon Mayor Randy George. "It's deplorable that they won't stop filing frivolous lawsuits and wasting money that was approved for this year's budget to educate the children.." Prospect Park Mayor Will Kubofcik disagrees. "I think the Commissioner of Education has essentially legalized segregation," said Kubofcik. "During the commissioner's tenure, we've gone back in time 60 years." Until North Haledon withdraws from Manchester, they remain responsible for 50 percent of the budget. "They'll continue to come up with lawsuits knowing full well that as long as they get the suit in by July 1, we have to pay half," said George. "And that's very frustrating." Before the referendum, North Haledon paid $30,000 for a study that indicated the school would be hurt financially after the withdrawal. This year, however, Manchester is expected to receive a 21.8 percent increase ($800,000) in state aid, while North Haledon's departure could amount to a $3 million loss. Because the school budget is based upon the wealth of the towns that attend the high school, North Haledon officials expected Manchester to be reclassified from a D district to a B district, which would have enabled them to receive a substantially larger amount in state aid. Manchester's new budget is estimated at $10.7 million for the 2003-04 school year. If the ruling on the referendum is upheld, and Manchester does not receive additional state aid, Prospect Park residents can expect a $577 increase in school taxes, and Haledon residents can expect an approximately $550 increase. And even with the tax increase, board members believe school programs will suffer severely. "This withdrawal is resulting in a financial nightmare," added Kubofcik. "State legislatures must revamp the way education is funded. To base the budget on property taxes is inadequate. It obviously creates a disproportionate funding mechanism that municipalities can't handle." Guidelines set forth by the state Commissioner of Education dictate that North Haledon will start phasing students out of Manchester over the next three years and begin sending them to Midland Park at a cost of $8,250 per student, not including transportation costs and tuition for special education and vocational students. As of press time, Haledon officials and Superintendent Ray Kwak did not return repeated phone calls for comment. March 6, 2003 Hawthorne Press PROSPECT PARK COUNCIL VOTES TO OPPOSE WAR WITH IRAQ With hundreds of thousands of troops mobilizing in the Mideast, the county's smallest municipality has gone on record to oppose the prospect of war in Iraq. "It's a symbolic resolution," said Councilman Mohammed Khairullah, who proposed the action. The all-Democrat Council passed the measure 5-0 on February 10 but since the public session occurred after a lengthy executive session, hardly anyone knew about it. Khairullah said his general sense from talking to people in Prospect Park is that this represents community opinion. "It's un-American," said Ray Brown, a Democrat, who was surprised to read about the resolution in a daily newspaper. "Let the Borough Council worry about the huge tax increase we're getting from Manchester Regional High School. Let Congress and the President take care of foreign affairs," he said. The councilman contends that the resolution is not anti-war, instead urges the President to exhaust all other possibilities before committing to a military campaign. The resolution cites 73 cities that enacted pro-peace resolutions alluding to "testimony to the growing movement for world peace." "President Bush should be worrying about the economy instead of war," said Khairullah who doesn't see Saddam Hussein as an imminent threat. "Saddam does not have the capability to attack us. The president should take care of the home front." Tom Magura, a Vietnam veteran and a member of the American Legion, sees the resolution as "a stab in the back to the young people serving in the military. The Council can't even run Prospect Park. Yet they're trying to tell the president how to run the country." "Have these people forgotten about the 3000 people who were massacred at the World Trade Center, only 15 miles away. The fires could be seen burning from Prospect Park. How can they explain their actions to the 9-11-01 orphans and family members," said Magura. Khairullah says he wanted the resolution to be introduced early in the meeting so there could be public dialogue. He said the residents are free to express their opinion at council meetings. The next one is set for Monday night. The councilman has relatives in Syria and Jordon and said he wasn't speaking just for the Arabic community. "I'm elected by the majority and speak for them," he said. Helen Donohue, a regular at Prospect Park Council meetings, said she thought the resolution was "demoralizing to the people who serve in the military and their families. It's time to support the President regardless of political party." If the country does go to war, Khairullah says, "I'm 100% behind them. I just want to push for peace first. We're just asking the President not to put our servicemen in harm's way unless it's absolutely necessary." The resolution cites cost projections for war provided by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences calling a war "an enormous drain on the federal budget that would necessarily result in dramatic spending reductions in other parts of the federal budget that could affect essential and critical domestic programs and services." The Prospect Park Council concludes by urging Senators Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg and Congressman Bill Pascrell to vote against any resolution in Congress that would allow the President to declare war on Iraq. March 12, 2003 Herald News Fight Erupts Over Prospect Park Peace Resolution By Whitney Kvasager What started as a public hearing on the borough's peace resolution turned into an angry squabble that left audience members muttering, "The council - they're all a bunch of liberals," and council members trying to explain that "pro-peace" is different from "anti-war." At the beginning of Monday's council meeting, Mayor Will Kubofcik said the hearing would be a "healthy discussion" and that "we're going to walk out of here and everyone's going to be friends." Later, he told former Councilwoman Betty Van Eeuwen to get out after she spoke against the resolution. Echoing Van Eeuwen, others told officials not to question America's building momentum toward war. "I was shaking, I was so angry," Helen Donohue said as she stood behind the podium describing when she first heard about the resolution. "This is the time to support the president." The resolution, which does not contain the word "anti-war," asks federal officials to exhaust every peaceful means of resolving the conflict in Iraq before waging war. It says American allies want a diplomatic resolution and that the war's cost would force extreme federal budget reductions and cripple critical programs and services. "We cannot justify this war yet," Councilman Hassan Fahmy said before the meeting. He said seeking peace isn't the same as inaction and that the situation is more complicated than America vs. Iraq. "Basically, you work for the people of Prospect Park," said John Withan, shouting at Kubofcik from the back of the room. "Did the town ask you to write a resolution on this point?" "I've had several people call me and say, 'Please pray for my son. He was just shipped off,'" Kubofcik replied. Local Republican Committee co-leader Tom Magura stood up and said that wasn't good enough. He said parents of children preparing for war have called him and asked, "What the hell is the mayor doing?" Earlier, he called the resolution "treasonous" and said it was only adopted "to distract people." "Why are they worrying about this?" he asked. "They can't even pay $50,000 for snow removal." In response to questions about loyalty, Councilman Herb Perez spoke so forcefully he made his microphone pop. "I have to acknowledge this is an emotional issue, because I'm feeling very emotional," said Perez, who has served in the armed forces for 23 years. "We have a freedom in this country, and I will fight and die for that freedom. And I will not have people come up here and tell me not to have an opinion." "You have to be more careful," Magura said. "You have to be very cautious about sensitive issues that go beyond the scope of this town. Write letters to the president, but don't speak for the whole town." After striking his gavel and yelling, "We must have order!" above the quarreling din at the hearing's close, Kubofcik said, "This is healthy. This is good." March 13, 2003 Hawthorne Press Prospect Park Meeting Erupts Into Debate About Iraq War Freedom of speech was alive and well at the Prospect Park Council meeting Monday as residents debated the pros and cons of an anti-war resolution. Before the highly charged discussion began, Mayor Will Kubofcik called the February 11th action of the council "a peace/war resolution" reinforcing the governing body's support for the armed forces. "I was horrified," said Helen Donohue expressing her reaction to the resolution. "This is the time to support the troops regardless of political party. No one wants war. That's an asinine thing to say." Al Demarest, president of the Prospect Park Board of Education, said the resolution "made me sick. I had a nephew in the Air Force, a brother who got killed in a war and another who's disabled." Demarest refuted remarks made by council members in recent newspaper articles that the resolution represented a majority opinion of Prospect Park residents. "Why do personal opinions have to end up with the name of Prospect Park on it," questioned Ken Christensen. "If you had taken an actual vote, then OK but liberties were taken with the name of Prospect Park representing this or that." Christensen pointed to the town's "cross-cultural" population noting that besides the military, the firefighters and the police lost personnel on 9-11-01 and still have to take care of things on the homefront. "It doesn't matter who we are. We'll be taking care of everyone," he said. Kubofcik said the resolution merely asks elected representatives on the national level "to exhaust all avenues before we go to war." "It's like a snowball," said the mayor about the debate. "It's a highly charged issue." "With that in mind, don't you think you've blown it out of proportion," Christensen responded. "In hindsight, it's better to err on the side of caution." "I still have nightmares about 9-11, said Kubofcik who was photographed helping with the clean-up at Ground Zero in the aftermath. Referring to the impending war with Iraq, he challenged the premise "to say one justifies the other or that one connects to the other." "I wish you could have passed a resolution against the terrorists and against the devils who caused 9-11-01," said Ray Roberts. When Kubofcik said Prospect Park had passed a resolution against the terrorists, residents asked to see it. "President Bush is surrounded by intelligent people who advised him," said Roberts. "Is this resolution against Bush because he's a good Republican." "If war comes, I will support our country and our men," said Councilman Pat Tirri. "You've got to be nuts if you want a war." "You have to be careful what you put in the newspaper," countered Roberts referring to the demoralizing effect it could have on the troops. "The papers say the council opposes the war," said Councilman Thomas Jefferson. "People were not here to hear what we said." "We didn't know you were going to do this," said someone from the audience. The anti-war resolution was passed late in the evening when most of the public had left. "I'm a former military man. No soldier wants to go into battle," Jefferson responded. Kubofcik referred to newspaper headlines that said, "Prospect Park is anti-war." "We're not against the US or the president," the mayor insisted. "Get after the newspaper for printing that crap," concluded Jefferson. "I'm glad you're here. We have to clear up this point," said Kubofcik, who then started detailing plans for a 9-11-01 memorial wall in borough hall. "You said the discussion would be limited to this issue," said former Councilwoman Betty Van Eeuwen. "Do you want to conduct the meeting," the mayor asked her. "Yes," answered Van Eeuwen. After trading more words, Kubofcik told the senior citizen she was out of order. Van Eeuwen then stood up and said she would leave. "I'm a soon-to-be-resident," stated Omar Khalil. "It made me proud to think that the council would take a courageous vote for peace." Saying he was an Arab-American with Iraqi roots, Khalil said, "I think it reflects the opinion of the majority and of the world." Tom Magura, also a former councilman, said the Prospect Park resolution "sends the wrong message." "President Bush started over a year ago exhausting all means. Iraq has had 12 years to disarm," he said. "I'm especially disappointed in the two men sitting up there who wore the uniform. It sends the wrong message to the armed forces that they don't have the backing of the people," Magura continued. Saying he was a Gulf War veteran, Bachar Balkar disagreed, "I support this resolution. I think it supports the opinion of most people." Coincidentally an ABC poll that afternoon found 59% of the American people in support of the war. Jack Witham questioned why the council even started this issue of war vs. peace. "Why does Prospect Park think it knows more than our national leaders," he asked. "The national administration is going to go to war. When you talk of 'peace', you're giving an indication you're against Bush." "I'm a vet also," said Witham. "We may not agree with war but nationally in wartime, we have to agree with our president." "You interpret the resolution as against the President and our servicemen. I respectfully disagree," said Kubofcik. Councilman Mohamed Khairullah, who had introduced the resolution, said his position had been stated accurately in last week's Hawthorn Press. "I see a lot of anger against me because I introduced that resolution," he stated. "I, and the rest of the council support the military. All we ask is for our national representatives to exhaust all possibilities." Demarest challenged Khairullah about his statement in the newspaper "that the people of Prospect Park support you." "This isn't a binding resolution," answered Khairullah, "Basically, it's a statement of elected officials. It does not say it represents the opinion of all the people." "Referring to 'all avenues of peace' leaves it wide open," countered Christensen. "maybe the question of 'exhausting all avenues' and 'using diplomatic means' has different meanings to you or to me. If we go to war today, did he (the President) exhaust all options." Noting that Saddam Hussein had 12 years to disarm and that the administration "has drawn a line in the sand." Christensen charged, "You're almost shedding doubt on our federal government. They're doing their best and you're saying 'make sure you go through all the avenues'." "Once we go to war, we're all behind the troops," reiterated Khairullah. Mohamed Charkis said "people think you're a terrorist because your name is Mohamed. Where is justice for all. War is hell." Charkis said, "The President of the United States is my leader." Witham reminded the council that they represent the people. "Did the people ask you to speak out against the war," he asked. "People have e-mailed me about a brother or son who was just shipped out," said Kubofcik. Magura countered that he also heard from relatives of servicemen. "Today they were taking down the fences on the Iraqi border. People say, 'what the hell are they (the council) doing'," said Magura. "There is one woman in town with two family members deployed." "The council had no business doing this," said Magura. "There are 30,000 towns in the US and only 70 passed this resolution. You have freedom of speech but when you express your opinion, you don't speak for the whole town on sensitive issues." Councilman herb Perez put a human face on the discussion. An Army reservist, he said, "I've been in the service for 23 years. Right now my bags are packed. I'm ready to go. When Sgt. Perez and my unit gets orders, we don't question the President of the United States. All I say is: exhaust all avenues before going to war." "I will not have people come and question my opinion unless they step into my shoes," Perez concluded. The councilman said the daily newspaper that printed the article about the resolution had also interviewed him. "I told of the conflict I felt but there were no quotes from me," he said. March 19, 2003 The Shopper News Fly It With Pride: PP Launches Own Flag Dutch-Themed windmill, wooden shoes on sky-blue banner by Allan Finn Residents can now fly two flags proudly, as the council recently judged a contest that has finally given the borough a symbol of local pride. The flag came about a bi-partisan effort of Democratic Mayor Will Kubofcik and former-mayor Republican Al Marchitto, as well as Councilman Hassan Fahmy, and Borough Administer Barbara Varcadipone. With its clear clue-sky backdrop and Dutch historical referencing of wooden shoes and windmills, the flag won the hearts of the council and the mayor who awarded the $200 first prize to Corianne Faber, a Manchester Regional High School student. Second prize was $150 and third place received $100. Fahmy established a committee to organize the contest, which was extended to the local schools. According to Varcadipone, 72 entries were sent in from Passaic County Technical Institute and Manchester Regional High School. The flag committee chose eight out of the 72 they felt would be "ideal," with all of the flags numbered so as not to allow any bias in the judging. "It's colorful, full of life and quite beautiful - a lot like our town," said Fahmy. So far, plans call for the flag to be hoisted atop the municipal building and Public School No.1. Small flags are also in the works for individual sale. "I'm so proud I can't wait to put it on my house, my car, everywhere," enthused Fahmy. April 1, 2003 Herald News Mayor has plans for fight on taxes PROSPECT PARK - Municipal, school, and regional school tax increases loom this year, but Mayor Will Kubofcik intends to agitate till the end for either more spending cuts or added financial help from the state. His plans include holding a rally and promoting a petition against the Manchester Regional High School's proposed budget, exploring unusual state aid possibilities, and - if none of those ideas eliminate the hit to Prospect Park's taxpayers - simply not paying up. "You've got to have Plan A, B, and C," he said. The biggest increase beyond the borough's $3.7 million proposed 2003 municipal budget - which would raise property taxes, on average, by $134 - comes from Manchester. If voters approve the school's $5,202,593 general fund tax levy for 2003-04 on April 15, taxes will go up $388 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. In Prospect Park, where the average house is assessed at $143,000, that's a $555 increase. Kubofcik said he's writing a letter to Prospect Park residents, asking them to vote against the school tax proposal. He said he also plans to stage a demonstration outside Manchester to grab the attention of state officials and to compel school officials to reduce the budget. "There will be picketing in the very near future," he said. He's not sure when the protest will be. The mayor said the regional school funding formula should be changed, or the borough assisted with more state aid to offset the tax increase. "We want more of a voice in the process," he said. Plan B is to get special state aid to offset such unforeseen costs as the $50,000 price tag of snow removal. Plan C, which Kubofcik said is "basically a last-ditch effort," is to refuse to hand over tax money to Manchester. Kubofcik said he and the Borough Council would do this last, because a tax revolt would mean money withheld from students. He said that's different from money withheld from students via a smaller budget, because a smaller budget would be planned. The regional school levy, which taxpayers pay to the borough along with their municipal property taxes, is allocated and sent to the regional school every quarter. Borough Treasurer Stephen Sanzari said the town last year allocated $1,183,918 to Manchester - nearly $300,000 every quarter. Kubofcik said the council could refuse to pass the usual resolutions allocating the money and keep it until state officials take note. Paying attention, Kubofcik said, means revamping the state school funding formula, which is based on property values. The state Attorney General's Office and the state departments of Education and Treasury would not comment. "It's a very ugly situation," Kubofcik said. "Unfortunately, it's a shell game." April 2, 2003 Shopper News Family takes center stage for 'giant' Kubofcik by Allan Finn PROSPECT PARK - If there is one mayor who would like to be thought of as having awakened the giant within, it's Prospect Park Mayor Will Kubofcik. After five unsuccessful bids for mayor, he won the election in 1996 and was re-elected last November. A recent father and future real estate mogul, Kubofcik is also an avid motivational speaker fan, and his favorite is Anthony Robbins, author of "Awaken The Giant Within." He estimates he has spent as much as $3,000 on books and tapes - not to mention seminars. A Robbins motivational seminar even had Kubofcik walking across 1,200 degree coals and converted him into a vegetarian. "I went to a three-day seminar and was exposed to how animals are treated and processed," said Kubofcik. "I made my decision based on philosophical and health reasons." "The whole purpose was to break limiting beliefs," he added. "Walking on hot coals is definitely breaking a limiting belief." A resident of Prospect Park for almost 30 years, the mayor was bom in 1966 to an Armenian mother and Czechoslovakian father in Switzerland. He lived in Turkey until he was six years old, when the family moved to New Jersey. After graduating from Manchester Regional High School, he went on to earn a bachelor's of arts degree in Political Science and Urban Studies from Reuters University. After college, Kubofcik was hired by United Parcel Service, where he worked his way up from truck driver to major account manager. About four years ago, the real estate bug bit and Kubofcik became a realtor and title insurance producer for Preakness Realty. He is currently working on becoming a broker and opening his own real estate office. Raised by strict Roman Catholic parents, Kubofcik is a proud Armenian who sees faith as playing a large role in his life. "The government should do things that promote faith and support it," said Kubofcik, a euchariatic minister at St. Paul's Church for the past eight years. "I truly believe that without God we have no foundation. I always think 'What would Jesus do?' as corny as it sounds." Taking part in the search-and-rescue efforts following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Kubofcik emerged from Ground Zero, as so many others have, a changed person. "I joined the volunteer fire department after that," he said. "I gained a tremendous amount of respect for them and I also wanted to personally promote volunteerism." When he isn't busy with his mayoral duties or selling real estate, Kubofcik likes to play golf and practice the Japanese martial art of Aikido. But, since his wife Nuha had a baby last year, he has found himself with little time to do either. "Right now, I'm a daddy," said Kubofcik, who has been working from home since the couple had the child. "I went from being Mr. Mayor to Mr. Mom." With his growing commitments to family life, Kubofcik admitted this will, in all likelihood, be his final term as mayor. "I enjoy serving as a public official," he said. "The day that I stop enjoying it is the day I hang up my shoes. "At the end of this term I'm going to focus on my wife and child and probably get back involved in politics 15 to 20 years from now," Kubofcik said. This story is first in a series exploring the personal and professional lives of our local mayors. April 9, 2003 Shopper News FEMA to dig out PP snow bill by Allan Finn PROSPECT PARK - President George W. Bush has come through for the borough with some much needed monetary relief. An emergency declaration for all counties in New Jersey, issued by the president, is set to release federal disaster funds to the borough. This move has been made in response to the February snowstorm that hit many towns harder than expected, including the borough, which spent $50,000 to perform basic snow removal services. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has committed to the funding, which is designed to reimburse state and local governments up to 75 percent of their total eligible costs. According to a New Jersey State League of Municipalities memo, these costs include: equipment, contracts and overtime related to emergency services in dealing with the snow over a 48-hour period. Sanding, salting, search and rescue, shelter operations and police and fire department response have also been made eligible for reimbursement. This doesn't mean, however, that the money will be coming in soon. Borough Administrator Barbara Varcadipone said the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Department of Public Works (DPW) are in the midst of finishing the required paperwork. "The snowstorm started on a Sunday night, and as long as it is a 48-hour period, they'll reimburse you up to 75 percent," said Varcadipone. "We won't hear anything until July or August," added Varcadipone. "It takes a while. We have to do the forms and it has to be submitted." "Any money that comes back to the town is great," said Councilman Mohamed Khairullah. "Most towns and municipalities are desperately strapped for money. So, hopefully this will relieve a little bit of the burden from the taxpayers." April 17, 2003 Hawthorne Press NO CONTEST IN PROSPECT PARK There was no contest for Board of Education seats in Prospect Park as veteran board members Al Demarest and Lois Bridge were returned to office. Newcomer Sherwood English rounded out the slate. Demarest, the board president, garnered 197 votes, followed by English with 175 and Bridge with 173. The budget, calling for a tax levy of $1,516,868, would have increased taxes $43 on the average assessment, $143,000. Due to the withdrawal of North Haledon from Manchester Regional High School, Prospect Park voters are facing an increase of $700 in taxes on the average property. VANDER MOLEN, NESTICO RE-ELECTED TO MANCHESTER BOE Board President John Vander Molen and Haledon representative Joe Nestico were re-elected to the Manchester Regional Board of Education on April 15. Running without opposition, Vander Molen, a Prospect Park representative, garnered 183 votes. Nestico, a college student at William Paterson University, received 241. The regional school budget lost in both Prospect Park and Haledon with total results of 588-151. The tax levy of $5 million would have raised taxes $599 on the average Haledon property ($158,000 assessment) and $578 on the average Prospect Park assessment ($143,000). Vander Molen has contended that the school is in desperate need of capital repairs, especially the replacement of a boiler. May 7, 2003 Shopper News Civic League Honors Vander Ploeg by Allan Finn Eddie Vander Ploeg has a work ethic most companies would die for: He is willing to work hard, take on several jobs and never ask for a paycheck. That is precisely why he is being honored as "Volunteer of the Year" by the John A. Girgenti Civic League. Vander Ploeg, a lifelong borough resident, began volunteering 53 years ago, when he signed on as president of the Prospect Park Boy's Club. Since then he has volunteered for the Auxiliary Police since 1959 (where he served as chief for 25 years), the Fire Department for 35 years, Civil Defense for 44 years, the American Legion for 40 years, and the Department of Public Works for 25 years. He has also offered his time and free services to the Prospect Park Police Department, the Haledon-Prospect Park Blood Bank, where he served as director, and he works for free as a court officer for the borough. The only job Vander Ploeg ever got paid for was working as a trailer driver for Tilcon for more than 30 years. "I think it's great being a volunteer," said Vander Ploeg. "Like I tell everybody, if I quit all my jobs I wouldn't loose a penny because I don't get paid." He was inspired in part by his father, whom he got to spend a good deal of time with on their volunteer efforts. He cherished those memories and wanted to share similar experiences with his five children. "If you have children you should find the time," said Vander Ploeg/ "You have to grow up with your kids. My kids were always by my side and that's what made me do it." "My kids were always involved, running the little concessions, so it didn't seem like anything," added Vander Ploeg. "I'd say 90 percent of it was my children and the rest of it for myself because I enjoy it." At 78, he still leads an active lifestyle - he had just returned from the pistol range before being interviewed for this story. When asked how he would like to be remembered, he responded, "Just as Eddie Vander Ploeg - nothing special. Because I am nothing special, there are other guys who've done it too." May 14, 2003 Shopper News Lawsuit Prompts Borough To Open Park To All by Allan Finn The borough does not intend to fight Rutgers University law school's Constitutional Litigation Clinic over a local ordinance that prohibits non-residents from using Hofstra Park, according to Mayor Will Kubofcik. "We weighed our options and the likelihood of winning a constitutionality argument is slim to none," said Kubofcik. "This is one battle where we are deciding to put our sword back in its sheath and fight another day for something we think we can win, because there has been precedent that strongly suggests that we don't have a legal standing here." The precedent Kubofcik referred to occurred in 1994 in the case of Barkawi v. Borough of Haledon, when a Prospect Park woman was allegedly ticketed for allowing her child to urinate in a Haledon park. She received tickets for both public urination and for using the park as a non-resident, said Kubofcik. Superior Court Judge Margaret M. McVeigh ruled against the town in that case and rejected the constitutionality of the ordinance, calling it a violation of the First and Fourth Amendment rights of non-resident park users. The case was handled by the same constitutional litigation clinic (with the cooperation of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey) that is now suing Prospect Park. Barkawi was also awarded counsel fees for the cost to sue, said Borough Attorney Denis Murphy. The borough's troubles began when North Haledon resident Steven Wallis and Hawthorne resident Bruce Glatter went for walks in Hofstra Park with their dogs. Police said they noticed the dogs were without a leash and approached them, asking for identification. When police found out they weren't residents, they issued them a ticket for walking their dogs without a leash and for non-resident usage of the park, said Murphy. Both tickets were dismissed, but that didn't stop the lawsuit, which has also been brought upon 13 other towns within the state. "It's mushroomed out of control," said Kubofcik. "The real issue is that there is no way in the world that law enforcement will know that you're out of town unless you are breaking a town ordinance or state statute in the park - whether it's walking a dog without a leash, public urination, drinking, noise disturbances, using foul language, speeding through the park, being a hazard, etc... The bottom line is don't break the law, don't break the town ordinance and you'll be fine." May 16, 2003 The Record Court holds Manchester together By Whitney Kvasager and Kathleen Carroll North Haledon may not withdraw its students from Manchester Regional High School, the appellate division of state Superior Court ruled Thursday. The borough's planned departure from Manchester, which also serves students from Prospect Park and Haledon, would throw the school's racial makeup off balance, harming students' education, Judges Stephen Skillman, Mary Catherine Cuff, and Michael Winkelstein concluded in their 20-page opinion. From the students' perspective, the ruling was just another development in a squabble between grown-ups. "Everybody thinks North Haledon, Haledon, and Prospect Park aren't friends. That's so not true," 17-year-old junior Phylicia Leak said. The three-year withdrawal, set to begin in September, would have shrunk the number of white students at the school's campus in Haledon by 9 percent. The judges wrote that the decrease in white students attending Manchester Regional is not, as earlier reviews of the issue said, a "negligible consequence" of North Haledon's withdrawal. "This finding is out of step with the recognized public policy of this state, which seeks to promote equal educational opportunity and to avoid the adverse effects of racial and ethnic imbalance in schools," the judges wrote. The decision voids the referendum proposal overwhelmingly accepted by voters in the three sending towns last September. It also changes the financial situation in the district and each borough, just weeks after budgets have been retooled and approved. "It's a total nightmare," said Douglas Petkos, North Haledon's Board of Education president. "I don't believe that the state has thought of the ramifications of this decision." Officials said Thursday they didn't know what was ahead. Votes to approve new budgets and an election for a soon-to-be-vacant North Haledon seat on the Manchester Regional district's board were among the next tasks. Further, the state has committed $800,000 in aid to a new Prospect Park-Haledon district. Whether those funds will now evaporate is another question. With North Haledon gone, Manchester's $10 million budget would have raised taxes in the two remaining boroughs by $574 for owners of homes assessed at $148,000 and $143,000 - the averages in Haledon and Prospect Park, respectively. Taxes would have decreased in North Haledon by $265 for owners of homes assessed at $130,000, the borough's average. North Haledon Mayor Randy George categorized the decision as a violation of civil rights and vowed to "use every means in my power to fight this." "We are not going to allow this to happen. We're going to fight this all the way," he said. Among other problems George now faces are municipal tax bills set to be mailed next month and financial agreements with Midland Park High School in Bergen County, where North Haledon students would have gone. George said he didn't yet know what his next move would be and has scheduled a closed meeting on Wednesday to discuss the matter with attorney Vito A. Gagliardi. Haledon Mayor Ken Pengitore had a different perspective. "Isn't it great? It's absolutely wonderful," he said. "How about that? Wow. That's all I can say. Wow." School board members in each borough and on the regional school board expressed caution and dismay at the ruling, which came eight months after North Haledon's bid to withdraw was approved. Petkos said the North Haledon board has been open to working out a compromise, but because public school funding is governed by state statute, there's little room to accommodate borough needs. "The state wouldn't listen to us, Manchester wouldn't listen to us," he said. "Withdrawal was our only choice." Nullifying the vote at the late date of May 15 - less than seven weeks before the new school year begins on July 1 - is like reneging on a deal, he said. Although officials in Haledon and Prospect Park had argued that their children would suffer from the split, they worried Thursday that more complications lay ahead, with North Haledon forced to stay in a district it would rather leave. "Haledon and Prospect Park officials can't stick their hands in the sand and say, 'It's over, we won.' If we do that, we're not facing the reality of tough budget fights and concerns that North Haledon has," said Jeff Fisher, a member of the Haledon and Manchester Regional boards of education. "There's no gloating." Like board members, Prospect Park Mayor Will Kubofcik had mixed feelings, blaming the situation on the state's school-funding formula. "Am I happy with the decision? Definitely," he said. "But at the same time, this is just going to pit communities against each other." Since 1975, state residents have paid for their local schools with property taxes. In the case of a regional district such as Manchester, residents with higher-value homes pay more. In North Haledon's case, residents pay about $18,400 per child to send students to Manchester; Prospect Park pays $3,400 per pupil and Haledon pays $5,300. "I believe this is going to really keep things unsettled," said Paul Birch, a member of the Prospect Park Board of Education. "The state's time would be better spent finding another funding formula. There are going to be future problems with other towns. The effects of the reversal will also be felt in Midland Park. North Haledon signed a 10-year, $10 million agreement to send its students to Midland Park High School beginning in September. Midland Park officials did not return messages seeking comment. On March 11, Midland Park voters approved a $12.3 million construction referendum proposal, with their own price tag estimated at $5.87 million, or $13 a month tacked on to their tax bills. The plan, which included $3 million in tuition revenues from North Haledon, will add five new classrooms and three new science labs to Midland Park High School and expand and revamp existing facilities at the district's elementary and middle schools. The district cited "aging facilities, enrollment growth, and changes in educational requirements" as its primary targeted problems. June 4, 2003 Shopper News New childcare center opens in Prospect Park By Allan Finn Families now have one more option in providing care for their younger children: The B.J. Wilkerson Memorial Child Development Center. The pre-school daycare center, named in honor of child advocate Barbara Jean Wilkerson, will take care of children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old from the borough, Paterson and Haledon. Paterson children can qualify for financial assistance through the Abbott Program. Otherwise parents will be asked to pay $120 per week. The facility boasts 16 classrooms, a staff of 42 certified teachers and can accomodate up to 220 children. In addition, the center will have a family workers department a to bridge the gaps between the community, school and home, explained Pam Delsontro, center office manager. "If there's anything the parents need for the child, the family workers are here," said Delsontro. "They provide a whole bunch of resources - such as if the child has a speech delay, they could help. The family workers also have a list of insurance {companies} and resources and they provide some information in the community that parents may not be aware of, such as health screenings or various workshops." "I anticipate this will be very popular in the borough," said Delsontro. "We have a huge amount of children in that age group in the borough and we think parents will be very interested in the type of cirriculum we'll be offering." The childcare program originated at the Seminary Baptist Church in Paterson with only three classrooms to serve family needs. The church was receiving more requests than they could handle and so a bigger building was in order. After the Abbott program provided the funds for the building, furniture and various supplies, construction began in March of last year. The center is located at 124 Haledon Ave. June 4, 2003 Shopper News PROSPECT PARK STRIKES GOLD IN QUARRY Borough Settles for $1.2 million in 10-year Tilcon Deal by Allan Finn Tilcon New York Inc. has finally settled its lawsuit with the borough, agreeing to pay as much as $1.2 million in exchange for a guarantee that its property will not be condemned or redeveloped for the next 10 years. The financial settlement comes as a surprise to many considering the borough was the defendant in the case and Tilcon, the plaintiff. For a town whose municipal budget is $3.2 million, this large tax infusion is being regarded as a major victory by local politicians. "It's like we hit the lottery," said Mayor Will Kubofcik. "We struck gold in the quarry mines!" The Tilcon lawsuit stems from a dispute over a local ordinance that Tilcon deemed unfair. The ordinance regulated noise, dust, licensing and rehabilitation of the site once the company ends its quarrying. At approximately 3 p.m. on May 29, a deal had reportedly been brokered. In exchange for their monetary settlement, Tilcon will be permitted to continue quarrying for the next 10 years, with the company holding the option to stop quarrying after five years. If the council formally approves the deal, Tilcon will be locked into giving the borough an initial lump payment of $525,000 due by July 1, with an additional $300,000 to be paid over the next four years. If Tilcon decides to continue quarrying after the initial five year period, they will be required to pay the borough $75,000 annually for each of the next five years, which will then bring the total to $1.2 million. The agreement will also allow Tilcon's asphalt facility to begin operations at 6 a.m. instead of 7 a.m., so when the trucks begin arriving at 7a.m., the facility will be ready to accept them. This has been set in place in order to alleviate back-ups and traffic hazards caused by the trucks experiencing delays at the site, said Kubofcik. He added that the trucks will only be allowed to enter and park within the facility and are prohibited from running their engines in order to reduce noise levels for surrounding residents. The two sides also concurred that depth issues will be handled by the engineers of Tilcon and the borough - and if an agreement cannot be reached, a third party chosen by a judge will ultimately make a ruling. In addition, Tilcon has agreed to take the recommendations of experts to improve its blasting processes and to help mitigate and reduce dust in the area. The experts will be paid for by Tilcon. Councilman Hassan Fahmy said he does not see a conflict of interests. "We - get the experts, we screen them, and we hire them - not Tilcon," said Fahmy. "The only thing Tilcon does is give us the money and we pay them. The experts will be getting their money regardless of what judgments they make on Tilcon." Residents who want to voice their concerns to the company will be able to do so as the agreement calls for a monthly residents advisory committee to help the company resolve issues in "more direct one-on-one type sessions," said Kubofcik. Kubofcik stressed the importance of this "victory," saying that at the end of the quarrying process, the borough wants to ensure that it will be left with property that can be "redeveloped and made whole." "We're trying to prevent them from hitting water and, in addition to that, we want them to fill in what they've blasted so a developer can come in later and we can get taxes from that," said Kubofcik. "This is long term thinking because the quarry is nearing the end of its life cycle." As for residents who were hoping Tilcon would be forced to leave town, Fahmy responded, "That's easier said than done. The dust coming in the air is the only thing they are violating and we are addressing this. We are working on a plan to eliminate the dust in the area with our experts." June 5, 2003 Hawthorne Press Incumbent Democrats Win In Prospect Park Primary Prospect Park's incumbent Democrats breezed to victory in Tuesday's Primary Election. Councilpersons Ester Perez, Democratic Borough Leader, and Hassan Fahmy garnered 380 and 355 votes respectively. Challenger Carmine Tirri, the brother of Councilman Peter Tirri, received 64 votes. Perez and Fahmy had blanketed the town with signs calling themselves "The Kubofcik Team" referring to Mayor Will Kubofcik. Democrats now control all seven seats on the municipal council. Running on the Republican slate are former Councilman Thomas F.X. Magura, who received 64 votes and Belkis Drexler, making her second election bid, with 62. June 18, 2003 Shopper News Police Have Run-In With Rollerblader by Allan Finn A rollerblading resident, described in police reports as a "psychotic" man who stopped taking his medication and was sipping a quart of rum, was taken into police custody and later arrested for allegedly using his rollerblades to smash a police car window. On June 10 at 7:26a.m., police arrested Edwin Rivera, 34, of Brown Avenue, on charges of criminal mischief. According to the report, Rivera shattered a police car's vent window while in custody. The damage was estimated to be $150. "originally, he appeared to be psychotic and depressed," said Captain Frank Franco. "At first he was taken into custody for his own safety. He wasn't placed under arrest. Once he broke that window, he was arrested for that, and then he was brought to the hospital for observation." When police placed Rivera inside their vehicle, he allegedly laid down and kicked away at the door, screaming obscenities at Sgt. Fred Schwaner. According to police, after Rivera smashed the window and was becoming increasingly violent, Schwaner grabbed his leg and administered O.C. (oleoresin capsicum) spray to his face, calming him in the process. As far as why the rollerblades weren't removed before Rivera was taken into custody, Franco said, "You don't normally run into criminals on rollerblades, so it's usually not a consideration. We just wanted to get him off the street for his own safety and for the safety of others." He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson and placed in the hands of hospital security. July 17, 2003 Hawthorne Press Prospect Park, Haledon Receive $100,000 In Aid Haledon and Prospect Park will each receive $100,000 in state extraordinary aid. The two were among 87 municipalities statewide that will benefit from this funding authorized under the 2004 state budget. The supplemental budgetary aid will lower taxes five points for property owners in Prospect Park and three points in Haledon. "We are looking at a heavy tax increase," said Prospect Park Mayor Will Kubofcik, about the budget and pending litigation with Tilcon Quarry and North Haledon's withdrawal from Manchester. "All of a sudden with a click of the finger, the picture changed dramatically," said the mayor about the Tilcon settlement for bringing $1.2 million to Prospect Park and the state Appellate Court's reversal of the Manchester withdrawal referendum. After amending its 2003 budget on Monday, Borough Treasurer Steve Sanzari said the $100,000 windfall would lower the municipal tax impact by about $81. For the average property, assessed at $146,000, the 2003 tax hike was $134.41. Now it will be $53.33. The average property owner in Prospect Park is still facing a total tax hike of about $307 including increases in the county, local school and the estimated Manchester Regional levy. In Haledon, the additional state aid will reduce the tax increase by about $45 on the average assessment ($158,000 value). Instead of paying $179.97 for the municipal portion, the average property owner will pay about $126. "We are most pleased to be a recipient," said Borough Treasurer Bill Close. "We've applied for this aid several times in the past and this is the first time we were selected. We can take this money and apply it to reduce our tax rate." The Borough of Haledon had sought $750,000 in the extraordinary aid due to the Manchester issue and other budgetary increases specifically a 22% hike in health insurance. Haledon's total tax hike is now projected at $522 on the average property, including county, local school and an estimated levy for Manchester Regional High School. Previously, with the North Haledon's impending withdrawal, the increase was pegged at $1070 on the average property assessment. Senator John Girgenti and Assembly Deputy Speakers Nellie Pou and Alfred Steele supported the 2004 state budget. The legislators said the state aid would help these towns maintain local services and provide some property tax relief. July 17, 2003 Hawthorne Press Sue Amoresano Appointed In Prospect Park At Monday's council meeting, Sue Amoresano was appointed to three positions - director of recreation, director of economic development and special events coordinator. The motion passed 5-1 with Councilman Thomas Jefferson, whose wife Cathy is on the recreation advisory board, voting "no." Earlier in the meeting, the council adopted a revision to the 2003 salary ordinance establishing the pay at $12,000 for each of the director's posts and $8000 for the special events coordinator. Amoresano, who previously worked for the City of Paterson, was hired earlier this year and had been working without an official title. Officials say they established the recreation director position so the municipality could offer a more coordinated approach to its programs. The moved also involved the abolishment of the Board of Recreation which has been replaced with an advisory committee. July 24, 2003 Hawthorne Press More Parking Revisions Proposed Revisions to Prospect Park's vehicle and traffic ordinance will provide hundreds of hours of additional parking without increasing the number of spaces. The amendment, introduced on July 14, reduces two-hour parking limits on portions of Haledon Avenue and North 8th Street to a one hour restriction. On North 6th Street and North 8th Street, where one-side of the street parking is banned one day a week between 9am - 12 noon for street sweeping, the restriction has been reduced to 10am to 11am. On Haledon Avenue, outside Prospect Pharmacy, parking will be limited to 15 minutes and one loading zone is being eliminated which will add four more spaces. "North 6th and North 8th Streets are heavy commercial areas," said Mayor Will Kubofcik, "It made no sense to ban parking for three hours for street sweeping in the main district." According to Kubofcik, these revisions will provide 208 hours more of parking availability on those streets. The Borough Council voted 5-0 to introduce the measure. A public hearing is set for August 11 and county approval is also required. Council Reverses Fence Height Law Prospect Park is repealing its fence ordinance, adopted a year ago to allow fences to be six feet high. Calling this was "20-20 hindsight," Mayor Will Kubofcik said the reversal was recommended by the code official and the chairman of the Board of Adjustment. "This will change the aesthetics of the community. We've seen several monstrosities go up on postage-stamp sized yards. They make backyards look like used car lots," said the mayor. Kubofcik said that the issue was discussed at a worksession and the consensus was to change the fence height back to four feet. The Borough Council voted 5-0 to introduce the measure for the first reading at the July 14th session. Municipal Attorney Denis Murphy said residents still had the option of applying to the zoning board for a six-foot fence. "If someone presents a reasonable basis for a six foot fence, the board can grant it under the right circumstances," he said. August 7, 2003 Hawthorne Press MANCHESTER BUDGET DEFEATED With a 27 percent voter turnout, North Haledon voters defeated Manchester's revised 2003-04 school budget 1308-102 on Tuesday. The 12-1 margin overwhelmed the results in Prospect Park and Haledon where the budget lost by one vote and seven votes respectively. North Haledon Police Chief Joseph Ferrante, who was elected to represent his community with 1093 votes, had predicted that the budget would fail. In Haledon, voter participation topped out at 8% with 141 voting for the budget and 148 voting against it. In Prospect Park, voter participation was even lower with 90 voting "yes" and 91 voting "no." The $6.9 million Manchester tax levy now goes before the governing bodies of all three sending districts, who must decide whether to cut the $11.6 million budget. North Haledon Mayor Randy George said his community may hire an educational spending consultant to review the district's fiscal plan. Since the state Appellate Court voided last September's referendum, eighth graders, who were expecting to go to Midland Park High School this fall, have been told they cannot leave Manchester. Of 51 graduates, only 17 are planning to attend the regional high school. The local school budget in North Haledon, which also had to be revised when the North Haledon withdrawal from Manchester was negated, was defeated 850-529. The local North Haledon budget must be reviewed by its municipal council. August 11, 2003 The Record Outreach leader's slaying shocks Passaic by Barbara Williams Judith Gonzalez wasn't finished making a better life for herself and her two children. Now she'll never have the chance. The 22-year-old single mother was gunned down this weekend in her first-floor apartment on Fairview Avenue in Prospect Park. Her two daughters, ages 6 and 8, were with a relative. Police are looking for her assailant, who killed her with a shot to the head. Gonzalez is believed to have been the first person slain in the tiny borough of about 5,700 residents, officials said. Prospect Park is a working-class town with a diverse population, where homes with small yards sit close to each other and small stores are scattered throughout the residential areas. But Mayor Will Kubofcik on Sunday evening urged residents not to fear. He said the crime was an isolated event, and the community is still a safe place to live. "We've never had a murder in Prospect Park, and this looks to be a case where they knew each other," Kubofcik said. "It's a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to that woman and her family." Gonzalez, a mother at 13, was once on welfare and uneducated. But she worked her way up to assistant director of Oasis, a non-profit outreach program in Paterson for women and children. Her death left co-workers and friends stunned with grief Sunday. "Judy was so warm and giving with all the children," said Ann Wagner, a member of the Oasis board of directors. "She had so much going against her, to see her turn her life around was just wonderful. "This is just horrible. No one can believe it," she said. Police said Gonzalez was discovered Saturday about 9:30 p.m. by a friend who was concerned that Gonzalez wasn't answering her phone. Authorities declined to say how many times she had been shot or what time they think she died. Nelson Cruz, the landlord in the two-family house where Gonzalez lived with her girls for three years, said he heard a thumping sound around 10 a.m. Saturday but didn't think much of it. He described her as a wonderful tenant and said he never had any problems with her. "I heard a noise like someone or something fell against the floor, then I heard the door slam," Cruz said. "Her car alarm went off, but her car, a Kia, was still there, so I just went about my day." Friends were speculating Sunday afternoon that the killer is a man Gonzalez recently started dating, but police would not confirm whether they believe the crime was random or committed by someone she knew. Authorities said they do not think drugs were involved. Born in Paterson, Gonzalez dropped out of school, went on welfare, lived on and off with family members, and barely eked out an existence for herself and her children. But in 1996, she knew she wanted more out of life. She went to Oasis for parenting, nutrition, and GED classes. After graduating from the program, she moved on to take a job with a temporary agency. Meantime, Oasis was looking for someone to work with the children in the center, and contacted the agency. Not knowing Gonzalez was one of the program's success stories, they still thought the young mother would be perfect for the job. Gonzalez started taking on more responsibility, overseeing the after-school and summer camp programs. She bought herself a car and found a nice two-bedroom apartment in a safe neighborhood. "It was just wonderful to watch her bloom. She just got promoted to the assistant director's position," said Christine Breit, one of the founders of Oasis. "She graduated from the program and then gave so much of herself to it." Oasis volunteers and board members met on Sunday to make plans for telling the 40 children who were due to show up at the center this morning about Gonzalez's death. "I don't know what we're going to do. She's been a godsend, taking over the whole children's center," said Joanne Daloisio, a board member and volunteer. "She just had so much compassion for everyone, because she had been there. So she knew what it was like for many of the clients." September 18, 2003 Hawthorne Press Two Patrolmen Appointed In Prospect Park Two new police officers were appointed to the Prospect Park Police Department on Monday. Both Prospect Park residents, they are Walter Richmond of North 14th Street and Jason Ross of North 12th Street. The vacancies in the department stem from the retirement of former Police Chief George Faso, two years ago and the termination of former Ptl. Richard Haman. The new officers will start the Passaic County Police Academy on October 6 for the six month course. Ross, 27, has two years experience as a dispatcher with the Wayne Police Department. He has a bachelor's degree in sociology from William Paterson University. Richmond works in security for Mercedes Benz in Montvale, has 20 credits at Passaic County Community College. The 22-year-old reads, writes and speaks Spanish fluently. "The number one criteria was character," said Mayor Kubofcik about the screening process. As he presented each patrolman with his badge, the mayor said, "Wear this badge with honor; represent the borough well." September 25, 2003 Hawthorne Press Prospect Park Council Switches To Valley National Bank The Prospect Park Council voted 4-0 to switch its banking operations to Valley National Bank. At its September 15th meeting, Municipal Treasurer Steve Sanzari and Frank Cosentino, vice president of corporate and government services for the Wayne-based bank, made a presentation. Sanzari said he issued an RFP (request for proposal) to 13 banks and received eight responses, recommending Valley National "for the increased rate of return and the reduction in banking costs." The RFP also required the bank to provide a free ATM at borough hall as well as a drop box for the public. "My recommendation is to take the Valley proposal," said Sanzari. "There are no fees for the banking costs and no cash reserve required. We're getting armored car service at no cost three times a week and 2.25% interest on our account." Councilman Mohamed Khairullah noted that Valley's package will also benefit borough employees with direct deposit, free personal checking, free online banking and check paying, discounted consumer loan rates, free travelers' checks, free safe deposit box for one year, free MAC or ATM card and waiving the annual fee on classic credit card accounts. Those who qualify for mortgages can receive priority closing service. At this point, Mayor Will Kubofcik questioned the legality of providing free services to borough employees. "It's perfectly legal," answered Cosentino. Sanzari said several other banks had included employee services in their proposals. "If Valley National took away the employee package," said the treasurer, "It would still be the best. We're looking to lower our costs." The municipality has had a relationship with Chase for over 20 years and Sanzari said issuing the RFP "was the fairest way to go." Kubofcik said the employee enhancements "could be viewed negatively or positively. We don't want the appearance that we're changing banks because we're getting free checking for employees." "I didn't ask for any employee benefits but it is in everyone's packet," said Sanzari. "This is standard in every package we offer to any municipality," said Cosentino. Borough Attorney Denis Murphy suggested that the resolution contain wording that says it's "contingent on approval of the content and form of the legal agreement." October 1, 2003 Shopper News Falling Rocks Damage Homes, Cars Quarry ordered to stop blasting until cause known by Sara Finamore A routine blast from the Tilcon Quarry last Monday showered rocks onto the surrounding streets, causing damage to homes and cars. According to the police report, the rocks landed in driveways and yards on North 16th Street, Kenneth Avenue, North 17th Street and Cyril Avenue. Dented and cracked windshields, driveways and aluminum siding were among the damages residents reported. The definite cause of the rain of rocks is unknown, but the preliminary determination points to an improper drill pattern. At a press conference held Friday, Mayor Will Kubofcik held the rocks, which measured from 8 to 12 inches in circumference, and expressed his qualms with Tilcon. In addition to the conference, a letter was sent to residents asking them to refrain from mowing their lawns because of the damage that could be caused by going over the rocks. "The quarry has always hid behind the fact that the blasting is state regulated", said Kubofcik. "But State standards have not been able to stop an incident like this from happening." "After Monday, enough is enough. This is the last straw, somebody could have been killed," said Kubofcik. According to a press release, the Department of Labor issued an order restricting Tilcon from blasting in the area until the cause of the falling rocks is found. The statement also said that before Tilcon could continue blasting, the company is required to submit an assessment report and corrective action plan to the Department of Labor. However, according to North 17th Street resident, Hilda Montanez, who found rocks in the gutters and around the outside of her house, the quarry was still blasting after the incident. Tilcon did not return phone calls seeking comment. November 6, 2003 Hawthorne Press Fahmy and Perez Re-Elected To Prospect Park Council Incumbent Councilmembers Hassan Fahmy and Esther Perez were re-elected in Prospect Park defeating Republican challengers Thomas F.X. Magura and Belkis Drexler. Fahmy led the field with 564 votes, followed by Perez with 490. Drexler received 272 and Magura, 268. The victory maintains total Democrat control on the seven-member council. Among the state and county candidates, State Senator John Girgenti was the top vote-getter with 570 votes. State Assemblyman Al Steele followed with 528 votes; State Assemblywoman Nellie Pou with 502. Democrat freeholder incumbents Sonia Rosado, James Gallagher and Lois Cuccinello polled 502, 493 and 474 respectively. Republican numbers were within a few votes of one another as follows: Candidate for State Senate Troast, 247; State Assembly candidate Thomas F.X. Magura, 259. State Assembly candidate Kenneth DelVecchio, 273; County Freeholder candidates Randy George, 262; Jan Sandri, 232; Traier, 238. |
| Districts |
Total
Registered Voters |
Total
Voters |
percentage who voted |
| #1 |
495 |
139 |
28.08 % |
| #2 |
865 |
251 |
29.02 % |
| #3 |
741 |
217 |
29.28 % |
| #4 |
960 |
317 |
33.02 % |
| All Districts |
3061 |
924 |
30.19 % |
| Absentee Ballots - Civilian |
0 |
32 |
|
| Absentee Ballots - Military |
0 |
0 |
|
| Provisional Ballots |
0 |
8 |
|
| Subtotal |
0 |
40 |
|
| Total
Votes |
3061 |
964 |
31.49
% |
| Districts |
John
Girgenti* |
David
Troast |
Write-In |
| #1 |
102 |
19 |
0 |
| #2 |
169 |
41 |
0 |
| #3 |
121 |
67 |
0 |
| #4 |
178 |
120 |
0 |
| All Districts |
570 |
247 |
0 |
| Absentee Ballots - Civilian | 16 |
16 |
0 |
| Absentee Ballots - Military |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Provisional Ballots | 7 |
0 |
0 |
| Subtotal |
23 |
16 |
0 |
| Total
Votes |
593 |
263 |
0 |
| Districts |
Alfred Steele* |
Nellie Pou* |
Thomas
F.X. Magura |
Kenneth Del Vecchio JR. |
Write-In |
| #1 |
99 |
94 |
21 |
18 |
0 |
| #2 |
151 |
148 |
52 |
54 |
0 |
| #3 |
110 |
103 |
71 |
76 |
0 |
| #4 |
168 |
151 |
115 |
125 |
0 |
| All Districts |
528 |
496 |
259 |
273 |
0 |
| Absentee Ballots - Civilian | 12 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
0 |
| Absentee Ballots - Military |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Provisional Ballots | 7 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Subtotal |
19 |
23 |
17 |
17 |
0 |
| Total
Votes |
547 |
519 |
276 |
290 |
0 |
| James Gallagher* |
Lois Cuccinello* |
Sonia Rosado* |
John Traier |
Janice Sandri |
Randy George |
Write- In |
| 510 |
495 |
519 |
257 |
250 |
267 |
1 |
| Districts |
Esther Perez* |
Hassan Fahmy* |
Belkis Drexler |
Thomas
F.X. Magura |
Write-In |
| #1 |
98 |
96 |
24 |
26 |
0 |
| #2 |
144 |
171 |
52 |
57 |
0 |
| #3 |
103 |
125 |
71 |
70 |
0 |
| #4 |
145 |
172 |
125 |
115 |
0 |
| All Districts |
490 |
564 |
272 |
268 |
0 |
| Absentee Ballots - Civilian | 9 |
12 |
17 |
20 |
0 |
| Absentee Ballots - Military |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Provisional Ballots | 8 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Subtotal |
17 |
18 |
17 |
20 |
0 |
| Total
Votes |
507 |
582 |
289 |
288 |
0 |
October 23, 2003 Hawthorne Press BOROUGH SALARIES Legal Notice
Ordinance No. 15-2003 Borough Of Prospect Park An Ordinance fixing the annual salaries of the officers and employees of the borough of Prospect Park for the year 2003. Be it ordained By the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Prospect Park that: 1: The salaries and hourly/session wage rates of the Officers and Employees of the Borough of Prospect Park for the Year 2003 shall be as hereinafter set forth and shall be paid at the intervals hereinafter specified: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2. In addition to the salaries hereinabove set forth, all full time employees not covered by a labor agreement and employed by the Borough prior to December 21, 2002 are entitled to longevity pay based upon consecutive and cumulative years of service as a Borough Employee and in accordance with the following guide. All periods of service shall be computed commencing from the anniversary date of full time employment with the Borough.
3. Overtime for members of the Street Department shall be paid at the rate of time and one-half of their normal working hourly rate. 4. All salaries set forth shall be retroactive to January 1, 2003, with the exception of the Deputy Tax Collector which will be effective September 1, 2003. 5. This ordinance and resolutions inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed. Introduced By: Councilman H. Fahmy Seconded By: Councilman H. Perez Vote Ayes: 5, Absent 1 Notice is hereby given that the above ordinance was introduced and passed first reading at the Regular Meeting of the Board of Council of the Borough of Prospect Park on October 14, 2003 and it will be considered for final passage at the Regular Meeting on November 17, 2003 in the Prospect Park Municipal Building, 106 Brown Avenue, Prospect Park, NJ, 07508 at which time and place all persons interested therein or affected thereby will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning the same. Barbara Varcadipone Deputy Municipal Clerk |
November 20, 2003 Hawthorne Press MANCHESTER FOOTBALL MAKES PLAYOFFS Manchester Falls In Playoffs The Manchester Regional High School Falcons were defeated by Dover 39-12 in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 state playoffs last Friday night in Dover. Manchester finished its season with a 5-5 record while Dover boosted its record to 9-1.
Manchester Boys Soccer Powered by Andi Saliasi, who had four goals and one assist, the 10th seeded Falcons (16-6) soared past second seeded River Dell 5-0 in the quarterfinals of the North Jersey Section 1, Group 2 State Tournament. Also for Manchester, Jorge Elizalde had two assists, Tony Abduramani collected one assist and Armend Murati tallied a goal. Goalie Craig Galletta had nine saves for the shutout. In the semifinals of the tournament, the Falcons (16-7) were edged by Tenafly 1-0. December 17, 2003 Shopper News BOROUGH SEEKING OUT ILLEGAL DWELLINGS by Chris Sagona Residents might have noticed posters around town encouraging the use of a hotline to report suspected illegal apartments as the borough continues its effort to crack down on the practice. Since January 2003 the borough has performed 250 housing inspections for apartment rentals and Building Inspector Dave Hereema has prosecuted 22 cases for illegal dwelling units in basements or attics, some of which came from the hotline. "Why turn someone in?" he said. "These apartments are dangerous to live in. They also create overcrowding in our schools. There are fewer parking spaces for other residents. As taxpayers, we pay the extra cost for this. Our quality of life declines due to overcrowding and the extra expenses." He credited the popularity of illegal apartments to the valid temptation for help in financially tough times. Instead of working with a bank for a loan, Hereema said homeowners go directly to a contractor who does the work while residents make payments. "Someone wants to pay their mortgage with extra income so they do these things," he said. In many cases as or more than the rent. Hereema pointed to a North Eighth Street homeowner cited three times for an illegal apartment and then there was a fire. Fines help in preventing illegal apartments, but can be a slap on the wrist when a homeowner faces insurmountable financial difficulties, said Hereema. On the second and third offenses the penalty rise to $1,000 fine, 90 days in jail or both. "We're out there looking for them," he said. "We are trying to protect lives." Hereema said stopping illegal apartments is a matter of life and death. When home improvements are done legally, a specific criteria is met to make sure the apartment is safe. When a fire broke out in one of the apartments, Hereema said, "a teen from around the corner rescued someone trapped in a basement apartment by breaking a window with his foot. He dragged out a man who had burns on his arms and face." Having inspections done ensures life-preserving regulations such windows being 44 inches off the floor and having 5.7 square-feet of unobstructed open space are enforced. "The North Eighth Street apartment was not one of those," said Hereema. "Windows need to be low enough to reach and wide enough for a firefighter to fit through and get back out of with someone." With the style in which some older homes are framed, the outbreak of fire bypasses the first floor and breaks out in the attic, he noted. Dampness, mold and mildew are factors that need to be considered about basement living. The building inspector guaranteed confidentiality for those using the hotline at 973-790-7826. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
or